By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Spoiling the party in La Meilleraie, Cameron Hunt netted the go-ahead bucket with 11.4 seconds on the clock, lifting Joventut Badalona over Cholet, 89-87, on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old guard ended up with 15 points on 6/12 field goals, including three triples, pushing La Penya to a perfect 6-0 run in Group C of the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL. For the third time in league history, a new team started its first-ever campaign with six straight wins.
Ludvig Hakanson put in 17 points, and Michael Ruzic registered 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, one assist, and one steal. A fourth double-digit scoring showing was delivered by Henri Drell, packing 13 points.
With Daniel Miret’s side already secured on top of the regular-season group, Ricky Rubio and Simon Birgander sat out the trip to France. The continental campaign will resume in Group K of the Round of 16, alongside back-to-back champion Unicaja and two eventual Play-In winners.
On the opposite side, Cholet needed to win to clinch the second seed, but instead fell to 3-3 and third place. Therefore, the ensuing best-of-three Play-In challenge will be against Tofas, with the Bursa outfit holding homecourt advantage.
Storming back from an early 17-point deficit was followed by leading for the majority of the third period, but Badalona recovered, and Hunt sealed the deal with his clutch bucket. DeAndre Gholston reached 17 points, with Keshawn Justice and Gerald Ayayi at 15 points apiece.
With his wife expecting a baby, Jamuni McNeace was unavailable for head coach Fabrice Lefrancois in the Gameday 6 affair. Also, Qudus Wahab served a one-game suspension.