Eurocup Final: Galatasaray vs. Strasbourg
Galatasaray Istanbul and Strasbourg will contest the 2016 Eurocup final after both teams swept into the title decider on Wednesday. Game 2 of the Semifinal stage provided plenty of drama, but both clubs held on to come away with aggregate wins and will compete in showpiece finals series starting later on this month.
Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas vs. Galatasaray Istanbul, 94-81 (169-170)
Galatasaray demolished Gran Canaria 89-75 in Istanbul a week ago, and the club needed all of those points in the deciding leg. Gran Canaria can be a beast at home, and last season’s runner-up showed it again with a blazing performance that was almost enough to turn around what looked an impossible task. In the end Galatasaray held on until the closing second before shutting out the final bucket attempt from the hosts.
The game started at an electric pace, with both teams troubling the basket with regularity. A high octane first quarter ended with Galatasaray further in front thanks to a 27-29 lead. Gran Canaria’s rally started from there, with the home team winning the second quarter 21-15 and the third 19-13 to set the scene for a thrilling fourth act. The Spaniard continued with the momentum and claimed the last quarter, but Galatasaray held on late in the game and celebrated a one point aggregate victory.
D.J. Seeley scored a game high 23 points for the winners, while Alen Omic added 17 points and Kevin Pangos 14 points.
Vladimir Mivoc topped Galatasaray with 21 points and also grabbed the rebound that shut hot Gran Canaria and won the game. Errick McCollum added 16 points in the loss that felt like a win.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Strasbourg, 78-86 (152-154)
Strasbourg visited Italy with a huge task after losing by six (68-74) a week ago. However, the French club turned it around and even held off a fourth quarter rally from the Italians. Like the other Semifinal, this went to the wire, but Strasbourg will feel deserving of a place in the Eurocup final.
The visitors had to start hot and managed to do just that with a 19-21 run. However, Trento hit back in a low scoring second stanza, taking it 16-15 to make it a one point game for the French during the long break (35-36). The tide started to turn to the visitors in the third act, Strasbourg using a 16-26 run to blow the tie wide open. Through thirty minutes the guests were leading 51-62 and even had a 125-130 aggregate lead. Trento hustled in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to stop Strasbourg closing out the win.
Romain Duport and Mardy Collins scored 20 points apiece, while Duport took 7 boards and Collins dished 7 assists.
Davide Pascolo topped Trento with an impressive double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Trent Lockett and Julian Wright hit 16 points each.