Do-or-die game vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv looking for our ninth European final

Valencia Basket men’s team is aiming for its ninth European competition final with home-court advantage in the third and decisive game of the tough semifinal series of the BKT EuroCup against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (Wednesday, April 2, 20:30h, Fonteta, Movistar+ Plus 2), which will determine which of the two teams advances to the final series.

After defending their court in the first game of the series with a 91-82 win, Pedro Martínez's men couldn't take advantage of their first opportunity to reach their seventh EuroCup final in the second game.

They will now rely on the Fonteta to help them in this do-or-die game. A special atmosphere was prepared with fire displays during the team introductions and a mosaic to greet the team as they took the court, aiming to avoid the final European game counter in Fonteta staying at 266.

This will be the third time Valencia Basket faces a home game to secure a spot in the EuroCup final, with mixed results in the past. The taronja squad succeeded in 2017 against another Israeli team and lost in the 2022 single-leg semifinal against a rival with a similar economic investment, goals, and big roster as Wednesday's opponent. In the Liga Endesa, however, our team made the most of their two chances at the Fonteta to reach a final.

Given the importance of the game, the team has only ruled out long-term injured player Ethan Happ, though Chris Jones (left leg) and Nate Sestina (hip) were unable to play in last Sunday's game in Granada due to different physical issues.

Rosters

REFEREES: Robert Lottermoser - Rain Peerandi - Igor Dragojevic