By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The first team clinching a spot in the Basketball Champions League Round of 16, Baxi Manresa lasted two games before getting back on the win column by beating Darussafaka, 89-74, Wednesday evening.
Coming off the bench, Yankuba Sima made all of his five field-goal attempts en route for a team-high 14 points in the Gameday 3 contest. Reserves outscoring their counterparts, 33-11, demonstrated Manresa’s depth and to a great extent got the job done against the team from Istanbul.
Chima Moneke and Juan Pablo Vaulet chipped in 13 more points apiece. Joe Thomasson paired 11 points with a game-high nine assists. Belgian Ismael Bako banked in ten points.
On the opposite end, Colorado Christian product Wayne McCullough registered a game-high 22 points but was limited after picking up a fourth personal foul midway through the third quarter. Troy Caupain finished with 17 points and Isaiah Pineiro had 12 points at Pavello Nou Congost. BCL MVP of January Dogus Ozdemiroglu was not available for the team guided by Selcuk Ernak, currently 14-6 in Turkey’s BSL.
The team coached by Pedro Martinez, carrying a solid 13-7 record in Spain’s ACB, never trailed opposite Dacka. At the end of the day jumped to 1-1 in Group J forcing the opponents down to 1-2. Following the approaching international break, the Spanish outlet will visit NutriBullet Treviso’s Palaverde looking to push the hosts to 0-3 and Darussafaka will host undefeated group leader Tofas Bursa in the all-Turkish affair of Gameday 4.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League