By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Killers and cutthroats are still at large in Europe and once more bloody deeds were reported all around the old continent. From Madrid to Istanbul and from Krasnodar to Zagreb, no one is safe after five new criminally good performances were registered by the authorities.
While the Turkish Airlines Euroleague courts have been identified as the main hub of perpetrators’ activity, the results remained the same. Five new arrest were made, five new warrants were issued, but after questioning the suspects, no charges were pressed. It’s the kind of criminal genius that can hide in plain sight and even with smoking guns in their hands, they can escape…
Marko Arapovic: Since his teenage years he was involved in many petty crimes, however this time he took it too far. A former juvenile delinquent was spotted scoring 16 points in the second half by making all of his shots (7 of 7) and also adding 5 rebounds and fearsome defense in Cedevita Zagreb’s home win against Anadolu Efes Istanbul. While all eyes were focused on Dario Saric, another Croatian crook with a notorious reputation all over the word, Arapovic found the right opportunity to hit and then escape without leaving any trace.
Dontaye Draper: Speaking of Croats, here’s an interesting case. He may seem kind of small, however this enforcer who was born in the States but also carries a Croatian passport has been spreading fear for many years all over Europe. What nobody expected from him, while sporting a cast on one hand, was to score 20 points on 6 three-pointers. He never did that before, but he was right on cue in crunch time this week, and because of it, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar beat Panathinaikos Athens. He may look like an ordinary guy, but that’s just his cover.
Ekpe Udoh: Many believe that this is an alias, but it turns out that it’s his real name. He started as a bouncer in the States, but when he decided to cross the Atlantic, his talents led him almost to the top of the Istanbul underworld. Those talents translated into 21 points, 7 rebounds and a 25 performance index rating (PIR), while Fenerbahce Istanbul remains the most ruthless gang in the city, proving it with one more win over Dogus Darussafaka Istanbul. His case and that of his fellow gang members is still open, but no real progress has been made yet in apprehending them…
Justin Doellman: He may look like a lifeguard, but when he offers his talents to the higher bidder, he is ready to do anything his taskmasters ask of him. And last week he went ballistic. A total of 24 points and 6 threes was enough to take down his gang’s arch-enemy, Real Madrid. His dagger at the buzzer made all the difference and proved that he doesn’t hesitate to perform the nastiest of jobs for FC Barcelona Lassa. He is already a persona non grata in the Spanish capital.
Paulius Jankunas: He has a long crime record, but he is still at large and worshipped in the Baltic region as a modern day Robin Hood. He is known for bringing down favorites with ease and he did it again for Zalgiris Kaunas against Olympiacos Piraeus. He made almost all of his shots count, making 8 on 10 two-pointers for a total of 18 points. He also had 6 rebounds and a 24 PIR. He doesn’t back down from anyone and his resilience inspired the rest of the team.
Art credit: JPsportart