Valencia Basket broke a historic record against Bayern

The Valencia Basket secured a convincing victory on Thursday, November 12, solidifying its position among the most competitive teams in the Euroleague. In front of 12,927 spectators at the Roig Arena, the team led by Xavi Albert controlled the score from start to finish, demonstrating both defensive and offensive solidity that justifies the milestone achieved. This triumph surpasses the 7-3 record that Valencia had matched the previous week after the comeback in Milan, when they had already tied what was until then their best start after ten rounds. Now, with eight wins and three losses, the team takes the definitive step in its journey in the top continental competition.

Orange dominance from the first minute

Valencia Basket exerted absolute control of the game from the first quarter, closing with a favorable 29-19. This dominance continued throughout the four periods, with a score of 52-41 at halftime that evidenced the superiority of the Spanish team. In the final stretch, before the last period, Valencia had already opened a significant gap with a 73-65, which was definitively extended in the last ten minutes. Defensive consistency and team play were the keys to a performance that left little room for the German team's reaction.

Valencia's offensive strategy was based on game distribution and ball movement, aspects that were evident in the final statistics. Albert's team scored 14 of 33 three-point attempts, totaled 26 assists, and recorded 10 defensive steals. On the opposite side, Bayern committed 18 turnovers that Valencia capitalized on to build their lead. This offensive and defensive balance reflects the playing philosophy that characterizes the Spanish team this season.

Shorts shines with an MVP performance

TJ Shorts was the catalyst of the Valencia attack, finishing the game with 14 points—7 of 9 on two-point shots—10 assists, and a rating of 23, the best of the game. The point guard was honored before the tip-off for his MVP award for October in the Euroleague, a recognition that validated his importance in Valencia’s project. His ability to orchestrate the game and generate opportunities for his teammates was crucial in controlling the pace and offensive execution.

However, Valencia did not solely depend on the American point guard. Six players reached double figures, a scoring distribution that reinforces the team's collective identity. Armoni Brooks added 14 points with a 2 of 6 from three-point range, while Neal Sako contributed 11 points, 7 rebounds, and a rating of 15. Jasiel Rivero contributed 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and a rating of 20, demonstrating his defensive versatility. Gonzalo Corbalán and Josep Puerto completed the list of double-digit scorers with 10 points each. This multiplicity of scorers complicates the rival defense and reflects the collective work that Xavi Albert promotes in his tactical scheme.

Albert validates collective work with the record

The Valencia coach, Xavi Albert, downplayed the achievement of the record but directly linked it to the work done by the group. In his post-game statements, he said that “they don’t give us anything for breaking a record, but it reaffirms the results according to the work we do. The record validates many of the things we believe in and what we do.” This perspective reflects a mentality focused on the process rather than individual milestones, a philosophy that has characterized his management of the team.

Albert also pointed out that there is considerable room for improvement. “I don’t think this is the most complete game. We have made mistakes. But this team’s ceiling has not been reached,” assured the Catalan coach. This constructive self-criticism suggests that Valencia feels its potential has not yet been fully developed, opening interesting prospects for the upcoming rounds of the Euroleague. Regarding the distribution of scoring among multiple players, Albert explained that “we promote it and it is a hallmark of the team,” confirming that this strategy is deliberate and an integral part of their game plan.

The coach also highlighted the defensive contribution of Mario Saint-Supéry, who scored six points. “I wouldn’t highlight the points, as he has been incredible on defense,” Albert commented, emphasizing the importance of defensive aspects beyond scoring. This holistic approach in performance analysis demonstrates a balanced assessment of each player's contributions to the collective project.

Bayern succumbs to orange superiority

The German team, led by Anton Gavel, could not counter Valencia's dominance. Andreas Obst was Bayern's top scorer with 22 points, including 6 of 11 from three-point range, showcasing a solid offensive night that was not enough to halt the Spanish control. Duane Washington added 13 points, while Óscar Da Silva contributed 12. Despite these individual efforts, Bayern could not generate the necessary offensive flow to compete with Valencia, which executed its game plan with precision and consistency. The 18 turnovers by the German team were decisive on a night when Valencia capitalized on every opportunity to extend its lead. With this result, Bayern concludes the day with a record of 3-8.

The difference in execution was evident from the first minutes. While Valencia moved the ball fluidly and generated quality opportunities, Bayern struggled to find offensive rhythm. The Spanish defensive pressure, combined with the ability for quick transitions, limited the options for the German team, which never managed to get significantly closer in the score during the game.

Positioning in the standings and upcoming challenges

With a record of 8-3, Valencia Basket occupies the third position in the Euroleague standings, yet to complete round 11. The team shares the same record with Olympiacos, who defeated them at the Roig Arena in round 5, and trails Panathinaikos, who holds a record of 8-2 and will host Barcelona, who is 7-3, next Friday. Real Madrid, who beat Red Star, stands with a record of 7-4. This positioning reflects the current competitiveness of the Euroleague, where several teams maintain very similar records.

Valencia's victory comes in a special week for the club, as La Gazzetta dello Sport placed the team among the six new franchises in the Euroleague starting in the 2027-28 season, a recognition that reflects the institutional and sporting growth of the club in recent years. Regarding their immediate agenda, Valencia Basket will host Leyma Coruña in the Liga Endesa on Sunday, November 15, at 12:00 PM, before visiting Partizan in round 12 of the Euroleague on Tuesday, November 17, at 8:45 PM. These consecutive commitments will serve to evaluate the team's consistency across different competitions and formats.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Valencia Basket rompió un récord histórico ante el Bayern