EUROBASKET NEWS REPORT - 4/29/2011

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Men News

*****************************************************
  ANTIGUA   


Express, Ahkimo record second wins in ABBA division one contest - by Eurobasket
Big Banana Express and Ahkimo recorded just their second wins of the season in the Antigua & Barbuda Basketball Association (ABBA) Division One competition at JSC Sports Complex on Thursday night.
Express prevailed 79-65 against Roots to improve to a 2-2 record. It was Roots third loss in four outings.
Centre Xavier Meade sank 16 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and Kevin Blair scored 15 points and snatched seven boards for Express. Eric Joseph produced 14 points, eight boards and four steals; George Francis had 10 points, 17 rebounds and four assists; while guard Lindsay McDonald chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds for the victors.
Terry Roberts had 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and four assists, while Velix Davis converted 10 points for Roots.
Ahkimo defeated bottom team Jacqui Quinn Blizzard 94-77 to also improve to a 2-2 record. It was Blizzards sixth loss in as many outings.
Keroi Lee shot a game high 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while Felix Hamilton had 16 points, 13 rebounds, seven steals and three assists for Ahkimo.
Point guard Nigel Joseph scored 14 points and snatched six boards, while Troy Robertson converted 12 points for the victors.
Reggie Francis produced 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists; Naik Seth sank 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, while Keiron Peterson and Wendell Lewis chipped in with 12 points each for Blizzard.

Courtesy of Observer Sports

Standings
ABBA Standings
 1. BT Hawks 4-0 
 2. West Five 4-0 
 3. BS Braves 4-1 
 4. Hancook F. 3-0 
 5. Coast Outlaws 3-1 
 6. Ahkimo R. 2-2 
 7. Big Banana E. 2-2 
 8. DC D.Stars 2-2 
 9. Newf.Tapers 2-2 
 10. Roots 1-3 
 11. Yogi Warriors 0-3 
 12. MF Gunners 0-5 
 13. Blizzard 0-6 


*****************************************************
  ARGENTINA   


Stats Leaders - LigaA

Points Per Game
 Joseph BUNN
  Argentino
  (198-F/C-75)
  Avg: 20
 1. Bunn, Argentino20.0 
 2. Jackson, La Union19.5 
 3. Johnson, Monte H.16.8 
 4. Lo Grippo, Quimsa16.7 
 5. Meyinsse, Club 916.6 
 6. Gutierrez, Obras16.2 
 7. Galindo, Libertad15.8 
 8. Taylor, Lanus15.1 
 9. Salles, Monte H.14.9 
 10. Gutierrez, Penarol14.9 
Rebounds Per Game
 Ruben GARCES
  La Union
  (206-C/F-73)
  Avg: 10.9
 1. Garces, La Union10.9 
 2. Gutierrez, Obras10.0 
 3. Kammerichs, Regat.9.7 
 4. Battle, Libertad S.9.1 
 5. Rollins, Gimnasia.8.7 
 6. Williams, Atenas8.2 
 7. Johnson, Monte H.8.0 
 8. Kante, Olimpico LB7.9 
 9. Alston, Boca Jrs7.3 
 10. Bucknor, Club 97.3 
Assists Per Game
 Pepe SANCHEZ
  Estudian.
  (193-G-77)
  Avg: 6.9
 1. Sanchez, Estudian.6.9 
 2. Martinez, Regat.5.7 
 3. Labaque, Atenas5.3 
 4. Salles, Monte H.4.8 
 5. Ginobili, Libertad.4.3 
 6. Cequeira, Obras4.1 
 7. Franco, Sionista3.7 
 8. Treise, Quimsa3.4 
 9. Victoriano, Lanus3.0 
 10. Sartorelli, Argen.2.9 
Steals Per Game
 Pepe SANCHEZ
  Estudian.
  (193-G-77)
  Avg: 3.3
 1. Sanchez, Estudian.3.3 
 2. Martinez, Regat.2.6 
 3. Sciutto, Monte H.2.6 
 4. Salles, Monte H.2.5 
 5. Selleaze, Libertad.2.4 
 6. Labaque, Atenas2.4 
 7. Okosa, Gimnasia CR2.3 
 8. Cequeira, Obras2.3 
 9. Williams, Atenas2.2 
 10. Moodie, Boca Jrs2.2 
Blocks Per Game
 Robert BATTLE
  Libertad S.
  (204-C-81)
  Avg: 2
 1. Battle, Libertad S.2.0 
 2. Roe, Regatas C.1.3 
 3. Meyinsse, Club 91.3 
 4. Johnson, Monte H.1.3 
 5. Kammerichs, Regat.1.1 
 6. Gutierrez, Obras1.1 
 7. Alston, Boca Jrs1.0 
 8. Williams, Atenas0.9 
 9. Aguerre, Estudian.0.8 
 10. Tintorelli, Quimsa0.8 


