Javier Gancedo analyzes Game 3 of the semifinals and why he believes Valencia should reach the EuroCup Finals
Why Valencia can win Game 3
Artículo
3 Min lectura
It's Valencia Basket. It's the BKT EuroCup. It's a decisive game at La Fonteta. Valencia clicks all the boxes to reach its eighth EuroCup Finals.
There is some good news for Valencia, as Semi Ojeleye has bounced back from illness- He scored 18 points over 25 minutes in a Spanish League game over the weekend. Sergio De Larrea is also back in action, giving Valencia an even deeper backcourt rotation. So Valencia now has a deeper team and one of its top scorers is back in full force.
Until now, Ojeleye has played less than 10 minutes in the series. He has not scored and has a PIR of -2. By comparison, Ojeleye averaged 12.8 points on 42.9% three-point shooting for a PIR of 10.6 in regular season action. Valencia missed his physicality, versatility and leadership and now that he is fully recovered, Coach Pedro Martinez has new ways to look for mismatches, as well as counting on a player who is always ready to take (and make) big shots down the stretch.
It won't be easy, of course. Hapoel evened the series with a 96-91 victory in Game 2 behind an outstanding Johnathan Motley, who managed to stay out of foul trouble and play almost 35 minutes. He had 26 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR of 32. Valencia succeeded in getting Motley into foul trouble in Game 1, limiting him to just 12 points and 2 rebounds in less than 27 minutes. In that sense, Matt Costello, Nate Reuvers and Amida Brimah should be ready to be physical against him.
It only looks like a matter of time before Valencia is more consistent from beyond the arc. Valencia led the EuroCup by shooting 39.0% on three-pointers in the regular season and downed 40.5% from beyond the arc in the quarterfinals against U-BT Cluj-Napoca. It is struggling from beyond the arc against Hapoel at just 26.4% while Coach Dimitris Itoudis's team is soaring (40.4% 3FG in the series, 34.6% in regular season action). This weekend, Valencia downed 15 of 34 three-pointers (44.1% 3FG) in a Spanish League win. Playing at home, Valencia should feel more comfortable from downtown.
That leads us to Valencia's biggest advantage in this game: playing at La Fonteta. If Valencia loses, it will be the last EuroCup game ever played in one of the competition's most iconic arenas. La Fonteta and the Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium have been home to four EuroCup Finals apiece. With a win, la Fonteta would host its fifth and last EuroCup Finals after previously doing so in 2003, 2014, 2017 and 2019.
In short, Valencia has the home-court advantage, Ojeleye is back at his usual level and there are clear guidelines on how to win the game: secure the defensive boards to run the floor as much as possible, limit Motley and Yam Madar, putting them in foul trouble if possible and above all, feeling confident because a sea of people wearing orange will be there to support them and help them reach the Finals. It should be a great game to close one of the best series in competition history. Don't miss it!