By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Entering a decider for second place in Group E of the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, Fitness First Wurzburg started with a 15-point advantage due to possible tiebreaking situations and went on to prevail, 90-77, in PalaTrieste on Wednesday.
After two straight wins in Germany’s easyCredit BBL Regular Season since the recent international break, Sasa Filipovski’s side extended the streak with a confident display in Trieste to finish the Regular Season at 4-2, limiting the hosts to 2-4 and third place.
Former San Jose State standout Brae Ivey went for 16 points, six assists, four steals, and four rebounds over 22:33 before fouling out from the Gameday 6 contest. Davion Mintz followed with 15 points, and Charles Thompson chipped in 13 more points with 5/5 two-pointers to go with seven rebounds. Marcus Carr paired his 11 points with seven assists.
Held to 4/24 from beyond the arc, the league leaders in three-point attempts trailed by double-digits most of the way. Colbey Ross registered a team-high 17 points, with Markel Brown at 16 points, Jahmi’us Ramsey at 14 points, and Jeff Brooks at 13 points.
Due to a moderate MCL tear in his left knee, Mady Sissoko was recently placed on the injury list. Over the five previous BCL games, the 24-year-old forward/center averaged 15.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest, including three double-doubles for the team coached by Israel Gonzalez.
With the Malian big remaining sidelined, Trieste will take on NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz in a best-of-three Play-In series, with the homecourt advantage belonging to Hungary’s NB I/A champions. In contrast, Wurzburg secured homecourt advantage in a series opposite Patrioti Levice.