Valencia beats Hapoel Tel Aviv in EuroLeague basketball

JERUSALEM, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Valencia erased a 16-point deficit to defeat Hapoel Tel Aviv 104-99 in overtime Thursday night in Round 27 of the EuroLeague at Menora Mivtachim Arena.

The comeback lifted Valencia to 17-10 and third in the standings. Hapoel fell to 16-10 and fourth after a fourth straight loss.

Valencia led 24-21 after the first quarter, with Neal Sako controlling the boards and Darius Thompson pacing the scoring.

Hapoel seized control in the second quarter thanks to 3-pointers from Antonio Blakeney and contributions from Jonathan Motley and Yam Madar, opening a 49-36 halftime lead.

Chris Jones extended the margin to 66-50 midway through the third quarter before Jean Montero ignited Valencia's rally. Hapoel still led 73-61 entering the fourth, but momentum had shifted.

Montero drove the comeback in the final period as Valencia chipped away and moved ahead 88-86 late on. Blakeney tied it at 88 with 57 seconds remaining, and Montero's potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer came up short.

Valencia took control in overtime behind Thompson and Montero to secure the win. Montero finished with 29 points and eight assists, Nathan Reuvers scored 20 and Thompson added 17. Blakeney led Hapoel with 23 points, and Madar scored 20.

Elsewhere, EuroLeague leader Fenerbahce won 92-90 at Paris Basketball to improve to 19-7. Second-placed Olympiacos (16-9) hosts Virtus Bologna on Friday.

Dubai Basketball beat Real Madrid 93-85, Partizan Belgrade defeated Panathinaikos 78-62, and Bayern Munich topped AS Monaco 91-82.

On Friday, Baskonia hosts FC Barcelona, Anadolu Efes welcomes Zalgiris Kaunas, Red Star Belgrade faces Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Lyon-Villeurbanne entertains Olimpia Milano. ■