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MoraBanc Andorra Routed 75-107 by Valencia in Humiliating ACB Home Loss

Andorra suffered their 15th defeat of the season amid defensive woes and fan exodus, as Valencia dominated with a 32-point halftime lead.

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Key Points

  • Valencia surged with 0-9 run in Q2, leading 39-57 at halftime after 32-16 quarter.
  • Gap hit 30+ points; Taylor scored 22 on 6/8 threes for Valencia.
  • Andorra's Kuric led with 25 pts; coach Tabak blames fatigue, seeks guard reinforcement.
  • 20-day break before March 7 vs Zaragoza; GM optimistic despite 'big slap' loss.

MoraBanc Andorra suffered a 75-107 home rout by Valencia Basket at Pavelló Toni Martí, their 15th ACB defeat of the season and one of the most humiliating displays yet, with defensive collapses, rebounding gifts, and a lack of resilience driving fans to exit early amid boos and a season-low crowd of 2,732.

Andorra matched Valencia through the first quarter, down 23-25 after Kyle Kuric's three-pointer offset an initial 0-6 burst from Jaime Pradilla and Kameron Taylor. Shannon Evans, Babatunde Okoye, and Guille De Larrea kept it close, but Valencia surged with a 0-9 run in the second, fueled by threes from De Larrea and Taylor, plus baskets from Noah Reuvers, Xabi López-Arostegui Puerto, and Jordan Key. Turnovers and second-chance points mounted as coach Žan Tabak called early timeouts, yet Valencia led 39-57 at halftime after a 32-16 run.

The gap widened to 53-83 by the third's end, with Brancou Badio and Taylor (22 points on 6-of-8 from three) exploiting open looks. Andorra narrowed it momentarily before Omari Moore pushed it past 30. A fourth-quarter rally—threes from Yves Pons and a David Ortega dunk—made it 68-95 at one stage, but Valencia eased to victory after nearing a 40-point margin.

**Scoring:** Kuric 25 (returning from hamstring issue), Evans 10, Pons 11, Pustovyi 9 for Andorra; Taylor 22, De Larrea 17, Moore 13, Pradilla 9, Puerto 9, Key 9 for Valencia. Absences: Xavier Castañeda (long-term), Jean Montero, Matt Costello; Aaron Ganal did not play. Chumi Ortega fouled out. **Partials:** 23-25, 39-57, 53-83, 75-107. **Officials:** Carlos Peruga, Javier Torres, Yasmina Alcaraz.

Tabak described sticking to the game plan until physical fatigue set in, sparking inventions and poor responses: "The first thing I have to do is lift the team," he said, stressing defensive priority without Castañeda, mental reset, and unity with fans. "We need to be all together, or we won't make it." He confirmed ongoing searches for a guard-shooting guard, though no options have convinced. Players shared the dismay: Rafa Luz called the display shameful with no excuses despite recent gains; Okoye noted lost composure under pressure after a focused start; Aaron Best urged a full reset and togetherness.

The defeat triggers a 20-day break for Copa del Rei and FIBA windows, with Andorra one win clear of relegation-threatened Burgos ahead of hosting Zaragoza—now under Joan Plaza after sacking Jesús Ramírez—on March 7. Training resumed Monday, featuring a Tuesday open session where players signed autographs, ran drills with fans, and engaged children. General manager Francesc Solana admitted self-sabotage and dropped intensity but stayed optimistic, citing prior comebacks via unity and effort under Tabak. He detailed pursuits of an experienced reinforcement—ideally ready for Zaragoza, a direct rival one win ahead—though no deal is certain despite options reviewed. Several players, including Pons, Luz, Best, Kostadinov, and Pustovyi, will depart for national teams soon, leaving Tabak a full squad for the first week. Solana called the loss a "big slap" but emphasized team work, positivity, and fan faith, dismissing concerns over supporter disconnect.

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