By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A big overtime road win for ALBA Berlin over Virtus Bolgona with the final score being 90-88 ended with the home fans booing their own team.
It was a sloppy game with ALBA getting to a 3-10 record and the Italians remaining alone at the bottom of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings at 2-11.
Will Clyburn with 23 points was the top scorer of Virtus and of the game, but missed the most crucial shots of the night.
Gabriele Procida with 20 points led the charge for ALBA, and newcomer David McCormack added 16 and 14 rebounds, while returning from injury Matt Thomas had 13 points and Mateo Spagnolo 10.
“You have to learn fast, to adjust fast but I play hard and I play with passion, and that translates to every team”, said McCormack who 10 days ago left Milan for Berlin.
A goofy thriller
ALBA from the first minutes proved that they are not going down, getting a 10-4 start in the game. They pushed the lead to double digits (24-13, 26-16) and closed the first quarter up by eight (26-18).
The hosts trimmed the lead to six (31-25), but ALBA kept their distance, creating a 17-point advantage (48-31) with Procida scoring already 14 points.
At least, Virtus closed the first half trailing by 10 (48-38) after a 7-0 run. The effort continued for the hosts, who cut the lead to seven (68-61) at the end of the third period.
The game turned into a slugfest and with 29,8 seconds left, Will Clyburn tied the score at 78 for the first time since the start of the game.
Spagnolo had a chance to win the game but missed. Clyburn did the same, and the game ended in overtime.
With 18 seconds left, Spagnolo made two free throws to give ALBA an 89-86 cushion.
Mouhamet Diouf made it a one-point game (89-88) with 5.9 seconds on the clock, and Malte Delow committed a backcourt violation trying to get the ball inbounded, giving Virtus possession and the chance to win.
Clyburn got the ball but missed again, Spagnolo got the rebound and a foul to make the final score 90-88 with one of two free throws.
Photo credit: EuroLeague