By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Nanterre got its first ever Euroleague team and did it against a title contender. The French champions beat on the road Barcelona (71-67) making all the big plays in crunch time. On the contrary, the leader of Barca, Juan Carlos Navarro has just 2 points, 0/4 three pointers and missed the shot that could have won the game one second before the final buzzer. After that Thomas, the top scorer of Nanterre with 14 points, made two free throws and gave to his team the final four points winning difference.
In Istanbul, Zeljko Obradovic‘s Fenerbahce/ Ulker made a demonstration of power by beating CSKA Moscow 86-60 and making a major step towards securing the top spot of Group A standings. The hosts had a double digits lead after the end of the first quarter (26-16) and never looked back. Bogdanovic had 23 points for the winners, while Micov (20 p.) and Hines (17 p., 8 r.) did the best they could for the Russian powerhouse.
Olympiacos played with fire against Bayern Munich but in the end got the 88-83 win and stayed perfect on top of Group C. Before the last two free throws by Printezis which sealed the deal, there was a controversial play as Malcolm Delaney’s three which could have tied the game, was blocked from behind by Kostas Sloukas without any call being made by the referees. In the replays it was clear that there was no foul, but the first impression was the opposite. That’s probably why coach Pesic said after the game: “We have the right to believe that we have our chances even against the best team in Europe the last two seasons”.
After changing coaches, usually a team presents itself much more focused. That exactly what happened in Kaunas with Zalgiris getting the 88-64 win over Strasbourg in the debut of Saulius Stombergas who replaced Ilias Zouros. Martynas Pocius had 23 points for the host team, while Alexis Ajinca once more had a good night with 21 points.
In Malaga, the many injuries of Galatasaray gave to Unicaja the chance to get an impressive 84-57 win, while in Kiev Budivelnyk got its historic first Euroleague win against Partizan (74-69), as Darjus Lavrinovic dominated the paint (22 p., 8 r.).