Canadians in Europe October 22nd - 25th
This week, Europe's Canadian contingent lit up the first games of this year's FIBA Europe Cup, among all the other top-flight pan-continental leagues. Here's the run down of all the action:
Euroleague
There was nothing Valencia could do to outdo a strong showing in the field from Maccabi Tel Aviv – not Aaron Doornakemp’s six points and five rebounds or anything. Valencia remain the only team yet to get off the mark in the Euroleague this season after a 76-63 loss to Tel Aviv.
Nik Stauskas fared better with 11 points for Baskonia who stayed a slow and steady course against Olympiacos, outscoring the club from Greece and playing lock-down defence to pick up their second win of the season, 82 points to 66.
Euroleague Women
Starter Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe posted 10 points for Nadezhda, who found themselves heavily outmatched by compatriot team Ekaterinburg. With Maria Vadeeva posting an outstanding 30 points, the titans of European women’s basketball laid waste to Nadezhda, 89 points to 67. The next day Michelle Plouffe posted 14 points and 6 rebounds for ASVEL Lyon as they secured a comfortable victory over Girona, shooting 56% from the floor as they finished 89-67 to the good.
EuroCup
Melvin Ejim had eight points and six rebounds starting for Malaga, who got off to a good start against Oldenburg, but in the second quarter the German side started to assert themselves. After going in front by ten at the half, Oldenburg kept up this dominance for the game’s remainder, eventually winning 91-78. Elsewhere, Connor Morgan started and finished with five points and three rebounds for Joventut Badalona, who were on the back foot early and throughout against UNICS Kazan, who were en route to a comfortable 86-74 victory.
EuroCup Women
Katherine Plouffe and Miranda Ayim had 9 and 7 points respectively for Landes on their visit to PEAC. After falling behind by ten in the first half, the French club dominated the second, finishing ahead 75 points to 62. Meanwhile, Emily Potter started and posted 8 points and 4 rebounds for Brno, who kept looking for an answer for visiting Botas, but never found it. Led by Kelsey Mitchell with 33 points, the Turkish side kept putting themselves further and further out of reach for their hosts, eventually winning 88 to 63.
FIBA Champions League
Dyshawn Pierre finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds starting for Dinamo Sassari, but it was PTT Ankara – complimented by 12 points and 10 rebounds from Kyle Witjer – who were the superior side on both ends, surviving a late scare from their Italian visitors to win 64-56.
For the first three quarters it looked like it could go either way between Torun and Strasbourg, who saw five points from Thomas Scrubb. In the fourth period, however, Torun made their outside shooting count for them to see out victory 97 points to 81. Aaron Best had 11 points off the PAOK bench as the Greek team saw 21 lead changes during their visit to Falco Szombatheley in Hungary. The hosts sprang into affirmative action in the last quarter, turning the close encounter into a ten-point win.
Owen Klassen was one rebound short of a double-double – 15 points and 9 rebounds – for Antwerp who, after falling behind ten points to Bandirma, got their noses in front in the fourth quarter to emerge with the win 93 points to 90. Also in Belgium, MiKyle McIntosh had 13 points for Oostende as they dominated Holon, capping it off in the second half where they completed their victory by 101-86.
FIBA Europe Cup
Justin Edwards started for Kormend and posted 17 points in an unpredictable encounter with the Bakken Bears. After a tight start the Danish club built a fifteen-point lead, but Kormend fought back and in the last minute were able to snatch victory, 87 points to 81.
Meanwhile, Ryan Wright had 9 points off the bench for Levski, as the Bulgarian club kpet trying to turn it around after hosts Tsmoki Minsk took a commanding early lead. It would all be in vain, though, as Misnk got the win 81 points to 68.
Picture: FIBA.com
