By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After Unicaja Malaga and UCAM Murcia, Perister bwin is the third participant of the Basketball Champions League Final Four in Belgrade.
Led by Joe Ragland, Vassilis Spanoulis’s side defeated defending champions Telekom Baskets Bonn 77-89 in the do-or-die Quarterfinals clash on the road.
Ragland led the Greek team with 21 points and eight assists, while Trevor Thompson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ragland also became the second player to reach 500 assists in the BCL.
Elijah Mitrou-Long added 15 points, while Jermaine Love scored 16, including some crucial free throws in the final quarter that helped his team pull away and seal the victory.
“Honestly, it was about our physicality and playing our brand of basketball. That’s the message the coach has preached to us since the beginning, even when we were down 0-3,” Love said after the game.
Harald Frey gave his all for Bonn and led the German side with 21 points, but only Brian Fobbs followed with 17 points.
“Historical win, historical season”
Peristeri’s sharp shooting gave them an early lead, but turnovers kept the game close. Despite a late challenge from Bonn, key plays from Ragland and Mitrou-Long secured Peristeri’s victory with a double-digit lead.
“I want to congratulate my players for their amazing character and courage throughout the whole season. We were down in the series, but we believed, made adjustments, and beat Bonn despite their advantages. With physicality and aggressiveness, we did a terrific job in the elimination game. For a new team with eight or nine new players, the club had never been in this situation. It’s a historical win, a historical season,” coach of Peristeri Vasilis Spanulis stated.
Postgame press conference
Photo: fiba.basketball