The Second Stage in FIBA Europe Cup just ended. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Spanish Zaragoza (3-3) at the home court on Wednesday night. Hosts were edged by Turkish Tofas (4-2) 80-79. It was a key game for the top position in the league. 24 personal fouls committed by Zaragoza helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Yigitcan Saybir (203-1999) had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American Marcquise Reed (190-1995, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 14 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was Santiago Yusta (200-1997) with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Zaragoza’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Tofas keep a position of league leader, which they share with PAOK and Dijon. Zaragoza at the other side dropped to the second place with three games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams.
Very significant was Portuguese FC Porto’s (#4) 80-76 road victory against one of their biggest challengers Greek Maroussi. American point guard Toney Douglas (189-1986, college: FSU) notched 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals to lead the effort and Max Landis supported him with 22 points. Even 17 points by Guyanese center Cyril Langevine (203-1998, college: URI) did not help to save the game for Maroussi. FC Porto have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. Maroussi lost third consecutive game. They keep the third position with four games lost. They share it with Charleroi.
A very close game took place in Sassari between French Cholet Basket and Italian Sassari. Second ranked Cholet Basket (5-1) got a very close victory on the road over 3rd ranked Sassari (1-5). Cholet Basket managed to escape with a 3-point win 78-75 on Wednesday evening. The best player for the winners was Jamuni McNeace who scored 8 points and 8 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Michal Sokolowski who recorded 14 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cholet Basket have a solid four-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Bilbao. Loser Sassari keeps the third place with five games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams.
There were no shocking results in the other games in round 6: Oradea destroyed Kalev/Cramo on the opponent’s court 94-66. Dijon managed to outperform PAOK in a home game 97-93. Anwil recorded a loss to Fribourg on the road 107-101. Le Portel was defeated by Bilbao on its own court 74-78. Charleroi lost to undefeated Ludwigsburg in a road game 67-95.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 12 points by Miralem Halilovic of Sassari.
Zaragoza – Tofas 79-80
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Spanish Zaragoza (3-3) at the home court on Wednesday night. Hosts were edged by Turkish Tofas (4-2) 80-79. It was a key game for the top position in the league. 24 personal fouls committed by Zaragoza helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Yigitcan Saybir (203-1999) had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American Marcquise Reed (190-1995, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 14 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was Santiago Yusta (200-1997) with 16 points and 6 rebounds and Montenegrin center Bojan Dubljevic (205-1991) scored 13 points and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Zaragoza’s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Tofas keep a position of league leader, which they share with PAOK and Dijon. Zaragoza at the other side dropped to the second place with three games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Zaragoza: S.Yusta 16+6reb, T.Bell-Haynes 14+3reb+2ast, B.Dubljevic 13+3reb+4ast, J.Fernandez 10+7reb+1ast, J.Rodriguez 7+4reb+4ast, Y.Mencia 6+3reb
Tofas: Y.Saybir 18+11reb, M.Reed 14+2reb+3ast, K.Bankston 12+5reb, T.Gecim 10+2reb+2ast, A.Perez-Kaufmann 9+4reb+4ast, U.Trifunovic 9+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1241003
Kalev/Cramo – Oradea 66-94
The game between closely ranked teams ended with one of their biggest challengers Estonian Kalev/Cramo‘s (1-5) home loss to third ranked Romanian Oradea (3-3) 66-94 on Wednesday. Oradea made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Lithuanian power forward Paulius Petrilevicius (204-1991) who scored 18 points and 6 rebounds. Lithuanian Donatas Tarolis (205-1994) chipped in 15 points and 5 assists. Four Oradea players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Latvian Anrijs Miska (208-2000) who recorded 14 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and Stefan Vaaks (198-2005) added 12 points respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Oradea moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. Kalev/Cramo lost third consecutive game. Defending Estonian champion dropped to the third position with five games lost. They share it with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Kalev/Cramo: A.Miska 14+5reb+1ast, S.Vaaks 12+2reb+3ast, S.Kaukiainen 10+1reb+1ast, E.Clarance 8+1reb+4ast, M.Dorbek 8+4reb, L.Bockler 6+2reb+1ast
Oradea: P.Petrilevicius 18+6reb, D.Tarolis 15+2reb+5ast, K.Richard 13+5reb+3ast, T.Williams 11+1reb, B.Brown 10+5ast, S.Pridgett 9+7reb+4ast
gschID: 1241004
Dijon – PAOK 97-93
We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when second ranked French JDA Dijon (4-2) defeated at home top-ranked Greek PAOK (4-2) 97-93 on Wednesday. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Dijon looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. The best player for the winners was American power forward Gavin Ware (206-1993, college: MSU) who scored 24 points and 7 rebounds. Slovenian Gregor Hrovat (196-1994) chipped in 17 points. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Rocky Kreuser (206-1999, college: NDSU) who recorded 24 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) and his fellow American import guard Frank Bartley IV (191-1994, college: Louisiana) added 21 points respectively. Four PAOK players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. JDA Dijon have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Tofas and PAOK.
