EuroLeague: Jean Montero: "We Have the Confidence and Mentality Needed to Compete in a Final Four"

ATHENS. Valencia Basket faces its first Final Four in club history with the intention of competing without abandoning the identity that brought it to Athens. This was conveyed by head coach Pedro Martínez and Jean Montero during the official press conference ahead of the semifinal against Real Madrid, where both emphasized the importance of daily work and collective confidence within the group.

Pedro Martínez made clear that the historic qualification of the Valencia side should not alter the team's mentality before facing the most important game of the season. "Our confidence cannot depend on whether we won or lost the last game," explained the Valencia head coach when asked about the series against Panathinaikos. "Confidence has to come from daily work, from our identity and from believing in ourselves. That is much more important than the result of the last game."

The Spanish coach wanted to focus on the emotional and competitive stability that Valencia Basket has shown throughout the season, especially in a campaign where the team has managed to establish itself among European basketball's elite.

Jean Montero expressed himself along the same lines, one of the biggest revelations of the EuroLeague season. The Dominican point guard highlighted the group's mental preparation to face a Final Four despite the team's lack of experience in this scenario. "Everyone who is here in Athens has to be prepared. Not just me, the whole group," said Montero. "We have the confidence and the mentality needed to compete in a Final Four thanks to the work we do every day and the confidence that exists between the coach and the players."

Valencia Basket will face Real Madrid with some significant physical concerns. Josep Puerto continues to recover from an ankle problem and Xabi López-Arostegui remains pending evaluation due to muscle soreness.

The Valencia side and Real Madrid have faced each other six times this season across all competitions, with a favorable balance for the white team, which won the four most recent matchups. However, Valencia Basket hopes to bring to Athens the same competitive personality that allowed it to eliminate Panathinaikos and reach the first Final Four in club history.