By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Per EuroCup: James Kelly, who was a mid-season signing due to injuries, exploded for 27 points on 12-of-16 two-point shooting, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in the 96-92 overtime victory of Maccabi Rishon LeZion over ratiopharm Ulm. That added up to a performance index rating of 40, which was not only the highest of Round 10 but also the second-highest in all of the regular season, as were his total rebounds.
His 13 defensive rebounds were 2 more than any other EuroCup player had in the first phase. The runner-up in the Round 10 MVP race was Rasid Mahalbasic of EWE Baskets Oldenburg, who compiled a personal-best PIR of 34 as his team edged Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 102-99. Mahalbasic tallied 25 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals in the game. His teammate Gerry Blakes and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard Jaka Blazic were next, each with PIRs of 30. Blakes scored 31 points and dished 5 assists against Buducnost. Blazic produced 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a 103-81 rout of Joventut Badalona. Rounding out the Round 10 top performers was Sam Dekker of Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, who posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for a PIR of 27 in a 92-90 loss at Tofas Bursa.