By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Thanks to a big game by Deividas Gailius who had 23 points and 8 rebounds, Neptunas got the big win over Galatasaray (82-72) and can still hope for a spot in Top16 after a close game which was decided in the last quarter.
With the help of Mustafa Shakur who made important plays down the stretch and finished with 16 points, Neptunas entered the last two minutes of the game with 10-2 run and a 13 points advantage. Galatasaray had 1/5 threes in the last five minutes and the Lithuanians got their fourth win in the regular season. Zoran Erceg had 24 points, but an off night by Carlos Arroyo (5p., 1/9s.) and Marty Pocius (3 p., 1/7 s.) didn’t help at all Galatasaray, which has now a 3-6 record, while Neptunas has the advantage with 4-5. However, the Turks have the tie breaking advantage because of their 94-68 win in Istanbul.
All the scenarios with Galatasaray
After the defeat in Klaipeda the Top16 ticket is not in Galatasaray’s hands. The Turkish team needs to beat Olympiacos and hopes that there will not be a four-teams tie with 4 wins (Laboral, Neptunas, Galatasaray, Valencia). That means Galatasaray hopes that Valencia will not beat Laboral and Neptunas and at the same time Laboral will beat Crvena Zvezda the last week.
In case that Galatasaray beats Olympiacos, Neptunas loses by Valencia and Laboral wins the game vs Crvena Zvezda there will be a three-teams tie with 4 wins (Galatasaray, Neptunas, Valencia) in the fourth place. Galatasaray will qualify if Valencia wins Neptunas by margin less than 23 points.
In case that Galatasaray beats Olympiacos, Valencia wins both games and Laboral loses both games, Neptunas will qualify. There will also be a three-team tie in the fourth place (Laboral, Valencia, Galatasaray) and the Turkish team will continue its season in Eurocup.
On the other hand, Galatasaray hopes that Laboral will beat Valencia and Valencia will beat Neptunas last week. In that case Galatasaray and Neptunas will be tied in the fourth place and Galatasaray will qualify.
Of course, it’s obvious that if Olympiacos beats Galatasaray, the Turkish team will continue in the Eurocup.