Eurocup: four more books Last 32 places

After a busy evening of action in the Eurocup on Wednesday, four more teams booked their places in the Last 32 and one more could join them if ALBA Berlin defeats Virtus Roma tomorrow.

There were a total of 18 games around the continent as Round 8 of this season´s Regular Season competition continued. Last 32 places are now reserved for Besiktas Integral Forex, Maccabi Haifa Bazan, Union Olimpija and Nizhny Novgorod.

Group F

Buducnost Voli Podgorcia vs. Nizhny Novgorod, 88-91

Russian club Novgorod travelled to Montenegro and came away with a narrow victory to progress to the Last 32 of the Eurocup, although overtime was needed to get the job done. The victory keeps Novgorod top of Group F with an improved 7-1 record, while the loss sees Buducnost stay in fifth place with a record that now reads 2-6.

A bright start for the visitors was quickly stamped out by Podgorcia as the home team hit 8 unanswered points in the first to take early command of the match, but Novgorord replied to end the first period level at 21-21. The teams were locked for much of the second 10 minutes as the scoring slowed approaching the break, however the away team managed to go in at halftime leading 36-39. During the third quarter Nizhny took command and opened a six point lead that would prove hard to catch during the period for Buducnost. The hosts did manage to slash the lead after 30 minutes, but only to five points with the scoreboard reading 54-59. Through much of the fourth Novgorod remained comfortable and had opened a six point lead with four minutes left of the game. Not going down without a fight, the home team responded and dictated the game in the closing clashes of regular time, and with the teams locked at 79 apiece at the end of regulation the game headed into overtime.

Novgorod once again took charge during OT as the visiting team once again went five points clear. Yet again Buducnost fought back into the game, but ultimately could not claw the game back one more time and slipped to a narrow defeat.

Primoz Brezec was the go to guy for the winners with 21 points, while Brandon Paul added 17, Vadim Panin hit 15 and Luke Babbit got 13.

Vladimir Mihailovic delivered a game high 26 points for the losing team and there were other high scorers in the game, with Aleksa Popovic getting 21 while Jeleel Akindele claiming 20.

Group H

Besiktas Integral Forex vs. Nilan Bisons Loimaa, 83-74

Besiktas welcomed Loimaa of Finland to the Besiktas Integral Arena on Wednesday where the Turkish club claimed a home win and progressed to the Last 32. Besiktas stays top of Group H with a record of 6-2 and Loimaa remains in fifth with 3-5.

The hosts commanded the first period from the early exchanges and during the first ten minutes opened up a solid 23-14 lead over their opponents. In the second quarter Bisons played themselves into the game with solid offensive play and even held the lead during the period, although by the midway buzzer the teams were locked at 41-41. In the early minutes in Q3 the teams continued to trade baskets and stay close on the boards, but during the quarter the home team found another gear and moved ahead to lead 61-54 after half hour. In the last stanza Besiktas continued to keep Loimaa at a safe distance on the scoreboard and rounded out a routine home win.

Mehmet Yagmur netted 16 points and 6 assists for the winning team while Sundiata Gaines looked strong with 15 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Also key to the win for Besikatas were Chris Loftman with 13 points and Bradley Buckman with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Frank Robinson claimed 17 points for Loimaa and John Williamson added 16 points.

Group G

Maccabi Haifa Bazan vs. VEF Riga, 74-72

Maccabi Haifa Bazan booked a place in the Last 32 at the first time of asking as the team progresses in its first Eurocup campaign. The Israeli club came out the winners at home against a dogged VEF Riga team and now joins Unics from Group G in the next round and has a 6-2 record. Riga is still in contention in 4th place with a 4-4 record.

Bazan took early control of the game in the first quarter with a 13 point to 1 run and commanded for much of the 10 minutes to lead 24-11 at the first stop. The hosts continued to impress in the second quarter and although Riga offered more in offense the score at halftime stood at 45-29. With a 16 point advantage heading into the third quarter the game looked to be heading easily to the homes team. However, Riga came out in the second half in a better frame of mind and by the end of the third the lead had been cut to 56-48. With the lead at 8, Bazan was still comfortable with 10 minutes to play, but Riga cut into the lead one basket at a time until the score read 70-72 in favour of the visitors. With a turnaround on the cards the home team found a basket with just 0.7 second remaining on the clock to win the match after eight lead changes in the fourth.

Dagan Yivzori hit 4 out of 5 threes to pace Bazan with 16 points, but Donta Smith was arguably star of the show with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. Ike Ofoegbu also chipped in with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Kristaps Janicenoks helped Riga with 17 points and 5 assists, while Arturs Berzins posted 12 points and 8 rebounds.

Group C

Valencia Basket vs. Union Olimpija Ljubjana, 91-93

Union Olimpija joined fellow Group C Ratiopharm Ulm in the Last 32 after downing Valencia Basket in another very tight game on Wednesday. The winners now sit second in the group with a 6-2 record, while Valencia slips to 4th with 4-4.

Union´s qualification to the next round seemed to have been put off until next week as Valencia stormed into a big lead at 21-9, but the visitors responded in fine fashion and the first quarter ended 25-23. Valencia again took an early lead in the second quarter but once again Olimpija replied and the teams tied the first half at 44 apiece. It remained tight throughout minutes 20 to 30, but the away team finally started to take charge of proceedings and led 66-70 after three. The game stayed on a knife edge throughout a tense fourth quarter and the hosts had two chances to win the game. Those chances were squandered and Union took the spoils.

Deividas Gailius was the high scorer for the winners with 24 points, 12 of which came in the second quarter with 5 coming from the foul line in the last 90 seconds. Alen Omic also stepped up and scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, while Sasu Salin collected 18 plus 7 rebounds.

Justin Doellman’s 28 points plus 9 rebounds for Valencia made him the player of the night and he was helped by Rafa Martinez with 22 and Oliver Lafayette with 16.