Valencia Basket kept its late-season push alive on Friday night, rolling past Virtus Bologna 94-81 at Virtus Arena and strengthening its place in the EuroLeague top-four race.
The road win lifted Valencia to 22-13, tying Real Madrid in third place with three games left before the playoffs. It also marked the Spanish club’s first EuroLeague victory at Virtus Arena, a notable result in a crowded standings battle.
The game started at a fast pace, with both teams attacking early but struggling for consistency. Virtus opened with the first push, but Valencia responded well and edged ahead by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter stayed tight, with neither side able to take full control. Nate Reuvers carried Valencia through the early pressure, and the visitors led by one at halftime after a first half that featured 16 lead changes.
Valencia took charge after the break. The visitors controlled the third quarter to build an eight-point cushion, then fully separated in the fourth by moving the ball well and finishing possessions with efficient shot-making.
Reuvers was the difference for Valencia and turned in one of the best performances of his EuroLeague career. The American-Hungarian forward scored 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and finished with a club-record PIR of 44.
Brancou Badio added 15 points, five assists and two blocks, while Jean Montero contributed 11 points and eight assists. Valencia finished with 29 assists, shot 37.1% from three-point range and committed only nine turnovers.
The result also reflected Valencia’s control on the glass and in transition, two areas that often decide road games in the EuroLeague. When the pace stayed in its favor, Virtus had trouble matching the visitors’ spacing and shot creation.
For Virtus, the loss extended a difficult stretch under new head coach Nenad Jakovljevic, who has now seen his team drop six straight. Luca Vildoza also left with an apparent hamstring injury, adding to the pressure on a team still searching for answers.
Valencia hosts EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on April 7 before welcoming Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on April 9. Virtus returns home to face FC Bayern Munich on April 7 and then Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on April 10.
