By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
For the second time in the 2023-24 Regular Season of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and third overall over 33 appearances, Chima Moneke was named MVP of the Round. In the latest distinction, he shared the award with Bonzie Colson, a first-time winner.
Leading Baskonia and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to respective wins in Round 18 of the Regular Season, combined with a performance index rating of 34 topping all remaining players in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, prompted co-MVP status for Moneke and Colson.
Moneke, 28, joined Shane Larkin and Tornike Shengelia as the recipients of two MVP of the Round awards this season.
Per the press release: “A nearly mistake-free game that helped keep his team riding high and a monster effort in a memorable comeback produced respective co-MVPs in Round 18 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season: Bonzie Colson of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Chima Moneke of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Colson earned his first MVP honor in the EuroLeague by posting 27 points and a PIR of 34 – each the second-highest totals in his 57-game career – as Maccabi downed visiting AS Monaco 93-83 on Tuesday. Just as impressive was his shooting efficiency as Colson made 9-of-10 two-pointers, 2-of-3 triples and 3-of-4 free throws in 25 minutes. He added 5 rebounds – 3 on offense – 2 steals and 1 block while committing just 1 turnover and drawing 5 fouls.
Moneke was a tour de force as Baskonia rallied from 17 points down with 15 minutes left to beat Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 75-73 at home in a thriller. Moneke finished with 20 points and a career-high tying 13 rebounds. He collected 15 of his points in the fourth quarter, including a game-tying triple within the final minute. He shot 4-for-5 on two-pointers, 2-for-3 on triples and 6-for-7 on free throws in 25 minutes.
Mike James of Monaco followed with a 32 PIR, based on his 27 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds despite his team’s road loss to Maccabi. More fortunate was Joel Bolomboy of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, whose career highs of 24 points and 31 PIR helped carry his team to a 76-85 road win at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.
Five players tied for the fifth-best PIR of 28. Three of them won their games: Moustapha Fall of Olympiacos Piraeus, who anchored a 79-74 home win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan; Damien Inglis, who led Valencia Basket past visiting Anadolu Efes Istanbul, 93-88; and Jan Vesely, who guided FC Barcelona to an 83-78 over archrival Real Madrid. Mike Scott of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and Nigel Hayes-Davis of Fenerbahce matched their 28 PIRs in losing efforts.
Individual highs: Paris Lee, ASVEL, 10 assists
Three players scored a round-high 27 points: Mike James of Monaco, Jan Vesely of Barcelona and Bonzie Colson of Maccabi. James remains the EuroLeague’s leading scorer this season with 20.2 points per game.
Chima Moneke of Baskonia and Serge Ibaka of FC Bayern Munich pulled down the most rebounds in Round 18 with 13 boards apiece. Baskonia’s Tadas Sedekerskis has been the best rebounder in the league this year with 8.1 rebounds per night.
Paris Lee of ASVEL dished 10 assists against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, the most in Round 18. Real Madrid playmaker Facundo Campazzo is the leading assists provider this season with 7.1 dimes per contest.
Jerian Grant of Panathinaikos and Keenan Evans of Zalgiris Kaunas had 4 steals, more than any other player in Round 18. ASVEL’s Lee is leading the way in this statistic with 2.0 steals per game.
Efes guard Rodrigue Beaubois had a round-high 4 blocks. Walter Tavares of Real Madrid is the season leader for blocks with 1.5 rejections per night.
Five players recorded a double-double in Round 18: Moneke (20 points, 13 rebounds), Mike Scott of ASVEL (24 points, 10 rebounds), Damien Inglis at Valencia (14 points, 10 rebounds), Ibaka (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Tibor Pleiss of Efes (11 points, 10 rebounds).”
Top 10 Plays
Codi Miller-McIntyre winning it for Baskonia at the buzzer naturally settled first in the Top 10 Plays of Round 18.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net