By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
The game between Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (87-80) at the Ulker Sports and Event Hall (Round 3) is almost over and Nando de Colo has just scored to make it 87-76 with only 45.9 seconds to go, and 1 free throw. Even though he was 6-for-6 up to that point and he’s the EuroLeague’s top free throw shooter ever (93.9%), De Colo misses the free throw and with it, the chance to reach 40 points (39 points, 12-for-15 two-pointers, 3-for-6 three-pointers, 6-for-7 free throws).
Almost a month later, Panathinaikos OPAP Athens hosts ALBA Berlin (105-106 2OT) at OAKA in Round 8 for what turns out to be one of the longest games in EuroLeague history. Ioannis Papapetrou scores to tie the game at 103-103 with 57.5 seconds to go until the end of the second overtime. He won’t be able to get another attempt in the time that remains, so he, too, will stop at 39 points (9-for-10 two-pointers, 6-for-12 three-pointers, 3-for-4 free throws).
Until the next one, the Fantastic Forty club will continue to have seven members.
Eurohoops looks back on the players that reached and exceeded 40 points in the competition.
WHO: Vlado Scepanovic (Montenegro)
WHERE: Molot Sport, Perm
WHEN: January 9, 2002
WHY: Ural Great-Partizan 100-111
40 pts | 3/5 2FG | 7/9 3FG | 13/13 FT
Partizan was coming off consecutive defeats and didn’t want to lose even more ground in the qualification battle for the Top 16. An away win over Ural Great, who had the same goal, would mean the best possible comeback with four rounds to go until the completion of the regular season. The win came, but not the qualification. Despite that, Vlado Scepanovic has a lot to hold on to from that game.