In a pivotal EuroLeague playoff showdown, Valencia Basket delivered a resilient performance to defeat Panathinaikos AKTOR 91-87 on the road. The victory was crucial for the Spanish side, as it allowed them to level the best-of-five series at 2-1, erasing the deficit they faced after dropping the first two games.
The match, held at the Telekom Center, saw Valencia establish control early. They built a 24-18 lead by the end of the first quarter and extended their advantage to a commanding 52-39 by halftime. Despite a strong second-half effort from the hosts, Valencia maintained their composure and held a 75-66 lead heading into the final period, ultimately securing the four-point win.
Offensively, Valencia was powered by a balanced attack. Guard Brancou Badio and forward Jean Montero led the scoring charge, each contributing 16 points to the team's total. Their consistent output was vital in fending off Panathinaikos's comeback attempts throughout the contest.
For Panathinaikos, guard TJ Shorts put forth a valiant effort with a game-high 17 points, but his individual brilliance was not enough to prevent the defeat. Turkish international Cedi Osman also contributed for the home side, posting a double-double of 10 points and 5 rebounds in the losing effort.
The intense nature of the playoff battle boiled over in the fourth quarter, leading to a heated confrontation between the two head coaches. Valencia's Pedro Martinez and Panathinaikos's Ergin Ataman were both ejected from the game following the altercation, adding another dramatic chapter to the series.
With the series now standing at 2-1 in favor of Panathinaikos, the stakes for Game 4 are incredibly high. The next chapter of this gripping matchup is scheduled for Friday, May 8, and will be played in Greece. A victory for Panathinaikos on their home court would clinch the series and send them to the Final Four.
The winner of this series will advance to the EuroLeague Final Four, which is set to be hosted at Panathinaikos's home arena, the Telekom Center, from May 22-24. There, they would face the victor of the Real Madrid versus Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv series, which Real Madrid currently leads 2-1.
Based on reporting from Hürriyet.