Division II.3
Multiple time EBBL champion, BC Zalgiris beat OLYMPIACOS 1925 108-85 behind a lights out performance from SF Colin Compton who shot a ridiculous 16-19 FG (6-7 3FG), scoring 39 points as well as claiming 13 boards. Unanimous MVP Tang Kaiyao had himself a quiet and comfortable 14 point 11 rebound performance as Zalgiris ease on through to the next round.
Team Nook also looked impressive in their first round tie against Kauno Zalgiris 7 BC as they won 118-73 behind a combined 69 points from C Tomas Budzius, PG Sivasekaran kanjilal and PF Nil Silkov. Team Nook dominated the boards, winning that battle by 40 to restrict the high scoring Kauno Zalgiris to their lowest scoring output of the season, and only the second time they scored below 100 points. Team Nook travel to BC Zalgiris, looking to pick up their first ever win against one of the successful English teams of all-time.
PONTIOPOYLA shot 30-33 from the line as they beat Varnalesos 117-90. Inside duo PF Todd Dunn and C Paolo Nasi combined for 52 points, 23 rebounds on 19-30 shooting to lead the way for PONTIOPOYLA. Bjorn Bjorshol had a solid all-round performance for Vanalesos as he finished with 20 points, 11 boards and 7 assists but it wasn’t enough.
Coventry Phoenix were led by a game high 33 points from PG Mick Baxendale who hit 7 of Coventry’s 10 3-pointers. Nutwood Nets fought back hard in the final period but it wasn’t enough to overturn the Phoenix 13 point 2nd quarter win. the Nets were also led by their PG Olivier Pion who finished with 25 points and 10 assists. The Big 8 final sees the 2nd and 3rd placed MVP voted players, who were only separated by 1 voting point) face off as Todd Dunn and Ling To Wai battle out to reach the finals.
Division II.4
Division II.4 sees the only away victory in the division II playoffs as Whetstone Wizards beat Camden Kings 108-103 as they won the final quarter 40-29 in the comeback victory. The Wizards were led by PF Martin Rodriguez who finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds. He was also backed up well as 4 other Wizard players scored over 15 points. The Kings were headed by forward due SF Alfredo Martone and PF Alpay Tunceri who combined for 52 points but the rest of the Camden Kings team struggled.
Bethanl Green Erks dominated the boards 59-37 as they disposed of Club Deportivo San Andres 112-81. Bethanl Green Erks were led by wing duo SG Ernest Brown and SF Agrim Vijayan who combined for 66 points and 26 of the Erks 46 field goals. Club Deportivo SF Wilhelm Iwaniak had 31 points but he was the only bright point for them. Bethnal Green Erks face the Whetstone Wizards in the fight to get back to the EBBL.
Bournemouth Drunkers outplayed CWA Fury for the first 3 quarters as they led by 31 going into the final period which, despite a strong fight from the Fury, was too much to overturn. CWA Fury C Nicola Cresti had a notable 21 point, 20 rebound performance but the 5 man line-up couldn’t match up to the 10 men of the Drunkers who shared out the shots to out shoot, out rebound and out assist CWA Fury to progress.
SG Anil Guldibi scored an efficient 30 points on 18 shots to lead Zalia – Balta to a 104-90 victory over Pleven North End. MVP PG Orhan Arsu struggled as he shot 6-20 for Zalia – Balta. SF Fang Congjie top scored with 24 points for Pleven North End but their efforts weren’t enough to over come Zalia’s powerful guard duo. Zalia – Balta face Bournemouth Drunkers in the conference finals. The Drunkers won both games between the two this season, they’ll be hoping to make it 3 wins out of 3 on Saturday.