By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Despite another great performance from Daron “Fatts” Russell, U-BT Cluj-Napoca fell on the road to Śląsk Wrocław 94–93.
After scoring 37 points in the win against Neptūnas, Russell was on the verge of an incredible triple-double with 21 points, 15 assists, and eight rebounds for a PIR of 30, falling just one assist short of a EuroCup record. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Support from Trey Woodbury, who scored 20 points, Mitch Creek with 18, and Dušan Miletić, who recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 assists, wasn’t enough to help Cluj secure their second victory.
Śląsk claimed the win with Stefan Đorđević scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds, while Noah Kirkwood added 15 points and seven boards. Kadre Gray and Jakub Nizioł contributed 14 points each for the winning side.
Elsewhere, Besiktas Gain defeated NINERS Chemnitz in Istanbul 93–88, with Yiğit Arslan scoring 19, Jonah Mathews 18, and Ante Žižić 17 points.
Kevin Yebo led the German team with 32 points, while Corey Davis Jr. added 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Ratiopharm Ulm defeated Lietkabelis 94–98 on the road in Panevėžys, with Christopher Ledlum leading the way with 26 points. Tobias Jensen added 13 points, Bryce Brown 12, and Christian Sengfelder 11 for the winners.
Jamel Morris, Kristian Kullamäe, and Augustine Rubit each scored 18 points for the Lithuanian side, while Paulius Danusevičius recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
JL Bourg also secured a road victory, defeating Panionios 56–66 in Athens. Darius McGhee scored 17 points and Vincent Mitchell added 10, while Kevin Kokila narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds.
For Panionios, Giorgos Tsalmpouris contributed 11 points, while Nate Watson recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
BAXI Manresa defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 101–94 in a very entertaining game, with Alfonzo Plummer leading the way with 23 points for the winning side. Alejandro Reyes followed with 16, Hugo Benítez added 15, and Louis Olinde contributed 14 points. For Hapoel, three players stood out — Justin Smith with 23 points, and Khadeen Carrington and Jared Harper with 21 apiece.
In another game, Pistoia’s scoring was led by Carl Wheatle with 13 points, while Stefan Nikolić and Kyle Wiltjer added 12 each. Chris Horton recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and R.J. Cole chipped in with 10 points and seven assists. As for Neptūnas, Zane Waterman scored 13 points, while Harrison Cleary and Donatas Tarolis followed with 10 apiece.
Group A
Cedevita Olimpija – Aris 80-59
Hamburg Towers – Bahcesehir 85-106
Slask – U-BT Cluj-Napoca 94-93
Venice – Neptunas 89-69
Manresa – Hapoel Jerusalem 101-94
1. Bahcesehir 3-0
2. Cedevita Olimpija 3-0
3. Manresa 2-1
4. Aris 2-1
5. Slask Wroclaw 2-1
6. Venice 1-2
7. Cluj-Napoca 1-2
8. Hapoel Jerusalem 1-2
9. Neptunas 0-3
10. Hamburg 0-3
Group B
Turk Telekom – Buducnost 79-72
Lietkabelis – Ulm 94-98
Panionios – JL Bourg 56-66
Besiktas – Chemnitz 93-88
London Lions – Trento 87-71
1. JL Bourg 3-0
2. Ulm 3-0
3. Besiktas 2-1
4. Trento 1-2
5. Chemnitz 1-2
6. Buducnost 1-2
7. Turk Telekom 1-2
8. Lietkabelis 1-2
9. Panionios 1-2
10. London Lions 1-2