The aftermath (EL 9th gameday)

By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net

Just one gameday before the end of the regular season the situation for the three last open Top16 spots is still murky. However, three teams have a better chance to qualify. In group A Fenerbahce/ Ulker needs a home win over Cantu in order to qualify, the same applies in group C for Caja Laboral against Cedevita and also in group D for Brose Baskets against Partizan. However if those three hosts doesn’t win, there is a number of scenarios about what could happen and will be analyzed in the following hours.

 There are also 13 teams already qualified which are Panathinaikos, Real Madrid, Khimki from group A, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Unicaja, Siena, Alba Berlin from group B, Zalgiris Kaunas, Olympiacos, Anadolu Efes from group C and Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas from group D.

Eurohoops MVP

Thomas Huertel: He was mediocre as a facilitator (4 assist vs 5 turnovers) but he also scored 22 very important points in 9/12 shots from the field and almost gave a Top16 spot to Caja after its win against Efes. And that was the biggest triumph of the gameday, because now the Basques need one more home win against Cedevita in order to continue their season in Top16. That makes him in our book the MVP.

Best five

1. Τhomas Huertel: Who else?
2. Manuchar Markoishvili: In a legendary European match up 21 years since their last game, he did what he had to do in order to continue the tradition of Cantu’s home wins against – Rudy-less – Real Madrid (23 p., 6 r. 3 as. 2 st. 2 bl.).
3. Blake Schilb: His team have already been disqualified from the Top16, but he had a monster game with 28 points, only three missed shots, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal and one block in the overtime win against Siena.
4. Paulius Jankunas: He had 16 points on 6/8 shots, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 2 assists and a steal in the barnburner against EA7 Milano, which may have cost the Italians their spot in Top16.
5. Aron Baynes: Prepelic was the hero of the night with his last shot, but Baynes had once more a double double with 11 points on 4/6 shots and also 10 rebounds in the win against Khimki.

The best losing performance: Romain Sato

It was the night of Mike Batiste, but Sato also returned to his old gym and had 20 points with 6/9 shots and 5/5 free throws, 8 rebounds and 3 assist for Fenerbahce/ Ulker. Siena’s Bobby Brown‘s numbers may look more flashy (26 points, 10 assist) but he had just 1/8 three pointers, four turnovers and some wild shots in the end of the overtime.

The upset: Olimpja Ljublana

Obviously Khimki didn’t have a big motive and also missed Zoran Planinic, but nobody really gave a chance for Olimpja to stay alive and get the 74-72 win. The Slovenians will have to travel to Madrid next week and have mathematical chances to qualify to Top16 if they win Real and Cantu beats Fenerbahce in Istanbul. It’s almost impossible, but you never know…

The disappointment: Fenerbahce/ Ulker

The Turkish club can seal its Top16 ticket with a home win against Cantu next week. However, that’s not what it was expected when this team was created as a potential Final Four contender, specially after scoring just 55 points at OAKA against Panathinaikos. Something is still missing from the unit of coach Pianigiani and the most crucial part of the season is approaching fast.

The underachiever: EA7 Armani Milano

The Italians had the chance to win the game against Zalgiris and get one step closer to Top16, but they lost it and probably also the qualification after their 67-65 home defeat. Now Milano needs a win at Piraeus against Olympiacos combined with a win of Cedevita in Vitoria against Caja Laboral in order to advance. Not exactly the most probable scenario…

The last word: Mike Batiste

He returned to Athens, got arrested, caused without his intent an ownership crisis to Panathinaikos and after all that he got awarded by the team and its fans for nine beautiful Green years. Isn’t life strange?

Euroleague 2012-2013 – 9th Day