By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In two crucial games for the Top16 tickets, the hosts prevailed with ease as both Cedevita and Panathinaikos got the wins over Limoges and Bayern Munich respectively, pushing them towards eliminations for the second phase.
The Greens prevailed, got a 59-37 lead in the 25th minute, the point of the game which decided the outcome, with the final score being 87-72 and the guests shooting just 17% (4/23) in threes. Bayern tried to stay relatively close in the first half (44-33 lead for Panathinaikos), but clearly couldn’t do much damage in Athens. In theory Bayern can still squeeze its way to the second phase, however it’s quite evident that they have to completely transform themselves next week at Milan in order to made it. On the contrary Panathinaikos already qualified despite playing without Esteban Batista.
In what may have been the last chance for the French champs to stay on Top16 course, Cedevita got the 102-83 win and the tie breaking advantage. Fran Pilepic (21 p.) and Miro Bilan (24 p., 8 r.) run the show for the hosts who got a 32-24 lead after the first period. That was enough in an uptempo game with Cedevita never losing the lead after that and never slowing down until the end.