EuroCup: semi-finals set

We now know which four clubs will take their place in the semi-final of the EuroCup. The last two quarterfinal contest played out their deciding games, with Bayern Munich and Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia celebrating progression. Bayern took out Unics Kazan while Emilia also saw off Russian opposition in Zenit St. Petersburg.

Bayern Munich vs. Unics Kazan, 91-81

Bayern took the EuroCup season 2-1 with a solid home win over Unics. The German club steadily pulled away through the game to take the series down the straight. Both teams went toe to toe in the first quarter, tying the period 27-27. The hosts started to take the momentum with a 19-15 second frame that made it 46-42 through the halftime stop. Bayern continued to extend with a 23-21 third act that allowed the home team a 69-63 advantage through thirty minutes. Unics Kazan could not get back into it as Munich further pressed ahead in the deciding fourth quarter.

Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia vs. Zenit St. Petersburg, 105-99

A EuroCup classic decided this series as Emilia outlasted Zenit in an epic encounter that allowed the record books to be opened. This was the highest scoring non-overtime quarterfinal in competition history, while Emilia smashed its best ever score by 12 points. The Italian club equaled Valencia’s record high for this stage of the EuroCup and enters the semifinal of the tournament for the first time. This was a back and forth contest and Zenit was leading 70-71 through three quarters of the game. A massive fourth quarter followed, in which the hosts drained 35 points to 28 in a huge game-winning effort.