Olimpia brings its four-game winning streak in the EuroLeague to Valencia, where historically it has always played tight games with high emotional ending. During the 2017/18 season, Olimpia came back from 17 points down to prevail in overtime; in the 2019/20 season with another furious comeback it defeated Valencia thanks to the famous walk-off three-point shotmade by Vlado Micov. Valencia is in the running for a playoffs’ berth, it is coming from a high-margin loss in Vitoria, but also from a big win over Tenerife in the Liga. It is the team that has played, so far, the highest number of closed games in the entire EuroLeague, 14 games that ended within six points and one more in overtime. Valencia has won nine of these games. The other main trait of its season is the perfect balance of its record: it is 7-7 at home and 6-6 on the road. And finally, Valencia has won six of its last 10 games. Olimpia is playing to improve its positions in the standings and build on its latest wins, especially the one against Olympiacos, a 21-point beating of the league-leading team, the biggest win of the season. This is the sixth week that features two consecutive EuroLeague games. In the previous five “double weeks”, Olimpia went 5-5, better than its overall average. Kevin Pangos, who has appeared in just ten games so far, is available. Shabazz Napier (right ankle) and Shavon Shields will be game-time decision. Shields, however, if available, will be under severe minutes restriction. Pippo Ricci (overloading to the right thigh) didn’t practice with the team before leaving for Valencia.
THE REFEREES – Matej Boltauzer (Slovenia), Anne Panther (Germay), Sergio Silva (Portugal).
COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “Valencia has talented perimeter players, led by Chris Jones and Jared Harper, a lot of depth and a shooting center, like Bojan Dubljevic, who is able to make the job of defending him hard to any team. We are coming off a very good week, we still have problems with players coming back, fortunately, but under minutes restrictions, and other players who are not available or won’t be in ideal conditions. Regardless of who is going to play and for how much time, we want to extend our good stretch by playing a game with the right personality and extreme attention to both defense and offense.”
VALENCIA – Chris Jones, who played in Tel Aviv and Villeurbanne before joining Valencia, is the team leading scorer averaging 14.0 points and 4.8 assists per game. He and Montenegrin center Bojan Dubljevic are the players most often featured in the starting lineup by Coach Alex Mumbru. Dubljevic is in his eleventh season in Valencia. He’s averaging 12.1 points per game (62.0 percent from two, 42.4 percent from three) and 4.6 rebounds per contest. The other center is the Cuban Jasiel Rivero (10.1 points per game, 60.7 percent two-point shooting). At the power forward, James Webb generally gets the nod to start (8.1 points and 4.0 rebounds on average) and is also a dangerous shooter (38.8 percent from three). The other American Kyle Alexander (averaging 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game) is an inside kind of player (65.9 percent on twos). Victor Claver (4.8 points per game, 58.6 percent from two) can play both forward positions bringing experience and defense. The backcourt is very deep: in addition to Jones, the small point guard Jared Harper coming off the bench produces 10.4 points and 3.5 assists per game; Slovenian Klemen Prepelic (who’s averaging 7.4 points and 2.9 assists per game) is a dangerous and experienced shooter; Jonah Radebaugh is an up-and-coming big-time athlete averaging 5.6 points per game; Josep Puerto (48.6 percent on threes) provides one more option at the guard especially considering the absences, from the beginning of the season, of Martin Hermansson and Sam Van Rossom. As a small forward, Xavier Lopez-Arrostegui has room to operate (6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds per game).
HISTORY VS. VALENCIA – Olimpia has played nine times in its history against Valencia with a favorable record, 6-3. During the 2010/11 season, Olimpia won in Valencia 80-69 with 26 points from Jonas Maciulis, 18 from Marjonas Petravicius and 17 from David Hawkins. In the second leg, which however was played in Biella, Valencia took revenge by winning 75-60 with 20 points from Rafa Martinez. In 2017/18, Olimpia won 103-98 after two overtimes in Valencia coming back from a 17-point deficit in the third period, making a team-record 17 3-pointers. In the return game, in Desio, Valencia won 93-89. In that game, Vlado Micov scored 27 points, a personal best in the EuroLeague. In 2019/20, Olimpia won in Milan 78-71 with 15 points from Amedeo Della Valle, 13 and 10 rebounds from Kaleb Tarczewski, 10 and eight assists from Sergio Rodriguez. In the second leg, Olimpia won in overtime 83-81 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Vlado Micov (13 points and seven rebounds). Sergio Rodriguez had 16 points with nine assists, 11 points were scored by Michael Roll. In 2020/21 the two teams met twice with one win for each team and home court was respected with Olimpia winning in Milan 97-80 with Gigi Datome leading the scorers with 27 points. During this season, Olimpia prevailed 90-79. Billy Baron scored 24 points; Brandon Davies added 17 with six assists. Overall, Olimpia is 3-2 at home and 3-1 on the road against Valencia.
THE VALENCIA CONNECTION – Sam Van Rossom, however injured, has been under contract with Olimpia earlier in his career but he was loaned and therefore never wore the red and white jersey. Brandon Davies played along Victor Claver in Barcelona.
KYLE HINES NOTES – Kyle Hines just became the third player in history to register 300 career blocks following Bryant Dunston and Walter Tavares. He also surpassed Kaleb Tarczewski to take the first place ever in club history with 306 two-pointers. He has also surpassed the 100 appearances mark for Olimpia and has an open streak with Milan of 101 consecutive appearances.
NICOLO’ MELLI NOTES – Nicolò Melli is 15 defensive rebounds shy of 1.000 for his career. He can be the sixth player all-time to reach the milestone. Melli is also the Olimpia’s second-best rebounder ever with 618, eight rebounds shy of Kaleb Tarczewski’s 626. He has also scored 838 points, taking the all-time fifth place in club’s history behind Bob McAdoo, Vlado Micov, Sergio Rodriguez and Shavon Shields.
