Every time when Cherno more plays good in defense they have to be awarded by their sponsor Asen Hristov or Simeon Varchev should take them to a restaurant. After making a hint last week against CSKA that could happen with them as well, today they let Levski reach almost a three-digit score and lost by 97-90. The way Cherno more did in offence may impress the simply basketball fans, but it will not lead to big successes for the team. In the last eight games, Cherno more received a minimum of 90 points six times which means they play a terrible and irresponsible defense. And if they continue like this, the future of the team will be no pink at all no matter how frightful they are in offence.

Tonight's game in not an exception. Cherno more let their opponents from Levski score 37 points after 10 minutes on the court and the difference was 10 points advantage for the hosts (37-26). The players of Lubomir Minchev made six three-pointers and showed their big will for final success. At the half time the result was 61-47 in favour of the 'blues'.

During the second half nothing changed. In the 26th minute the difference grew up to 17 points after Vesko Veselinov scored. A kind of relaxation in the last seconds of the third made the result 75-65. 13 seconds before the final whistle, the difference was only 5 points, but the time was not enough for the guys from Varna to make something more.

For the hosts, Veselin Veselinov (201-F-83, agency: Global Sports Plaza, college: W.Virginia St.) was the one to score most - 20 points, while else 6 players ended with more than 10 points in their count.

Two players of Cherno More finished with a double-double - Augustinas Vitas (22 points and 11 rebounds) and Simeon Tsenov (20 points and 10 rebounds). The Americans in the lines were on the average - Bryce Sheldon scored 14 points and Todd Galoway - 12 points. This game again, some of the main figures in Cherno More, such as Bogdan Boev (2 points), Plamen Aleksiev (6 points) and Vladimir Marinov (3 points) did not perform as expected and their presence on the court was somehow insignificant.

FULL STATS OF THE GAME LEVSKI - CHERNO MORE

by Lubomira Genova - BulgarianBasket.com

Yesterday started in Ferrara the 2008 edition of the Lega 2 Final Four - Niagara Trophy. The best four teams of Lega 2 met themselves to battle for the Lega 2 Italy Cup, a competition that is becoming more important and attractive year after year. In the first semifinal, Fileni Bpa Jesi defeated Vanoli Soresina 85-75, thanks to a monumental Michele Maggioli (212-C-77), ranked by most of the observers as the best domestic player in the league. Maggioli scored 24 points, grabbed 7 rebs and blocked 3 shots to end the game as the unanimous MVP. Rodger Farrington (200-C-76, college: Arizona St.) added 15 pts and 4 rebs and David Moss (196-F-83, agency: SportsTalent, college: Indiana St.) 11 pts and 9 rebs in Jesi, while Mauro Morri (190-G-77) and James Reynolds (188-G) led Soresina with 19 points each, and Quadre Lollis (200-F/C-73, college: Montana St.) was very good he too, with 18 points and 10 rebounds. In the second game, host team Carife Ferrara prevailed over Banco di Sardegna Sassari 85-72, thanks to a stellar performing from Andre Collins (183-G-82, college: Loyola, MD), who scored 21 points, dished 3 assits and stealed 3 balls as the game MVP. Daniel Farabello (194-G-73) added 14 pts and 4 assits, and Harold Jamison (204-C-76, agency: Strategic Sports, college: Clemson) dominated under the boards with 13 ts and 9 rebs. Scoring 23 point in losing effort, Trent Whiting (185-G-76, college: BYU) showed to be fully recovered in Sassari, and Brent Darby (185-G-81, college: Ohio St.) added 12 points despite not being so healthy. The main factor in Ferrara win was the game in the paint (Banco Sardegna was outrebounded 28-22), but this could change this afternoon, because Jesi is stronger in the middle than Sassari.
See complete boxscores at www.legaduebasket.it

Two important wins for Milano and Napoli were the result of the two anticipated games of Serie A Round 25. Led by Melvin Booker (185-G-72, college: Missouri), who scored 20 pts and added 4 rebs, 3 assists and 2 steals, Armani Jeans Milano prevailed over Premiata Montegranaro 78-74, staying ahead in the score almost all the game. Danilo Gallinari (202-G-88, agency: Players Group) and Mindaugas Katelynas (205-F-83, college: Chattanooga) added 17 and 16 pts, respetcively, at the winning side, while Ricky Minard (194-G/F-82, college: Morehead St.) (18 pts, 3 rebs, 3 stls) and Sharrod Ford (206-F-82, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Clemson) (14 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls) outstood in Montegranaro. In the other saturday night game, Eldo Napoli defeated Cimberio Varese 84-75 thanks to a great comeback during the third quarter (at the half time Varese was leading 43-31). Jumaine Jones (201-F-79, agency: Octagon, college: Georgia) outstood in this part of the game and his total score was 24 pts, 9 rebs, 3 steals, but Mason Rocca (204-F-77, college: Princeton) was instrumental in keeping Napoli on the road during the bad first half. Rocca scored 14 pts and grabbed 13 rebounds in one off his classic double-doubles. Chris Monroe (191-G-81, college: George Washington) played a good defense and added 13 points in Napoli, while Varese had a great first half from Tierre Brown (188-G-79, college: Mc Neese St.) (11 pts at the end) and had Jaime Lloreda (201-F-80, agency: HM Sports Agency, college: LSU) and Delonte Holland (201-F-82, college: De Paul) (14 and 18 pts respectively) as its best performers. Thanks to this wins, both Napoli and Milano make an important step towards the playoff grid, while Varese is almost surely relegated to Lega 2.
See complete boxscore at www.legabasket.it

Efes Pilsen management released a media story about Rashad Wright (189-G-82, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Georgia), Drew Nicholas (191-G-81, college: Maryland), Andre Hutson (202-F-79, college: Michigan St.) and Loren Woods (215-C-78, agency: Arik Krayn Services, college: Arizona) who refused to go to Belgrad for last week's Euroleague Top 16 clash due to security reasons.
Andre Hutson who has been rumored to improve his attitude during the crisis, is staying with the team and will see action against Besiktas Cola Turka on Sunday while the rest of the group will be released by the Turkish contenders.

It's been also told that the negotiations with Nicholas' release came to an end as the club is still in talks with Woods and Wright to take care of the contract details.