By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After the departures of Kyle Allman and David McCormack, Darussafaka seemed to be out of contention in the Basketball Champions League, about to lose its fourth consecutive game and be eliminated from Group C. However, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman happened to beat VEF Riga 87-71.
The former Victoria Libertas Pesaro guard, who made the first start of this BCL season in Darüssafaka’s previous game, shone with 33 points, 7/11 from beyond the arc – including the three-pointer with 47″ left to put his team up front -, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Despite his team’s loss, Arnaldo Toro Barea posted an outstanding double-double of 21 points and 18 rebounds, shooting 10/16 from the field, to lead VEF Riga to the final victory. The Puertorican center became the only second player – after Mornar Bar’s Octavious Ellis in the 2016-17 season – to collect eight or more rebounds in each of his first five games in the competition.
With this result and Tenerife’s victory on the road over Cholet Basket, Darussafaka joined the French team for the Play-Ins, while the two-time champions are heading to the Round of 16. VEF Riga, instead, is eliminated from the competition.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League