By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Shaking off a slow start behind individual offensive bursts, delivered by Damien Jefferson and Khalil Ahmad, Filou Oostende reached the win column of the Basketball Champions League.
Defeating EWE Baskets Oldenburg, 88-83, in COREtec Dome marked the 41st BCL win for Dario Gjergja, lifting him over John Patrick in the second place of the all-time list of head coaches with the most wins.
Jefferson, 26, scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the second half of the Regular Season’s Gameday 3 affair on Wednesday. The former Creighton standout tucked in 9/16 field goals and pulled down nine rebounds en route for a game-high efficiency rating of 27.
Ahmad, 26, tallied 14 of his 16 points in the second quarter as his side dug its way out of an early 15-point hole. From building an 11-point distance to refusing a late comeback bid, BCO jumped to 1-2 in Group E. Haris Bratanovic and Servaas Buysschaert remained sidelined.
Gjergja, 48, now only trails two-time champion Txus Vidorreta among the winningest play-callers of FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition. The longtime boss of the Belgium champions and lasting BCL originals was dealing with the prospect of the first five-game losing streak in team history.
In contrast, the team coached by Pedro Calles suffered an eighth straight defeat in the Champions League, apart from falling to 0-3 in the four-team group. DeWayne Russell posting a 21-point, 11-assist double-double was not enough to snap the losing streak.
With Brekkott Chapman, Alen Pjanic, and Kyle Foster all out, adding to injury woes was Max Di Leo exiting early in the fourth quarter. Earlier this week, the German club seeking additional options welcomed Geno Crandall but the newcomer’s debut will likely follow in easyCredit BBL action.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League