2013-14

The 2013-14 season, the season of the three-time European championship, arrived, as every year, with changes in the roster. The two point guards changed, with Belgian Sam Van Ross and American Oliver Lafayette taking the positions of Markovic and San Miguel. At shooting guard, Rafa Martínez and Pau Ribas were retained, and at small forward, two new additions, the veteran center Romain Sato and the emerging Serbian Vladimir Lucic.

On the frontcourt, Justin Doellman, Serhiy Lishchuk and Bojan Dubljevic were joined by two national players, the power forward from Granada, Pablo Aguilar, and the center from Gandía, Juanjo Triguero, who returned home after many years playing all over Spain. Leading the ship, for the third season, Velimir Perasovic, flanked by Chechu Mulero and newcomer Juanjo Rojo.

Since the preseason, a solid block was already evident, which will start the season fighting with Real Madrid for the first position in the Regular League. The physical problems of Aguilar, Lishchuk and Lucic led to the arrival, first of the center Oleksiy Pecherov, and then of the charismatic Lubos Barton, who would help the team for a couple of months.

The first big date came in Malaga, the Copa del Rey. In the quarterfinals, a tough opponent, Laboral Kutxa, with Pleiss dominating the paint until Lishchuk broke through. The Ukrainian forced to reach the appointment, changed the game but was re-injured in his overexertion. His way was used by the team to come back and win with a free throw by Rafa Martinez. Already in the semis, without the tractor, Barça was superior and knocked the Taronja out of their first final.

It is the season of records, the one of consecutive wins in the Endesa League with 12, the one of total wins in the Endesa League with no less than 30!!!! And with a historic second position in the Regular League. Memorable games, with the Fonteta full to the brim, regularly exceeding 8,000 spectators, and with the team and the fans in perfect communion. Lishchuk's absence was covered by Ksystof Lavrinovic until the Playoff, demonstrating a human and sporting quality to match.

The best cherry on top would come in Europe. After a complicated first phase and a Last32 of high level with Unics Kazan, Valencia Basket faced the playoffs for the title with home-court advantage against them in all phases. To begin with, Khimki, the 2012 executioner and with home-court advantage against them. A wonderful first leg allowed them to travel to Moscow with +16. Valencia Basket held on to their advantage and a basket by Pau Ribas from 5 meters sealed the pass.

Alba Berlin awaited in the quarterfinals, and a Fonteta on fire sentenced the pass with a Fallas exhibition in the middle of March 19, the second leg was a delicious formality at the O2. In the semifinals awaited the surprising Russian team of Nizhny, a tough opponent in the Fonteta but who took a knee in the Russian return. In the final, the score was to be settled with Unics Kazan, whom Valencia Basket defeated in both games thanks to a superb block and a stellar Justin Doellman.

The three-time championship was in Valencia, and it remained to manage the PlayOff qualifiers. Valencia Basket did not slacken its pace, and its best player, Justin Doellman, was chosen alongside the superb Romain Sato in the Liga Endesa best five. The North American Justin Doellman, in addition, would be credited as MVP of the competition. All these milestones, never before achieved, are already part of the club's history.

The PlayOff came, with Lishchuk back, and one of the revelations, Aito's Cajasol, awaited. Valencia Basket solved the first match at the Fonteta, but the Sevillians were better in San Pablo, and the tie returned to Valencia, where in a tight match, Valencia Basket confirmed the pass to the semifinals, awaiting the Barça of Xavi Pascual and Navarro.

It was expected to be a competitive semifinal, but nobody could have imagined the script of the events. Barça struck twice at the Fonteta, the first time with solvency, the second time at the limit with a basket by Tomic. The series moved to the Palau, where the Catalans had up to two match balls. Valencia Basket, far from being discouraged, showed pride and took both clashes. Thus, after four clashes, 2-2 and the definitive fifth at the Fonteta. A duel evenly matched from the initial jump, and that only a genius of Marcelinho Huertas on the horn, made to fall on the Blaugrana side. In the most bitter and proud way, Valencia Basket ended the season with tears of a possible pass to the final, and with the stands, crowded, applauding their players.