Spar Girona’s season of resilience came to a heartbreaking end in the semifinals of the Liga Femenina Endesa playoffs. The team, which had battled through countless obstacles all year, fell just short of the final due to a devastating twist of fate. It wasn’t just that they stood toe-to-toe with Valencia, who will face Casademont Zaragoza in the final—they dominated them for long stretches. After trailing by just one point from the first leg, they had the prize within reach: a comfortable 70-61 lead in the fourth quarter.
But sports can be cruel. A painful 0-11 run, an agonizing free throw from Anderson, and a missed final possession crushed the hopes of a squad defined by fight, passion, and courage. Holm and Coulibaly combined for 45 points to lead the scoring, while Ainhoa also shined, alongside other key contributors. Fontajau roared in its last act of the season, savoring the moment, but left with only bitter disappointment. The 73-73 final score sent Valencia through. At least, the Euroliga ticket, even if secured by default, is now in their pocket.
Injuries, pain, fatigue—all take their toll, but ambition can push every obstacle aside. Uni had been swimming against the current for months, but when it came down to do-or-die for a spot in the title final, they came out biting. It wasn’t perfect—there’s always room for improvement—but their first quarter was outstanding. They had hunger, and when a team has that, it shows on the court.
They managed to surprise Valencia, leaving them off balance with intense defense, fluid movement in attack, and inspired players. In just minutes, Coulibaly poured in her first 9 points, proving that when she’s on, she’s nearly unstoppable. She found a perfect partner in Ainhoa López, who moved like a fish in water—electric as always, finding the rim with ease. Holm did much the same, leading, running, injecting pace, and battling for every rebound as if it were her last.
Jocyte was warming up for a later appearance, and the bench contributed when called upon, especially Pendande. Her two free throws confirmed the biggest lead (21-9), but the center wanted more and kept grinding, with Merceron joining the party. A 28-20 statement to open the game.
But games are long, especially when rotations are short (Canella and Carter were out once again) and the opponent is a powerhouse like Valencia, with a deep roster of proven players. It’s impossible to maintain that cruising speed for 40 minutes. When Uni eased off the gas, their rivals seized the chance to make up ground. Before the comeback fully materialized, signs were clear: Quevedo received a technical foul for protesting (the free throw went in), and Cornelius missed two threes on consecutive possessions—a facet she had been sharp on lately. On the other end, baskets came much easier. A 6-18 run confirmed the script had flipped.
Fam showcased her versatility, while Fiebich (15 points in the first two quarters) hurt them from beyond the arc (39-43). Jocyte shook off whatever had been bothering her and scored 5 straight points, while Coulibaly grew larger again, forcing Rubén Burgos to call timeout with everything tied (43-43). So the duel arrived at halftime balanced at 45-46, with everything still to play for.