*****************************************************
  ARUBA   


Aruban U17 National Team 2011 - by Eurobasket
Chesron Elgin
Rafeek Karmoeddien AJrs Fighters Aruba
Jonathan John YMCA B.Hikers Aruba
Kahlil Serrant YMCA B.Hikers Aruba
Elijah Whitfield
Justin Every AJrs Fighters Aruba
Juan Hernandez
Shaquille Bennett
Michael Havertong
Jamahl Heemstadt
Oswaldo Guerra AJrs Fighters Aruba
Christer Pantophlet
Ramon Placencio
Garrick Celaire RCA K-hunters Aruba

Tom Pietersz Head Coach
Danchi Boekhouder Assistant
Saskia Thomson Assistant


*****************************************************
  AUSTRALIA   


Where are your favourite NBL players playing this off-season - by Duncan Matheson
With the 2010-11 NBL season coming to an end tomorrow night, eurobasket takes a look at where your favourite NBL players will spend their 2011 off season playing in the minor/second tier competitions around Australia & New Zealand.

New Zealand Breakers

Paul Henare (182-G-79) Easy LPG Bay Hawks (NZNBL)
Thomas Abercrombie (198-G/F-87, college: Washington St.) Waikato Pistons (NZNBL)
Mika Vukona (197-F-82) Fico Finance Nelson Giants (NZNBL)
Corey Webster (185-G-88, college: Lambuth) Wellington Exodus Saints (NZNBL)
Leon Henry (200-G/F-85, college: S.Idaho JC) Wellington Exodus Saints (NZNBL)
Beny Anthony Waikato Pistons (NZNBL)
Dillon Boucher (196-F-75) Auckland Pirates (NZNBL)
Alex Pledger (216-C-87, college: Belm.Abbey) Waikato Pistons (NZNBL)

Sydney Kings

Luke Martin (182-PG-81, college: UTEP) Auckland Pirates (NZNBL)
Mark Dickel (187-G-76, college: UNLV) Zero Fees Southland Sharks (NZNBL)
Joel Wagner (184-G-87) Perth Redbacks (SBL)
Jarrad Weeks (180-G) Hornsby Spiders (WBL)
Ben Hollis (193-F/C) Hornsby Spiders (WBL)
Kevin White (193-G-87, college: Alaska-Anch.) Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (WBL)
Luke Cooper (183-G-84, college: Alaska-Anch.) Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (WBL)
Ben Madgen (193-G-85, college: Augusta St.) Eastern Mavericks (CBL)
Graeme Dann (204-G/F-83) Parramatta Wildcats (WBL)

Jarrod Scoines (197-G/F) Ballarat Miners (SEABL)

Gold Coast Blaze

Darryl Hudson (196-G-85, college: Howard) McDonalds Manawatu Jets (NZNBL)
Adam Gibson (188-G-86) Gold Coast Rollers (QBL)
Chris Goulding (190-G-88) Northside Wizards (QBL)
Tom Garlepp (203-F-86, college: UCSB) Brisbane Capitals (QBL)
Shaun Gleeson (189-G-86) Northside Wizards (QBL)
Pero Vasiljevic (209-F/C-78, college: Kansas St.) Rockhampton Rockets (QBL)
Brendan Teys (188-G-90) South West Metro Pirates (QBL)
Luke Kendall (193-G-81, college: Metro St.) Nunawading Spectres (SEABL)

Perth Wildcats

Jeremiah Trueman (206-F-87, college: Alaska-Anch.) McDonalds Manawatu Jets (NZNBL)
Greg Hire (201-F-87, college: Augusta St.) Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (SBL)
Jarrod Balcombe (198-F-90) East Perth Eagles (SBL)
Stephen Weigh (198-G/F-87) Rockhampton Rockets (QBL)
Cameron Tovey (200-F-85, college: Augusta St.) Willetton Tigers (SBL)

Skytrans Cairns Taipans

Lindsay Tait (194-G-82, agency: Impact Basketball) Wellington Exodus Saints (NZNBL)
Phill Jones (196-G-74) Fico Finance Nelson Giants (NZNBL)
Gareth Dawson (C) Zero Fees Southland Sharks (NZNBL)
Daniel Dillon (191-G-86, college: Arizona) Waverley Falcons (Big V)
Kerry Williams (185-G-87) Cairns Marlins (QBL)
Dean Brebner (201-F-84, college: Augusta St.) Cairns Marlins (QBL)
Aaron Grabau (196-G-78) Cairns Marlins (QBL)

Adelaide 36ers

Darren Ng (189-G-83) Sturt Sabres (CBL)
Jacob Holmes (201-F-83) Sturt Sabres (CBL)
Tom Daly Sturt Sabres (CBL)
Mitchell Creek (195-F-92) South Adelaide Panthers (CBL)
Daniel Johnson (212-C-88, college: Pepperdine) South Adelaide Panthers (CBL)
Rhys Carter (190-G-84) North Adelaide Rockets (CBL)
Brad Hill (198-G/F-86) Eastern Mavericks (CBL)
Jeff Dowdell (205-F-87) West Adelaide Bearcats (CBL)
Aaron Bruce (191-G-84) Eastern Mavericks (CBL)

