Historic: Valencia Basket Stages Comeback Against Panathinaikos to Reach First Final Four (81-64)

The Roig Arena was set to host a historic European matchup between two of the continent's best basketball teams, Valencia Basket vs Panathinaikos, with head coach Pedro Martínez facing Ergin Ataman and a passionate home crowd in a special season for the 'orange' squad.

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This was the most important game in club history, with Valencia Basket one win away from reaching their first Final Four, which would coincidentally be held in Athens at Panathinaikos' home arena, the Oaka Arena.

No novelist could have scripted this series, where they would go to a fifth game after winning all four road games, with Valencia Basket needing to overcome a 0-2 deficit at home after losing the first two games in Valencia.

Pedro Martínez's roster absences would be: Yankuba Sima, Josep Puerto, and Xabi López-Arostegui due to injury.

• Valencia Basket Starting Lineup: Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Kameron Taylor, Matt Costello, and Neal Sako.
• Panathinaikos Starting Lineup: Nunn, Shorts, Hayes, Osman, and Faried.

The game's first basket came from Brancou Badio, a long-range attempt that counted as two points (2-0), with the Senegalese player also adding two more from the free throw line. Kendrick Nunn scored the first points for PAO with an individual play (6-2).

The first timeout came with 4:58 remaining in the quarter, a television timeout, with the Greeks struggling with their field goal accuracy so far.

With two minutes left, Matt Costello hit a three-pointer from the top of the key for a +6 lead (14-8). The first quarter ended with a tight score. Brancou Badio with 4 points was the most impactful player so far. (14-10)

Nunn opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, the first long-range make for the Greeks (14-13).

Jaime Pradilla threw down a dunk in transition for a +11 lead (29-18), and at that moment Ergin Ataman received a technical foul, with De Larrea converting the free throw (30-18), and Taylor hit a three-pointer for a +15 advantage (33-18). Panathinaikos' scoring drought continued as Valencia Basket extended their lead to 17 points (35-18).

PAO cut it to five points late in the first half, bringing the game to within 12. Lessort with 7 points and Kameron Taylor with 7 were the leading scorers at that point. (35-23)

Brancou Badio opened the second half with a three-pointer (38-23), and Hayes answered with one of his own (38-26).

With 4:33 remaining, Pedro Martínez called a timeout as Panathinaikos began cutting into the lead, getting within 7 points (43-36). Several three-pointers from the green-clad squad gave Ataman's team renewed hope.

The third quarter ended with Valencia Basket holding a +6 advantage, with Juancho Hernangómez hitting a three-pointer from the wing at the buzzer (56-50).

Everything was to be decided in a final quarter that would be played with the intensity and tension of a true championship game. The Greeks cut it to 6 points in the third ten minutes.

Montero, Thompson, Taylor, Pradilla, and Reuvers took the court as the starting lineup for the fourth quarter. Pradilla opened the quarter with a three-pointer, and Osman answered with another three as well (59-53).

As the minutes ticked away, Darius Thompson hit a crucial three-pointer for an 11-point lead, followed by De Larrea extending it to 14, prompting Ataman to call timeout with six minutes remaining (69-55).

A dominant final stretch by Valencia Basket sealed the game convincingly. Panathinaikos squandered a unique opportunity, and the 'orange' squad emerged as DESERVING WINNERS. Brancou Badio was the game's leading scorer with his points. (81-64)

VALENCIA BASKET MADE HISTORY IN EUROPE!! Pedro Martínez's team won a playoff series against a rival that was among the competition's favorites, staging a comeback from a 0-2 deficit after losing the first two games at home.

The Valencia squad will face Real Madrid in the semifinals, without Tavares and Len. The other matchup will be between Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos.