Valencia Basket, back in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after a one-year absence, is aiming to make history in the 2022-23 season by challenging for its first-ever appearance in a Final Four. Here are five key games in that quest.
2022-23 Games to Watch: Valencia Basket
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Round 1: Valencia back in the big time
Valencia has moved between the EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup during the last decade, just missing out on the EuroLeague Playoffs with a ninth-place finish in the 2020-21 season. The upcoming campaign gives the Spanish side the chance to prove that it belongs long-term at the continent's most elite level, and making a solid start to the season to build early confidence will be vital. That effort begins at home with a familiar opponent, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Valencia has a revamped roster to work with, but there is no time for a gradual settling-in process for an ambitious team that aims to immediately prove it can compete with the best.
Round 5: EuroCup rivarly comes to EuroLeague
Some of the most memorable games in the 7DAYS EuroCup have been staged between Valencia and ALBA Berlin, with the Spanish side coming out on top in title deciders against ALBA in both 2010 and 2019. Now that rivalry has been transferred to the EuroLeague as both clubs look to use their success in the continent's secondary competition as a springboard for ongoing growth. The sight of the visitors from Germany is sure to prompt nostalgic happy memories for Valencia fans inside La Fonteta.
Round 15: Seeking supremacy in regional rivalry
The closest thing to a local derby for Valencia is the meeting with FC Barcelona, with the teams separated by 300 kilometers along Spain's Mediterranean coast. The last two EuroLeague games between the teams at La Fonteta saw the hosts falling just short of claiming a famous win: in February 2000, Barca star Nikola Mirotic had the final word with a game-deciding shot 3 seconds from the end for a 76-77 win. The following season, visiting Barca withstood a late comeback to triumph 66-71. Will it be third time lucky for Valencia against their east coast rivals?
Round 19: Jones returns to the Astroballe
Valencia's marquee new signing is scoring machine Chris Jones, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne before swapping central France for eastern Spain in the summer. The American guard reached double digits in scoring in 24 games last season on his way to an average of 13.1 points per game, and ASVEL fans were understandably disappointed to see him leave. Jones will look to send a reminder of what the French club is missing by guiding Valencia to victory on his first return to the Astroballe.
Round 28: Mumbru's Madrid reunion
Newly-appointed Valencia head coach Alex Mumbru gained his first EuroLeague experience as a player for Real Madrid, making 49 appearances in the competition in two separate spells between 2002 and 2009. His biggest achievement with Real, though, came in 2007 as he played a major part in the team's triumph in the EuroCup. Mumbru registered 9 points and 7 rebounds in the title game victory over Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, and also wrote himself into the club's history books by helping the team win the Spanish league in the same year. His first EuroLeague encounter with his former club is sure to be a special occasion.