By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After 13 lead changes, Karditsa Iaponiki gets some separation down the stretch to beat Spartak Office Shoes, 84-75, and advance to the Round of 16 of the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL.
A Play-In best-of-three series ended on Thursday, with the team coached by Nikos Papanikolopoulos pulling away to qualify for the next stage. Extending the first team continental campaign in Group J of the Round of 16, the next challenge is against fellow Stoiximan GBL participant AEK, ALBA Berlin, and the winner of the series between Tofas and Cholet.
Making 8/11 field goals, including 8/8 two-pointers, 28-year-old Noah Horchler emerged as the top Game 2 player behind 17 points, ten rebounds, and two steals. Nikos Diplaros paired his 14 points with seven assists, and Brandon Jefferson threw in 13 points, eight assists, and three rebounds. More double-digit scoring contributions stretched to Damien Jefferson’s 13 points and Mike Bothwell’s ten points. Injured Francis Okoro and unregistered Marios Pouliantis remained out of the lineup, and El Ellis was a late scratch due to illness.
On the wrong end in Giannis Bourousis Karditsa Municipal Indoor Sports Hall, the Subotica outfit was swept out, after finishing second in Group H of the Regular Season. With Shevon Thompson exiting on a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double, Danilo Nikolic logging a team-high 15 points, and Keondre Kennedy not playing in Karditsa, the focus for Vladimir Jovanovic and his players turns to improving a 6-6 tally in Group B of the AdmiralBet ABA League Regular Season.