By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Unics Kazan did what it was expected. The Russian club is one of the favorites to win the Euroleague qualifying round – the other is host club Cantu – and proved it against German league runner up Ratiopharm Ulm (91-73). Playing without injured star Kelly McCarty, who will miss the entire qualifying round, Unics got 21 points from guard Terrell Lyday and 18 from center Ian Vougioukas.
Unics got a 22 points lead just before the end of third quarter (72-50) and Ulm could not react till the end. Two minutes before the final whistle the Russians were up 91-67 and that was the biggest point difference (24) in favor of them for the game.
The opponent of Unics in Thursday’s semifinal will be French club Le Mans after beating the Ukrainian champions BC Donetsk 61-55. Veteran American point guard Khalid El Amin (photo) was the leader of the winners (12 p., 5 as.) and Donetsk can be considered a disappointment after signing experienced players like D’ Or Fisher, Darius Songaila and Doron Perkins, but ending up playing in Eurocup, like Ulm. Τhe other semifinal couple is Cantu against Nymburk.