A predictably high-scoring series will be decided in Valencia after a 96-91 home victory allowed Hapoel to make it 1-1 on Friday night.
Game Notes and Facts: Valencia vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv



Hapoel will probably need to reach similar levels of offensive production again to overcome a Valencia team which has surpassed 90 points in seven of its last eight games, and won the series opener at home 91-82.
Pedro Martinez can call upon scoring threat from all over the court with five different players averaging double-digits in points for the season, led by exciting guard Jean Montero (12.9 points per game) and experienced forward Semi Ojeleye (11.6 PPG), who has so far failed to score in this series after receiving limited minutes due to injury and will be determined to make his mark if fitness allows.
Hapoel’s success in Game 2 was spearheaded by a huge performance from star center Johnathan Motley, who combined 26 points with 8 rebounds. Motley converted 9 of his 12 free-throw attempts during that game, so Valencia paint patrollers Jaime Pradilla and Matt Costello will be keen to limit his effectiveness.
Another major influence on Friday’s game was Hapoel guard Yam Madar with 21 points – including 4-of-5 three-pointers – and 9 assists. Crucially, Madar also snared 4 steals as Valencia’s backcourt trio of Montero, Chris Jones and Stefan Jovic combined for 8 turnovers. And if Dimitris Itoudis’s team can put similar pressure on the ball again on Wednesday, a road victory may well be within reach.
GAME NOTES
- Valencia beat Hapoel 91-82 in Game 1, which was the first-ever meeting between these clubs in the EuroCup.
- Johnathan Motley, Antonio Blakeney and Yam Madar combined for 69 in Game 2 as Hapoel evened the series with a 96-91 victory.
- Valencia guard Chris Jones was a teammate of Hapoel forward Oz Blayzer during the 2020-21 season at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.
- Hapoel assistant coach Stefanos Dedas was the head coach at Israeli side Hapoel Holon when Nate Sestina played there at the tail end of the 2020-21 season.
Game Videos
GAME FACTS
Valencia Basket
Streaks
Jean Montero has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games.
Montero has posted double-digit PIRs in seven straight games.
Montero has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.
Montero has collected at least 1 steal in 10 of his last 11 games.
Montero has made 12 consecutive free throws.
Nate Sestina has made at least 1 three-point shot in 11 of his last 12 games.
Player Records against Opponent
Jean Montero scored a career-high 24 points for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.
Montero made a career high 6 two-pointers for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.
Montero played a career-high 27:35 minutes for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.
Nate Sestina grabbed a career-high 7 defensive rebounds for Turk Telekom Ankara against Hapoel on October 26, 2022.
Brancou Badio made a career-high 5 free throws for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.
Nate Reuvers matched his career high in scoring with 12 points in Valencia’s Game 1 win over Hapoel.
Team Record
Valencia blocked a season-high 6 shots against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.
Valencia made a season-high 30 two-pointers against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.
Season Rankings
Jaime Pradilla is ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 4.2 defensive rebounds per game.
Pradilla is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in True Shooting Percentage at 75.5%.
Stefan Jovic is sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 5.23 assists per game. Montero is seventh with 5.18.
Jovic is second among qualified EuroCup players this season in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.9.
Montero is third among qualified EuroCup players this season with 1.8 steals per game.
Nathan Reuvers is sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 1.2 blocks per game.
Reuvers is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in two-point shooting at 72.6%. Matthew Costello is tied for sixth at 70.8%.
Semi Ojeleye is ninth among qualified EuroCup players with 2.1 three-pointers made per game.
All-time Rankings
Xabi Lopez-Arostegui is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts in free-throw shooting at 89.3%.
Stefan Jovic is ranked second on the all-time EuroCup charts in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.0.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv
Streaks
Johnathan Motley has posted a PIR in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games.
Motley has scored 12 or more points in six of his last seven games.
Marcus Foster has made at least 1 three-pointer in five of his last six games.
Foster has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.
Yam Madar has had PIRs of 11 or more in 12 straight games.
Madar has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
Madar has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven of his last eight games.
Player Records against Opponent
Ish Wainright grabbed a career-high 6 defensive rebounds against Valencia in Game 1 of this series.
Marcus Bingham blocked a career-high 3 shots against Valencia in Game 1 of this series.
Yam Madar grabbed a season-high 8 rebounds, which matches his career high, in Hapoel’s Game 1 defeat to Valencia.
Madar dished a career-high 9 assists against Valencia in Game 2 of this series.
Madar collected a career-high 4 steals against Valencia in Game 2 of this series.
Tomer Ginat grabbed a career-high 8 defensive rebounds against Valencia in Game 2 of this series.
Season Rankings
Yam Madar is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in PIR with 19.9 per game. Motley is sixth with 19.4 per game.
Madar is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 4.6 free throws per game.
Yam Madar is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in three-point accuracy at 54.3%.
Johnathan Motley is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in scoring with 16.6 points per game.
Motley leads the EuroCup in two-pointers made per game this season at 6.0.
Joe Ragland is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.6. Bar Timor is eighth at 3.0.