The ‘orange’ team visits Panathinaikos during matchday 10
MADRID, 22 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket will visit Panathinaikos this Thursday (8:15 p.m.) during matchday 10 of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague, with the ‘taronja’ team needing to win so as not to increase the slump in which it has been immersed for almost a month. both in this competition and in the Endesa League.
November began for Álex Mumbrú’s pupils with a victory (79-71) against ALBA Berlin in this top European tournament, but from there things went wrong. In the six subsequent games, combining Euroleague and ACB events, Valencia was defeated five times; They only beat Casademont Zaragoza (76-69), with a comeback included after the break.
Therefore, playing now at the OAKA Altion in Athens is a double-edged sword, since Panathinaikos has redirected its path in recent weeks. Undefeated leader of the Greek Basket League, with its balance of 7-0, the green clover club is provisionally in the ‘top 6’ of the Euroleague; Thus, it nourishes the platoon of those with a 5-4 balance.
The Valencian team has the same figure, moving between the ‘playoff’ zone and the ‘play-in’ zone, but of course with opposite dynamics. Panathinaikos has accumulated four victories in its last five rounds of the top continental tournament; three of them, in a row.
His coach, the controversial Ergin Ataman, seems to have hit the right note after his statements against Juancho Hernangómez. It is true that the broken finger on the Spanish power forward’s left hand has helped him, which will keep him off the field for several months.
Greek forward Ioannis Papapetrou will also not be available to face Valencia, due to an injury to his left knee. In the front rows, point guard Guillem Ferrando could enjoy minutes; Mumbrú will presumably line up fellow point guard Chris Jones, although he is not 100% recovered from his ankle injury.
With Icelandic point guard Martin Hermannsson still ruled out, the main doubts in the ‘taronja’ expedition to Athens will be those of Stefan Jovic, due to a recent sprained ankle, and especially Jared Harper, who has missed the last four games due to an injury in the hamstring muscles of the left leg.
Valencia won their first Euroleague visit to OAKA (69-73 in the 2009/10 campaign) and also last season they ended a streak of three consecutive defeats by winning 91-92, thanks to a winning triple from Chris Jones himself on the final horn of the crash.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
PANATHINAIKOS: Nunn, Grant, Grigonis, Mitoglou y Balcerowski –possible quinteto inicial–? Kalaitzakis, Vildoza, Guy, Sloukas, Lessort, Antetokounmpo y Mantzoukas.
VALENCIA BASKET: Jones, López-Arostegui, Claver, Inglis and Davies –possible starting five–; Harper, Robertson, Ojeleye, Reuvers, Touré, Jovic, Puerto, Pradilla and Ferrando.
–REFEREES: Belosevic, Shemmesh and Vilius.
–PAVILLION: OAKA Altion.
–TIME: 20.15/Movistar Plus+.