Jean Montero and Brancou Badio were also among those who impressed for the hosts
Matt Costello and fellow new faces soaking up the applause at Valencia
Article
3 Mins read
Although the most exciting piece of recruitment for Valencia fans during the summer might have been the return of Pedro Martinez, the head coach was outshone by a trio of his new signings on the court during Wednesday’s 105-78 victory over Veolia Towers Hamburg.
Martinez led Las Taronjas to its first-ever Spanish League title in 2017 and now, returning to the club after seven years away, has been entrusted with the task of challenging for a fifth BKT EuroCup crown.
His quest has been aided by the arrival of some talented new players, who took the opportunity to shine in their home debuts on Wednesday.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0Tz_Dl72DC0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/04/XLmbajKfwMjopXfbGwKJdCdHhgtAWOxW-1733350763340.jpg]()
Kuath with the massive block on Nelson! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UuuwT3QFVM8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/46758356-bb54-4d0b-8ff3-9d2899c9788f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A144%3A100]()
Barnett takes off! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/-QGxm1bgDFo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b7272e42-e295-4671-9794-f450837be81d.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Valencia Basket | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92036c7e-43fc-496b-bcce-052cef3340aa.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A182%3A57]()
Brimah's huge alley-oop slam! Magic Moment
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/wymmQVO6BiPHnb3Cak94vyf6aUCitcxg-1731449782449.jpg]()
Hamburg monster alley-oop! | Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/JWt32LiXnXE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6ae65a8-6306-4a4c-9ee6-bc4a0da307ea.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/65946eaf-cdc9-4047-af56-58dd1be869f7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A80%3A114]()
Kuath's big denial! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51354fc8-76cd-4eb7-9f2f-c0cba58cf5e9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A103]()
Monster alley-oop from Hamburg! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rpdB_bwMSPs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Valencia Basket | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/whJMXd7_Sts/maxresdefault.jpg]()
7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51354fc8-76cd-4eb7-9f2f-c0cba58cf5e9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A141%3A107]()
Kuath's unique alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/29/QZcSHhyjqfd18Ru8saFrdgGqvXb8Z7ap-1730242540579.jpg]()
Kuath puts on a show! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/5xSLfevXOUI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Hamburg Towers-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/79bacce6-41d7-4846-861f-e7baaf9b00c4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A126]()
Ogbe’s no-look dish to Kuath! Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cf613784-87cc-4bf1-83e4-da8b30cb6238.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A99]()
Kuath puts on a show! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/711bc31a-500c-4571-91eb-cec467cce94f.jpg]()
Turk Telekom Ankara-Valencia Basket | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b781181b-56cb-4db9-8c44-dae04725031c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A24%3A62]()
Lopez-Arostegui's magic assist! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ff28af3b-c960-4df2-bced-f9cc11f531b1.jpg?crop=764%3A430%3Anowe%3A0%3A48]()
Ojeleye throws it down! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/72f2b185-13f0-4b1d-8fee-686f5c95f331.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9081cc82-ad99-4289-8b3c-fb760a507d9d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A30%3A68]()
Kuath throws down the alley-oop! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/_F4D3JtmDtE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/98fe1034-e356-4b84-9203-82896f861be4.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A193%3A89]()
Montero denies Moretti! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nVv73iwP8Ws/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 01:47
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/15/H5mm0BGeyfbavfDmjMiHxqFEjngcD0KY-1729026507213.jpg]()
Mike Daum: 'It's awesome to be back'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Srr-lz_Ru0M/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31c045f2-9da1-4bb9-9ce6-13e5c5e10d9e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A118%3A42]()
Mitrovic with a dunk after a sublime assist from Teodosic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f36d103b-9f85-4eac-a624-e8f2a7330a18.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A66]()
Daum with an offensive rebound and a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40c9e4e4-91f0-48f4-b7e8-caece66a2b4d.jpg?crop=1173%3A660%3Anowe%3A42%3A94]()
Birch throws it down after a pass from Colson! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2fb38609-bfb9-4bd4-a84b-12e90254d13e.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A74%3A65]()
Ivey to Barnett alley-oop! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c0a70ded-be93-42c5-aec6-99faecc7d791.jpg?crop=852%3A479%3Anowe%3A147%3A29]()
What a monstrous dunk by Bolomboy! Motorola Magic Moment
- 03:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/ZqkDjAONeaxKCvCJ40k5FwKLedLc9cvl-1728504189549.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/cQhjRbA9q1Cmm9p0gscm01y8OatbxvGN-1728499844772.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Valencia Basket | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/30eeb859-c5ef-4068-b98c-02acae7c6aaf.jpg?crop=1318%3A742%3Anowe%3A12%3A42]()
Great no-look pass by Stefan Jovic! Magic Moment
- 03:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/02/K57EpeZHI58SFCGEHVzbYZpH02EJQTXa-1727905651100.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c5b414fa-9d2c-4fcb-84c6-bf718d8b003b.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A25]()
Magic Moment: Montero’s magical assist!
