By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Opening week in the Basketball Champions League Regular Season, Surne Bilbao coming back for a second campaign produced a brilliant defensive showing to earn the win, 68-54, over ERA Nymburk Tuesday.
Swedish combo guard Ludvig Hakanson dropped seven of his 16 points in the last quarter as Bilbao marched into a double-digit lead and put in even more distance and security in a potential tiebreaker situation down the stretch. Adam Smith had 11 points, including nine in the third quarter.
Former UNC Greensboro standout Francis Alonso produced eight of his ten points in the last ten minutes. Louisiana Tech product Michale Kyser went for 11 points along with four rebounds and two steals.
Actually a close game most of the way, the visitors pulled away late in the Round 1 affair of Group D, held in Prague.
Despite the loss at Kralovka Arena, Group D Round 1 shaped a special game for Petr Benda. Turned 40 last March, he became the third player over 40 to play in the BCL following Tremmell Darden and Rafa Martinez. Scoring ten points and pulling down three rebounds in 14 minutes fell short of combining the milestone with victory. Eric Lockett had 12 points.
The Czech Republic champions and Champions League lasting originals went down to 0-1 in the four-team group.
Already up 2-0 in Spain’s Liga Endesa, Bilbao so far has been dealing successfully with the serious injuries to both Andrew Goudelock and Tomeu Rigo.
Postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League