There were only 2 rounds played so far and it’s still very beginning of the Second Stage in FIBA Europe Cup. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of French Cholet Basket on the court of Spanish Surne Bilbao on Tuesday night. Visitors were defeated by Surne Bilbao 95-88. 24 personal fouls committed by Cholet helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Belgian power forward Thijs de Ridder (203-2003) orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points and 8 rebounds. Estonian point guard Kristian Kullamaee (193-1999) contributed with 12 points for the winners. point guard Gerald Ayayi (191-2001) replied with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for Cholet. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Surne Bilbao is looking forward to face Le Portel at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Cholet Basket will play against Sassari and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another interesting game for Belgian Charleroi which played in Wloclawek against Polish Anwil. Charleroi won 91-82. Bulgarian forward Yordan Minchev (202-1998) scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Gustav Knudsen chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. Canadian center Nick Ongenda (211-2000, college: DePaul) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Charleroi will play against Ludwigsburg at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Anwil will play against Fribourg and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game was also a 24-point tough home loss of Swiss Fribourg in a game versus undefeated German Ludwigsburg 82-58. Yorman Polas-Bartolo notched 15 points to lead the effort. EnBW Ludwigsburg’s coach felt very confident that he used 11 players saving starting five for next games. Even 13 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists by Natan Jurkovitz did not help to save the game for Fribourg. Ludwigsburg will meet Charleroi on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Fribourg will play against Anwil in Wloclawek and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
There were no big surprises in other games of round 2: winless Kalev/Cramo was beaten by Dijon on the road 96-93. Winless FC Porto lost to undefeated Tofas on its own court 87-95. Winless Sassari unfortunately lost to Le Portel in a road game 76-83. Maroussi managed to beat Zaragoza at home 104-95. Oradea lost to undefeated PAOK on the opponent’s court 68-73.
The most impressive performance of 2nd round was 18 points and 12 rebounds by Rocky Kreuser of PAOK.
Anwil – Charleroi 82-91
Another interesting game for Belgian Charleroi which played in Wloclawek against Polish Anwil. Charleroi won 91-82. Spirou Charleroi made 16-of-18 charity shots (88.9 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. Bulgarian forward Yordan Minchev (202-1998) scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Danish forward Gustav Knudsen (203-2003) chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. Five Spirou Charleroi players scored in double figures. Canadian center Nick Ongenda (211-2000, college: DePaul) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds and American forward DJ Funderburk (208-1997, college: NC State) scored 13 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Charleroi will play against Ludwigsburg at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Anwil will play against Fribourg and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Charleroi: C.Williams 18+2reb+3ast, G.Knudsen 16+7reb+1ast, S.Hollanders 15+2reb+1ast, Y.Minchev 12+8reb+4ast, W.Brandwijk 11+6reb+3ast, A.Polet 9+1ast
Anwil: D.Funderburk 13+6reb+2ast, M.Michalak 12+1reb+2ast, N.Ongenda 10+11reb+3ast, R.Taylor 9+3reb, L.Petrasek 7+4reb+3ast, K.Gruszecki 7+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1240971
Bilbao – Cholet 95-88
