By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A game-winning three-pointer by Pierre-Antoine Gillet shaped a clinching win for Filou Oostende.
The reigning champions in Belgium edged out Pinar Karsiyaka, 78-76, to finish third in Group E of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season.
Gillet, 32, registered 16 points with 6/10 field goals. Piling up five rebounds, two assists, and one block added to a team-high efficiency rating of 20 on Tuesday. Extending the winning streak in COREtec Dome to five straight Champions League outings, a new record for the lasting originals of FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition, required solid defense in the final three seconds to prevent a potential overtime.
Delivering an assist to Gillet for the long game-winning effort, Damien Jefferson also shared a team-high 19 points with Khalil Ahmad. Matthias Tass added 12 points for the team guided by Dario Gjergja. Experienced guard Sam Van Rossom sat out with an injury in his right knee and Haris Bratanovic remained sidelined.
Overcoming adversity, including a 12-point deficit midway through the third quarter, BCO rallied and wrapped up the double-legged round-robin schedule of the four-team group at 3-3. Ranking third means a second opportunity to advance to the Round of 16 through a best-of-three Play-In series in January.
Vernon Carey Jr. posting a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double was not enough for the team coached by Ufuk Sarica. The visitors fell to 3-3 but took the second seed and the attached homecourt advantage in the Play-Ins.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League