Townsville Crocodiles

Chris Cedar (185-G-88) Townsville Heat (QBL)
Ben Allen (211-C-86, college: St.Mary's, CA) Townsville Heat (QBL)
Bradley Williamson (197-F/G-81) Ipswich Force (QBL)
Todd Blanchfield (200-F-91) Townsville Heat (QBL)

Melbourne Tigers

Corey Williams (191-G-77, college: Alabama St.) Brisbane Spartans (SEABL)
Benny Lewis (203-G/F-87, college: Benedict) Melbourne Giants (Big V)
Cameron Tragardh (209-C/F-83, college: ORU) Eltham Wildcats (Big V)
Tommy Greer (201-F-83, college: Nova SE) Eltham Wildcats (Big V)
Daryl Corletto (193-G-81) Ringwood Hawks (Big V)
Edin Zunic (205-C-88) Gladstone Port City Power (QBL)
Lucas Walker (203-F, college: St.Mary's, CA) Dandenong Rangers (SEABL)

Wollongong Hawks

Rhys Martin (193-G-86, college: Nova SE) Mackay Meteors (QBL)
Timothy Coenraad (201-G/F-85, college: Nova SE) Mackay Meteors (QBL)
Tim Behrendorff (212-C-81, college: Gardner-Webb) Ipswich Force (QBL)
Zac Delaney Illawarra Hawks (WBL)
Tyson Demos (192-G-88) Illawarra Hawks (WBL)
Jordan Barry (195-G-92) Illawarra Hawks (WBL)



*****************************************************
  BAHRAIN   


Isa Town and Manama Get their wins - by Yousef Ahmed
ISA TOWN claimed a resounding 90-65 victory over Sitra yesterday to boost their title hopes in the Zain Bahrain Basketball League. On the concluding day of the 13th week, Isa Town overcame a shaky start to clinch a deserving win and stay in contention for a berth in the second round. Jamal Holden guided Isa Town's comeback in last night's key clash, scoring 22 points while Hussain Al Durazi made further contributions with 13 points and other defensive rebounds. Also spearheading the victors yesterday were Hassan Ramadan, Ali Jassim, Mahmood Qaheri, Ahmed Janahi, Hassan Faraj, Nawaf Masaud and veteran Bassim Ali.

The victory, which was Isa Town's sixth in 13 games, lifted them to share fifth place with Sitra and Al Hala. All three teams have 19 points each. Sitra were relying heavily on their captain Hussain Taqi who topped score with 37 points. Taqi's younger brother Salman, along with Ahmed Marhoon, Mohammed Abdula and Hassan Nasser were the other key figures for Sitra in yesterday's game.

In another match played earlier in the day, Manama picked up an emphatic 125-58 win against Nuwaidrat.Leading Manama to victory was their American giant Darius Rice, who fired 54 points, which proved decisive. Also guiding Manama to victory were their regular players Ahmed Al Mutawa, Abdulmajeed Ali, Bader Abdulla and Ahmed Salman.

Manama's coach Jason Rapidoux was also relying on a group of young players like Ahmed Najaf, Mohammed Asghar, Mohammed Habib, Mohammed Amir, Khalid Ali, Mohammed Ismail and Ahmed Ramadan. Nuwaidrat's top scorer was Hassan Yousef with 16 points. Wakie Williams (14 points) of the US, Hussain Mansoor, Jawad Abdulla and Mohammed Fadhel were the other scorers.

But yesterday's highlight was a neck-and-neck encounter between middle-of-the-table cubs Isa Town and Sitra. Sitra started the game on a high note, taking a 16-14 lead with experienced skipper Hussain Taqi scoring 12 points, all from three-pointers. Coached by Ahmed Salman, Isa Town came back roaring and took a seven-point lead of 38-31 at half-time, thanks to their rising player Jassim who inspired his side with 13 points while Holden added 10 points and made several useful rebounds. Sitra were exposed to a string of defensive and offensive fouls in the third quarter, which cost them dearly. Isa Town took advantage to stretch their lead to 56-40 with Holden, Jassim and Al Durazi firing from all over the court.There was no stopping Isa Town who extended their advantage to 17 points midway into the fourth and final quarter to secure victory.

Meanwhile, the 14th week will commence on Sunday. Al Hala hope to extend their recent winning streak when they take on Al Ittihad at 5.30pm. This will be followed by an interesting match between Isa Town and Al Ahli at 7.15pm. Two matches will be held the next day when Muharraq play Nuwaidrat while Sitra challenge Manama. All matches are scheduled to take place at the Zain Basketball Arena. Eight clubs will compete in the second-half of the league, which concludes on May 17, with the top six reaching the main round. In the main round, the teams will compete in a single round robin format and the best two will make it to the best-of-five final playoff.



