Panathinaikos vs Valencia – Preview & Prediction: Panathinaikos will host Valencia in the EuroLeague Quarterfinals Game 3.
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Panathinaikos vs Valencia Preview
Panathinaikos went through a more than turbulent regular season in the EuroLeague. At no point did they look like a championship team or the kind of team that was expected when the roster was assembled last summer. Because on paper, this is not only the most expensive roster in club history, but in the history of European basketball. And all of it with the goal of lifting the EuroLeague trophy on their home floor at OAKA in four weeks. However, between October and April, Panathinaikos had a series of slip-ups, which ultimately led them to finish in a modest seventh place, forcing them to go through the play-in to reach the playoffs. There, they had no problems against Monaco, and then they traveled to Roig Arena with the primary ambition of returning to Greece at least with a 1-1 split. However, fortune was completely on their side, as we saw two fully balanced games in Spain decided by the last possession, but on both occasions Panathinaikos came out on top and are now just one step away from the Final Four. Even if they were to slip on Wednesday, they would have another chance two days later.
A lot of credit for Panathinaikos’ quarterfinal results goes to head coach Ergin Ataman. In Game 1, he managed to completely slow down the tempo and pull Valencia into a style of basketball they do not prefer. Somewhat surprisingly, T.J. Shorts was given the keys in that game, and he delivered, resolving several possessions in the fourth quarter at crucial moments when everyone else was hiding from the ball. Two days later, the hero was Nigel Hayes-Davis, who first hit a three-pointer and then the game-winning shot for the final 107-105 after overtime. To even reach that overtime, credit goes to Cedi Osman, who knocked down a banked three in the final minute to tie the game. In the end, Hayes-Davis led Panathinaikos with 27 points on Thursday, justifying every dollar invested in him. Owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos personally negotiated with the American power forward and managed to convince him to sign for the Greens. Speaking of Giannakopoulos, he has been suspended due to his behavior and will not be able to watch this game from the arena. Kendrick Nunn, with 19 points, was much better on Thursday than on Tuesday, while Osman finished with 16. It is important for Panathinaikos that all players have now understood their roles and that there is no jealousy, which is why even Juancho Hernangomez has accepted a backup role.
Valencia has plenty to regret. Although absolutely no one saw them before the season as a playoff contender, it is clear that when you finish second in the regular season, you want to reach the Final Four. Pedro Martinez’s team had the opportunity in the final round to choose their opponent. Had they lost to Dubai in Sarajevo, they would have faced Hapoel Tel Aviv, which would have been a drastically easier task than what they have now. Instead, they defeated Dubai, and that decision is clearly backfiring. They lost both games to Panathinaikos last week at Roig Arena and now trail 2-0. Only once in EuroLeague history has a team come back from 0-2 to win 3-2, and that was Real Madrid against Partizan three years ago. However, the circumstances were different then, as Partizan had several key players suspended, and it is clear that Valencia is facing a mission impossible. They certainly will not give up and will travel to Athens aiming to respond in Game 3, but they will need a perfect performance. With a bit more luck, they could have been the team leading 2-0 after two games. Instead, the situation is completely the opposite.
Jean Montero led Valencia with 21 points in Game 2. He has been the absolute leader of this team for the past two years, and everything offensively starts with him. It remains to be seen what his future holds, because if he stays in European basketball, he has the quality and potential to dominate the EuroLeague in the coming years. However, there is strong interest from the United States, and he could even move to the NCAA for a massive contract. Sergio De Larrea also had one of his best games of the season with 18 points, while Brancou Badio and Kameron Taylor also delivered strong performances in Game 2. Valencia made 16 three-pointers out of 38 attempts, but even that was not enough to tie the series at 1-1. It is hard to say they failed defensively, as Panathinaikos hit a number of tough shots in key moments, especially Osman. Martinez’s team was also solid on the boards, as Panathinaikos had only seven offensive rebounds in 45 minutes of basketball, but that is little consolation for the Spanish club. In Game 3, they will need to shoot at the same level as in Game 2, hoping that their opponent will not be as efficient in responding this time. There is a feeling that the better opponents shoot, the more it motivates Panathinaikos to respond in equal measure, if not even better.
Claim Now Panathinaikos vs Valencia H2H
Panathinaikos leads 2-0 in this best-of-five series, while Valencia won both matchups in the regular season.
Injuries and Suspensions
Kostas Sloukas is injured for Panathinaikos. Valencia has no injury concerns.
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Panathinaikos vs Valencia Best Betting Tip and Prediction
Despite two heartbreaking losses, we expect Valencia to show a reaction in Game 3. After everything that has happened and the off-court comments, it is realistic that the visitors will not arrive with a white flag and will try to at least make Panathinaikos work for their objective. We have already seen two games decided by the final possession, and we do not expect anything different this time, even though the game is played at OAKA.
Tip-off Time: Wednesday, 06.05.2026, 20:15 CET
Prediction: Valencia +9.5
Odds: 1.78
Stake: 1 Unit
Sportsbook: 22Bet
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