By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The finalists of the 7Days EuroCup are decided! Turk Telekom was the first to book a ticket to the final and will face Gran Canaria who will fight for the title after a challenging game in an all-Spanish semifinal against Joventut 89-86.
Gran Canaria remained undefeated at home in this EuroCup season (12-0) and is set to host Turk Telekom Ankara in the final on Wednesday, May 3. Joventut finished its EuroCup season with a 15-6 record.
It was a back-and-forth battle until the third quarter when the home side made a crucial push. With a partial 23-13 score which was enough to secure a victory and book a ticket to the final, Gran Canaria got a solid lead.
Joventut after a bucket from Vladimir Brodziansky, and then a three-pointer by Joel Parra managed to make it a one-point game (87-86) with 12 seconds left, but the home team managed to hold on in the final seconds to win the game.
Andrew Albicy led the winners with 17 points. Nico Brussino got 14, Vitor Benite added 13 on 7-of-7 free-throw shooting and Damien Inglis had 11 for Gran Canaria, which returns to the final for the first time since losing to Khimki Moscow Region in 2015.
As Albicy said: “It was a tough game but we stuck together. We had a game plan and did it correctly. We were a little bit scared at the end of the game but did our job. I am very happy because it is my third semifinal and finally I go to the final. Finally!”
Andres Feliz paced Joventut with 21 points. Ante Tomic added 18 while Vladimir Brodziansky had 13 and Joel Parra 12 for Joventut, which lost the chance to reach the EuroCup final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2008.
“I am proud of the way we are following, not just one game today”, said Gran Canaria coach Jaka Lakovic: “This is a team, we don’t have just one star to depend on, but 12 or more players, and all work so that the team plays well. Everybody contributed today”.