Source GDN By Rami Hulayyel , Posted on Friday, April 29, 2011





Al Hala fend off Ahli challenge - by Yousef Ahmed
AL HALA pulled off a thrilling 70-69 victory over champions Al Ahli last night in the Zain Bahrain Basketball League.

Towering rofessional Patrick Simpson (206-F-83, college: SMU) buried a pair of go-ahead free-throws with 11 seconds to play to give Hala a narrow two-point edge, 70-68. But then Ahli guard Maytham Jameel was fouled on the ensuing possession attempting a three-pointer from the right corner, and just 2.4 seconds on the clock. Jameel, however, succumbed to the pressure and sank just one of his three charity shots, gifting the win to their rivals. Simpson scored 25 points, but it was Bahraini wing Abbas Jawadi who paced Hala with a game-high 26 markers. Jawadi also came up big in the clutch. He buried a three-pointer that made it 68-all with a half-minute remaining. On the next play, Simpson made the defensive stop of the contest when he blocked an attempt from Ahli's Mahdi Ashoor, and the American was then fouled as he battled for the loose ball. That led to Simpson's crucial game-winning free-throws.

The result helped Hala rise to fifth place on the league table with a 6-7 win-loss record. Ahli dropped to a 9-4 mark, and they remained in third place. Meanwhile, Muharraq rose to the top of the standings with a 91-81 win over Al Ettihad in yesterday's other game at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam. Muharraq were once again spearheaded by their newly signed professional Ira Clark (203-C/F-75, college: Texas), along with their strong cast of local talent. Muharraq claimed a league-best 11th win, while Ettihad suffered a ninth defeat as they stayed rock bottom.

In Hala's nail-biting triumph, the victors took a narrow 23-20 lead at the end of the opening quarter, which they maintained for a 39-37 edge at the half. Ahli battled back in the third period and took a 49-44 lead on a Jameel charity shot, but a Simpson three-point play sparked a 9-0 run that helped Hala go ahead 53-52 lead heading into the final quarter. It was a see-saw affair then on. Ahli's US import Michael Bell (206-F-82, college: Florida Atlantic) had a fast-break lay-up and was fouled to make it 61-60 with two-and-a-half minutes remaining, and after the scores were tied at 62, Jameel made a triple to put Ahli ahead 65-62. Malallah replied with his own long-range bomb to tie it once more at 65-apiece, paving the way for another Jameel three, which was then answered by Jawadi's crucial shot in the game's closing seconds. Bell led Ahli with 24 points as Jameel added 21 and court general Hussain Shaker chipped in with eight.

League action continues tonight with Manama taking on Nuwaidrat at 5.30pm, followed by Sitra facing Isa Town at 7.15pm.




Source GDN By PATRICK SALOMON , Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2011



Standings
Premier League Stage Two Standings
 1. Muharraq 11-2 
 2. Al Manama 10-2 
 3. Al Ahli 9-4 
 4. Nuwaidrat 6-6 
 5. Sitra 6-6 
 6. Al Hala 6-7 
 7. Issa Town 5-7 
 8. Al Ittihad 4-9 
Stage One Standings


*****************************************************
  BELGIUM   


Standings - Division I
D1 Standings
 1. Charleroi 22-4 
 2. Aalstar 19-9 
 3. M.Hainaut 17-10 
 4. Oostende 17-12 
 5. Antwerp 15-13 
 6. Verviers-Pep. 10-17 
 7. Leuven 10-18 
 8. Liege 9-19 
 9. Gent 5-22 


