By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Valencia Basket overcame its many injuries problems and got an important victory 85 – 83 over Unicaja in their second meeting in Malaga this week. The hosts (7-9 record) ended its four games winning streak in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague while Valencia improved to 5-11.
The key: With Sam Van Rossom fouled out and Unicaja leading by 4 (79 – 83, 39′), Valencia went into a 0 – 6 run in the last minute. James Augustine had the chance to send the game to overtime at the buzzer left but he missed.
The game: After a close first quarter (19 – 19) Unicaja seemed to be more comfortable on the floor. Nemanja Nedovic started running the floor and the Andalusians took their biggest lead of the first half at the break (39 – 48).
Surprisingly, Valencia’s reaction came after receiving an 8-0 run starting the third quarter (39 – 56, 23′). The Taronjas’ captain Rafa Martinez helped his team reduce the difference to just 4 points with ten minutes left (65 – 69).
Three-pointers were raining for the guests (Valencia scored 40 points in just 12 minutes). Van Rossom completed the comeback in the fourth with a shot from downtown (72 – 74, 34′) and at the end, Valencia escaped with the win.
Team effort: Rafa Martinez (17 p.), Alberto Abalde (16 p.) and San van Rossom (15 p.) led the winners over Unicaja.
Not enough: Nemanja Nedovic was too alone. The Serbian guard scored 23 points but he and his teammates couldn’t avoid their second defeat of the season against the Spanish champions.
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