Valencia comes back in Milan and matches its best start

The Valencia Basket continues to write its best early season story in the EuroLeague. The victory achieved in Milan against Olimpia Milano not only adds two crucial points but also consolidates an extraordinary start: seven wins in ten games, the same figure that marks the best historical start for the Valencia team in the continental competition. An achievement that holds even more value considering that Xavi Albert's team had to overcome a rollercoaster game, where they went from overwhelming dominance to being surpassed in the third quarter before executing an almost perfect final quarter.

A thundering start that was not misleading

From the first ball, Valencia Basket was determined to impose its game at the Unipol Forum. The initial numbers were compelling: a 2-12 partial in just three minutes highlighted the team’s offensive intent. Two minutes later, another 10-0 run extended the lead to 18 points (2-20) in less than five minutes of play. TJ Shorts and Kam Taylor were the main architects of this explosive start, moving the ball with precision and finding the basket with ease.

Giuseppe Poeta's Milano did not let themselves be intimidated and reacted with a series of defensive actions that reduced the lead before the end of the first quarter. The score of 15-24 showed that, although Valencia had imposed their initial rhythm, the Italians were not willing to yield without a fight. This first quarter laid the groundwork for a match that promised excitement.

The Italian comeback and the Valencia collapse

The second quarter witnessed a change in dynamics. Milano executed a 10-0 run that allowed them to take the lead on the scoreboard. The Italian team found its defensive rhythm and began to punish Valencia's mistakes. However, the Valencia team did not crumble: they regained the lead before halftime, reaching the break with a score of 37-40 that kept hopes of controlling the game alive.

What happened after the halftime break was a true nightmare for Xavi Albert's interests. Valencia got stuck offensively, with a three-point shooting percentage that plummeted. Milano, with Leandro Bolmaro as the top scorer, executed a total dominance in the third quarter winning 22-11. This partial was devastating: it gave the Italian team an eight-point lead (59-51) at the start of the final quarter, a scenario that seemed to condemn Valencia's options at the Unipol Forum.

The golden final quarter

What happened in the last ten minutes was almost a tactical work of art. Valencia responded with a 0-11 run that immediately regained control of the game. Milano tried to react and managed to tie the game at 67 points with 3:50 left, keeping the competition alive. However, in that critical moment Guillem Corbalán and TJ Shorts appeared, putting the Valencians back in the lead on the scoreboard (67-71).

The final stretch was an offensive festival for Valencia. Shorts showcased his playmaking ability, first finding Nate Sako for 71-75 and later assisting Armoni Brooks, who hit a three-pointer against his former team that put the lead above ten points. Kam Taylor, named the Most Valuable Player of the game, sealed the victory from the free-throw line with surgical precision. This final quarter of 14-33 was the purest expression of the offensive potential of the Valencia team.

Extra merit without key players

One of the most notable aspects of this victory is that Valencia achieved it without three important players: Mo Gueye, Nate Reuvers, and Nikola Mirotić. The absence of these players could have been a perfect excuse for a loss, but Xavi Albert's team demonstrated its depth and capability to win challenging games in the EuroLeague. This characteristic is fundamental in a competition as demanding as the continental one, where opponents do not forgive any weakness.

A historic start that generates hope

With seven victories in ten games, Valencia Basket matches its best historical start in the EuroLeague. This achievement is not a result of chance, but of consistent work, tactical adaptation, and the ability to endure in difficult moments. The game against Milano was a perfect example: the team did not crumble when down by eight points, but activated their defensive and offensive mechanisms to execute a comeback with character.

The continental competition is unforgiving and requires consistency in all facets of the game. Valencia has demonstrated that consistency in the first ten games, with a record that matches the best start in its history in the EuroLeague. Every victory adds confidence, every comeback builds self-esteem, and every challenging game resolved builds team character. The victory in Milan, precisely because of its difficulty and resolution in the final quarter, is an example of this.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Valencia remonta en Milán e iguala su mejor inicio