Valencia Basket men’s team will, for the first time in its history, have the chance to secure a spot in the EuroLeague Final Four with the support of its home crowd in the fifth game of its Playoff series against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (Wednesday 13th, 21:00, Roig Arena, #Vamos), in what has become the closest Playoff series in the history of Europe’s top competition.
Pedro Martínez’s men won both games in Greece to become only the second team in the history of the competition to come back from a 0-2 deficit and bring the series back to their home court. The fans have responded to the team’s effort by filling the new Arena, with tickets selling out in just a few hours and the Roig Arena auditorium also packed, meaning the team will be supported from every corner for the most exciting night in the short history of Valencia Basket’s new home.
The thoughts of coach Martinez and point guard Darius Thompson just over 24 hours before tip-off:
Martinez:
“They beat us twice here, we beat them twice there, and the margins were very small,” he said. “Expecting this game to go any differently wouldn’t make sense. Logic says it’ll be another tight one, decided at the end just like the first four.”
“There are going to be moments where you’re really up against it, and you have to find a way through. We have to stay calm, prepare as well as we have done, and try to get through the rough patches that are probably coming.”
“From the opening tip, you have to accept that there will be difficult moments and that you have to rise above them,” he said. “I think it’s going to come down to small details – tactics, the personality of the players, that little bit of sharpness, finding inspiration, a bit of luck.”
Thompson:
“Just like the series has been going this whole time, it’s going to be a tough game,” he said. “Both teams will go out there and compete, show the best they can and we’ll see what we can do.”
“For sure it’s the most important game I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “But it’s just another game. You’ve got to look at it like it’s another game. Go play.”
🗣️ Darius Thompson al habla
🧡 Equipo / Equip / Team
Y recordad, pase lo que pase… pic.twitter.com/zb7Jksr8yE
— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) May 12, 2026
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