By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Under new coach Pedro Calles, everyone expected that ALBA would demonstrate at least more energy on the court, however, they did much more, getting the 97-90 win over Baskonia.
The Germans still have the worst record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings (5-24), and their guests with a 12-17 record can also say goodbye to the postseason.
“I am happy for the guys, because this is not my first win in the EuroLeague, it’s the 5th win of ALBA”, said Calles, who was promoted to head coach one day before the game after the firing of Israel Gonzalez.
Matt Thomas, with 21 points, and Gabriel Procida, with 13, led the charge for the winners, while Nikos Rogkavopoulos scored 17 points for Baskonia, and Markus Howard had 15.
“The most important was that we played the complete 40 minutes and we haven’t really done it this season”, admitted Thomas after the game.
However, with just 33% in threes (8/24) and 19 turnovers, Baskonia didn’t have a chance on the road. “We talked before the game about not having turnovers, about being aggressive, not giving them second chance points, we didn’t do it and that’s why they got the victory“, said Baskonia coach Pablo Laso.
ALBA with their best game of the season
Both teams were close from wire to wire, but ALBA took the lead at the end of the second period and never lost it after that.
The hosts had a two-point lead (26-24) after the first period and were up by four at halftime (50-46).
Baskonia led for the last time with 44-42 after two free throws by Markus Howard but couldn’t get it back after that.
On the contrary, ALBA led by nine (59-50) to start the third period, which ended with the Germans up by six (75-69), and at the start of the last quarter, after the fifth three-pointer of Matt Thomas in six attempts, ALBA got a double-digit lead for the first time (80-69).
The hosts extended their lead to 17 (91-74) with four minutes left, and the game was over.
Photo credit: EuroLeague