By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Yovel Zoosman scored a new EuroLeague career-high 20 points and ALBA Berlin defeated Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 66-57 on the road for their Round 21 makeup game in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Zoosman’s performance pushed ALBA to 11-14 with three games left to play in the regular season. Israel Gonzelez’s squad next faces Efes on the road (Round 33), Panathinaikos in Berlin (Round 19 makeup), and Monaco also on the road for the finale of the regular season.
“They [players] are sensational, we have to be happy with how they behave, how they fight, how they do everything day to day. We have to be proud and happy”, were coach Gonzelez’s remarks after the win that kept ALBA’s playoffs hopes alive.
Jalen Smith posted 14 points and six assists for ALBA, while Maodo Lo hit back-to-back threes to exit the game with 9 points as the German side won their second straight game.
With Nando De Colo sidelined for three weeks, Fenerbahce has lost its sixth game in a row to drop to 9-16 and would have to win its remaining three games (against Bayern, Panathinaikos at home and Maccabi on the road), in combination with other results to remain in the playoffs picture.
Melih Mahmutoglu tried to sparkle a comeback for the hosts in the final quarter while posting 16 points, though ALBA managed to retain double-digit leads for most of the second half. Dyshawn Pierre followed with 9 points and 7 rebounds and Jan Vesely added 8 points for Fener.
Photo credit: EuroLeague