Valencia Basket has achieved what once seemed impossible, or at least highly improbable. After suffering two heartbreaking home defeats against powerhouse Panathinaikos—both decided in the final moments, brutally taxing both physically and emotionally—they managed to survive the daunting OAKA arena in Athens. With two convincing wins that showcased their big-team mentality, the series is now tied at 2-2, forcing a decisive Game 5 back in Valencia. This could become the greatest comeback in EuroLeague history, reminiscent of Real Madrid’s 2023 resurrection against Partizan, when Los Blancos (amid that infamous brawl in Game 2) lost the first two games at home, won two in Belgrade, and then clinched the series in Madrid—eventually going on to win the title.
That monumental Game 5 will take place on Wednesday at 21:00 in the Roig Arena. Naturally, Valencia wants to enter that matchup in peak physical condition, free from injuries or fatigue. But the schedule offers no mercy: after the grueling back-to-back (Wednesday-Friday) in Greece, they must play a Liga Endesa game this Sunday against Baskonia, another EuroLeague contender (19:00). And that’s not all. The domestic league has scheduled a double round for next week, but Pedro Martínez’s team has managed to dodge one bullet: their originally scheduled Thursday game (initially set for Wednesday) against Zaragoza has been postponed indefinitely, awaiting a new date. Their Sunday match against Bilbao remains. It’s one of those nightmarish situations caused by a packed calendar, starkly contrasting with Panathinaikos’s extra rest—they didn’t play last weekend nor do they have a league game this week, as their domestic competition is fully subordinated to the EuroLeague playoffs.
Valencia has been in frantic talks with the ACB, trying to reschedule or postpone their games against Baskonia and Zaragoza to clear the path for that crucial EuroLeague Game 5. Failing that, they are determined not to overexert themselves in a way that could backfire ahead of one of the most important games in club history. In the league match, they plan to play with their key players on minimal minutes, relying on three under-22 players permitted by regulations (Álex Blanco, Jorge Carot, and Tomas Talcis). Initially, the club hinted at fielding only junior and under-22 players if the schedule wasn’t adjusted, but there are regulatory limits that cannot be exceeded. What the club hopes for is a common-sense agreement.
Finally, the taronjas got some relief with the postponement of the Casademont Zaragoza game. However, the match against Baskonia remains on the schedule, and the ball will bounce again this Sunday at the Roig Arena, as the calendar can stretch no further.
Meanwhile, adding intrigue to the already massive Game 5, which has Europe’s attention since all other series have been decided and Panathinaikos faces an abyss with the Final Four in their home arena, the OAKA, the last surprise comes from controversial owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos. He was suspended for three games and fined for unsportsmanlike behavior during the Valencia games. Ironically, if his team wins, he will have “cleared” that debt and could be present at the OAKA. But he also wants to return to Valencia and not miss Game 5, hoping the EuroLeague management would accommodate his request.
