Valencia Basket faced a disheartening night at the Roig Arena, succumbing to a second euroleague defeat against Hapoel Tel Aviv. The Israeli squad, a familiar thorn in Valencia’s side after eliminating them from the Eurocup last season, capitalized on an unusual circumstance: playing before an empty arena. Hapoel controlled the game from the outset, ultimately securing a 93-100 victory. The eerie silence of the 14,000-capacity venue, devoid of it’s usual fervent fanbase, was palpable even during pre-game warm-ups, with only the sounds of contemporary ballads filling the space.
Throughout the contest, Hapoel consistently dictated the pace, effectively countering Valencia’s attempts to close the scoring gap. Whenever Valencia’s shooting percentages dipped or their defensive intensity wavered, Hapoel, who maintained notable shooting efficiency above 50% from both two and three-point range, would re-establish a ten-point lead. A late surge by Valencia, spearheaded by Omari Moore, managed to narrow the deficit, allowing them to enter halftime with a glimmer of hope at 47-49.
This juncture, typically a moment for the Roig Arena crowd to ignite and propel Valencia forward, was instead met with an unnerving quiet. The empty stands underscored the team’s isolation, forcing them to navigate the second half without their customary vocal support.
In the second half, hapoel’s serbian point guard, Vasilije Micić, took control, orchestrating the game to Hapoel’s advantage. Coach Dimitris Itoudis, known for his tactical acumen, onc again proved his mastery against Pedro Martínez’s squad. Itoudis,who previously led Hapoel to a Eurocup title at Valencia’s expense,leveraged the silent arena to secure another crucial Euroleague win,keeping his team firmly positioned at the top of the standings.
The return of Xabi López-Arostegui to the Valencia lineup did little to alter the game’s trajectory, which had been an uphill battle from the opening tip. Despite a late push, former Valencia player Chris Jones, who played for Fonteta until last season, played a pivotal role in the decisive moments, sealing the outcome. Valencia experienced a taste of their own medicine in the Euroleague, mirroring their earlier high-scoring defeat to Barcelona (108 points) with this 100-point performance from Hapoel.
In other Euroleague action, Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory over Zeljko Obradovic’s Partizan Belgrade, 93-86.Sergio Scariolo’s team continues to show advancement, with walter Tavares delivering a stellar performance (19 points, 8 rebounds, and only one missed shot) to mark their third win of the season. Meanwhile, Baskonia remains winless in the Euroleague, suffering another meaningful defeat against paris Basketball (105-87), solidifying their position as the sole team yet to register a victory in the competition.
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