By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
So far, 32 Rounds have been completed, and two more are left to finish the regular season. Four teams have qualified for the playoffs, Olympiacos (23-9), Barcelona (22-10), Real Madrid (22-10), and Monaco (21-11). At this point, then, there are four spots left for six candidates, of whom some have more chances, others have less.
If there were ever a time for a player to step up and give his team what the occasion calls for, that little bit extra, it is now.
Eurohoops presents six hidden aces from Maccabi Tel Aviv (19-13), Fenerbahce (18-14), Partizan (18-14), Baskonia (17-15), Zalgiris Kaunas (17-15) and Anadolu Efes (16-16) who can make a difference.
BONZIE COLSON
Maccabi | Forward | January 12, 1996 | USA
11 pts | 5.6 reb | 0.6 ast| 1.3 stl | 0.7 blk | 0.6 tr | 25:42 min | 13.6 PIR
“We play like the best (guard-guard) duo in the EuroLeague.” That’s what Wade Baldwin recently said about Lorenzo Brown and himself. If Bonzie Coulson was a guard, Baldwin would have to rephrase that statement.
The American forward is the third and last player scoring in double figures for Maccabi Tel Aviv and also the second-best rebounder on the team. All this in his first year in the Euroleague. It’s no coincidence that his coach, Oded Kattash, has used him as a starter in 25 out of the 32 games played so far.
He had 29 points in his best game and the first of his three double-doubles (14 rebounds), although that was not enough to prevent a loss to Panathinaikos (88-86 R19).
Remaining games: @ Zalgiris Kaunas 6/4 | vs. Real Madrid 13/4
TONYE JEKIRI
Fenerbahce | Center | July 23, 1994 | Nigeria
4.9 pts | 3.2 reb | 0.9 ast| 0.4 stl | 0.1 blk | 0.6 tr | 13:02 min | 6.7 PIR
From the beginning of the season Jekiri had an important role in the rotation of Dimitris Itoudis, which is why he was signed in the first place. The injury that set him back and forced him to miss the first two months of 2023 made it clear just how important he was.
The Nigerian center reminded everyone of this with his 13 points, 6 rebound and 2 assists in a recent victory over playoffs race rival Zalgiris Kaunas (87-79 R30). Without his performance, Fenerbahce might have been involved in even greater trouble, since that was the team’s sole win in the last five games.
His help off the bench can keep Fenerbahce from deviating further from its path to the playoffs. After all, the motivation is even higher on an individual level for him since Jekiri has yet to qualify for the postseason in three prior EuroLeague seasons.
Remaining games: vs. Anadolu Efes 6/4 | @ Crvena Zvezda 13/4
ALEKSA AVRAMOVIC
Partizan | Guard | October 25, 1994 | Serbia
5.4 pts | 1.8 reb | 1.4 ast| 0.4 stl | 0.2 blk | 1 tr | 13:09 min | 4.2 PIR
Although he had to reach the age of 28 to make his EuroLeague debut, it was worth the wait for Aleksa Avramovic. Not everyone has the privilege of playing under the guidance of coach Zeljko Obradovic as part of Partizan’s dynamic re-emergence in its first EuroLeague season since 2014.
He had 19 points, making 5 of 7 three-pointers, in his most productive game, last month’s win over ALBA (88-74 R26), but this performance was not as valuable as his 14 points in the recent statement win over Anadolu Efes (84-97 R29).
He hasn’t missed a game (6/18 games started) since returning from the offseason injury that sidelined him for the first half of the year, and he hasn’t missed any of the team’s home crowd festivities at Stark Arena.
Remaining games: @ Monaco 7/4 | vs. Panathinaikos 14/4
DAULTON HOMMES
Baskonia | Forward | July 4, 1996 | USA
7.1 pts | 2.9 reb | 1.5 ast | 0.4 stl | 0.4 blk | 0.8 tr | 20:11 min | 7.6 PIR
There should be no one who doubts that Baskonia‘s scouting department operates on another level. The rule is also confirmed by players who are not among the first in the statistical categories but are among the first in assimilating their role, such as Daulton Hommes (20/29 games started).
The American forward is one of several rookies on the roster who are playing like it’s not their first year in the EuroLeague and has Juan Pennaroya’s side just shy of making the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
He had 24 points in his best game, being the leading scorer in last month’s victory over Valencia (114-75 R26), while he scored 12 in the last and precious triumph over Fenerbahce (92-69 R32).
Remaining games: vs. ASVEL 6/4 | @ Olympiacos 13/4