Stats Leaders - Division I

Points Per Game
 Stefon JACKSON
  Verviers.
  (196-G-85)
  Avg: 16.8
 1. Jackson, Verviers.16.8 
 2. Mallet, Charleroi16.1 
 3. Lojeski, Oostende16.1 
 4. Black, Antwerp15.6 
 5. Copeland, Aalstar15.5 
 6. Waters, Verviers.15.2 
 7. Freeman, Verviers.15.2 
 8. Miller, Leuven15.0 
 9. Hilliard, Aalstar15.0 
 10. Taylor, M.Hainaut14.9 
Rebounds Per Game
 Rashaun FREEMAN
  Verviers.
  (206-C/F-84)
  Avg: 7.9
 1. Freeman, Verviers.7.9 
 2. Randle, Gent7.7 
 3. Young, Aalstar7.7 
 4. Hilliard, Aalstar7.6 
 5. Stipanovic, Liege7.3 
 6. Brown, Antwerp6.9 
 7. Tofi, Leuven6.5 
 8. Jackson, Verviers.6.3 
 9. Dagunduro, Leuven6.2 
 10. Copeland, Aalstar6.0 
Assists Per Game
 Darrel MITCHELL
  Oostende
  (180-G-84)
  Avg: 4.1
 1. Mitchell, Oostende4.1 
 2. Dagunduro, Leuven3.7 
 3. Waters, Verviers.3.5 
 4. Hatten, M.Hainaut3.5 
 5. Moors, Antwerp3.1 
 6. Bosco, Gent2.9 
 7. Black, Antwerp2.9 
 8. Mallet, Charleroi2.7 
 9. Miller, Leuven2.7 
 10. Burrell, Aalstar2.6 
Steals Per Game
 Michael JENKINS
  Liege
  (191-G-86)
  Avg: 2.8
 1. Jenkins, Liege2.8 
 2. Hatten, M.Hainaut2.5 
 3. Mallet, Charleroi2.3 
 4. Wilson, Antwerp2.2 
 5. Dagunduro, Leuven2.2 
 6. Taylor, M.Hainaut1.9 
 7. Mitchell, Oostende1.8 
 8. Lojeski, Oostende1.7 
 9. McCauley, M.Hai.1.6 
 10. Broyles, Charleroi1.5 
Blocks Per Game
 Andre RIDDICK
  Charleroi
  (205-C-73)
  Avg: 1.6
 1. Riddick, Charleroi1.6 
 2. Mejri, Antwerp1.5 
 3. Johnson, Aalstar1.0 
 4. Young, Aalstar0.9 
 5. Randle, Gent0.8 
 6. Tofi, Leuven0.6 
 7. Pelle, Oostende0.5 
 8. Freeman, Verviers.0.5 
 9. Wilson, Antwerp0.5 
 10. De Zeeuw, Gent0.5 


D1 Round 31: Dexia Mons-Hainaut loses to Base Oostende - by Eurobasket News
The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute susprises and upsets.

The game between third ranked Dexia Mons-Hainaut (17-10) and fourth ranked Base Oostende (17-12) was the most important one in the last round on Wednesday night. Dexia Mons-Hainaut was defeated by Base Oostende in a tough game in Oostende 73-79. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Dexia Mons-Hainaut. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 21-12. But Dexia Mons-Hainaut won second period 28-21. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. 32 personal fouls committed by Dexia Mons-Hainaut helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Matt Lojeski (198-85, college: Hawaii) who helped to win the game recording 23 points and 4 steals (made all of his eight free throws). Guard Darrel Mitchell (180-84, college: LSU, agency: Beo Basket) contributed with 15 points and 4 assists for the winners. Forward Ahmad Nivins (206-87, college: St.Joseph's, agency: Impact Basketball) answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds for Dexia Mons-Hainaut. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Base Oostende maintains fourth place with 17-12 record. Dexia Mons-Hainaut at the other side keeps the third position with ten games lost. Base Oostende are looking forward to face Antwerp Giants (#5) on the road in the next round. Dexia Mons-Hainaut will play against VOO Verviers-Pepinster and is hoping to win this game.
The game in Verviers was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Antwerp Giants (15-13) played at the court of sixth ranked VOO Verviers-Pepinster (10-17). VOO Verviers-Pepinster defeated Antwerp Giants 82-71 on Wednesday. It was an exceptional evening for Dominic Waters who led the winners and scored 19 points and 9 assists. Roel Moors came up with 19 points and 4 assists for Antwerp Giants in the defeat. VOO Verviers-Pepinster maintains sixth place with 10-17 record. Loser Antwerp Giants keep the fifth position with 13 games lost. VOO Verviers-Pepinster will meet higher ranked Dexia Mons-Hainaut (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Antwerp Giants will play against Base Oostende and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Leuven supposed to be also worth to mention about. 7th ranked Belgacom Liege (9-19) played at the court of eighth ranked Leuven Bears (10-18). Leuven Bears smashed Belgacom Liege 71-48. Adeola Dagunduro fired 16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals for the winners. Belgacom Liege's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Leuven Bears moved-up to seventh place. Belgacom Liege at the other side dropped to the eighth position with 19 games lost. Leuven Bears will have a break next round. Belgacom Liege will play at home against Optima Gent (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 31 Aalstar beat Gent on the road 77-69.

