By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Hapoel Jerusalem qualified as the first team in his group during the regular season, while Peristeri easily swept Rytas Vilnius in the Play-Ins: that’s why their first game in the Round of 16 was one of the most anticipated in Week 1. After a roller-coaster game, the guests won 77-75 in overtime.
Speedy Smith was his team’s hero with the three-pointer to win it, ending a 22-point night with 6 assists. Dividing minutes with newcomer JaCorey Williams, Zach Hankins was huge for Hapoel Jerusalem, posting up 13 points and 6 rebounds with 4/5 from the field.
On Vassilis Spanoulis’ team, Joe Ragland had a double-double of 10 points and 12 assists, while Trevor Thompson went close to it with 16 points and 8 rebounds; Nemanja Dangubic and Kenny Williams scored 13 points each, just like Jaylen Hands – who missed the three-pointer to win it all at the end of regulation.
After reaching a comfortable 16-point lead in the first half, Peristeri lost control of the encounter, with the Israeli side being able to capitalize on a 13-0 scoring run between the third and fourth quarters.
The home team stayed compact and tied things up at 66-66 with 2/2 from the line by Kenny Williams to push the game to OT, where Hapoel Jerusalem started it 5-0. Joe Ragland put his team once again up front with 16.3 seconds to go, but Speedy Smith silenced the arena with a three-pointer to win it.
This was Ilias Kantzouris’ first challenge on the bench of last year’s Final Four participant, replacing long-term head coach Aleksandar Dzikic; last season, the Greek coach was on AEK’s helm, losing against Hapoel Jerusalem itself in the Quarter-Finals.
In the first game of this year’s Round of 16 in Group K, the two-time champions of Lenovo Tenerife had the upper hand on the road in Turkey against Pinar Karsiyaka, winning 106-97 with the huge contribution of Marcelinho Huertas and Kyle Guy.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League