Valencia Basket hosts Boulogne Metropolitans 92 on Wednesday. Valencia looks for its ninth semifinal berth. Metropolitans wants to reach the semifinals for the first time.
Keys to victory: Valencia vs. Metropolitans
Valencia needs to involve frontcourt
Valencia leads all quarterfinals teams in scoring with 87.4 points per game. It has made 57.3% of its two-point shots and a lot of that has to do with its deep, versatile frontcourt. Mike Tobey (62.2% 2FG), Bojan Dubljevic (60.7% 2FG), Jasiel Rivero (71.0% 2FG) and Jaime Pradilla (80.5%) combine for 40.6 points on excellent shooting percentages. Neno Dimitrijevic is back, giving head coach Joan Peñarroya more options at guard. If Valencia (20.7 apg.) can circulate the ball well and get its big men involved, it should have a good chance to reach the semifinals.
Related Videos
Metropolitans relies on star guard Cummings
Metropolitans has held opponents to just 34.3% shooting on their three-point shots and needs that kind of defensive effort at La Fonteta, preventing Tobey and Dubljevic from spreading the floor with their shots from beyond the arc. Playmaker Will Cummings is Metropolitans' key player due to his experience, high basketball IQ and character. He needs to control the game tempo against Sam Van Rossom and Dimitrijevic, getting Jordan McRae and Vincent Hunter involved on offense. Metropolitans is 8-2 this season when it outrebounds its opponent, so fighting for every board should be more important than ever this week.