Oostende - M.Hainaut 79-73

The game between third ranked Dexia Mons-Hainaut (17-10) and fourth ranked Base Oostende (17-12) was the most important one in the last round on Wednesday night. Dexia Mons-Hainaut was defeated by Base Oostende in a tough game in Oostende 73-79. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Dexia Mons-Hainaut. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 21-12. But Dexia Mons-Hainaut won second period 28-21. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. 32 personal fouls committed by Dexia Mons-Hainaut helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Matt Lojeski (198-85, college: Hawaii) who helped to win the game recording 23 points and 4 steals (made all of his eight free throws). Guard Darrel Mitchell (180-84, college: LSU, agency: Beo Basket) contributed with 15 points and 4 assists for the winners. Forward Ahmad Nivins (206-87, college: St.Joseph's, agency: Impact Basketball) answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and swingman Shan Foster (198-86, college: Vanderbilt) added 13 points in the effort for Dexia Mons-Hainaut. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Base Oostende maintains fourth place with 17-12 record. Dexia Mons-Hainaut at the other side keeps the third position with ten games lost. Base Oostende are looking forward to face Antwerp Giants (#5) on the road in the next round. Dexia Mons-Hainaut will play against VOO Verviers-Pepinster and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Oostende: M.Lojeski 23+4reb, D.Mitchell 15+2reb+4ast, B.Ebong 10+3reb+1ast, W.Thomas 8+5reb+2ast, T.Huffman 6+3reb+5ast, V.Petrovic 5+5reb+1ast
M.Hainaut: A.Nivins 13+10reb, S.Foster 13+4reb+1ast, P.Van Paassen 12+5reb, R.Lewis 9+4reb+1ast, R.Taylor 8+4reb+3ast, M.Hatten 7+2reb
gschID: 98684


Verviers-Pep. - Antwerp 82-71

The game in Verviers was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Antwerp Giants (15-13) played at the court of sixth ranked VOO Verviers-Pepinster (10-17). VOO Verviers-Pepinster defeated Antwerp Giants 82-71 on Wednesday. The hosts trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 46-33 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. VOO Verviers-Pepinster made 22-of-24 free shots (91.7 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Dominic Waters (185-86, college: Portland St.) who led the winners and scored 19 points and 9 assists. His fellow American import power forward Rashaun Freeman (206-84, college: Massachusetts) accounted for 18 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side. The former international guard Roel Moors (190-78, agency: Agency No 10) came up with 19 points and 4 assists and Tunisian center Salah Mejri (214-86) added 16 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) respectively for Antwerp Giants in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. VOO Verviers-Pepinster maintains sixth place with 10-17 record. Loser Antwerp Giants keep the fifth position with 13 games lost. VOO Verviers-Pepinster will meet higher ranked Dexia Mons-Hainaut (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Antwerp Giants will play against Base Oostende and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Verviers-Pep.: B.Gay 20+5reb, D.Waters 19+2reb+9ast, R.Freeman 18+11reb, A.Chada 10+1reb+3ast, D.Hargrove 7+3reb, D.Jorssen 6+4reb+1ast
Antwerp: R.Moors 19+3reb+4ast, M.Roll 17+5reb, S.Mejri 16+7reb, G.Brown 10+9reb, D.Wilson 6+3reb, R.Biggs 3+4reb+1ast
gschID: 98685


Gent - Aalstar 69-77

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Okapi Aalstar (19-9) beat on the road bottom-ranked Optima Gent (5-22) 77-69 on Wednesday. The guests trailed by 2 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 4-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 77-69. It was a very good performance for American forward Christopher Copeland (203-84, college: Colorado, agency: 540 Sports) who helped to win the game recording 24 points and 6 rebounds. His fellow American import swingman Anthony Hilliard (193-86, college: Elizabeth City) contributed with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Four Okapi Aalstar players scored in double figures. Okapi Aalstar's coach Brad Dean used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Guard Senne Geukens (190-83) answered with 12 points and 8 rebounds and American power forward Monwell Randle (203-83, college: SE Missouri St., agency: Court Side) added 15 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Optima Gent. Okapi Aalstar maintains second place with 19-9 record having just one points less than leader Charleroi. Loser Optima Gent stay dead last with 22 lost games. Okapi Aalstar will face league's leader Spirou Charleroi at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Optima Gent will play against Belgacom Liege (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Aalstar: C.Copeland 24+6reb+2ast, S.Burrell 12+3reb+1ast, A.Hilliard 12+10reb+2ast, T.Johnson 12+6reb, A.Ruoff 6+4reb+1ast, D.Huffman 5+3reb+2ast
Gent: M.Randle 15+5reb, S.Geukens 12+8reb+2ast, M.De Zeeuw 10+6reb+2ast, L.Louves 8+4reb+1ast, A.Hall 8+3reb, W.Dobbelaere 6
gschID: 98682


