Valencia Basket fell just short in a thrilling EuroLeague clash at La Fonteta, as Olympiacos Piraeus B.C. left Spain with a hard-fought 102-97 road victory on October 14, 2026. In a game that featured 11 lead changes and six ties, the Greek giants leaned on a balanced offensive attack and clutch execution down the stretch to hand Valencia its third loss of the young EuroLeague season.

Sasha Vezenkov paced Olympiacos with a game-high 24 points, while Thomas Walkup added 15 points and 8 assists. Valencia was led by Chris Jones, who finished with 22 points and 6 assists, but the home side could not quite close the gap in the final two minutes.

Match Overview

The contest tipped off at La Fonteta in Valencia, Spain, in front of a raucous crowd of 8,500. Olympiacos started strong, using a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter to take an early 18-9 lead. Valencia responded behind Semi Ojeleye and Brandon Davies, trimming the deficit to 27-24 by the end of the opening period.

By halftime, Olympiacos held a slim 52-49 advantage. The visitors extended their lead to 79-73 after three quarters, but Valencia surged back in the fourth, tying the game at 91-91 with 3:40 remaining. Olympiacos then closed the game on an 11-6 run, sealed by four straight free throws from Walkup and a dagger three from Isaiah Canaan.

Key Moments

• First-quarter surge: Olympiacos opened a 22-12 lead with a 10-0 run, capped by a Vezenkov corner three.
• Valencia's second-quarter response: A 12-2 run, sparked by back-to-back triples from Jared Harper, gave Valencia a brief 42-40 lead.
• Third-quarter separation: Moustapha Fall dominated the paint with 8 points in the period as Olympiacos built a 10-point cushion.
• Clutch finish: After Valencia tied it at 91-91, Olympiacos executed perfectly on both ends, forcing two turnovers and hitting 6-of-6 free throws in the final 90 seconds.

Tactical Story

Olympiacos came into the game determined to exploit Valencia's pick-and-roll coverage. Walkup and Fall ran repeated high screens, forcing Valencia's big men into drop coverage. Fall rolled hard to the rim, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Walkup consistently found open shooters when the defense collapsed.

Valencia countered with a switch-heavy scheme in the second half, which briefly disrupted Olympiacos's rhythm. Head coach Xavi Albert also deployed a 2-3 zone in the third quarter, sparking a 10-2 run. However, Olympiacos adjusted by putting Vezenkov at the four and spreading the floor, creating mismatches inside and open looks from beyond the arc.

The rebounding battle was key: Olympiacos grabbed 12 offensive boards, leading to 16 second-chance points. Valencia, meanwhile, was outscored 36-28 in the paint and struggled to contain Fall on the interior.

Standout Players

• Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos): 24 points (9/14 FG, 4/7 3PT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists. The former EuroLeague MVP was unstoppable in the mid-range and from deep.
• Thomas Walkup (Olympiacos): 15 points, 8 assists, 3 steals, 0 turnovers. A masterful floor game from the American guard.
• Moustapha Fall (Olympiacos): 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks. Dominant around the rim on both ends.
• Isaiah Canaan (Olympiacos): 13 points off the bench, including the clinching three-pointer.
• Chris Jones (Valencia): 22 points (8/15 FG), 6 assists, 3 rebounds. Kept Valencia in the game with timely shot-making.
• Semi Ojeleye (Valencia): 18 points, 5 rebounds. Shot 4-of-8 from three-point range.
• Brandon Davies (Valencia): 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals. Battled hard inside but was limited by foul trouble.

Season Impact and EuroLeague Standings

With the win, Olympiacos improves to 3-1 in the EuroLeague regular season, keeping pace with the early front-runners. The victory also extends their head-to-head advantage over Valencia in recent EuroLeague meetings, having now won four of the last five matchups between the two clubs.

Valencia drops to 1-3, putting early pressure on their playoff aspirations. The Spanish side has shown offensive firepower, averaging 89.5 points per game, but defensive consistency remains a concern. Olympiacos, meanwhile, continues to look like a legitimate Final Four contender, with a deep roster and elite shot-making.

In the broader EuroLeague table, Olympiacos sits in the top four with a plus-24 point differential, while Valencia is in the lower half, needing to string together wins to climb back into the playoff picture.

What's Next

Valencia will look to bounce back on the ro