By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Growing the distance over 20 points down the stretch, Benfica displayed intentions for yet another positive run in the Basketball Champions League.
In a confident display through the second half, the Portugal champions ended up with the 94-72 victory versus PAOK mateco on Wednesday.
Ivan Almeida packing 28 points with 6/8 field goals and Terrell Carter following with 26 points of his own behind 12/17 two-pointers recorded more than half of the score in the Gameday 2 contest. Veteran point guard Toney Douglas chipped in 14 points and six assists.
Launching the second consecutive campaign in the BCL Regular Season, the Eagles got to a 1-0 start in Group G. At the domestic level, a 3-2 record in Portugal’s Liga Betclic paints the early picture for head coach Norberto Alves.
Moving the continental campaign from Istanbul to Lisbon’s Pavilhao Fidelidade, PAOK was carrying the away win against Galatasaray Ekmas in Gameday 1. Shaking off a sluggish start made out a one-point lead at the break, but lacked a similar rally after falling behind in the second half. Consquently, the team coached by Fotis Takianos fell to 1-1 in a quick turnaround from being forced down to 2-2 in Greece’s Basket League.
Icelandic guard Elvar Mar Fridriksson drew up 16 points, six assists, four rebounds, and one steal in Portugal, after recording a triple-double in the Gameday 1 win. Veteran big Vangelis Margaritis finished with 11 points. Nikos Arsenopoulos was sidelined with an injury.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League