By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
After an intense start to Round 24 with Valencia (12-12) edging top-seeded CSKA (now 16-8) in double OT, EuroLeague teams made it a special week before the one-week break while entering the final 10 rounds of the regular season. Panathinaikos (9-14) prevailed in the Greek derby against Olympiacos (11-13) to extend its streak and Bayern (15-8) defeated ALBA (8-16) to remain strong in the chase of a playoffs berth.
Co-MVPs
Jalen Reynolds and Vasilije Micic
This week’s MVP choice has been tough, but two players stood out to lead their teams to respective victories. Reynolds posted a new career-high with 24 points as Bayern defeated ALBA in overtime. Reynolds had a key contribution for Aito Garcia Reneses’ squad in the second half, to also contribute 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 rebounds to accumulate a PIR of 30.
Earlier in Round 24, Micic powered Anadolu Efes to victory against Barcelona on the road while posting 26 points along with 5 rebounds for a PIR of 30. With this win, Efes moves up to a 13-10 record.
Best Five
- Vasilije Micic (Anadolu Efes Istanbul): The first of our two MVPs for the week.
- Nando De Colo (Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul): He posted 15 of his 24 points in total in the first half along with 7 assists to lead Fenerbahce to its ninth straight victory against feisty Zenit.
- Nikola Kalinic (Valencia Basket): Valencia beat CSKA to bounce back from a three-game slip in the second double overtime of the season and Kalinic stepped up to lead the Spanish team with 22 points, 5 rebounds and a crucial presence in the two extra five-minute periods.
- Jalen Reynolds (FC Bayern Munich): Our second MVP with a new career-high over ALBA.
- Moustapha Fall (LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne): The French big man was among the pillars in ASVEL’s victory over Olimpia Milano, tapping 12 points and 8 boards for a PIR of 20.
Coach of the Week: Oded Kattash – Panathinaikos OPAP Athens
The Greens stood strong in the Greek derby to take down Olympiacos in Piraeus and evened the series with their rivals, despite missing the team’s top scorer Nemanja Nedovic. A symbolic win for Kattash himself in his first All-Greek showdown at the helm of Panathinaikos. Despite Nedovic’s absence, Howard Sant-Roos stepped up for Kattash’s squad to paint a happy ending for the Greens with a new career-high of 20 points.
Mike James back with career-high
Late last week CSKA Moscow announced that James is staying with the club following his suspension and he returned to EuroLeague action with a career-high night of 37 points in the Army Team’s double OT loss to Valencia. Despite this statement performance, James was not enough for short-handed CSKA in the end, which dropped its fourth game in the last five to fall to the second place of the standings.
Photo: EuroLeague