By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The season in Europe is near its end and the play offs in the biggest leagues are at their final stage. In Turkey, FIBA Eurochallenge winner Besiktas qualified to the TBL finals, after beating Galatasaray 84-73 (3-1). The game was decided in the last quarter, where the partial score was 26-14 and the duet of Puerto Rican Carlos Arroyo (23 p. 6 as.) and American David Hawkins (24 p. 6 r.) made the difference. You can see the weird celebration dance of Arroyo in the video.
In Spain, Valencia qualified to the semifinals with a second win against Lagun Aro 75-67 (2-1). Australian forward Brad Newley (17 p., 5 r.) was the best of the winners that will face Barcelona for a spot in the finals of Liga Endesa.
In Italy, EA7 Milano became the second team to qualify to the semifinals of Legabasket – Sassari is already there after a 3-0 sweep against Bologna – by winning the thriller against Umana Venezia 82-80 and completing also a 3-0 sweep. American forward Malik Hairston hit the winning basket and his compatriot Keydren “Kiki” Clark missed the final shot, a three pointer by which Venezia could have stayed alive.
In Germany, defending BBL champions Brose Baskets won at Artland Dragons home 81-77 and they are leading the semifinals series 2-0, but the news of the day is the decision of 26 years old guard Chester Frazier of S.Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg to leave his team in the middle of the semifinals against Ulm in order to be an assistant coach at Kansas State University.