Leuven - Liege 71-48

The game in Leuven supposed to be also worth to mention about. 7th ranked Belgacom Liege (9-19) played at the court of eighth ranked Leuven Bears (10-18). Leuven Bears smashed Belgacom Liege 71-48. The game was mostly controlled by Leuven Bears. Belgacom Liege was better in third quarter 20-12. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Belgacom Liege to just 6 points in first quarter and to 13 points in first half. Leuven Bears forced 23 Belgacom Liege turnovers. Nigerian guard Adeola Dagunduro (196-86, college: Nebraska) fired 16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals for the winners. American guard James J.J. Miller (180-79, college: N.Carolina A&T, agency: Higher Vision Sports) chipped in 17 points and 4 assists. Four Leuven Bears players scored in double figures. Naturalized DR Congolese swingman Wen Boss Mukubu (198-83, college: UAB, agency: SportsTalent) produced 12 points and American forward Taylor Griffin (201-86, college: Oklahoma) added 8 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Belgacom Liege's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Leuven Bears moved-up to seventh place. Belgacom Liege at the other side dropped to the eighth position with 19 games lost. Leuven Bears will have a break next round. Belgacom Liege will play at home against Optima Gent (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Leuven: J.J.J. Miller 17+1reb+4ast, A.Dagunduro 16+9reb+6ast, K.Melson 13+5reb+2ast, J.Tofi 11+6reb, B.Freeman 8+1reb, I.Hanavan 4+2reb+1ast
Liege: W.Boss Mukubu 12+4reb, X.Collette 9+3reb+3ast, T.Griffin 8+8reb, A.Stipanovic 5+8reb, G.Hockins 5+2reb, O.Troisfontaines 3+4ast
gschID: 98683


Round 18
Liege - M.Hainaut 68-76

The game in Liege was also quite interesting. Third ranked Dexia Mons-Hainaut (17-10) played at the court of 7th ranked Belgacom Liege (9-19). Dexia Mons-Hainaut managed to secure a 8-point victory 76-68 on Tuesday. Belgacom Liege was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Dexia Mons-Hainaut made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. It was a very good performance for American forward Justin Cage (198-85, college: Xavier, agency: Priority Sports) who helped to win the game recording 10 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import guard Ronell Taylor (196-82, college: UAB) contributed with 14 points for the winners. The former international guard Guy Muya (190-83, agency: LBM Management) answered with 12 points and 4 assists and American forward Taylor Griffin (201-86, college: Oklahoma) added 13 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Belgacom Liege. Five Dexia Mons-Hainaut and four Belgacom Liege players scored in double figures. Dexia Mons-Hainaut have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 17-10 record having four points less than leader Charleroi. Loser Belgacom Liege dropped to the eighth position with 19 games lost. Dexia Mons-Hainaut will face VOO Verviers-Pepinster (#6) at home in the next round. Belgacom Liege will play against Optima Gent and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
M.Hainaut: M.Hatten 14+3reb+1ast, R.Taylor 14+4reb+3ast, R.Lewis 14+3reb+1ast, A.Nivins 12+5reb, J.Cage 10+7reb+7ast, S.Foster 7+1reb+1ast
Liege: C.Bozeman 14+1reb, T.Griffin 13+5reb, G.Muya 12+4reb+4ast, A.Stipanovic 10+5reb+2ast, W.Boss Mukubu 7+2reb+1ast, P.Gillet 5+3reb
gschID: 127202


Round 32
Antwerp - Oostende 63-57

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 4th placed Base Oostende (17-12) lost on the road to fifth ranked Antwerp Giants (15-13) 63-57 on Friday. Base Oostende trailed by 12 points at halftime and as many as 16 after three quarters before a 19-9 last quarter charge cut the deficit to 57-63 at the end of the game. Antwerp Giants forced 20 Base Oostende turnovers. Quite impressive performance for the former international guard Roel Moors (190-78, agency: Agency No 10) who helped to win the game recording 24 points and 4 assists. American forward Darnell Wilson (198-85, college: Canisius, agency: Court Side) contributed with 11 points for the winners. American guard Matt Lojeski (198-85, college: Hawaii) answered with 14 points and the other American import forward Will Thomas (200-86, agency: Interperformances) added 10 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Base Oostende. Base Oostende's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Antwerp Giants maintains fifth place with 15-13 record. Loser Base Oostende keeps the fourth position with 12 games lost. Antwerp Giants will face again higher ranked Base Oostende (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.
Top scorers:
Antwerp: R.Moors 24+4reb+4ast, D.Wilson 11+4reb, R.Biggs 9+3reb+2ast, M.Roll 7+1reb+4ast, J.Mwema 4+2ast, S.Mejri 4+6reb
Oostende: M.Lojeski 14+4reb, W.Thomas 10+5reb+1ast, C.Green 10+1reb, M.Faison 7+2reb, V.Petrovic 5+1reb, D.Mitchell 5+2reb+2ast
gschID: 127203


Round 9
Antwerp - Charleroi 59-65

D1 top team - Spirou Charleroi (22-4) added another victory to their record. This time they beat fifth ranked Antwerp Giants (15-13) 65-59. The guests were ahead by 6 points but lost the second period ending it with a 2-point deficit before their 21-13 run, which allowed them to win the game. It was a great evening for American guard Demond Mallet (185-78, college: McNeese St., agency: Higher Vision Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). International forward Christophe Beghin (207-80, agency: Court Side) helped adding 10 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side American center Graham Brown (205-84, college: Michigan) responded with 9 points and 14 rebounds and the other American import guard Michael Roll (196-87, college: UCLA) scored 18 points. Defending champion maintains first place with 22-4 record. Antwerp Giants at the other side keep the fifth position with 13 games lost. Spirou Charleroi will play against league's second-placed Okapi Aalstar on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Antwerp Giants will play against Base Oostende and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Charleroi: D.Mallet 29+2reb+2ast, C.Beghin 10+5reb, B.Wright 9+2reb+1ast, B.Greene 5+4reb, A.Jadin 4+1ast, A.Riddick 4+4reb
Antwerp: M.Roll 18+3reb+1ast, D.Wilson 14+4reb+3ast, R.Moors 9+3reb+2ast, G.Brown 9+14reb+2ast, M.Rademakers 3+3reb, T.Black 3+2reb+3ast
gschID: 127201




