7DAYS EuroCup: Spanish teams cruise in semifinals

The end of the 7DAYS EuroCup is in sight with the semifinals series’ getting underway on Tuesday. The remaining four teams squared off in the first step towards the final. Nothing was decided tonight, however, as this is a series best of three. However, two clubs are closer to the showpiece final after wins today.

Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar vs. Unicaja Malaga, 57-73

Unicaja Malaga took a huge step towards the 7DAYS EuroCup final series with a huge road win over Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. Malaga now has the chance to wrap up the series and progress on Friday. Importantly, the Spanish club will have home court advantage in the second game.

Lokomotiv made the early running and was awarded with a 19-15 lead through the first quarter. In the second quarter, Malaga addressed the balance and moved to 31-33 in front during the long break. The visitors kept the momentum and used a 13-15 run to extend the lead to 44-48 through thirty minutes. Unicaja Malaga was completely in charge during the fourth quarter, draining 25 points in an emphatic finale.

Jeff Brooks topped the win with 18 points, while Kyle Fogg added 15 points.

Kevin Jones dropped 17 points for Krasnodar, followed by Taylor Rochestie with 14 points.

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Valencia Basket vs. Hapoel Jerusalem, 83-68

Valencia Basket got the job done in style with a massive home win over Hapoel Jerusalem. With the series heading back to Israel on Friday, the minimum requirement for Valencia was to win. The Spanish team achieved that with aplomb. As for Jerusalem, the club will know it has homecourt advantage in three days’ time and that the series is still wide open.

The hosts secured a 20-19 lead through the first ten minutes and then the teams traded buckets in the second frame for 16-16. At the halftime break, the score read 36-35 and it was anybody’s game. However, Valencia emerged from the locker room in clinical mood and drained a 19-13 third quarter to move to 55-48 through three quarters. The hosts plundered a further 28 points to end the contents in the fourth quarter.

Fernando San Emeterio led the victory with 21 points. Bojan Dubljevic and Joan Sastre secured 11 points each, while Dubljevic doubled up with 10 rebounds.

Tarance Kinsey grabbed a game-high 22 points for Hapoel Jerusalem.