By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
We’re expecting a big game on Wednesday in the Freak City! Brose Bamberg are hosting Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens in the official debut of Xavi Pasqual, with both teams holding the same record (1-1). Nicolo Melli and Ioannis Bourousis are going to go head-to-head and there are several elements that unite them!
First of all, the Italian power forward for Brose, who can also play center in smaller lineups, and the Greek center were teammates for two seasons at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Also, the best and most productive seasons so far in their careers came last year.
Melli, 25, is already in his seventh season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Last season, he took over a leading role in Bamberg‘s excellent progress in the EuroLeague and tallied an average of 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists with 47.5% in two-point shooting and 45.3% in three-point shooting. He was the MVP of November and he has already reached 444 rebounds in his career.
He’s developing into a forward with great influence in the game. Very combative on defense, effective on offense from up close, as well as further out, playing mostly facing the basket, he’s also a very good passer. He’s the key player in the frontline of head coach Andrea Trinchieri’s team.
Bourousis, 32, has entered the 15th season of his career in the EuroLeague and Panathinaikos is the sixth team in the competition, after AEK Athens, Olympiacos Piraeus, Milan, Real Madrid, and Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz. He became a EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid in 2015!
He’s ranked second all-time among EuroLeague players in rebounds with 1,453, behind only Felipe Reyes, who has 1,502 boards to his name. He has been chosen twice to the All-EuroLeague First Team, in the 2008-9 season and in 2015-16, while he was also the MVP for the month of March in his amazing last season!
As Baskonia‘s leader last year, he led his team to the Final Four in what was for him and his team a magical season. He had an average of 14.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and the impressive 21.1 PIR!
A player who has the full package in offense. He has a variety of moves in the low post, finishes with both hands, works great as a passer from the paint and is an excellent three-point shooter for his size. Panathinaikos are expecting productivity and a leader’s influence from Bourousis and it will be interesting to see how Xavi Pascual is going to use him!
At the national team level, the Greek player has won the gold medal with the Greek national team in the 2005 FIBA European Championship and the bronze medal in the same tournament in 2009.
Bamberg’s showdown with Panathinaikos is expected to be suspenseful and of great interest, and the performance of the two most important big men for the two gladiators is going to play a catalytic role in the outcome of the battle!