Top scorers:
PAOK: R.Kreuser 24+7reb+2ast, F.Bartley IV 21+2reb+3ast, S.Reynolds Jr. 11+1reb+5ast, D.Katsivelis 10+3reb+6ast, C.Henderson Jr. 8+1reb+6ast, J.Forrester 7+8reb+1ast
Dijon: G.Ware 24+7reb+1ast, G.Hrovat 17+1reb+2ast, R.Ducote 11+1reb+2ast, D.Holston 10+1reb+4ast, M.McDuffie 9+2reb+3ast, A.Julien 8+1reb+7ast
gschID: 1241005
Fribourg – Anwil 107-101
Not a big story in a game when one of their biggest challengers Polish Anwil (1-5) was defeated on the road by second ranked Swiss Fribourg (3-3) 107-101 on Wednesday. Fribourg shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 55.2 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Eric Nottage (187-1994, college: FIU) who scored 22 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Swingman Roberto Kovac (190-1990) chipped in 27 points. Nottage is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. At the other side the best for losing team was Canadian center Nick Ongenda (211-2000, college: DePaul) who recorded 20 points and 7 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and American guard Justin Turner (193-1998, college: BGSU) added 20 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Five Fribourg and four Anwil players scored in double figures. Anwil’s coach tested twelve players, but that didn’t help to avoid defeat in this game. Defending Swiss champion maintains second position with 3-3 record having just nine point less than leader Ludwigsburg, which they share with 3 other teams. Anwil lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the third place with five games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Anwil: J.Turner 20+6reb+1ast, N.Ongenda 20+7reb+1ast, M.Michalak 14+3reb, D.Funderburk 13+2reb+1ast, L.Petrasek 9+4reb+3ast, K.Gruszecki 7+3reb+1ast
Fribourg: R.Kovac 27+1reb+1ast, E.Nottage 22+5reb+9ast, R.Williams 15+3ast, N.Jurkovitz 15+4reb+4ast, J.Kazadi 11+3reb+4ast, A.Cotture 11+6reb+2ast
gschID: 1241006
Le Portel – Bilbao 74-78
Everything went according to plan when first ranked Spanish Surne Bilbao (5-1) beat on the road 4th ranked French Le Portel (1-5) 78-74 on Tuesday. Bilbao outrebounded Le Portel 36-24 including 29 on the defensive glass. Bilbao looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (196-1994, college: Michigan) who scored 16 points and 4 assists. Estonian point guard Kristian Kullamaee (193-1999) chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds. Surne Bilbao’s coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard DeAndre Gholston (195-2000, college: Missouri) who recorded 18 points and Latvian point guard Kristers Zoriks (193-1998, college: SMC) added 14 points and 4 assists respectively. Bilbao maintains first position with 5-1 record, which they share with Cholet. Le Portel lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the third place with five games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Le Portel: D.Gholston 18+3reb+3ast, K.Zoriks 14+2reb+4ast, D.Burns 8+1reb+1ast, M.Boyer 8+6reb+1ast, E.Diawara 8+6reb+1ast, I.Fevrier 8+1ast
Bilbao: M.Abdur-Rahkman 16+2reb+4ast, R.Dominguez 11+1reb+1ast, K.Kullamaee 10+8reb+3ast, T.de Ridder 10+2reb, T.Gielo 9+7reb, T.Hlinason 8+4reb+3ast
gschID: 1241007
Ludwigsburg – Charleroi 95-67
There was no surprise when 3rd ranked Belgian Spirou Charleroi (2-4) was outplayed on the road by top-ranked German EnBW Ludwigsburg (6-0) 95-67 on Tuesday. Ludwigsburg dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Spirou Charleroi‘s 24. Ludwigsburg forced 25 Charleroi turnovers. The best player for the winners was American point guard Ezra Manjon (183-2000, college: Vanderbilt) who scored 20 points and 9 assists. Cuban-German Yorman Polas-Bartolo (191-1985) chipped in 15 points. Five EnBW Ludwigsburg players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Xander Pintelon (208-2003) who recorded 18 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and American point guard Chris Lykes (169-1998, college: Arkansas) added 10 points respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. EnBW Ludwigsburg have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 6-0 record. Loser Spirou Charleroi keeps the third place with four games lost. They share the position with Maroussi.
