VALENCIA (ACB) – It’s a pivotal week for all those teams trying to claw their way into the Top 16 of the Euroleague.
Power Electronics Valencia are one of those sides.
They will travel to Italy on a revenge mission and take on Armani Jeans Milano in Biella.
With three wins and five defeats in Group D, it’s do-or-die time for Valencia.
Only the top four sides in each of the four groups will advance to the next phase and there are just two regular season games remaining for each team.
Milano are third in Group D and Efes Pilsen, a team Valencia beat two weeks ago, are fourth.
Both have 4-4 records.
Thoughts of the first encounter against Milano, an 81-70 home humiliation back on November 11, makes everyone cringe in the Valencia locker room.
That includes the Spanish club’s Lithuania center Robertas Javtokas.
He spoke to FIBA.com after Valencia’s 70-63 win over Menorca on Sunday.
“I remember that game,” he said to FIBA.com.
“It was terrible. I hope we're not going to repeat that.”
Power Electronics Valencia are one of those sides.
They will travel to Italy on a revenge mission and take on Armani Jeans Milano in Biella.
With three wins and five defeats in Group D, it’s do-or-die time for Valencia.
Only the top four sides in each of the four groups will advance to the next phase and there are just two regular season games remaining for each team.
Milano are third in Group D and Efes Pilsen, a team Valencia beat two weeks ago, are fourth.
Both have 4-4 records.
Thoughts of the first encounter against Milano, an 81-70 home humiliation back on November 11, makes everyone cringe in the Valencia locker room.
That includes the Spanish club’s Lithuania center Robertas Javtokas.
He spoke to FIBA.com after Valencia’s 70-63 win over Menorca on Sunday.
“I remember that game,” he said to FIBA.com.
“It was terrible. I hope we're not going to repeat that.”
In that clash, Milano led by 25 points late in the third quarter.
A late fourth-quarter run by Valencia saw the hosts fall by 11.
Milano got 44 of their points from Jonas Maciulis (26) and Marijonas Petravicius (18), a couple of players that Javtokas knows very well since all three hail from Lithuania and play for the national team.
Javtokas and Maciulis were key men in this year’s bronze-medal winning team at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
Both Maciulis and Petravicius have been injured and won’t play against Valencia.
Neither were available for Milano in their 90-78 Lega A victory over Air Avellino on Sunday.
"I think he (Jonas) and Marijonas are two of the best players on that team," Javtokas said.
"Without them, it's going to be a weaker team.
"But, if we're going to think like that, it's not going to help us.
“We just have to go and do our job."
Milano do have Oleksiy Pecherov back.
The Ukrainian forward had a good start to the campaign before getting hurt and hasn’t played in the Euroleague since Milano’s season-opening victory at CSKA Moscow.
He returned to action on Sunday and played 14 minutes against Avellino.
The Milano demolition of Valencia at La Fonteta could prove to have been a blessing in disguise.
Valencia decided to part with coach Manuel Hussein and bring in Pesic, who has guided the team to four straight victories in the ACB and two wins in three Euroleague games.
"Well, I think our game was totally messed up,” Javtokas said of the first Milano clash.
“There was no game.
A late fourth-quarter run by Valencia saw the hosts fall by 11.
Milano got 44 of their points from Jonas Maciulis (26) and Marijonas Petravicius (18), a couple of players that Javtokas knows very well since all three hail from Lithuania and play for the national team.
Javtokas and Maciulis were key men in this year’s bronze-medal winning team at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
Both Maciulis and Petravicius have been injured and won’t play against Valencia.
Neither were available for Milano in their 90-78 Lega A victory over Air Avellino on Sunday.
"I think he (Jonas) and Marijonas are two of the best players on that team," Javtokas said.
"Without them, it's going to be a weaker team.
"But, if we're going to think like that, it's not going to help us.
“We just have to go and do our job."
Milano do have Oleksiy Pecherov back.
The Ukrainian forward had a good start to the campaign before getting hurt and hasn’t played in the Euroleague since Milano’s season-opening victory at CSKA Moscow.
He returned to action on Sunday and played 14 minutes against Avellino.
The Milano demolition of Valencia at La Fonteta could prove to have been a blessing in disguise.
Valencia decided to part with coach Manuel Hussein and bring in Pesic, who has guided the team to four straight victories in the ACB and two wins in three Euroleague games.
"Well, I think our game was totally messed up,” Javtokas said of the first Milano clash.
“There was no game.
"They were just playing their game on our court so we got beat easily.
"With our new coach, we have a different situation and we're going to do way better than we did."
The new man in charge
No one was happier to discover that Pesic was coming to Valencia than Javtokas.
"I know him from before, at Dynamo (Moscow),” Javtokas said.
The big man played for Pesic in Russia in the 2007-08 campaign.
“I like this coach,” he said.
“He trusts us.
“He gives every player motivation in practice.
“Even if someone isn't playing now, the season is long.
“I think, and I hope that he is giving everyone motivation and not just me."
Pesic is a coach that obvious likes the work in Spain.
He steered Barcelona to a Copa del Rey, Euroleague and ACB treble in 2003 and also guided Akasvayu Girona to a FIBA Europe Cup title in 2007.
Valencia could not be in a better frame of mind after coming from behind to beat Menorca on Sunday for their fourth ACB win in a row.
Trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half and by two at the break and at three-quarter time, Valencia outscored Paco Olmos' team 16-7 over the last 10 minutes and prevailed 70-63.
"We knew this was going to be a hard game but we fought until the end," Javtokas said.
"Now we are just thinking about getting a win (at Milano).
"Right now in our minds, we want to make the second round, the Top 16.
"We'll practice good, do everything the coach says and I hope that we have enough power to go to Milano and win the game."
"With our new coach, we have a different situation and we're going to do way better than we did."
The new man in charge
No one was happier to discover that Pesic was coming to Valencia than Javtokas.
"I know him from before, at Dynamo (Moscow),” Javtokas said.
The big man played for Pesic in Russia in the 2007-08 campaign.
“I like this coach,” he said.
“He trusts us.
“He gives every player motivation in practice.
“Even if someone isn't playing now, the season is long.
“I think, and I hope that he is giving everyone motivation and not just me."
Pesic is a coach that obvious likes the work in Spain.
He steered Barcelona to a Copa del Rey, Euroleague and ACB treble in 2003 and also guided Akasvayu Girona to a FIBA Europe Cup title in 2007.
Valencia could not be in a better frame of mind after coming from behind to beat Menorca on Sunday for their fourth ACB win in a row.
Trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half and by two at the break and at three-quarter time, Valencia outscored Paco Olmos' team 16-7 over the last 10 minutes and prevailed 70-63.
"We knew this was going to be a hard game but we fought until the end," Javtokas said.
"Now we are just thinking about getting a win (at Milano).
"Right now in our minds, we want to make the second round, the Top 16.
"We'll practice good, do everything the coach says and I hope that we have enough power to go to Milano and win the game."
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