By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Valencia captain and three-time EuroCup champion Rafa Martinez broke into tears when he entered the court with eight seconds remaining in Game 3 of the ACB semifinals vs. Real Madrid for his last moments as a player of the “Taronja”.
With the result of the match having been already decided in favor of Real, Valencia coach Jaume Ponsarnau sent Martinez in for the player to receive the well-deserved ovation and recognition by his teammates, the team’s fans and also opponents.
La ovación de la Fonteta para DON RAFA MARTÍNEZ.
¡Emoción a flor de piel!#PlayoffLigaEndesa pic.twitter.com/N5H43AzFsH— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) June 10, 2019
“Valencia has been the greatest experience of my life,” Martinez later told Milena Martin of Movistar +.
Martinez, 37, joined Valencia in 2008. During his stint with the club, he won the EuroCup in 2010, 2014 and 2019, plus the 2017 Spanish League title.