Top scorers:
Charleroi: X.Pintelon 18+5reb+1ast, C.Lykes 10+3reb+1ast, S.Hollanders 8+2reb+2ast, Q.Smout 8+1reb+2ast, W.Brandwijk 6+4reb+2ast, A.Polet 6+1reb+1ast
Ludwigsburg: E.Manjon 20+2reb+9ast, Y.Polas-Bartolo 15+3reb+3ast, J.Scott 13+8reb, J.Simon 11+4reb+2ast, H.Maldonado 10+3reb+2ast, E.Pemberton 8+1reb
gschID: 1241008
Maroussi – FC Porto 76-80
Very significant was Portuguese FC Porto’s (#4) 80-76 road victory against one of their biggest challengers Greek Maroussi. They outrebounded Maroussi 39-27 including a 13-2 advantage in offensive rebounds. American point guard Toney Douglas (189-1986, college: FSU) notched 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals to lead the effort and the other American import Max Landis (188-1993, college: PFW, agency: Promo Sport ID) supported him with 22 points. Even 17 points by Guyanese center Cyril Langevine (203-1998, college: URI) did not help to save the game for Maroussi. Guard Alexandros Nikolaidis (190-2002) added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Maroussi players scored in double figures. FC Porto have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. Maroussi lost third consecutive game. They keep the third position with four games lost. They share it with Charleroi.
Top scorers:
Maroussi: C.Langevine 17+4reb+2ast, I.Karakostas 14+1reb+1ast, C.Giannopoulos 14+1reb+2ast, L.Mantzoukas 10+5reb+4ast, A.Nikolaidis 9+5reb+7ast, R.Harrell Jr. 7+5reb+3ast
FC Porto: T.Douglas 25+7reb+7ast, M.Landis 22+1reb, X.Williams 9+8reb+1ast, P.Fayne II 8+3reb+1ast, D.Marble 6+5reb+3ast, M.Queiroz 6+6reb+2ast
gschID: 1241009
Sassari – Cholet 75-78
A very close game took place in Sassari between French Cholet Basket and Italian Sassari. Second ranked Cholet Basket (5-1) got a very close victory on the road over 3rd ranked Sassari (1-5). Cholet Basket managed to escape with a 3-point win 78-75 on Wednesday evening. The best player for the winners was American center Jamuni McNeace (208-1996, college: Oklahoma) who scored 8 points and 8 rebounds. Power forward Mohamed Diawara (204-2005) chipped in 13 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Polish swingman Michal Sokolowski (196-1992) who recorded 14 points and 6 rebounds and Bosnian center Miralem Halilovic (205-1991) added 12 points respectively. Four Sassari players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cholet Basket have a solid four-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Bilbao. Loser Sassari keeps the third place with five games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Sassari: M.Sokolowski 14+6reb+1ast, M.Halilovic 12+4reb+1ast, E.Bendzius 11+1ast, E.Gazi 11+1reb+3ast, B.Fobbs 7+2reb, L.Vincini 7+3reb+2ast
Cholet: M.Diawara 13+1reb+1ast, S.Smith 10+2reb+1ast, C.Melvin 10+3reb, J.McNeace 8+8reb+2ast, T.Campbell 8+2ast, B.Vautier 8+5reb+1ast
gschID: 1241010
