Valencia Basket head coach Pedro Martínez addressed the media ahead of Game 5 against Panathinaikos, set to take place tomorrow at the Roig Arena. Martínez left Braxton Key’s participation in the game uncertain, stating he will make a decision tomorrow based on the player’s progress.
On the game:
“I’m trying to stay in a normal state of mind and not overvalue any moment. I think we’re having a very good EuroLeague season, and in the future, we’ll all remember it. If we qualify for the Final Four, it would be a huge thrill, and if not, it will be a disappointment. But regardless of the outcome, the assessment of our EuroLeague run is very positive.”
On the series:
“The balance of the series is clear. There have been very small differences, and that’s what it is. Thinking the game will be different isn’t logical.”
What kind of game does he expect?
“It will be decided by small details—personality, tactics, execution, inspiration, luck… We need to stay calm and prepare as well as possible. We have to try to overcome the difficult moments that will likely come. They have many scoring runs. We need to rise above those challenges.”
On favorites:
“It’s a 50-50 game. Home court isn’t as important as we’ve seen in this series. They’ve won here twice, which makes them the favorites.”
On the series (repeated question):
“You can’t dwell on what happened before, positive or negative. You have to respond to whatever happens. We go in with the hope of winning, but aware that we could lose. It will be very difficult, and they are a great team, candidates to win the competition. We have to stay humble, as we have throughout the series. We can’t think that because we won the last two games, we’ll win tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a game of pressure but also of hope. We’ll have plenty of hope, but wanting to win doesn’t guarantee it. That’s not how it works. We need to stay focused, not get down if we turn the ball over, and try to stay true to what we’ve been practicing for a while and trust that.”
On Braxton Key:
“The mask arrived this morning, and it’s not comfortable. He didn’t train at 100% today—only non-contact parts. We’ll do what he wants; if he feels he can play, he’ll play. The club did everything possible to get the mask as soon as possible. If the game were today, he wouldn’t feel ready to play. He’s a warrior, but this is a game where you need to be at 100%, not 90%.”
On the team:
“I’ll try to be ready to help the team. We’re having a very good EuroLeague season, and we’ll remember it in the future. If we make the Final Four, it’ll be a great joy, and if we lose, a disappointment. But whatever happens, we’ll appreciate what we’ve done this season.”
On Panathinaikos:
“They have incredible quality and players. When things get tough, they always have answers. They have great shooters, a strong defense… Tomorrow will be a new game.”
What does he expect from Panathinaikos?
“Our range of enjoyment is somewhat limited. We’re less happy than we should be, but it’s okay to express how we feel. We need to try to stay as stable as possible. If we win, we’ll be happy; if we lose, sad. It won’t be the end or the beginning of anything. I’m prepared for a loss because it’s a real possibility.”
On the fans:
“The fans will be on our side, just like they were in Panathinaikos. They’re a passionate crowd, but always very respectful to opponents. We have a great opportunity ahead, but always with the sportsmanship that defines us.”
On surprises:
“What happens is that the team coming off a loss is the most critical of what happened and tends to look for solutions. They had a week off, and it’s likely they’ll try to surprise us with new tactics. It’s impossible to prepare for every possible scenario. The important thing is to focus on ourselves. We can’t overthink; we have to have a response to whatever happens.”