Valencia Basket spent the first two games of its EuroLeague playoff series losing heartbreakers by a combined three points. On Wednesday night in Athens, the Spanish club responded with its clearest statement yet, beating Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 91-87 to force a pivotal Game 4.
Inside Telekom Center Athens, Valencia finally controlled the game on its terms. The visitors pushed the tempo relentlessly, attacked early in transition and turned defensive pressure into easy offense, preventing Panathinaikos from slowing the series into a half-court battle.
Brancou Badio and Jean Montero led the charge with 16 points each, but Valencia’s biggest breakthrough came in the way it dictated rhythm from opening tip to final buzzer. The second-place regular-season finisher looked like the same fast, aggressive group that won 25 games during the regular season.
Kam Taylor set the tone early by making his first four shots as Valencia jumped ahead 24-18 after one quarter. Pedro Martinez’s team shot 9-for-13 inside the arc in the opening period while piling up eight assists through sharp ball movement and quick decision-making.
The visitors kept attacking after halftime despite losing Josep Puerto to injury. Darius Thompson buried a three-pointer and Montero repeatedly got into the paint as Valencia stretched the lead to 62-43, forcing Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman into a timeout.
Montero delivered one of the most important performances of his EuroLeague career. Along with his 16 points, the guard finished with nine assists, setting a Valencia playoff record and surpassing Omar Cook’s previous mark of eight assists from 2011.
Even when tensions rose in the third quarter and both head coaches were ejected, Valencia stayed composed. Badio, Montero and Matt Costello quickly answered every Panathinaikos push, rebuilding the margin to 84-68 before the hosts made one final run.
Panathinaikos cut the deficit to 90-87 in the closing minutes behind Nikos Rogkavopoulos, who finished with 16 points, but Valencia’s defense held on consecutive late possessions. Badio then sealed the game from the foul line.
T.J. Shorts led the Greek side with 17 points and seven assists, while Nigel Hayes-Davis added 15 points. Kendrick Nunn scored 13, but Valencia’s pressure defense forced 12 turnovers and repeatedly disrupted Panathinaikos’ offensive flow.
After two dramatic games to open the series, Valencia now heads into Game 4 with momentum, belief and a formula that has suddenly made this matchup completely unpredictable.
