Rubén Burgos began his post-match press conference following the second leg of the semifinals against Spar Girona, where Valencia Basket secured their spot in the Liga F Endesa Final. He first congratulated the opponent on their performance: “Congratulations to Girona for the tie they played. They came in with many difficulties and showed great mental strength. The game was very tight and complicated. Between the second and third-placed teams, we didn’t expect big differences. Therefore, I congratulate Spar Girona on their season and their fans, as Fontajau was incredible from the start, everyone with their scarves. It was a great game that we all enjoyed.”
Burgos also thanked the traveling Valencia fans for their support: “We are very proud and grateful for our fans. They made themselves heard, they supported us, they believed in the team, and that helped us believe at the end of the game when we were struggling, down by nine points. But we reacted, which is our job. The fans give us their time and effort, and that deserves even more credit.”
The Valencia coach highlighted the commitment of the entire squad: “It was a very good basketball game. Even though we knew each other well, both teams introduced variations from the start, and both performed well. Leo was sick and gave everything she had—she played an amazing game, just like her teammates. That’s what being a team means.”
Regarding the intensity of the match, he stated: “I think it was a game you had to win multiple times because Girona’s shooting was accurate. We were solid from three-point range, but we knew we needed to collapse more on defense, especially on pick-and-rolls with Coulibaly. Girona also tried to counter with Holm in transition.”
Burgos acknowledged that luck also played a role: “It came down to details. Luck plays a part when it’s a coin toss. After the timeout, both plays went our way. On their last possession, they didn’t make the shot, and that’s how it goes. That’s basketball—both teams deserved to win today.”
He emphasized the team’s winning mentality: “Resilience and persistence of the team. It’s proven in the history of this club. We are playing our sixth consecutive final, and we’ve won the last three titles. That’s no coincidence—it’s our identity. It goes beyond coaches and players; it’s a club mentality, a mentality of every employee, every worker, and also having the resources and the luck. Believing alone isn’t enough, but the first step is to believe. They could have made that last basket, and it wouldn’t have meant we failed. I saw the team believe—today, before the Copa, when there were injuries, when things weren’t going well. That’s how you build a mentality.”
On the final defensive play that prevented Coulibaly from scoring the winning basket, Burgos said: “We weren’t sure about anything. Girona has many options, so we put a more physical lineup on the court.”
Looking ahead to the final against Casademont Zaragoza, he added: “I expect maximum equality—it’s 50-50. We don’t have home-court advantage, but for now, we’re going for the first game.”
