Euroleague Top 16, three clubs eliminated
Round 12 of the Euroleague Top 16 tipped off early this week with a clash between Zalgiris Kaunas and FC Barcelona on Wednesday. The action continued on Thursday with four more contests around Europe, while there will be three more games on Friday to close the round. Nearing the end of the Euroleague Top 16 stage, Groups E and F are starting to lock, with qualification places disappearing. However, there is still plenty to play for too, and many teams will enter the last two round with the chance of making the Play-Offs.
On Wednesday, Barcelona travelled to Kaunas and picked up a win to put a foot in the Play-Offs, while the loss sent Zalgiris crashing out. Another group E club was eliminated on Thursday when Crvena Zvezda Belgrade’s brave fight finally ended at the hands of ALBA Berlin.
A busy day in Group F on Thursday saw Olympiacos punch its ticket to the Play-Offs with a win over Anadolu Efes, leaving just one qualification place up for grabs in the group. EA7 Armani Milan increased its chances of claiming that spot with a victory over Laboral Kutxa Vitoria, but the Spanish team still holds that all important fourth place. In the remaining game, Fenerbahce continued its blazing form with a win over Unicaja Malaga, leaving the Spanish club out of the qualification picture.
Group E
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. FC Barcelona, 72-83
Barcelona (9-3) defeated Zalgiris Kaunas on the road and the Spanish giant will progress to the next round if Real Madrid beats Maccabi Tel Aviv on Friday. Zalgiris (4-8) is eliminated and cannot qualify from the Euroleague Top 16 now and never looked likely to break Barcelona down, letting the visitors take the first quarter and then ease through the game. Alex Abrines topped Barcelona with 16 points, followed by Tibor Pliess with 14 points and seven rebounds. While Zalgiris Kaunas went out with a whisper, James Anderson went down in a blaze of glory, netting 24 points in the losing effort.
ALBA Berlin vs. Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, 73-68
Crvena Zvezda (3-9) has put up a good fight during the Top 16 phase, making games difficult, but the road is over for the Serbian giant. The club was eliminated at the hands of ALBA Berlin, the German hosts enhancing their own qualification hopes to sit in fifth place with a 6-6 record. Marko Banic was a driving force in attack for the winners as he hauled 18 points, giving ALBA a base to fight off a spirited second half from Crvena Zvezda. As for the Serbian powerhouse, they looked to Boban Marjanovic once more as he hit 27 points and took 10 boards. It was enough to keep him as the only player in the competition this season averaging double digits in points and rebounds.
Group F
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul, 86-75
Olympiacos grabbed a third Play-Off berth from Group F with a win over Anadolu Efes, a victory that sent the Greek club to 9-3 in third place. Anadolu Efes will fight on and still holds possession of fourth place with a 5-7 record, but the Turkish club is definitely in a fight with Laboral Kutxa and EA7 Milan. Former Olympiacos coach Dusan Ivkovic (a 1997 and 2012 Euroleague winner with the club) went back to Piraeus but could not inspire the visiting Turks to victory. Oliver Lafayette secured 17 points for the winning cause, followed by a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds from Georgios Printezis. Stratos Perperoglou topped Efes with 23 points, while there was a double-double in the team ranks; Dario Saric with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
EA7 Armani Milan vs. Laboral Kutxa Vitoria, 99-85
Milan needed a victory to stay in the hunt for the last qualification place in Group F, and the Italian club delivered its best performance of the season to take it. There is still a long road for Milan from sixth place and 4-8, but the club now has a chance. As for Laboral Kutxa, the Spanish club missed the opportunity to take sole possession of fourth place, but is still firmly in the mix alongside Anadolu Efes on 5-7. Alessandro Gentile posted a player of the week sort of performance with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists for Milan.
Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul vs. Unicaja Malaga, 78-63
Unicaja Malaga has been unable to replicate domestic form on the continent in recent months and the Spanish club was eliminated from the Euroleague Top 16. Fenerbahce downed the Spanish league leaders to continue its billing as the hottest team in the tournament right now. The Turkish champions also ensured home court advantage in Game 1 of the Play-Offs by moving to a 10-2 record. Andrew Goudelock topped the winners with 22 points, while Nemanja Bjelica doubled up with 15 points and 11 rebounds.