- 00:27
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cf613784-87cc-4bf1-83e4-da8b30cb6238.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A102]()
Magic Moment: Kuath flies high!
- 03:35
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/25/7vihwvN1OBfUL3UTKTiX7doZYsIdINyv-1727297608407.jpg]()
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem-Valencia Basket | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/24/g8c0kLnw44AxJWOWKWP8IiZJgRVKoM8C-1727212594688.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Maronka posterizes Pansa!
- 03:49
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/50d93c6e-8ea3-45b4-a783-b586900ac254.jpg]()
Veolia Towers Hamburg-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cd60eb65-2fb8-4bd9-b357-7f58d7c50a98.png?crop=745%3A419%3Anowe%3A5%3A102]()
Magic Moment: Cameron Reece swats Salash at the rim!
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1ef24125-d5a1-4f5b-bc63-d53d8f34d340.jpg]()
Magic Moment: Zsombor Maronka with the massive dunk!
- 04:03
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/12/5aHVDwGbEneZ1P2uVaQTlKNJbCVeY0EJ-1712954731282.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Valencia Basket| Round 34 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 03:56
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/04/i1nIv86fg5JiwjvkIi6Y2XkldPQWNeJ1-1712266078354.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | Round 33 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 03:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/27/rj33QXMwRq6gVdF5uZlzhtdWfqvPsYqs-1711576115870.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Valencia Basket | Round 32 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 04:09
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/22/4DbLKiufR1cUkGwSlw4EFP3OZRQJSUy0-1711139335216.jpg]()
AS Monaco-Valencia Basket | Round 31 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 03:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/20/JC8luGZI9PojHowj8VwhXpOY2TPIEaPB-1710972516078.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-FC Bayern Munich | Round 30 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
First and foremost was Matt Costello, who was signed from Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz largely due to his physical ability to dominate the paint. But Costello, instead, used the win over Hamburg to showcase his long-range shooting abilities, leading all scorers with 23 points in just 14 minutes on the floor, doing the damage from deep by converting 4 of his 6 three-point attempts.
Costello was no stranger to the Fonteta floor thanks to his long spell with Baskonia, and referenced the vibrant atmosphere routinely created by Valencia fans as he joked after the game: “It was nice to have [the fans] cheering for me instead of against me!
“I’ve been coming here for five years and everyone was whistling me, so now it’s nice to hear them clapping!”
The fans were certainly in a celebratory mood after watching their team run riot in the final 15 minutes, turning a tight 65-63 scoreline into an eventual rout. And Costello believes the manner of performance over that final stretch should act as a template to follow over the coming weeks.
“We’re a team that likes to get out and run,” he explained. “We have a bunch of athletic guys, and Pedro’s system is to get up and down the court. Once we started getting stops, it opened up the game for us and that’s what we hope to do.”
Another impressive performance came from new backcourt orchestrator Jean Montero, who took advantage of Chris Jones’s absence through injury to lead the offense superbly.
At first, 21-year-old Montero focused on distribution as he dished 6 assists in the first quarter, including a beautiful behind the back feed to Jaime Pradilla which had the fans purring in admiration.
Montero later showed his scoring skills by advancing to 11 points, and continued to dish dimes by completing a double-double with 11 assists – the biggest contribution to an excellent overall team total of 28.
The third and final new signing to shine was Brancou Badio, who followed his coach Martinez from Manresa to Valencia this summer.
The 25-year-old guard, who made one appearance of just 22 seconds in the EuroLeague during his younger days with FC Barcelona, was a fairly quiet presence during the opening three quarters but exploded into life as Valencia ran away with the game in the fourth.
Draining a trio of three-pointers in just 46 seconds, Badio finished with 14 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting from long-range, showing that he also has the talent to play his part.
And with Martinez back at the helm, a strong existing roster and the new signings making an instant impact, Valencia has already demonstrated that it will be tough to beat this season.