By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jean Montero has been named Most Valuable Player in Game 4 of the Playoffs in the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.
Euroleague Basketball confirmed the 22-year-old Valencia guard as the latest MVP of the Round on Saturday.
Per the press release: “After a performance for the ages, in a playoff game for the ages, Jean Montero of Valencia Basket earned Game 4 MVP honors, making EuroLeague playoff history along the way.
In Game 4, with his team down 1-2 in the series, Montero posted a playoff-record PIR of 45 while leading Valencia to an 86-89 win over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. It is the highest PIR any player has recorded in a playoff game since the format was established in the 2004-05 season, and tied for the highest PIR in any EuroLeague postseason game this century. It is also the highest PIR any player has recorded this season.
Montero shone with a career-high-tying 29 points, while also posting 7 rebounds and 7 assists. He made 5-of-6 two-pointers, 4-of-6 threes and was perfect on 7 trips to the free-throw line. Montero also had 3 steals and drew 8 fouls.
Game 4’s next best PIR, 34, belonged to Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv’s Dan Oturu and Vasilije Micic. In an 81-87 season-ending loss against Real Madrid, Micic starred with 18 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds, while Oturu collected a career-best 29 points, 7 rebounds and a playoff-record-tying 5 blocks.
Khem Birch of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul stepped up with a career performance to pace his team to a series-clinching 90-94 overtime win at Zalgiris Kaunas. Birch had a career-high 31 PIR after scoring a career-best 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking 2 shots.
Rounding out the list of Game 4’s best performers is Zalgiris All-EuroLeague guard Sylvain Francisco, who had 23 points, 11 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals for a 27 PIR in his team’s loss against Fenerbahce.
Individual highs: Dan Oturu ties playoff record with 5 blocks
Montero and Oturu led all players in Game 4 with 29 points apiece. Birch had 13 rebounds, more than any other player in Game 4, followed by 11 boards by Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort.
Micic and Francisco each had 11 assists, the most in Game 4. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos guard Jerian Grant had 4 steals to lead all players, one more than Montero and the Hapoel duo of Micic and Levi Randolph.
Oturu stood out with 5 blocks, tying his own single-game playoff record. Three players recorded double-doubles in Game 4: Francisco (23 points, 11 assists), Micic (18 points, 11 assists) and Birch (21 points, 13 rebounds).”