By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Eurocup Eighth-Finals ended with a loud surprise, as Stelmet Zielona Gora advanced to the quarterfinals, sending Unics Kazan, one of the favorites to lift the trophy, to an early elimination. Nizhny Novgord also make it to the Top 8, despite losing to Zenit St. Petersburg, while Olimpia Armani Milano survived Banvit’s physical game and also got the ticket to the quarterfinals alongside Gran Canaria.
Add also the games of Tuesday and you have the full picture of the quarterfinals in which the couples are the following: FC Bayern Munich – Galatasaray, Herbalife Gran Canaria – Stelmet Zielona Gora, Strasbourg – Nizhny Novgorod, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano – Dolomiti Energia Trento.
Unics Kazan – Zielona Gora: 54 – 71
An unbelievable defensive game for the Polish team transported them straight to the quarterfinals and showed heavy favorite Unics Kazan the exit door out of the competition ! The hosts simply needed to… not lose with more than 3 points but they were ultimately easily defeated by their opponents at the end of the game. A triumph for Zielona Gora and a total disappointment for Unics Kazan which finished the game with 24 (!) turnovers.
Mateusz Ponitka was equally strong on both ends of the court, finishing the game with 18 points and 3 steals, while Dee Bost added 17 points, 7 assists and key defenses against everyone he was called to guard. Most stars of Unics Kazan had poor performances, save perhaps for Kostas Kaimakoglou who finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds (but 5 turnovers too).
After the game, some celebrations were in order…
Huge win for us and on to the Quarterfinals! #team #Together
— Vlad Moldoveanu (@VladMoldoveanu9) March 2, 2016
…. but also some self criticism as well
Hubris.
— keith langford (@keith_langford) March 2, 2016
Zenit St. Petersburg – Nizhny Novgorod: 89 – 74
A result that leaves a bittersweet taste to Zenit, since it didn’t bring the qualification. Nizhny Novgorod is the team that advances to the quarterfinals, since they were comfortably sitting in a safety pillow of 26 points from the first match. Actually, coach Bagatskis’ players were ahead of the score at halftime in this game, making it even more difficult for their opponents, who were too late in their reaction.
For Zenit, Ryan Toolson had 24 points in his last Eurocup game in this season, while Victor Rudd delivered another double-double, with 15 points and 11 rebounds, for Nizhny Novgorod
EA7 Emporio Armani Milano – Banvit Bandirma: 79 – 76
In a game where lots of big battles took place, particularly under the rim, Milano managed to edge Banvit, checking a spot to the quarterfinals. The Turkish team entered the match ready to put up an immense fight, especially on the physical department of the game, gaining a lead of 6, 41 – 47 at halftime. But Milano adapted during the third quarter, and playing some tight defense that led to victory.
Jamel McLean (16 points, 7 rebounds) and Oliver Lafayette (15 points, 5 assists) were the protagonists for the hosts. Adrien Moerman stood out for Banvit with his 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Gran Canaria – CSP Limoges 77-78
The hosts did what they had to do in order to seal their place in the quarterfinals after getting a 17 points road win last week. Limoges got a 55-47 lead in the third quarter and that was the best they could do. At the end, Kevin Pangos with 12 points and 4/6 threes tried to “steal” the game, but Limoges in the end got the win at the free throws line.
Brad Newly with 13 points and Alen Omic with 15 had a good game for the Spaniards, while Ali Traore made an impressive return to form after his injury with 19 points, Bo McCalebb had 17 points and Nobel Boungou Colo added 16. However, it was not enough.