To maintain its fast-fading hopes of play-in qualification, Valencia (14-18) simply must win against an ASVEL team (7-25) hoping for a positive end to the season.
Alex Mumbru, Valencia: 'When you play games like this one, you want them to be at home'
Seasons
3 Min čitanja
Regular Season
Round 33 of 34
Group Regular Season
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The Spanish team has lost its way at the worst time, struggling with the injury absence of key center Brandon Davies to suffer six defeats out of seven. ASVEL needs one more win to ensure it does not finish bottom of the standings, and will see Nando De Colo move into second place on the league's all-time scoring chart if he registers 3 or more points against his first EuroLeague club. Valencia gained an emphatic 55-78 win when the teams met in December behind 16 points from Semi Ojeleye, and will look for similarly stifling defense this week.
Alex Mumbru, Valencia head coach
"A game at home is crucial for us to retain play-in aspirations. When you play games like this one, you want them to be at home. ASVEL has gone through a lot this year, and they are playing well lately. Efes had everything at stake and ASVEL still beat them at home, plus they almost beat monaco in their last EuroLeague game. Their defense has increased a lot and they are also more loose in offense. They do not have the pressure anymore and we know we will have to do things well if we want to stop them."
Justin Anderson, Valencia player
"We understand how important this game is. We had a good practice, the energy of this group is great and coach is doing an outstanding job in keeping us motivated. Our main goal is to be in the play-in. We cannot get there if we do not win this game against ASVEL first."