By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Valencia is the last participant of the EuroLeague Final Four, as they defeated Panathinaikos with a score of 81-64 in Game 5 on their home court.
After a thrilling series, in which they were trailing 2-0, the Spaniards won three consecutive games, the last of which was in front of their fans, thus becoming only the second team after Real Madrid in 2023 to come back from 0-2 and win the series.
Brancou Badio played an excellent game, stopping Kendrick Nunn on defense while scoring 20 points on the other side of the court. Braxton Key added 12, same as Jean Montero. On the other hand, Nigel Hayes-Davis led the scorers with 15 points, Cedi Osman had ten, and Kendrick Nunn scored nine, with as many as six turnovers.
The game started unexpectedly tough on both sides, and the hosts had a 14-10 lead after the first ten minutes. It turned out that Pedro Martinez’s team gained a crucial advantage in the second quarter, where they broke the guests with excellent defense and reached a massive 35-18 lead by halftime.
Panathinaikos managed to come back in the third quarter and add drama to the game, but Valencia fended off their surge and ultimately brought the game to a close relatively easily.
In the Final Four in Athens, Valencia will face Real Madrid in a Spanish derby, while the other semifinal pair consists of Olympiacos and Fenerbahce.