Valencia Basket wins at the OAKA Arena (79-89)

The Valencia Basket team played a very solid game, dominating the second half to impose their dynamic style of play and secure a prestigious victory in their return to the EuroLeague against one of the competition's top teams. The Valencia Basket team traded blows throughout a back-and-forth first half, responding to the Greek team's runs and taking the lead in the second quarter with a 2-13 run. However, the home team pulled away at the end of the first half to go into halftime with a six-point lead. But Valencia Basket came out strong after the break, regaining control of the scoreboard and maintaining their lead thanks to accurate three-point shooting that allowed them to enter the final quarter in control. The Valencia Basket team found a couple of three-pointers to build a lead that, although Shorts tried to reduce it, was protected by an imperious Darius Thompson. A three-pointer from Brancou then gave Valencia Basket an eleven-point advantage in the final two minutes. The home team pressed hard and came close, but Valencia Basket knew how to play the final minutes to secure the victory.

Quotes Pedro Martínez

 We were prepared for a very tough game, as Panathinaikos is one of the top teams in the competition, with very experienced players. We weren't bad in the first half, but we knew at halftime that we could play better. In the third quarter, we played with great intensity, securing defensive rebounds and getting the ball to the right place, so we were very focused because winning here would be fantastic news for us.