By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Prometey Slobozhanske became the first team to advance to the 2023 EuroCup quarterfinals by beating Veolia Hamburg Towers 87 – 79 in a knockout game for the eighthfinals. The Ukrainian side will face the winner of the Promitheas Patras – JL Bourg en Bresse clash.
Illia Sydorov scored a career-high 21 points to lead Prometey, including nine in the fourth period and after the Towers erased a 16-point deficit to make it 69 – 68. In a moment when his team seemed unable to make plays, Sydorov nailed two triples and pulled off a 3-point play for the 78-71 with 4:44 to play.
DJ Stephens added five points of his own but the Towers didn’t give up and approached 83 – 79. After committing the turnover that allowed Hamburg to make it a 4-point game, Gian Clavell instantly stole the ball to dunk in transition and then scored for the 87- 79 to seal the win for his team.
Yoelli Childs (19 points, 12 rebounds) and Harrison Cleary (19 points) stood out from the Towers. The latter had 10 of his points during the 0-15 run of his team after trailing 69 – 53 late in the third period.
Stephens finished with 15 points plus nine rebounds for Prometey. Ondrej Balvin added 14 points and seven boards while Clavell scored 14.
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball