Baskonia stuns Real Madrid to claim Copa del Rey title after 17-year drought

Kosner Baskonia claimed their seventh Copa del Rey title on Sunday, defeating Real Madrid 100-89 in a thrilling final at Valencia‘s Roig Arena. The victory marks the club’s first cup triumph in 17 years, as Paolo Galbiati’s team overcame early adversity to deliver one of the biggest upsets in recent tournament history.

Early struggles give way to championship glory

Real Madrid started the final aggressively, just as they had finished their dramatic semifinal against Valencia. Mario Hezonja led the charge early, while Sergio Llull, Facu Campazzo, and Hezonja himself connected from beyond the arc to force a Baskonia timeout with the score at 13-2 after just three minutes.

However, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot responded brilliantly, using his penetration skills to navigate around Walter Tavares and bring his team back into contention. With support from Matteo Spagnolo‘s emergence, Baskonia not only survived the early onslaught but took a 19-17 lead by the seventh minute, stunning the favorites’ – Madrid.

Trent y Kurucs para dentrooooo 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/ej8PSJfEUM

— Kosner Baskonia (@Baskonia) February 22, 2026

The momentum swung back to Real Madrid when Andrés Feliz hit two crucial 3-points and Alex Len dominated inside after being benched for the semifinal. Their combined 14-0 run restored Madrid’s control at 40-30 with five minutes left in the first half. Yet Luwawu-Cabarrot continued his exceptional performance alongside the athletic Trent Forrest and hardworking Eugene Omoruyi, keeping Baskonia within striking distance at halftime, trailing 52-47.

Howard delivers the decisive blow

The second half saw Luwawu-Cabarrot and Forrest maintain their brilliant form, tying the game at 57 points. As the contest intensified, both teams traded baskets with Campazzo and Hezonja leading Madrid’s response, supported by Feliz, Usman Garuba, and Theo Maledon.

Entering the final quarter with 28 points already on the board, Luwawu-Cabarrot remained Baskonia’s primary threat. When Real Madrid focused their defensive efforts on containing him, Omoruyi and Forrest stepped up to keep their team’s championship hopes alive, maintaining pressure at 85-83 with four minutes remaining.

The decisive moment came when Luwawu-Cabarrot picked up his fifth foul, seemingly shifting momentum toward Madrid. However, Markus Howard, who had been quiet throughout the game, emerged at the crucial moment to deliver the final blow. With Baskonia leading by six points, a late Hezonja 3-pointer threatened to repeat Valencia‘s semifinal collapse, but Howard held his nerve to secure the historic victory.

The triumph represents Baskonia’s seventh Copa del Rey title and their first since 2007, achieved in front of 15,314 spectators including King Felipe VI and various Spanish government officials.