Gran Canaria bounces back, Bourg now the only undefeated team

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Gran Canaria was looking to react in EuroCup after last week’s road loss to Promitheas Patras and did so in strong fashion against the London Lions. Behind 16 points and nine rebounds by Olek Balcerowski, the Spanish side prevailed 87 – 69 even easier than what the final score implies and jumped to 2-1 in Group B.

David Mutaf added 13 points while AJ Slaughter scored 13 for Gran Canaria that led even by 28 points (74 – 46) early in the fourth period. The Lions had become the game with a 12-13 advantage but fell behind 42 – 32 at halftime and were completely overwhelmed after the break.

Vojtech Hruban posted 18 points plus six rebounds and Tomislav Zubic scored 16 for the British side, now 1-2.

JL Bourg en Bresse remained the team to beat, not only in Group A but in the entire competition. Jordan Floyd scored nine out of his 21 points in the fourth period and grabbed seven rebounds as the French team defeated Lietkabelis 86 – 73 to improve to 3-0.

Lietkabelis was actually up 58 – 57 in the beginning of the fourth quarter but Floyd and Alexandre Chassang led a 18 – 9 counterattack to put Bourg ahead by double figures. The hosts stayed in control for the remainder of the match.

Jamel Morris (21 points) stood out from Lietkabelis.

Bursaspor was 6-0 in EuroCup and the Turkish BSL League combined before tonight’s game vs. Prometey. They were also coming off a big win over reigning EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes and momentum was on their side.

Enter Gian Clavell. The Puerto Rican guard scored 26 points to push Prometey past Bursaspor 90 – 84 in Riga, where the games of the Ukrainian team are hosted.

DJ Kennedy contributed 15 points plus nine rebounds for the winning squad. Derek Needham led Bursaspor with 16 points.

Group A Results:

U-BT Cluj Napoca – Umana Reyer Venice 80-85
Prometey Slobozhanske – Frutti Extra Bursasporapoca 90 – 84
Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse – 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 86 – 73
ratiopharm Ulm – Germani Brescia 90 – 98
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana – Joventut Badalona 78 – 100

STANDINGS

1. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 3-0
2. Frutti Extra Bursaspor 2-1
3. Prometey Slobozhanske 2-1
4. Joventut Badalona 2-1
5. Germani Brescia 2-1
6. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 1-2
7. ratiopharm Ulm U-BT 1-2
8. Umana Reyer Venice 1-2
9. U-BT Cluj Napoca 1-2
10. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 0-3

GROUP B Results:

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica – Promitheas Patras 95-89 (OT)
Veolia Towers Hamburg – Slask Wroclaw 87-83
Dolomiti Energia Trento – Paris Basketball 86-91
Turk Telekom Ankara – Hapoel Tel Aviv 89 – 77
Gran Canaria -London Lions 87 – 69

STANDINGS

1. Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-1
2. Promitheas Patras 2-1
3. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 2-1
4. Veolia Towers Hamburg 2-1
5. Paris Basketball 2-1
6. Gran Canaria 2-1
7. Turk Telekom Ankara 2-1
8. London Lions 1-2
9. Dolomiti Energia Trento 0-3
10. Slask Wroclaw 0-3

Photo: EuroLeague Basketball