By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
The EuroCup 2016-2017 Regular Season belongs in the history books and the Top 16 is upon us. Two more teams checked their tickets for the next stage of the competition today, one by surviving a “do-or-die” battle facing a squad that was packing bags for the Top 16 before the match even started.
Fuenlabrada was the last team gaining entrance in the next phase after beating Lietuvos Rytas at home. Earlier in the day, Khimki Moscow’s victory over Bilbao had already sent the Lithuanians at the Top 16 and Fuenlabrada grabbed the final spot, eliminating their fellow Spaniards, who hoped for a Rytas’ win, in the process.
This is how the Top 16 Groups stand after the completion of the Regular Season. Pay some special attention to Group E, where we have no less than three teams from Spain and one from Russia. Looks like folks in Lokomotiv Kuban will have to begin an intensive Spanish course.
MVP of the Week: Janis Timma (Zenit St. Petersburg)
For 20 minutes, Zenit St. Petersburg’s offense was struggling against Unicaja Malaga with a production of only 34 points. Looked natural in light of floor general Stefan Markovic’s absence. Yet things drastically changed after the halftime break. And Janis Timma is the one to blame.
The Latvian forward began by helping his team’s defensive efforts in the third quarter, primary with his boards-control and then went completely berserk in the fourth period where he dropped 18 (!) out of his 33 points (new Eurocup career-high) leading Zenit through a comeback and towards a first-place clinching victory. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, stole and blocked the ball twice. Simply monstrous.
Best Five of the Week:
Kenneth Boynton (Nizhny Novgorod)
I usually include only players by victorious teams in the “Best Five” choices but Kenneth Boynton’s opus against Cedevita simply forces me to make an exception. After all, although his team was beaten (narrowly) his performance was that of a winner. The combo guard from Florida dropped 31 points (4/7 2-pointers, 7/11 from downtown), grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 6 assists for 31 PIR. All season-highs while his efforts rallied his teammates’ comeback that could have brought Nizhny victory if not for some mistakes in the last minute.
Alexey Shved (Khimki Moscow)
It has become a habit, of sorts, yet once again Alexey Shved starred in his team’s exploits in an almost casually easy manner. 18 points (2/3 two-pointers, 4/6 from beyond the arc) and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, making short work of the Bilbao’ defenses while Khimki Moscow grabbed a statement win on its high ambitions in the completions.
Janis Timma (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Unlimited power for the Russian team.
Miro Bilan (Cedevita)
Quite possibly the top game of the season so far for the Croatian big guy who towered over his opponents in Nizhny Novgorod with a 19 points season-high (on a sublime 9/10 from the field) and 6 rebounds. He also dished out 3 assists and registered 29 in PIR.
Moussa Diagne (Fuenlabrada)
“Are you joking?”, you might say looking at the 12:30 minutes he played, during which he scored 6 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked the ball twice. Well, the 22-year-old Senegalese certainly wasn’t up for a laugh against Lietuvos Rytas and his contribution goes way beyond what numbers imply. His defensive bestial impact in 1 on 1 situations, space coverage or the helps he provided every-freaking-where he was needed, were nothing less simply immense in the beginning of the game, helping the Spaniards contain Rytas at 11 points in the first 8 minutes. Meanwhile Fuenlabrada scored 19, firing up the momentum needed in such a “win or go home” situation. Diagne’s enthusiasm and inexperience cost him quick fouls that didn’t allow him to stay on court for long but make no mistake. He played a big part in his team’s accomplishment.
Coach of the Week: Jota Cuspinera (Fuenlabrada)
Only fitting that the coach of the team that checked the last Top 16 ticket with a victory in a do-or-die game would be our choice. You could see right from the first minute how well prepared the players of Fuenlabrada were knowing how to silence the most dangerous guns of Rytas (particularly David Logan) implementing intense close-out defenses. But, more importantly, they entered the match with cutlasses between their teeth, carrying extreme levels of aggressiveness and possessing the energy and determination needed to fight in such a crucial match. All the credit to Jota Cuspinera.
The Buzzer Beater…
Antoine Diot hit a buzzer beating downtown basket wishing Merry Christmas to Lokomotiv Kuban and making sure that Valencia fans will leave “La Fonteta” with a smile!