By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The season just started and we are here to make it easier for you to follow. Read what’s there is to know about the 1st Euroleague gameday which included the triumphant return of Rudy Fernandez in the competition at the win of Real Madrid against Panathinaikos, Alba Berlin upsetting Siena and Lietuvos Rytas changing its coach.
Eurohoops MVP
Rudy Fernandez (Real Madrid): He wants to be the king of Europe and the win against Panathinaikos (85-78) was a good first step with him scoring 23 points (8/15 shots) and also having four rebounds, three steals, one assist and one turnover
Best five
- Steed Tchicamboud (Chalon): The French guard was impressive in the win of Chalon against Prokom (81-76). His stats line consisted of 16 points with 5/10 shots, eight assist and five rebounds
- Rudy Fernandez (Real Madrid): We already covered that…
- Emir Prelzdic (Fenerbahce / Ulker): He plays in a team full of stars, but he proved to be the biggest one after scoring 20 points with one missed shot (5/6) and one missed free throw (9/10) in the win against Khimki (92-80).
- Aron Baynes (Union Olimpija): A double double (16 p. 12 r.) is good enough, specially if you are not playing at home and you have a solid team like Cantu as opponent. The Aussie was unstoppable in the 84-71 win of Olimpija.
- Yiannis Bourousis (EA7 Milano): The Italian team beat Anadolu Efes (80-75) and Bourousis made everything look easy as it’s evident from his 23 points (6/8 2p., 2/2 3p.) and his seven rebounds.
The best losing performance: Zoran Planinic
Partizan’s Vladimir Lucic looked good at the defeat against Besiktas (81-65), Big Sofo had a great offensive night in Madrid, but you have to respect the vet. Playing at the home of mighty Fenerbahce/ Ulker Planinic had 17 points (8/11 from the floor), six rebounds, eight assist, two steals and three turnovers in almost 33 minutes. His Khmki lost 92-80, but he did the best he could.
The biggest win: Real Madrid
When the game started and Real Madrid was leading 12-2, everyone believed that the night would be over soon. But that’s not the story. Panathinaikos came back, had a 44-35 half time lead and that’s why the 85-78 win of the Spanish powerhouse is even more important. Sure, the Greens are rebuilding and Sofoklis Schortsanitis exposed the front line of Real. What matters, though, it’s that at the end Madrid knew how to close the game and win.
The upset: Alba Berlin
Nobody had seen that coming. Siena is not the team it used to be, but to lose the opening game at home to Alba Berlin? That’s unheard of, however it did happen. A balanced team effort from the wildcard Euroleague participant turned everything upside down, the absence of trademark Siena defense was obvious and the final 92-82 in favor of the Germans was fair.
The disappointment: Unicaja Malaga
If you are Earl Calloway you have to be upset! The man scored 25 points with just two missed shots, but Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Malaga at Spain 85-80. Ok, it’s not the end of the season (yet), but Unicaja which participated to Euroleague this season thanks to its A license should present something better at home, specially against this version of Maccabi which is not exactly a behemoth.
Underachiever: CSKA Moscow
In the first game of the season, perennial Euroleague contender CSKA Moscow was hosting Lietuvos Rytas. Before the tip off two European basketball legends and former CSKA players, Ramunas Siskauskas and Matjas Smodis, were honored by the team and their jerseys were retired. But after that? CSKA manage to steal the game by two points (75-73) with Lietuvos entering the last minute with an advantage of four points and then committing suicide.
The last word: Goodbye Djikic
Last but not least, even before the end of the first Euroleague gameday, Lietuvos Rytas decided to replace its coach. Aleksandar Dzikic is past and his assistant, former player Darius Maskoliunas is the new head coach. Of course, this decision has nothing to do with the defeat of Lietuvos in Moscow, but mainly with the 0-2 record of the team in the VTB-League and specially the defeat by Astana of Kazhakstan.
Euroleague 2012-2013 – 1st Day
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Real Madrid |
Panathinaikos |
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Siena |
Alba Berlin |
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EA7 Milano |
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F.C. Barcelona |
Brose Baskets |
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Besiktas Milangaz |
Partizan mt:s |
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Fenerbahce |
Khimki |
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Unicaja Malaga |
Maccabi Tel Aviv |
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Caja Laboral |
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Chalon |
Asseco Prokom |
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Pall. Cantu |
Union Olimpija |
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Cedevita |
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CSKA Moscow |
Lietuvos Rytas |