“Steps that mark our path.”
That was the message Valencia Basket posted on social media after the third game against Panathinaikos, alongside a photo of Pedro Martínez standing tall, head held high, crossing the court toward the tunnel after being ejected, seemingly unaffected by the insults hurled from 19,000 frenzied home fans while Ataman continued to lose his composure, entangled with the referees.
Pedro said yesterday he wasn’t “proud” of what happened, but the fans certainly were—and immensely so. Not of the ejection itself, but of what it represents: holding one’s ground and rebelling against someone accustomed to bulldozing everything without anyone stopping him. Honor beyond a victory on the court against the Greek constellation of stars, earning admiration across Europe.
👣 Pasos que marcan nuestro camino
Bona nit, Familia 🧡
pic.twitter.com/HYdS1l8pIZ
— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) May 6, 2026
Because Valencia may well reach the Final Four or fall short along the way. But in this playoff series, they have already won. They have gained experience, maturity, and institutional growth through everything that has happened, proving they are not just another team passing through the EuroLeague—something that had been the case in recent years. After this series, no matter what happens, everyone will know that Valencia is here to stay.
Tonight (20:15, #Vamos), Panathinaikos will double down. The Greek club knows it cannot afford to stake its Final Four hopes on a fifth game at the Roig Arena. That would be like playing Russian roulette. So they will throw everything into the fire to end it today. They will want to win by fair means or foul, and perhaps that is the crack through which Valencia can slip in. They have nothing to lose, and they already know the way: the first 35 minutes of the third game. If they hesitate, they lose. Maintaining their style until the final buzzer is essential to force a fifth game and turn the tables again, especially after Hayes-Davis’s last-second basket in overtime of the second game made everything look bleak.
Winning a second victory in three days at the OAKA would be such a monumental feat that it could be considered the most important week in Valencia Basket’s history. Although Pedro wants to keep things normal, yesterday passed without incident in Athens. Some attention was given to Puerto’s ankle, which makes him a serious doubt. Tonight will be a different story. It will be the 75th game of this loaded season—a round number. The atmosphere, the quality of the opponent, the referees under the spotlight… everything is stacked against them again. This is the EuroLeague, the playoffs, the place where Valencia wanted to be. The team that once watched from TV is now a main protagonist. It’s time to keep taking steps, just like Pedro Martínez did.