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of French Cholet Basket on the court of Spanish Surne Bilbao on Tuesday night. Visitors were defeated by Surne Bilbao 95-88. 24 personal fouls committed by Cholet helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Belgian power forward Thijs de Ridder (203-2003) orchestrated the victory by scoring 22 points and 8 rebounds. Estonian point guard Kristian Kullamaee (193-1999) contributed with 12 points for the winners. Point guard Gerald Ayayi (191-2001) replied with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and center Bastien Vautier (210-1998) added 16 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Cholet. Five Cholet players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Surne Bilbao is looking forward to face Le Portel at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Cholet Basket will play against Sassari and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bilbao: T.de Ridder 22+8reb+2ast, M.Jones 13+2reb+1ast, K.Kullamaee 12+4reb+2ast, R.Dominguez 11, M.Abdur-Rahkman 11+1reb+1ast, Z.Dragic 9+5reb+1ast
Cholet: C.Ndow 21+2reb+2ast, B.Vautier 16+10reb, G.Ayayi 15+8reb+4ast, N.De Sousa 10+2ast, S.Smith 10+2reb+3ast, T.Campbell 7+1reb+3ast
gschID: 1240972
Dijon – Kalev/Cramo 96-93
JDA Dijon used a home court advantage and edged the opponent from Tallinn 96-93 on Wednesday night. Dijon made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. German Christian Sengfelder (203-1995, college: Boise St.) notched 29 points and 8 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) to lead the effort and American Markis McDuffie (203-1997, college: Wichita St.) supported him with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Even 19 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists by Stefan Vaaks (198-2005) did not help to save the game for Kalev/Cramo. Finnish point guard Severi Kaukiainen (185-1998, agency: Blacktop Management) added 9 points and 8 assists for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. JDA Dijon will meet PAOK in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Kalev/Cramo will play against Oradea and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Dijon: C.Sengfelder 29+8reb+3ast, M.McDuffie 20+6reb+1ast, I.Kamardine 14+3reb+6ast, P.Booth 10+1reb, G.Hrovat 6+2reb+3ast, A.Julien 6+3reb+13ast
Kalev/Cramo: S.Vaaks 19+5reb+8ast, K.Hermet 17+3reb+1ast, T.Kurbas 15+3reb+2ast, M.Dorbek 13+3reb+3ast, S.Kaukiainen 9+4reb+8ast, L.Bockler 8+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1240973
FC Porto – Tofas 87-95
Rather expected game when Portuguese FC Porto lost at home to Turkish Tofas 95-87 on Wednesday. Tofas shot 67.3 percent from the field. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American Marcquise Reed (190-1995, college: Clemson, agency: Octagon Europe) notched 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (on 13-of-14 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Mexican-American point guard Alexander Perez-Kaufmann (191-1993) supported him with 13 points and 11 assists. Even a double-double of 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists by American Devyn Marble (198-1992, college: Iowa) did not help to save the game for FC Porto. American-Belizean power forward Phil Fayne II (206-1997, college: Illinois St.) added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. FC Porto’s coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn’t help. Tofas will meet at home Zaragoza in the next round, which may be the game of the day. FC Porto will play against Maroussi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tofas: M.Reed 31+5reb+5ast, J.O’Brien 17+4reb+2ast, A.Perez-Kaufmann 13+4reb+11ast, U.Trifunovic 13+1reb+2ast, A.Pasecniks 10+5reb+2ast, B.Demir 6+5reb+1ast
FC Porto: D.Marble 21+12reb+5ast, P.Fayne II 19+10reb+1ast, W.Washpun 16+2reb+3ast, T.Douglas 11+3reb+3ast, M.Landis 10+1reb+5ast, X.Williams 5+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1240974
Fribourg – Ludwigsburg 58-82
An interesting game was also a 24-point tough home loss of Swiss Fribourg in a game versus undefeated German Ludwigsburg 82-58. EnBW Ludwigsburg forced 21 Fribourg turnovers and outrebounded them 44-29 including a 19-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. Cuban-German Yorman Polas-Bartolo (191-1985) notched 15 points to lead the effort and center Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (207-1990) supported him with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Four EnBW Ludwigsburg players scored in double figures. EnBW Ludwigsburg’s coach felt very confident that he used 11 players saving starting five for next games. Even 13 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists by French-Swiss forward Natan Jurkovitz (202-1995) did not help to save the game for Fribourg. American guard Ross Williams (178-2000, college: TAMUCC) added 16 points for the hosts. Ludwigsburg will meet Charleroi on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Fribourg will play against Anwil in Wloclawek and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ludwigsburg: Y.Polas-Bartolo 15+4reb, J.Scott 12+5reb+1ast, K.Grady 11+4reb, J.Wohlfarth-Bottermann 10+7reb+1ast, D.Williams 9+8reb+1ast, J.Patrick 8+2reb+3ast
