By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Easy win for ERA Nymburk, 92-70, against Teksut Bandirma for the 1-0 lead in the Basketball Champions League Round of 16 best-of-three series.
No real competition in Game 1, but Oren Amiel’s players were surely clicking spreading the floor and overall dominating offensively. Vojtech Hruban poured a game-high 19 points with 7/11 field goals and Jaromir Bohacik 18 behind 8/13 from the field. Michael Dixon added 12 points in just over 14 minutes.
Third Basketball Champions League playoffs run can prove a charm for the Czech Republic champions. In 2017 and 2018 failed to win a series, but on Tuesday notched the first out of the two wins necessary for a quarterfinals berth.
“We need to be much more consistent,” head coach Amiel mentioned during the post-game press conference, “If someone thinks we will go to Turkey and face the same story, he doesn’t understand basketball. I’m expecting a very tough game.”
Sinking 14/28 threes paved the way for the comfortable Game 1 victory. The opponents missing 10 out of their 15 free throw attempts helped as well, especially during the slightly tougher first half.
“We always start out trying to impose our will. They were able to keep up with us a little bit,” said Zach Hankins (6pts, 4reb), “We got to pursue perfection and be the best we can be.”
The visitors ravaged by financial issues and departing players featured a short bench at Prague’s Kralovka Arena. Ten players suited up including remaining foreigners, Tyler Kalinoski and Omar Prewitt, but Hakan Demir went through the match using only the Turkish players available, mainly youngsters.
Making the most out of this tough situation was the main goal for the upstarts. Sehmus Hazer was back at it packing 17 points, five dimes, five rebounds, and four steals. Alperen Sengun scored 16 points and Ridvan Oncel threw in 15 of his own.
“We tried to fight with what we got, but it wasn’t enough for the win,” mentioned Erkan Yilmaz after his six points, eight rebounds and four dimes, “We have one more game next week.”
Game 2 is scheduled to take place in Turkey next Tuesday. Game 3, if necessary, will see the Round of 16 opponents return to the Czech Republic a week later.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League