By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Miro Bilan poured a career-best 38 points leading Prometey to the away win, 91-87, against Filou Oostende Thursday night.
Bilan, 32, was unstoppable at Versluys Dome. The Croatian center made 16/20 two-pointers and pulled down ten rebounds as well. He was the driving force behind the 50 points scored in the paint by the Ukraine champions.
Pouring 24 points after the break, including 16 in the third quarter alone, Bilan powered his side to a 2-0 start in Group K of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16 with a second win this week after upsetting Unicaja Tuesday. Prometey caught Romania champion U-BT Cluj Napoca on top.
Ronen Ginzburg’s team, carrying a 24-0 record in Ukraine’s SuperLeague, held on after forcing the final lead change with a 10-2 run midway through the fourth quarter. The hosts almost came back from a nine-point deficit for the second time in the delayed Gameday 1 affair but Bilan sealed the win from the free-throw line with 45 seconds remaining.
D’Angelo Harrison added 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Fellow St. John’s alumnus D. J. Kennedy chipped in 19 more points, including seven in the last ten minutes.
For the team guided by Dario Gjergja, Phil Booth registered a team-high 18 points. Experienced guard Dusan Djordjevic posted an 11-point, 11-assist double-double. The Belgium champions, 15-0 in betFirst BNXT League, dropped to 0-3 in the Round of 16.
Oostende’s Brandon McCoy (knee) and Servaas Buysschaert (ankle) were both sidelined.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League