By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Two rounds before the end of the 7DAYS EuroCup regular season, only one playoff spot remains open, with Hamburg (5-11) in Group B not yet mathematically qualified.
On the other hand, Gran Canaria (13-3) has the best record in the competition and head coach Jaka Lakovic’s team is the favourite at this point for the absolute home court advantage.
In this game, Gran Canaria clinched first place in Group B after dominating in the first half against Turk Telekom (11-5) and then maintaining the lead for a comfortable 89-79.
Jerian Grant and Tyrique Jones played exceptionally for Turk Telekom, but it was not enough. Grant had 21 points, while Jones had 20. For the home team, John Shurna led the way with 20 points.
Prometey Slobozhanske also secured a top-two finish in Group A by downing Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 96-82 at Arena Riga in the Latvian capital on Wednesday evening.
Prometey improved to 12-4 in the standings and is on a nine-game winning streak, in which it has beaten each and every opponent in Group A. Bourg, who has already qualified for the playoffs, dropped to 8-8 and has lost its last five games.
D.J. Stephens paced the winner with 28 points on 5 dunks and 6 three-point shots in arguably one of the most spectacular performances in 7 DAYS EuroCup history. Gian Clavell added 18 points, Ondrej Balvin had 16 and 8 rebounds, while Illia Sydorov and Caleb Agada each scored 10 points. James Palmer led Bourg with 17 points. Jordan Floyd chipped in with 15 and Axel Julien had 12 for the guests.
Michael Bramos made a bit of history
Umana Reyer Venice continued its positive momentum heading into the final stretch of the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season after securing an important 73-89 victory at Frutti Extra Bursaspor on Wednesday evening. Reyer took control with a 9-26 fourth quarter to snap a four-game road losing streak and improve to 9-7 in Group A, while new head coach Neven Spahija has overseen two straight victories since taking over. Bursaspor, meanwhile, dropped its second game in a row and its fifth in the last six for a 7-9 mark.
Michael Bramos scored 12 of his 24 points in the final frame and had 7 three-pointers to lead Reyer, with Jayson Granger collecting 18 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 8 fouls drawn for a 29 PIR. Jordan Parks added 14 points for Reyer, too. For Bursaspor, Onuralp Bitim scored 23 points and Zach Auguste had 16 in the losing effort.
Before the 7 triples Bramos hit on Wednesday, the best mark that he had set was the 6 he made on November 4, 2020, for Reyer at UNICS Kazan.
Lions fall to Promitheas
Ratiopharm Ulm inked a big win 97-85 against Cedevita Olimpija. The Slovenian club now drops to 3-13 in Group A as the German side jumps to 9-7. Cedevita’s slumps continue even after coach Jurica Golemac left the club this past weekend.
Bruno Caboclo led the way with 26 points, while Zoran Dragic added 24 points for Cedevita Olimpija.
Lietkabelis (9-7) has already qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. It has also won its last three road games, against Cluj, Cedevita, and now Brescia 74-65. Nikola Popovic had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Lithuanian team, while John Petrucelli had 17 points for Brescia.
London (7-9) has already sealed its ticket to the next round but now they played below expectations on home court as Promitheas got the win 93-89.
7Days EuroCup Round 16 results:
Hapoel Tel Aviv – Hamburg 91-85
Trento – Buducnost 79-76
Joventut – Cluj Napoca 104-81
Paris – Slask Wroclaw 89-85
Bursa – Venice 73-89
Prometey – JL Bourg 96-82
Ulm – Cedevita Olimpija 97-85
Brescia – Lietkabelis 65-74
London Lions – Promitheas 89-93
Gran Canaria – Turk Telekom 89-79
Standings
Group A
1. Prometey 12-4
2. Joventut 11-5
3. Reyer Venice 9-7
4. Lietkabelis 9-7
5. ratiopharm Ulm 9-7
6. JL Bourg 8-8
7. Germani Brescia 7-9
8. Bursaspor 7-9
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9. Cluj-Napoca 5-11
10. Cedevita Olimpija 3-13
Group B
1. Gran Canaria 13-3
2. Turk Telekom 11-5
3. Hapoel Tel Aviv 11-5
4. Paris 10-6
5. Promitheas 10-6
6. Buducnost 9-7
7. London Lions 7-9
8. Hamburg 5-11
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9. Trento 3-13
10. Slask Wroclaw 1-15