By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
During the official opening press conference for the EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, at the Onassis Foundation on Thursday, head coach Pedro Martinez previewed Friday’s monumental Semifinals at the Telekom Center Athens, where his Valencia will face Spanish rivals Real Madrid.
The experienced head coach firmly believes that his team’s historic breakthrough should not disrupt their emotional baseline. “I believe that our confidence shouldn’t depend on whether we won or lost the last game,” he remarked, referencing his side taking down Panathinaikos Aktor in Game 5 of the Playoffs to reach the Final Four. “Confidence has to come from our day-to-day work, from our identity, from believing in it, and from trusting in ourselves. That is far more important than whether we won or lost the last game.”
Echoing his coach’s philosophy, 22-year-old Dominican guard Jean Montero emphasized the collective focus of the underdog squad. “In the end, anyone who is here in Athens for the Final Four has to be ready. Not just me, but the whole group. I believe we have the confidence and the mentality required to play in a Final Four. We have it because of the work we do day in and day out, and because of the mutual trust between the coach and us as players. That is why I believe not just me, but the entire squad is prepared for this.”
Making their debut appearance in the championship-crowning tournament, the Taronges face a few roster uncertainties, as forward Josep Puerto (ankle) and swingman Xabi Lopez-Arostegui (hamstring) are both considered questionable.
They face a familiar foe on Friday, as Valencia and Real have played six times during the 2025-26 journey in all competitions, with Los Blancos taking the last four.