By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv beating Efes on the road and putting pressure on Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz, Pedro Martinez’s team didn’t miss a step after prevailing over Valencia Basket on the road 81-71 thanks to powerful run down the last stretch.
Valencia was leading for most of the game, but Baskonia didn’t give up as they were breathing down the hosts’ neck until the end. With Patricio Garino hitting the three-pointer Baskonia was up 74-71 with three minutes left in the game. Rafa Martinez missed his chance to tie the score on the other side and Matt Janning made a lay-up to put the hosts up by five (76-71) with 90 seconds remaining. Valencia was scoreless in the last 4:30 minutes as the Baskonia made a 13-0 run that led them to another win.
After this result, Baskonia moved up to a 12-13 record in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague while Valencia slipped to a 9-16.
Valencia’s good defense prevent the visiting squad to find open shots in the first half. Pedro Martinez’s team was struggling with moving the ball, but their main problem was cold hands. They were 1/11 from the downtown as Matt Janning and Janis Timma combined for 0/7 shots in the first half.
However, the visitors found their stroke when they needed it the most. On the other side, Fernando San Emeterio showed no mercy to his former team Baskonia. The Spanish forward finished the game with 15 points and 8 out of 15 points were in the first quarter. However, that couldn’t save Valencia tonight.
Marcelinho Huertas did his magic for Baskonia with 19 points and 7 assists followed by Johannes Voigtmann’s 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Photo credit: Euroleague