2015/2016 Eurocup, Week 2 underway
Round 2 of the 2015/2016 Eurocup Regular Season is underway with four games during Tuesday’s opening day of play. There were clashes in Groups A, B, C, and E, with plenty of exciting action along the way.
Bilbao Basket claimed a road win over Telekom Baskets Bonn on the road in Group A, while in Group B ALBA Berlin had too much for Reggio Emilia in Germany. Valencia continued to look good to stay unbeaten against CAI Zaragoza in Group C, and Liteuvos Rytas swept to an easy road win in Group D.
Group A
Telekom Baskets Bonn vs. Bilbao Basket, 81-90
Bilbao Basket picked up its first win of the 2015/2016 Eurocup and inflicted a first defeat upon Bonn on the road in Germany on Tuesday. Bilbao started in deadly fashion, plundering 31 points for a double digit lead at the first split, 15-31. Telekom Baskets Bonn picked up in the second frame, but the visitors kept pace to tie the quarter 18-18 for a halftime score of 33-49. The hosts narrowed the deficit with a 22-17 run in the third that made it 55-66 through thirty minutes, but Bilbao held on despite losing the fourth stanza to claim a victory.
Darius Bertans led the winning effort with 15 points, Dejan Todorovic added 14 points and Alex Ruoff and Alex Mumbru both managed 12 points.
Aaron White hit 15 points for Bonn, while Jimmy McKinney scored 14 points.
Group B
ALBA Berlin vs. Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia, 82-76
German giant ALBA Berlin opened its win account for the season with a home success over Reggio Emilia, the Italians losing for the first time. The guests actually started the game well and through ten minutes had carved open a 16-20 lead and even withheld a resurgent ALBA in the second frame to edge it 24-25 to lead 40-45 through the long break. The home team started to work the paint and the Berlin home fans in the third act, winning the stanza 21-16 to tie the game after three quarters, the score locked 61-61. ALBA added another 21 points in the fourth, and with the momentum now with the hosts the game was won.
Dragan Milosavljevic led Berlin with 17 points and 6 rebounds, while Will Cherry managed 15 points and 7 boards.
Achille Polonara topped the scoring with 19 points and rebounds, followed by Pietro Aradori with 17 points.
Group C
Valencia vs. CAI Zaragoza, 87-68
The winningest club in tournament history, Valencia, continued its good start to the 2015/2016 Eurocup season by defeating CAI Zaragoza in an all-Spanish clash. The hosts done it in style too to stay unbeaten, while Zaragoza is locked to 1-1. The first quarter saw the two Spanish teams go bucket for bucket until Valencia edged the frame 21-20. The hosts picked up the pace in the second stanza and took apart Zaragoza in a 27-11 run to lead 48-31 at the midway buzzer. Valencia dominated the visitors again during a 25-19 third quarter and then cruised through the fourth quarter to what was a very comfortable home victory.
Bojan Dubljevic was the top scorer with 24 points, while also adding 5 rebounds. John Shuma and Fernando San Emeterio both added 10 points each.
Stevan Jelovac contributed 20 points for CAI Zaragoza, followed by Issac Fotu with 11 points.
Group E
Szolnoki Olaj were took apart by Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius at home to remain without a win so far in the 2015/2016 Eurocup season. The Lithuanian visitors warmed into the game quickly and by time the buzzer sounded for the first split the score was 12-21. The Vilnius contingent went again in the second frame and used a 16-25 winning quarter to lead 24-46 and were in total control. The guests were simply dominating and in the third quarter extended to lead 48-76 despite an improved performance from Olaj. Lietuvos Rytas toned it down in the third and coasted through the final stanza.
Deividas Gailius notched 19 points in the win, while Gediminas Orelikas added 16 points and Nicolas Laprovittola claimed 13 points.
Kyryl Natyazhko led the losing effort with 16 points and David Vojvoda claimed 14 points.