Valencia Basket managed to protect its home floor on Thursday night for the fourth time this season and improve its record to 5-1 with a 79-71 win over ALBA Berlin. Despite the two teams being on opposite ends of the standings, it was far from easy for Valencia which found itself trailing for most of the fourth quarter before a strong finish.
"This is EuroLeague and you have to earn every win," Valencia hero Semi Ojeleye said after the game.
Ojeleye led Valencia with team highs of 19 point and 7 rebounds, and also had 2 steals. He shots 4-for-6 from long range, and he exited the game with 20 seconds to the ovation of "MVP" chants from the stands.
"They cheer MVP for all of us, that's how we play," said Ojeleye, who refused to accept much of the credit for this Valencia win.
"EVERYBODY contributes to the win", Ojeleye made sure to stress. "Even the guys who don't suit up. That's how we play.
In reality, he was right. While he had a fine performances, Valencia would not have gotten the job done without Brandon Davies scoring 8 consecutive points in the final 2 minutes during a 16-2 game-clinching run.
Stefan Jovic gave the team a much-needed spark in the third quarter, while Jared Harper and Chris Jones each made key baskets.
"We have a great team because we stay together, and we have a great coach because he believes in us", Ojeleye added.
Such an approach contributed to the team's fifth win in six games as Valencia sits in a second-place tie with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. It's been a start to the season few would have predicted and one that has made Valencia an early-season surprise-story.
