Valencia Basket’s intense quarterfinal playoff series against Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague has taken its toll on their Liga Endesa campaign. The taronja squad, having pushed hard in the final stretch of the EuroLeague regular season and then battled the Greek side for a Final Four spot, now finds itself in its worst losing streak of the domestic season.
Three consecutive losses in the last three Liga Endesa matchdays have cost Valencia Basket its stronghold at the top of the table. Pedro Martínez’s team fell to Baskonia in a tightly contested game at the Roig Arena last Sunday, surrendering the second-place spot to UCAM Murcia. Valencia now sits third, with Murcia moving ahead.
With just four games left in the regular season, Valencia Basket holds a 21-9 record. They trail second-place Murcia by one win and have no chance of catching league leader Real Madrid, which boasts 26 victories. Here is how the standings look.
The three successive defeats—against Real Madrid (82-96 at home), Baxi Manresa (104-102 on the road), and Baskonia (86-88 at home)—have erased a second-place position that seemed secure just days ago. In the last two games, fortune turned against the taronja, losing by only two points each time to Manresa and Baskonia.
As a result, Valencia Basket now feels pressure from Barcelona and Baskonia, who occupy fourth and fifth places respectively, both also with 21-9 records.
The EuroLeague is dictating Valencia’s schedule. Though the team mathematically secured a playoff spot in the Liga Endesa weeks ago—even if they lose all remaining games, they will finish among the top eight—they are putting domestic action on hold this week. On Wednesday, they host Panathinaikos at the Roig Arena for the decisive fifth game of the EuroLeague quarterfinal series, with a Final Four berth on the line.
That pivotal matchup prompted the postponement of Wednesday’s Liga Endesa game against Casademont Zaragoza. Valencia will resume league play on Sunday, May 17, hosting Surne Bilbao at the Roig Arena, aiming to break their losing streak. On Friday, May 23, they are scheduled to visit Barcelona in round 32, but that game would be postponed if Valencia beats Panathinaikos on Wednesday and advances to the Final Four in Athens (May 22–24). The regular season concludes against Dreamland Gran Canaria, though no date or time has been set yet.
Thus, Pedro Martínez’s squad faces an uncertain finish to the regular Liga Endesa season, heavily influenced by their EuroLeague commitments. For now, the Casademont Zaragoza game has been delayed with no new date, and the clash against Barça would follow suit if Valencia makes the Final Four.
