Valencia Basket started the 2025-26 EuroLeague quarterfinals with a narrow defeat at the Roig Arena against Panathinaikos AKTOR, 67-68. The home team played from behind for much of the game, especially in the first quarter where Kendrick Nunn and Mathias Lessort imposed an early 5-15 lead. Despite a reaction in the second period with three-pointers from Montero and Badio, poor outside shooting (5 of 26 at halftime) made the difference in a game decided in the final seconds.
Tactical analysis: suffocating defense and perimeter problems 🏀
The key to the game lay in Panathinaikos's physical defense, which neutralized Valencia's set offense. After halftime, the home team adjusted with a more defensive lineup led by Braxton Key and Josep Puerto, managing to close the gap on the scoreboard. However, the lack of accuracy in long-range shots was a constant burden: the team accumulated 5/26 on three-pointers at halftime and failed to surpass 30% by the end of the game. The taronja defense improved in the third quarter, but the inability to score from outside allowed the Greek team to maintain short distances until the end.
The three-point curse: when the rim becomes the enemy 🎯
If Valencia Basket had made a couple more three-pointers, we would be talking about something else today. But no, the ball preferred to kiss the rim and leave. The home team was determined to prove that shooting from outside is a risky sport, with a 5/26 at halftime that would make any weekend shooter blush. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos simply waited for the local errors and exploited the gaps. In the end, 67-68 and a clear lesson: in the EuroLeague quarterfinals, failing from the perimeter is unforgivable. Even with home-court advantage.