Bologna, Gran Canaria storm into Eurocup semis!
Virtus Bologna remained undefeated for the season to sweep into the semifinals, where Gran Canaria will join them. At the same time, the two other 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinal series will have do-or-die third games next week. Virtus lost all of a 20-point lead before defeating host Joventut on Friday, the same night that Gran Canaria turned back, visiting Metropolitans for another 2-0 series decision. Not so in Russia, where Lokomotiv evened its series with UNICS with a home win on Thursday. Monaco did the same against Buducnost when they played on a neutral court on Friday. Virtus will play the winner of the Russian series and Gran Canaria the other one when the semifinals get underway on April 6.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 64-74 AS Monaco (1-1)
AS Monaco kept its dream of 7DAYS EuroCup glory alive on Friday by pulling off a 64-74 win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in Game 2 of their playoff quarterfinal at Arena Stozice in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Tied 1-1 now, the series now moves back to the principality, where Buducnost had stolen Game 1 for a decisive third and final game on Wednesday. Monaco led early and often, stretching the difference into double digits after halftime when its defense proved too much for Buducnost. Rob Gray led the winners with 20 points, while Mathias Lessord had 19 and 8 rebounds while Marcos Knight scored 24 Buducnost got 17 points from Justin Cobbs, 16 from Nikola Ivanovic, and 12 from Willie Reed but suffered more from its 3 for-13 three-point shooting than Monaco did for making just 3 of 16.
Herbalife Gran Canaria 66-64 Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (2-0)
Herbalife Gran Canaria has reached the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals for the third time in club history after winning a hard-fought 66-64 decision over visiting Boulougne Metropolitans 92 on Friday to sweep their quarterfinal series 2-0. The victory only became final when Metropolitans’ last possession ended in a turnover, letting Gran Canaria breathe easy and plan for the next phase. A.J. Slaughter was the big gun for the winners and their only double-digit scorer with 16 points. Matt Costello followed with 9 points, a team-high 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Andrew Albicy had 7 points and 5 assists. Anthony Brown drilled a game-high 19 points for Metropolitans, while Vitalis Chikoko added 16 and Tomer Ginat 11. Metropolitans led for most of the first 25 minutes, but once Gran Canaria made a break was unable to come back fully to challenge the hosts until that last possession, which ended without a shot.
Joventut Badalona 78-84 Virtus Segafredo Bologna (0-2)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna survived a late scare on the road to stay unbeaten and sweep into the semifinals by beating host Joventut Badalona 78-84 on Friday for a decisive 0-2 victory in their quarterfinal series. This marks the first time that Virtus reaches the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals after having missed out in its two previous participations, in 2003-04 and last season, because it was canceled before the quarterfinals could be played. Virtus dominated during the first 37 minutes, leading by as many as 22 points, but far from lowering its arms, Joventut charged back, led by Ferran Bassas, to even jump ahead in the final minutes of the last quarter. However, at the last minute, Milos Teodosic wrapped it up with a classy three-pointer to put his team in the semifinals. Kyle Weems and Vince Hunter led the winners with 18 points apiece, and Teodosic added 17 plus 6 assists. For Joventut, Bassas had his EuroCup personal best with 26 points, including 7 three-pointers, and Simon Birgander contributed 10.