By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Klemen Prepelic scored nine out of his game-high 19 points in the final period to push Valencia towards an 83 – 77 comeback win over Virtus Bologna in a Round 13 battle between EuroCup contenders. This victory completed a sweep by Valencia over Virtus in the regular season of the competition.
Prepelic dropped seven points in the same play with 4-4 free throws and a triple to transform a 62 – 67 deficit to a 69 – 67 lead and complete a Valencia comeback from down 11. He then put his team up 71 – 70 and Jasiel Rivero with Sam Van Rossom connected to cap an 8-0 run for the hosts.
Virtus was down 77 – 70 with 34 seconds remaining but stayed alive with two quick buckets by Marco Belinelli and Kyle Weems. Van Rossom and Xabi Lopez-Arostegui weren’t handing any gifts from the free-throw line and brought Valencia at a winning three-possession distance with 14 seconds to play. The Spanish side saved the best for last, dominating the fourth period 31 – 14.
Weems finished with 17 points while Isaia Cordinier scored 11 for Virtus that was also trailing by 11 in the first half before balancing the game 40 – 38 at halftime and then dominating the third quarter to move up 52 – 63. That lead was soon gone and it was Valencia who had the last laugh.
In Belgrade, Partizan returned home and bounced back to wins after two away losses by routing Morabanc Andorra 95 – 70. Zach LeDay scored 20 points, Mathias Lessort posted 18 points and 12 rebounds while Kevin Punter added 16 points for the winning side.
Clevin Hannah and Victor Arteaga scored 17 and 16 respectively for Andorra.
Not only did Cedevita Olimpija defeat Ratiopharm Ulm 104 – 96 on the road but also got the tiebreaking advantage which may prove to be decisive at the end of the regular season. The German team had won the first-leg game in Slovenia 101 – 96.
Melvin Ejim had 20 points plus eight rebounds and Zoran Dragic delivered EuroCup season-highs 20 points plus five rebounds to pace Cedevita. Their team shot 15 – 27 on 3-pointers overall.
Jaron Blassongame finished with 29 points and eight rebounds while Semaj Christon scored 28 for Ulm.
Seven straight win for Group A leader Joventut Badalona that got one step closer towards securing the first place thanks to a 69 – 78 away victory over Turk Telekom. Ante Tomic was everywhere for the visiting squad with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Reyer Venezia downed Buducnost Voli 82 – 72 with Jordan Theodore leading the scoring with 15 points.
EuroCup Standings:
Group A:
Badalona 11 – 2
Partizan 9 – 4
Lokomotiv Kuban 8 – 4
Boulogne Metropolitans 7 – 5
Lietkabelis 6 – 6
Andorra 6 – 6
Turk Telekom 6 – 7
Hamburg Towers 5 – 7
Slask Wroclaw 2 – 9
Trento 1 – 11
Group B:
Gran Canaria 9 – 2
Valencia 9 – 4
Buducnost 8 – 5
Reyer Venezia 6– 5
Virtus Bologna 6 – 6
Ratiopharm Ulm 6 – 7
Cedevita Olimpija 5 – 7
Bursaspor 4 – 7
Bourg 4 – 8
Promitheas Patras 3 – 9
Eight teams advance from each Group