Eurocup recap, Last 32 round 2
The Eurocup headed into round 2 of the Last 32 stage this week with a myriad of huge games around the continent. During Wednesday’s action, Lokomotiv clashed with current champions Valencia, while Gran Canaria and Telenet Ostend continued their fine form from the Regular Season, although Euroleague dropouts Bayern Munich and Cedevita Zagreb also laid down their credentials for the Eurocup title.
Group G
Zenit St. Petersburg moved to 2-0 in Group G with an 87-82 overtime victory against Strasbourg in Russia. The hosts had trailed through halftime but a hotly contested second half saw the teams lock the scoreboard on 73 apiece with regulation time over. In the added frame Zenit gathered the momentum and strode to success. Walter Hodge paced the hosts with a fine attacking display, plundering 19 points and 9 assists per game. Unics Kazan opened its Eurocup account for the season with a 75-67 home win over CEZ Nymburk. Pavel Antipov and Kostas Kaimakoglou posted double-doubles for the winners, while Keith Langford led the way with 14 points. Czech powerhouse Nymburk will have to start picking up wins after collecting two defeats to sit last in the Group G standings.
Group H
One of the closest games of the night came in group B where Banco Di Sardegna Sassari edged Banvit Bandirma by a single point (74-75) away from home. It was the Italian club’s first victory of the Last 32, but the visitors left it until the last six seconds before Shane Lawal dunked home to snatch the win. Both teams are now locked with 1-1 records. Herbalife Gran Canaria maintained its unbeaten record in the Eurocup this season as the Spanish club destroyed Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 92-69 at home. It was a twelfth win on the bounce for the hosts in the competition this season and it pushed them to 2-0 at the top of Group H. Buducnost’s recent slip in form in the Adriatic League has spread to the Eurocup as the team now props up Group H with a 0-2 record.
Group I
Cedevita Zagreb went to 2-0 with a 65-83 destruction of Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd away from home. Tomislav Zubcic was hot from beyond the arc with 5 from 7 triple shooting as he led the scoring with 24 points, while he also added 7 boards and 5 steals. Krasny are struggling so far at this stage and are now in possession of a 0-2 losing record and have plenty to ponder before the next round.CAI Zaragoza joined Virtus Roma on a 1-1 record after downing the Italian visitors 67-53 for a maiden Last 32 win. Marcus Landry led the winning effort with 20 points, 18 of those scores coming from downtown, while the Spanish team took 30 defensive rebounds of the glass to stall Roma’s second chance opportunities.
Group J
PAOK Thessaloniki was pushed to the wire by a dogged FoxTown Cantu in a 78-77 back and forth encounter. Kevin Langford pushed the Greek winners with 18 points and 6 rebounds as they moved to a 1-1 record in the tightest group of the Last 32 so far, with all teams locked on the same record. In the other game in the group Khimki Moscow Region pleased its home fans with a 79-70 win over CSP Limoges of France. Petteri Koponen set the scoring tone for the Moscow club with 24 points.
Group K
Bayern Munich will be looking to go deep into this season’s competition and are contenders for the crown, and the Euroleague dropouts laid down a market on Wednesday with a 52-90 demolition over German BBL rivals Brose Baskets Bamberg. It was an emphatic victory for the Munich contingent as they controlled the hardwood for long spells of the game. Things were a lot tighter in the other Group K game as Union Olimpija Ljubljana outlasted JDA Dijon 77-81 in France. Blaz Mahkovic paced the winning effort, although the Ljubljana based outfit was hanging on at the end against a Dijon rally.
Group L
The contest between PGE Turow Zgorzelec and Seville was decided with the final bucket of the game, with the Polish club edging the game 77-74. The hosts drained in the last second of the game to defy the buzzer and could point to vital contributions from Nemanja Jaramaz and Vlad Moldoveanu down the stretch, as well as 19 points from Damian Kulig. Telenet Ostend impressed once more in defeating Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 75-69, but it was a late run that handed the hosts the spoils. The Belgian club closed the contest with a 13-0 run that stunned the visiting Lithuanians.
Group M
Paris Levallois struck a home victory over Besiktas Integral Forex with a 93-83 final score board. The French club looked to Blake Schilb had 24 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds, although Besiktas had their own go to guy in Engin Atsur with 29 points, 9 assists. Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir continued its solid Eurocup form with a 99-85 win over Neptunas Klaipeda in Turkey. The hosts improved to 2-0 after the high scoring display, while Neptunas slip to 1-1, but have plenty to play for.
Group N
Lokomotiv Kuban vs. Valencia was always going to be mouth-watering, after-all there are the last two champs of the Eurocup. As it was, Russian club and 2013 champions Lokomotiv downed 2014 victors Valencia 74-62 to stay undefeated in Europe this season. SLUC Nancy kick started their Last 32 campaign with a first win at the expense of CSU Asesoft Ploiesti 84-67. The French club spanned the long break with a stunning 27-5 run that was enough to make the second half a cruise.