By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos entered the game on a four-game winning streak, but Valencia Basket proved once again that it is a team you can’t afford to be overconfident against.
The Spanish “Orange team” defeated the Greeks 89-79, improving to a 9-5 record, the same as Panathinaikos.
As usual, all Valencia players contributed to the win, but Darius Thompson stood out with an excellent performance, finishing with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists and some spectacular plays.
For Ergin Ataman’s squad, it was all about the guards: Kostas Sloukas (12 p.), Kendrick Nunn (23 p.), and TJ Shorts (19 p.) scored more than half of Panathinaikos’ total points.
Despite going into halftime with a lead (44-38), Panathinaikos was a step behind throughout the second half.
Valencia Basket’s high-tempo style, leaving little time for set 5-on-5 plays and resulting in 41 three-point attempts, proved too much for the home team.
In the fourth quarter, a 10–2 run gave Valencia its first double-digit lead, allowing the Spanish team to pull away comfortably and maintain control until the end.