Moncho Fernández praises team effort despite narrow loss to Valencia: “We’re 99.9% happy”

Girona, Spain – Despite falling just short in a tightly contested EuroCup clash, Moncho Fernández made it clear his pride in his team remained undiminished. Speaking after Girona’s 81-84 home defeat to Valencia Basket at the Fontajau Pavilion on Tuesday night, the Galician head coach delivered a message that resonated far beyond the scoreboard: “I’m not 100% happy because we lost, but I am 99.9% happy because the team was fantastic.”

The loss, while disappointing in the standings, underscored a Girona side that fought valiantly against one of Europe’s most experienced rosters. Valencia, a perennial EuroLeague contender dropping down for EuroCup play, entered the game as slight favorites, but Girona pushed them to the final buzzer with disciplined defense, sharp ball movement, and timely scoring from multiple contributors.

Fernández, known for his measured demeanor and emphasis on process over outcome, used the post-game press conference to reinforce his coaching philosophy. “A coach has to be consistent with his message,” he said, switching fluidly between Catalan and Spanish as is customary in regional press settings. “And if I’ve been talking all season about effort, unity, and fighting for every possession, then I have to congratulate my players when they live it — especially in a loss like this.”

The Girona bench erupted throughout the game, particularly during a pivotal third-quarter run where they erased a 12-point deficit to take a brief lead. Key contributions came from guard Aleix Font, who finished with 18 points and 5 assists, and forward Óliver Máñez, whose 14 points and relentless rebounding kept Girona in contention. Valencia’s experience showed in the closing minutes, with Jean Montero hitting a tough mid-range jumper with 1:12 left to put Valencia up 82-79, and Sasha Vezenkov sealing it with two free throws after a foul on a three-point attempt.

Statistically, Girona matched Valencia in several key areas. They shot 46% from the field (32/69) compared to Valencia’s 48% (33/69), out-rebounded them 38 to 35, and committed just 10 turnovers — half of Valencia’s 20. Girona also hit 9 three-pointers to Valencia’s 7, showing their perimeter threat remained potent despite the loss.

“They did everything we asked,” Fernández continued, his voice steady. “They defended, they moved the ball, they took good shots, and they never stopped believing. That’s all I can ask for. The result hurts — of course it does — but the way we played? That’s who we are. That’s who we’re becoming.”

The defeat leaves Girona with a 2-3 record in Group B of the 2024-25 EuroCup regular season, placing them fourth in the six-team group. Valencia improves to 3-2, sitting second behind league-leading Türk Telekom. Only the top four teams advance to the playoffs, so every game remains critical — but Fernández insists the trajectory is upward.

“We’re not where we aim for to be yet,” he admitted. “But we’re closer than we were last month. This team learns fast. They adapt. They compete. And when you compete like this against a team with Valencia’s pedigree, you know you’re on the right path.”

Girona’s next EuroCup fixture is an away trip to face Promitheas Patras in Greece on December 10th — a winnable game that could significantly boost their playoff hopes. Domestically, they return to Liga ACB action on December 15th against Baskonia in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a matchup that will test their consistency across competitions.

For now, Fernández’s message is clear: pride isn’t reserved only for victories. It’s earned in the effort, the unity, and the refusal to back down — even when the final score doesn’t go your way.

As he walked off the Fontajau court, Fernández paused briefly to applaud the traveling Girona supporters who had stayed until the final buzzer. “That,” he said, smiling despite the loss, “is the 0.1% I’m still working on. But with fans like these? I’ll get there.”

What’s next: Girona travels to face Promitheas Patras in the EuroCup on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:00 PM local time (18:00 UTC). Fans can follow live updates via the official EuroCup website and Girona’s social channels. Join the conversation — share your thoughts on Girona’s performance and what they need to do to secure a playoff spot in the comments below.