Fribourg: R.Williams 16+4reb+2ast, N.Jurkovitz 13+6reb+5ast, J.Kazadi 8+4reb+4ast, E.Nottage 8+7reb+3ast, A.Bramah 6+3reb+1ast, A.Cotture 4+2reb+2ast
gschID: 1240975
Le Portel – Sassari 83-76
Le Portel used a home court advantage and won against the opponent from Sassari 83-76 on Tuesday night. Le Portel looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) notched 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and Elhadji-Digue Diawara (204-1998) supported him with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Four Le Portel players scored in double figures. Le Portel’s coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Even 8 points and 8 rebounds by Lithuanian forward Eimantas Bendzius (207-1990) did not help to save the game for Sassari. American point guard Justin Bibbins (174-1996, college: Utah) added 10 points and 7 assists for the guests. Le Portel will meet Bilbao on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Sassari will play against Cholet and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Le Portel: E.Diawara 19+6reb+1ast, J.Nunge 19+6reb+4ast, L.Konate 18+6reb, K.Zoriks 11+2reb+3ast, I.Fevrier 9+5reb+3ast, D.Gholston 4+2reb+5ast
Sassari: B.Fobbs 12+1reb+1ast, M.Tambone 11+2reb, J.Bibbins 10+1reb+7ast, A.Cappelletti 9+2reb+4ast, G.Veronesi 9+2reb, E.Bendzius 8+8reb+3ast
gschID: 1240976
Maroussi – Zaragoza 104-95
We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when Spanish Zaragoza lost to Greek Maroussi in Athens 95-104 on Wednesday. Maroussi shot 62.1 percent from the field. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Icelandic point guard Elvar Fridriksson (182-1994, college: Barry) notched 15 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the effort and American point guard Marcus Keene (178-1995, college: CMU) supported him with 23 points and 5 assists. Even a double-double of 19 points and 10 assists by Canadian guard Trae Bell-Haynes (188-1995, college: Vermont) did not help to save the game for Zaragoza. Angolan center Jilson Bango (208-1999) added 14 points and 9 rebounds for the guests. Five Maroussi and four Zaragoza players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Maroussi will meet FC Porto on the road in the next round. Zaragoza will play against Tofas in Bursa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Maroussi: M.Keene 23+1reb+5ast, L.Mantzoukas 18+7reb+1ast, C.Reynolds 18+2reb+2ast, E.Fridriksson 15+6reb+8ast, C.Langevine 14+9reb+1ast, G.Tanoulis 6+3reb+1ast
Zaragoza: T.Bell-Haynes 19+2reb+10ast, A.Slaughter 16+2reb, S.Yusta 15+1reb+5ast, J.Bango 14+9reb, Y.Mencia 9+1reb+1ast, J.Fernandez 8
gschID: 1240977
PAOK – Oradea 73-68
PAOK used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Oradea 73-68 on Thursday night. Strangely Oradea outrebounded PAOK 48-32 including a 26-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. American forward Rocky Kreuser (206-1999, college: NDSU) notched a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and the other American import point guard Shavar Reynolds Jr (188-1998, college: Monmouth, agency: Octagon Europe) supported him with 14 points and 6 assists. PAOK’s coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Even a double-double of 10 points and 16 rebounds by Canadian center Kalif Young (206-1997, college: Providence) did not help to save the game for Oradea. Lithuanian power forward Paulius Petrilevicius (204-1991) added 18 points and 6 rebounds for the guests. PAOK will meet at home Dijon in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Oradea will play against Kalev/Cramo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
PAOK: R.Kreuser 18+12reb+1ast, F.Bartley IV 17+4reb+1ast, S.Reynolds Jr. 14+4reb+6ast, D.Katsivelis 7+4reb+3ast, D.Upson 7+1reb+1ast, C.Henderson Jr. 5+3reb
Oradea: P.Petrilevicius 18+6reb+1ast, K.Young 10+16reb+3ast, B.Brown 9+3reb+2ast, S.Pridgett 9+2reb+3ast, T.Williams 8+9reb+2ast, K.Richard 8+5reb+2ast
gschID: 1240978
