Preseason victory in Benicarló
Valencia Basket opened the Xavi Albert era with a win, beating Casademont Zaragoza 88-81 in Benicarló in their first preseason friendly, an uneven game with lead changes that was decided in the final minutes when the greater depth of the Valencian roster made the difference, a result published by SPORT — Baloncesto and Piratas del Basket.
Played in Benicarló, the matchup showed the expected ups and downs of a lightly practiced team against a more game-ready Casademont Zaragoza, staying close until the fourth quarter before being settled by late execution.
Start of the Xavi Albert era
The win marks the first step of the new chapter under head coach Xavi Albert, who approaches the preseason as a period to build collective habits and tactical adjustments on both ends, emphasizing defensive intensity and ball movement.
Individually, SPORT — Baloncesto highlighted TJ Shorts as an offensive reference in decisive stretches, within a preseason context of shared minutes and workload management.
Competitive context
The friendly is part of preparation for the Liga Endesa, with both clubs fine-tuning rotations and conditioning ahead of the official start, serving as an early test of schemes and fitness.
