Valencia eyes final after Novgorod win

Valencia Basket took a step towards the Final of the Eurocup by defeating Nizhny Novgorod 84-75 in the first leg of their two game semi final. The Spanish team used home court advantage to carve out a 9 point lead heading into next week´s deciding game in Russia.

Valencia could now become the first team through to a fourth final if the club can emerge victorious in Game 2. However, Nizhny will not go without a fight, especially in its backyard, so expect a good Basketball game in seven days. The Russian team will have to make up a 9 point deficit in Game 2, but the club will feel there is a chance that could happen. As for Valencia, the Spanish outfit will be delighted with a good home win, but will know the job is not over yet.

Valencia Basket Club vs. Nizhny Novgorod, 84-75

First quarter
Sam Van Rossom and Justin Doellman set an early pace for Valencia, with the hosts also scoring through Romain Sato with a triple. However, Novgorod found an early groove and went to the basket seven times in the opening encounters and picked up scores six times. Dijon Thompson and Primoz Brezec combined for the visitors in the paint to score all of Novgorod´s points to lead 9-12. Semen Antov dunked and Taylor Rochestie laid up to extend Nizhny´s rich start to the game, and although Valencia kept scoring, triples from Evgeny Baburin and Rochesite increased the lead to 15-23. A timeout for the hosts proved effective as Valencia held Novgorod from scoring for the final three minutes of the first quarter. With the first break the score read 20-23.

Second quarter
Valencia´s renewed defensive strength continued in the second period as the Spanish team held Nizhny scoreless for another 3 minutes to cap a six minute shutout. In that time Bojan Dubljevic struck from inside and Pablo Aguilar dunked to give Valencia the lead at 24-23. The visitors responded well with unanswered scores from downtown courtesy of Dimitriy Khvostov and Thompson (24-29). However, the home team was finding its feet in the game and Dubljevic and Doellman were starting to control proceedings. The two combined with Pau Ribas to score the final 13 points of the half, once again shutting out Nizhny for six minutes. The 13-0 run had put Valencia in charge with the score at 41-32 as the midway buzzer rung around the arena.

Third quarter
Any chance of a Novgorod rejuvenation at the start of the third was quickly put to rest by a rampant Valencia. Ribas nailed from beyond the arc, before Doellman scored seven consecutive points and Dubljevic scored in the paint. The hosts had carved another 13-0 run that meant the Spanish team had scored 26 points without reply across two quarters. The visiting team was reeling but Baburin cut the barren streak with a jumper, but Valencia´s relentless form continued with triples from Vladimir Lucic and Dubljevic to send the score to 63-41. The last 10 minutes of the game had defined the result, but Novgorod had to respond to give the club a chance in Game 2. And respond the Russians did as they reeled off 8 points without reply to put the score at 63-49.

Fourth quarter
The away team started the fourth well and with the help of three pointers from Pavel Korbkov and Thompson got to within 6 points (65-59, capping a 2-16 run). There was seven minutes on the clock and suddenly Nizhny has a chance in the game. However, Valencia´s scoring soon started again and Doellman secured a double digit lead once more. The hosts had fought off the late comeback and cruised down the stretch to take a nine point lead into next week´s encounter in Novgorod.

Dubljevic was fantastic for the winners with a double-double 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Doellman proved an able deputy with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Thompson led Nizhny with a game high 25 points, while Korbkov helped himself to 14 and Rochestie scored 13.