By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
While we generally saw some great individual performances during this Week in the Last 32, some stunning victories away from home certainly caught our attention. And how could it be any different since two of the teams that performed… roadkills, managed to get an early ticket to the EightFinals. Gran Canaria, Strasbourg, plus Unics Kazan that celebrated at home, have already being qualified to the next stage and now they wait to learn who will join them.
An other team kept a unique streak when it counted the most and the “surprise” of the previous Week is a coincidence no more. Some specific players showed why they are at an almost perfect shape, while others showed why you should never underestimate the skill of a veteran in a game of no return…
Biggest win: Bilbao
It is quite amazing that Bilbao has won all its road games in Eurocup so far, don’t you think? It’s a small mystery how a team plays a lot better away from its home, but what ultimately matters is that Bilbao managed to keep this impressive streak in a “do or die” match in Germany vs Bayern Munich. The Basques entered the second half like a storm, playing solid basketball, and in the end of the game hey countered the comeback attempted by their opponents. They kept their cool and their hopes of advancing in the next stage in a quite difficult group.
The MVP:
Alex Mumbru (Bilbao Basket):
The highly resourceful and experienced veteran carried Bilbao on his backs in Munich against Bayern, ensuring that his team will escape with a crucial win in its bags. Not only did score 22 points and grabbed 5 rebounds but he was the one to “speak” in the end by pulling big buckets and showing the important character, needed in games of such importance. Particularly on the road.
Best 5:
Jerel McNeal (Aris BC): It was vital for Aris to win this game. To put it simply, if Alba Berlin was the one to smile in “Nick Galis Hall” the team from Thessaloniki would have few hopes advancing to the next stage. But the American guard put his scoring skills into work, finishing the match with 25 points that pushed Aris to the win.
Victor Rudd (Nizhny Novgorod):
He began the game with 22 points in the first half, giving Nizhny Novgorod the wings that flew them to the victory against Union Olimpija Lubjana. While he was not that impressive in the rest of the game, he finished 28 points in an overall superb performance.
Alex Mumbru (Bilbao Basket):
Our MVP. Nothing like the “know how” of a guy who has “eaten” this kind of games for breakfast.
Adrien Moerman (Banvit Bandirma):
A nuclear reactor at the power forward position for Banvit. Moerman is having one excellent game after the other and this time, versus Ulm, he finished with a strong double/double of 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead his team to victory.
Vladimir Veremeenko (Reggio Emilia):
He made sure that nothing would come near his territory, either on the ground, or in the air, while also putting his piece in scoring, during Reggio Emilia’s important win vs Trabzonspor 89 – 76. His team also covered the point difference of the game in Turkey thanks to the Belarusian’s 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Coach Of The Week: Aito Garcia Reneses
In total contrast with the freezing cold temperatures of Saratov, the show that Gran Canaria delivered against the local Avtodor was sizzling hot, since they scored 92 points (with 25 assists). Coach Reneses manages to keep his team extremely effective even on the road, and without a key player like Kevin Pangos.
Best losing performance: Ryan Toolson
Although he scored 22 points, with good shooting from the perimeter (4/7) and dished 5 assists, Zenit had major problems on its offense against a well prepared and really tough Zielona Gora, thus losing the game in St. Petersburg, 69 – 73.
The Disappointment: Valencia
Losing twice by the same team, without putting up a serious fight is certainly something that should not characterize a team of the quality that Valencia has. What is more, the Spaniards did not corrected the mistakes they did at home, failing to play their favorite offensive game. Also, we didn’t see why Pedro Martinez felt that he has a reason to protest to the referees so much.