Βy Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Semi Ojeleye scored 20 points and big buckets down the stretch to lead Valencia to the 96-91 road win over Liektabelis, as the Spanish powerhouse remains on top of Group B of the BKT EuroCup.
The home side made a solid effort behind 19 points by Martynas Varnas, however in the end the quality and the guests’ experience made the difference.
Jaime Pradilla, Chris Jones, and Jean Montero scored 14 points for the winning side.
On the other game of the same group, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana got a big 74-70 road win over Hapoel Jerusalem with Brynton Lamar scoring 17 points.
Thanks to this result, Cedevita moved up in the second spot despite having one game less than the Israelis.
In Group A, Besiktas got tested but defended their home court against Wolves Vilnius. The final score was 79-77 and Jonah Mathews had a huge game with 27 points, sealing the win in the end.
It was a hard-fought game with the Wolves entering the last quarter leading 59-52, and Anthony Cowan Junior finished the night with 22 points for the guests, trimming the lead to three (77-74) with four seconds left.
Dustin Sleva got fouled and made two free throws (79-74) and Matas Jogela made a buzzer-beating three for the final score. Berk Ugurlu also scored 20 points and had a crucial contribution for the winning side.
In the second game of the group for the day, Trento made a demonstration of power against Ulm with Anthony Lamb scoring 21 points and Jordan Ford having 20.
Still, the Italians have a mountain to climb to make the next phase.
NBA prospect Noa Essengue had a good game for Ulm with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Ben Sharaf had an off night with just seven points.
Group A
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul – Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 79-77
Dolomiti Energia Trento – ratiopharm Ulm 86-71
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica – Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (15/1)
Trefl Sopot – Bahcesehir College Istanbul (15/1)
Dreamland Gran Canaria – Joventut Badalona (15/1)
Standings
- Bahcesehir 12-2
- Gran Canaria 10-4
- Hapoel Tel Aviv 9–5
- Ratiopharm Ulm 9–6
- Besiktas 8-7
- BC Wοlves 7-8
- Buducnost 6-8
- Joventut 5-9
- Trento 5-10
- Trefl Sopot 1-13
Group B
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys – Valencia Basket 91-96
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 70-74
Turk Telekom Ankara – Veolia Towers Hamburg (15/1)
Aris Midea Thessaloniki – Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (15/1)
Umana Reyer Venice – U-BT Cluj-Napoca (15/1)
Standings
- Valencia 13-2
- Cedevita Olimpija 9-5
- Hapoel Jerusalem 9-6
- Venice 8-6
- Turk Telekom 8-6
- JL Bourg 7-7
- Cluj 7-7
- Lietkabelis 4-10
- Hamburg 3-11
- Aris 3-11