Canadians in the EuroCup Quarter-Finals - Full Review
Two Canadian players had made it to this important stage of the 2020-21 EuroCup competition as part of the eight teams who were now two steps away from the final. To decide who would make it to the last four, teams were drawn together in a quartet of ties, each played over a best-of-three series, the winners advancing.
With a lot on the line for each of the teams, they put every effort into making sure their time in the competition would continue. For the Canadian contingent of the quarter finals, here's how it all went down:
Conor Morgan, Joventut vs Virtus Bologna
Joventut found Virtus Bologna hard-going in game one, but were able to keep on top and reclaim the lead after losing it three times over as many quarters. In the fourth, though, Virtus turned the game on its head, powering into the lead with nine unanswered points. Joventut tried to save the game but time was not on their side, gap to just five points. Conor Morgan had just four points off the bench while Marco Bellinelli led all with 24 as Bologna take game one 80-75.
Bologna's inside game would put them in the driving seat in game two, with Kyle Weems and Vince Hunter leading the close-range scoring that would see the Italian team go twenty points clear in the second half. Joventut began the fourth quarter down ten to lead by one, only for Virtus to finish the game with an 8-1 run that saw them finish ahead 84-78. Bologna advance in the competition at the expense of one of the most promising teams of this year's EuroCup.
Melvin Ejim, Buducnost Podgorica vs AS Monaco
Buducnost Podgorica had it all to do in their game one after falling behind early on to Monaco by nine. Melvin Ejim, who had eight points in the contest, and the game’s top scorer Willie Reed, who finished with 24, both helped to keep it a single-possession game for much of the way through.
When it came to the business end of the game, Monaco’s six point lead ahead of the last two minutes seemed to secure them a win but the Montenegrin team's short-range shooting closed the gap into the final seconds, where a final shot from Justin Cobbs sealed the final result. Buducnost’s hard work paid off for them as they took game one at the death.
In game two Monaco took an early lead but Buducnost were hot on their tail, going in front by a point at the mid-point of the second quarter, but that advantage did not last long. Monaco continued to dominate in the paint and build a double-digit buffer between them and Buducnost throughout the final quarter, at the end of which the Monegasque team were victorious, 74-64, forcing a final deciding game in the series.
It all came down to game three at the Stade Louis II: the first quarter saw the lead change hands four times and at the end the teams were tied on 25 points apiece. For the following period, Monaco's play in the paint gave them an edge but Buducnost kept it close scoring from further out.
Led by Mathias Lessort, the game's top scorer with 24 points, they remained in front throughout the second half until a 9-2 run midway through Q4 put Buducnost back in front for the first time since the opening quarter. Justin Cobbs tried to add to their three point advantage, but Monaco were quick to give themselves the lead back.
A three from Danilo Nikolic cut the gap to one with thirteen seconds to go but unable to get another attempt to drop, after Jaleel O'Brien made the score line 90-87 to Monaco, the final result was sealed as was the fate of both teams: Monaco would move on to the final four and Buducnost's journey was over.
The EuroCup finale then will have no Canadian contingent. Of these two victorious teams, Monaco's next opponents will be Gran Canaria, who made short work of Metropolitans in their quarter-final series. Virtus Bologna will face UNICS Kazan after their game three victory over Lokomotiv Kuban. For more on the competition and full details on all games, head over to the official EuroCup website.
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