Valencia edges Olympiacos in thrilling EuroLeague battle as De Larrea delivers clutch finish
Valencia pulls off the last second win at home in EuroLeague play
Valencia delivered one of their most important victories of the season on Tuesday night, defeating second-place Olympiacos 85-84 in a Round 33 EuroLeague thriller that featured 16 lead changes and dramatic final moments at the Roig Arena.
The victory ended a peculiar eight-game streak where the road team had won every matchup in this series, marking the first time Valencia managed to defeat Olympiacos on their home floor in nine attempts. This crucial win not only secured a vital tiebreaker advantage but also demonstrated Valencia’s ability to compete with Europe’s elite in high-pressure situations.
A back-and-forth battle with playoff implications
The contest began with nine lead changes in a volatile first half, setting the tone for an intense battle between two teams fighting for home-court advantage in the EuroLeague Playoffs 2026. Despite facing a nine-point deficit, Valencia ignited the second half with a 7-0 run to reclaim momentum and keep their playoff dreams alive.
The fourth quarter provided surreal moments, including Jean Montero actually breaking the shot clock while shooting, forcing a brief suspension of play with 7:48 remaining. The drama intensified in the final minute when Braxton Key, who finished with 12 points, secured a crucial steal that led to a transition bucket and an 81-79 lead for the home team.
De Larrea’s clutch moment seals dramatic victory
After Sasha Vezenkov tied the game at 81-81, 22-year-old Montero put Valencia ahead with a midrange jumper. However, Evan Fournier answered with a cold-blooded 3-pointer for an 84-83 Olympiacos lead with just 13.7 seconds remaining.
In the dying moments, Montero earned a foul with 2.9 seconds left but was forced to the bench with an eye injury. Pedro Martinez made the bold decision to insert Sergio de Larrea, despite the young guard playing only 2:57 for the night. « He has a great mentality. He’s a great free-throw shooter, and he’s a winner. Everybody has confidence in him, » said the 64-year-old tactician.
The 20-year-old guard calmly sank both free throws to seal the victory. Fournier missed a potential game-winning shot as time expired, securing Valencia‘s crucial win.
El tío ahí, de chill 😳 pic.twitter.com/P3GGWcVsoR
— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) March 24, 2026
Montero finished with 16 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while Brancou Badio led scoring with 15 points. For Olympiacos, Vezenkov posted 17 points and six rebounds, extending his streak of games with a PIR of at least 12 to 18 straight contests.
With this victory, Valencia moves to 21-12 and secures crucial positioning over the Greek giants, who fall to 22-11, as both teams continue their playoff push.
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