By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With both teams entering the game with the same record, the motivation was obvious from the get-go. And while Partizan Mozzart Bet tried, Valencia smiled.
The Spanish team go the 89-81 win over the Serbs to jump to a 10-10 record, while Partizan dropped to 9-11, moving two wins away from the 8th spot in the standings. Also, Valencia secured the direct tiebreaker with two wins over Partizan in the regular season.
Bojan Dubljevic with 20 points set the tone early for Valencia, while James Web (17 p.) and Chris Jones (13 p.) also scored in double digits.
Αs Valencia coach Alex Mumbru said: “It’s important to be solid at home. We played a great game on offense and defense. When Partizan started to push us, we played good defense, and finally, we won the game. It’s time to continue working and be with the same dynamic.”
Partizan got 22 points by Dante Exum, but in general, it was an off night for the guests with Kevin Punter finishing the game with 14 points and Uros Trifunovic adding nine.
The hosts had always the edge and by the numbers that was evident in rebounding, as Valencia had 28 to the end of the night, while Partizan just 18.
Valencia started the game strong, leading 27-18 after the first 10 minutes of action and by 10 (47-37) at halftime. Partizan tried to come back and made it a three-point game (58-55) thanks to Exum in the third period, but once again Valencia got things under control.
The hosts entered the last quarter leading by 11 (69-58) after an admirable 11-3 run and got even a 14-point advantage (72-58) making their run 13-3. Still, Partizan didn’t give up and made it once again a three-point game (75-72) after a three by Punter and then they did it again (77-74) after two free throws by Zach Leday.
Valencia did not panic, Dubljevic and Webb answered back with two goal fouls (83-76), and when Exum again made a big three (83-79), Webb did exactly the same on the next play (86-79) with 1.45 left.
For Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic the explanation was simple: “We tried, and the second half was different. But at the crucial moments, they played well, and we made some stupid decisions offensively and also defensively. In the last five possessions, they scored two three-point shots and three baskets and one.”