By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
While the duo of Real Madrid and Fenerbahce BEKO are leading the standings, even CSKA Moscow can’t really feel safe at this point, as it was evident from this round’s results.
Only one road win was registered and that was the first of Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv on the road against CSKA since 2004. Still, the MVP comes from a shorthanded team that managed to defend each home court.
MVP
Marcelinho Huertas: He finished the night with 24 points, six assists – and four turnovers – as KIROLBet Baskonia played practically with seven players due to their injury woes. It was a vintage performance by the Brazilian guard and his team is now tied at the eighth spot of the standings together with AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano and Panathinaikos OPAP.
Best Five
- Vasilje Micic: Anadolu Efes remains fourth in the standings and he did his part with 16 points and eight assists against Khimki Moscow Region.
- Marcelinho Huertas: He stepped up when his team needed him the most.
- Thomas Heurtel: We went to a three-guard line up since he registered one more personal season-high with 23 points in FC Barcelona Lassa’s win over Panathinaikos OPAP.
- Anthony Randolph: He was majestic with 16 points, eight rebounds and three, leading Real Madrid over Olympiacos.
- Jan Vesely: One more double-double for the leading MVP candidate with 13 points and 12 rebounds as Fenerbahce BEKO beat Zalgiris Kaunas.
Coach of the round: Giannis Sfairopoulos
He led Maccabi to a historic win, his team kept CSKA to 76 points and Maccabi is back on the hunt for a spot in the playoffs, being just one “W” away from the eighth place of the standings. The former coach of Olympiacos is turning things around in Tel Aviv and that was the biggest possible proof.
Last word: The Germans are coming
FC Bayern Munich is still turning heads and beat AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano. The German champs who started the season by saying that they were focused on winning their domestic league once more, are clearly EuroLeague playoff material and this – combined with their two-year license that starts from next season – can be the start of something really big.