By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The last time Reggio Emilia played a European game, they lost against Bahcesehir in the 2021-22 FIBA Europe Cup final. This time, they began their Basketball Champions League chapter with a convincing display against Bonn, beating Tuomas Iisalo’s team 84-88 in the Telekom Dome.
Michele Vitali, who is now playing for the third BCL team in his career after Dinamo Sassari (2019-20) and Brose Bamberg (2020-21), was crucial with 17 points. He has now scored at least a three-pointer in each of his last 20 games in the BCL. He went 3/4 from the perimeter tonight.
Andrea Cinciarini got his first double-double of the season, closing with 10 points and 10 assists. The newcomers Kassius Robertson (19 p.) and Nate Reuvers (14 p., 6 r.) were also helpful, just like Reggio Emilia’s starting center Mikael Hopkins (10 p., 6 r.).
Bonn stayed ahead until the fourth quarter but lost its defensive intensity in the last minutes of the first game of their fourth BCL season. TJ Shorts, who’s replacing the newest ASVEL addition Parker Jackson-Cartwright, had an amazing game that was not enough: 31 points, 11/17 from two, 6 assists, and 31 of efficiency.
Before tonight, Italian teams had lost nine of their last 12 away games to Germany in the competition. UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia, which became the 10th team from Italy to take part in the BCL, joins Pinar Karsiyaka on top of Group B. Yesterday, the Turkish team beat 91-88 AEK in a thrilling encounter thanks to a majestic performance by Errick McCollum.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League