Valencia Holds Off Panathinaikos in Athens Thriller
Valencia snatched a crucial road win against Panathinaikos, prevailing 91-87 in a fiercely contested EuroLeague encounter.
The visitors built their success on a dominant first half, establishing a commanding 13-point lead by halftime (39-52), with Valencia shooting 52% from the field compared to Panathinaikos' 48%.
Despite entering the final quarter with a nine-point cushion (66-75), Panathinaikos mounted a significant comeback attempt, fuelled by their bench which contributed 41 points, including 16 from Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos and 17 from Tj Shorts. However, Valencia, with Jean Montero orchestrating the offence with 9 assists and 16 points, managed to hold their nerve and secure the four-point victory.
Brancou Badio also made a significant impact for the visitors, tallying 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Kameron Taylor added 14 points. Panathinaikos, despite converting 81% of their free throws, could not overcome the deficit, as Valencia's defensive intensity, evidenced by 8 steals to Panathinaikos' 4, proved decisive.
This victory boosts Valencia's playoff aspirations.