By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
There were many candidates for the Gameday 11 Team of the Week in the Basketball Champions League.
The five players that we settled on came through in the important moments in vital wins for their respective clubs, and often did so in spectacular fashion.
Each player was so good that he could have occupied the Top Five Plays of the Week on his own! Here is this week’s clutch quintet:
DJ Strawberry, Guard
Strawberry equaled his season high of 18 points and did so while drilling 3 of 4 shots from long range in the final 12 minutes of the game to help Besiktas fend off a comeback by CEZ Nymburk. The 32-year-old also had 6 assists and finished with a +21 efficiency in a 91-80 home victory as Besiktas (8-3) moved a game clear of Nanterre 92 and CEZ Nymburk (both 7-4) in Group D.
Victor Rudd, Forward
After a fast 2-0 start in the Basketball Champions League, nothing went right for Gaziantep before Wednesday’s home game against Neptunas Klaipeda. The Turkish club went into the contest on the back of eight straight defeats dating back to October 18. What happened on Gameday 11? Victor Rudd happened! The 26-year-old power forward hit 3-pointers, made crucial free-throws (9-of-10 overall), swatted shots, caught alley-oop passes and then dunked with authority. Rudd was a stud, finishing with a season-high 31 points. He also had 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a +33 efficiency.
Jean Salumu, Guard
The Belgium international was red hot on Wednesday night, making all four of his attempts from deep and finishing with 23 points to lead Oostende to a 73-60 triumph over Nanterre 92. Salumu, who has played for his country at the last two FIBA EuroBaskets and also featured for the Belgian Lions in November’s World Cup Qualifiers, also had 3 assists, 3 rebounds and finished with a +25 efficiency.
Damian Kulig, Forward
The Poland international has been moving from strength to strength this season with his effort on Wednesday arguably his finest hour. Kulig, a power forward, had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and an efficiency mark of +29 in an 88-76 win at medi Bayreuth. The 30-year-old was 9 of 13 from the floor and a perfect 3 of 3 from behind the arc. His previous high in points had been 19 in a season-opening defeat at Umana Reyer Venezia.
Ovie Soko, Forward
Soko does a lot of things well on a weekly basis for UCAM Murcia. He pours in the points by showing a soft touch from five to 10 feet. Without a doubt, it’s his high-flying theatrics that the Murcia faithful like most about the 26-year-old. He’s been a one-man highlight reel, soaring in for dunks that get his team’s fans, and those of the opposition, on their feet. One such play happened on Tuesday when he had a put-back jam in Murcia’s 85-65 romp over EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Soko ended up with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Fouling the Great Britain international didn’t help EWE Baskets. He was 9 of 12 (75 percent) at the charity stripe.