By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Another week of action in Basketball Champions League is in the books. Here are the best five players of Round 13!
Tamir Blatt, Guard
If Blatt hadn’t had some big games last season with UNET Holon and also shone for Israel in the World Cup Qualifiers, he’d be on posters all over Jerusalem this season under the label ‘A Star Is Born’. There is so much to like about the 21-year-old’s game, from his passing and 3-point shooting to his confidence. He hit 5 of 9 from deep and had 17 points in Jerusalem’s 103-89 victory over Brose Bamberg on Wednesday. Add to the scoring his 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals and +24 efficiency and you get another inclusion on the Team of the Week for Blatt.
Mardy Collins, Guard
Watching a supremely focused SIG Strasbourg prevail, 83-80, at home over Segafredo Virtus on Tuesday in a game they simply had to win to stay in the hunt for a Play-Off spot sent chills down our spines. It made the hair on the back of necks stand up. It was riveting stuff from everyone, especially against a Virtus team that has a great chance of reaching the Final Four. Collins was a real leader. He was downright inspirational, hitting some tough shots on his way to 20 points. He also had 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block and finished with +25 efficiency.
Julyan Stone, Guard
This is a player that does a lot of everything to help Umana Reyer Venezia win games. He wasn’t that far off from a triple-double at Nanterre with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Both the scoring and the assists were season highs for the 30-year-old. Stone had a couple of steals as well. Though he didn’t make the layup at the end of regulation that would have forced overtime, De Nicolao had his back and well, you know the rest of the story. Venezia won to punch their Play-Off ticket.
Vince Hunter, Forward
His latest display was as breathtaking as those that have put his name in bright lights on so many occasions this season. He had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. The AEK jersey with the name Hunter on it ought to be selling like hotcakes! Might he take his foot off the pedal at some point and cruise a little? No, Luca Banchi certainly won’t allow that to happen. Hunter is in the form of his life and appears hellbent on putting together the best season in BCL history.