By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a close game and eight lead changes, Unicaja dominated the second half to prevail, 97-68, over Utsunomiya Brex in Singapore Indoor Stadium. Completing Group A with a 2-0 record, the defending champions secured the top seed and an attached spot in the Final of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025.
With the back-to-back Basketball Champions League champions peaking at a distance of 30 points late in the fourth quarter on Friday, Tyler Kalinoski stood out with 19 points behind 7/11 field goals, including 5/6 from beyond the arc. Jonathan Barreiro followed with 13 points. Emir Sulejmanovic added 11 points.
For the Basketball Champions League Asia and Japan’s B.League champions, D.J. Newbill dropped game-highs of 21 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds in his side’s first-ever appearance in the Intercontinental Cup.
Flamengo snatches the win
The first contest of Gameday 2 was decided at the buzzer in overtime, with Alexey Borges driving to find the game-winner and lift Flamengo to an 84-82 victory versus the debuting Illawarra Hawks. The experienced point guard combined 22 points with nine rebounds and eight assists. Shaquille Johnson put in 14 points.
The Basketball Champions League Americas champions improved to 1-1 in Group B, overcoming 24 points by Tyler Harvey, a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double by Jonah Bolden, and a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double by three-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Javale McGee.
The round-robin schedule across both three-team groups will be completed tomorrow, Saturday, with the Hawks moving to a clash with NBA G League United and Utsunomiya Brex facing Al Ahli SC.
On Sunday, Unicaja will face the top seed of Group B in the Final. Also, the second seeds will play for third place, and the third seeds for fifth place.
Photo Credit: FIBA