Valencia Basket seeks to take a step forward in its season by winning on one of the most difficult courts in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Valencia Basket, a team of ups and downs and strong emotions, has the opportunity to dispel any possible doubts that may exist about its performance by taking a leap in quality in its season by winning on one of the most complicated courts in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Three wins in a row give confidence to the team led by Álex Mumbrú to face tonight’s match against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz with the conviction that they can beat a rival who, according to their away record, is not good at all . It will be, without a doubt, a level test, but also a magnificent opportunity to consolidate oneself at the top of the classification. The Valencians, tenth in the table with 22 points, are just one victory away from the Basques, so winning at the Fernando Buesa Arena would mean a coup of authority. And, incidentally, reinforce their position in a ‘Play-In’ that the Valencians should not resist.
Valencia Basket arrives after resting and recovering a key player
However, Valencia Basket faces the match after clearing its mind and recharging its batteries after the four days of rest between its last match (against Basket Zaragoza) and today’s match in Vitoria, although the positive and ascending streak that They wore the ‘taronja’. Despite this, the Catalan coach recovers some cash in his ranks. Stefan Jovic, who was absent from the match against Zaragoza due to back problems, will once again be available for his coach, while Bouba Touré will also not be able to play due to back discomfort. In this way, and with everything, Valencia Basket will go for a confrontation that, as power forward Damien Inglis described in his appearance before the media, they will face inside the locker room as “a revenge.”
«It is a very important game for us. We have lost to them twice this season and we really want to get revenge. Valencia Basket has lost against Baskonia seven consecutive times, so we will do everything possible to win,” said the man from Caneya.
The challenge of winning at Fernando Buesa Arena will not be easy, both because of the stage and because of a rival who is a tough nut to crack.
However, the challenge of winning at Fernando Buesa Arena will not be an easy task, both because of the stage and because of a rival who, despite being two points away, is a tough nut to crack. Furthermore, Valencia Basket has not done well, coming into the match with a balance of 11-11. Being the territory with the worst winning percentage in the Endesa League, in European competitions, of the five visits to Vitoria, they only achieved one victory. It was in the 2017-18 season, in the Regular League and with a result of 63-80. Not in vain, their last visit did damage to the depths of the entity, since the Basques won by a difference of almost 40 points (114-75).
To make matters worse, in their squad they can boast of having Chima Moneke, the third most valued player in the competition, and Markus Howard, the second highest scorer and the one who scores the most triples. And, due to Chris Chiozza’s internal collateral ligament injury, Baskonia made a move to incorporate, from French side Boulogne-Levallois, the experienced point guard Jordan Theodore. Although there is a feeling that the chances of winning are minimal, Valencia Basket, after emerging from the patch of negative results they suffered between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, their three consecutive victories reinforce a team that will go to the Fernando Buesa Arena without fear, with personality and, above all, with the aim of minimizing the virtues of Baskonia.