*****************************************************
  BOSNIA   


Stats Leaders - D1

Points Per Game
 Boris LALOVIC
  Hercegovac
  (206-C-81)
  Avg: 19.9
 1. Lalovic, Hercegovac19.9 
 2. Albijanic, Sloboda17.4 
 3. Opacak, Celik17.0 
 4. Kahrimanovic, Kak.16.9 
 5. Rahimic, Bosna16.8 
 6. Sakic, Zrinjski HT16.7 
 7. Kahrimanovic, Zrin.16.6 
 8. Komatina, Mladost16.4 
 9. Gajovic, Hercegovac16.3 
 10. Stanic, Slavija16.2 
Rebounds Per Game
 Andrija PEJOVIC
  Hercegovac
  (205-C-83)
  Avg: 8
 1. Pejovic, Hercegovac8.0 
 2. Sakic, Zrinjski HT7.6 
 3. Kuzmic, Celik7.3 
 4. Jagodic Kuri., Bor.7.3 
 5. Hajric, Zrinjski HT7.2 
 6. Albijanic, Sloboda6.4 
 7. Markovic, Varda HE6.4 
 8. Vukovic, Slavija6.2 
 9. Lalovic, Hercegovac6.2 
 10. Jocovic, Borac N.5.8 
Assists Per Game
 Vladimir RADOVANOVIC
  Herce.
  (194-G-81)
  Avg: 6.1
 1. Radovanovic, Herc.6.1 
 2. Pasalic, Bosna4.7 
 3. Jovanovic, Borac4.4 
 4. Boljkovac, Slavija3.6 
 5. Markovic, Varda HE3.5 
 6. Zdravkovic, Caplji.3.5 
 7. Stanic, Slavija3.4 
 8. Jovanovic, SL IAT3.3 
 9. Kastratovic, Slobo.3.2 
 10. Bijelica, Capljina3.2 
Steals Per Game
 Srdjan STANIC
  Slavija
  (186-G-84)
  Avg: 3.5
 1. Stanic, Slavija3.5 
 2. Radovanovic, Herc.2.4 
 3. Gajovic, Hercegovac2.3 
 4. Savovic, Slavija2.1 
 5. Vranjes, Borac N.2.0 
 6. Bijelica, Capljina1.8 
 7. Lalovic, Hercegovac1.7 
 8. Komatina, Mladost1.7 
 9. Pejovic, Hercegovac1.4 
 10. Zdravkovic, Caplj.1.4 
Blocks Per Game
 Ognjen KUZMIC
  Celik
  (215-C-90)
  Avg: 1.8
 1. Kuzmic, Celik1.8 
 2. Zimic, Bosna1.6 
 3. Brkic, Capljina0.8 
 4. Jocovic, Borac N.0.8 
 5. Pelkic, SL IAT L.0.7 
 6. Durasovic, SL IAT0.7 
 7. Pejovic, Hercegovac0.7 
 8. Duranovic, Mladost0.7 
 9. Albijanic, Sloboda0.7 
 10. Crnobrnja, Varda0.6 


*****************************************************
  BRAZIL   


Vivo/Franca enter NBB semifinals - by Eurobasket News
Top-ranked Vivo/Franca became the first NBB semifinalists. They fired past Sao Jose/Vinac 83:62 at home court to complete the sweep. Marques Lewis (203-C-83, college: UAB) stepped up with 13 points for Vivo/Franca. Helinho Garcia (186-G-75) added 12 points in the winning effort. Joseph Shipp (197-F-81, college: California), Mineiro Ferreira (208-C/F-88) and Murilo Becker (210-C/F-83) finished with 13 points each for Sao Jose/Vinac.
Flamengo surged ahead in the series against Itabom/Bauru following a 79:73 home victory. Helio Vitor Lima (184-PG-81) stepped up with 21 points for the winners. Marcelinho Machado (199-F/G-75, agency: Interperformances) accounted for 19 points for Flamengo. Itabom/Bauru led by two points after the opening frame but could not capitalize. Fernando Fischer (190-G-81) replied with game-high 24 points for Bauru.
Joinville stayed in the title race after a tough overtime victory over Pinheiros/Sky 105:103 on the road. Andre Luiz Brugger (192-G-81) chipped in 21 points for the visitors. Paulinho Boracini (183-G-84) provided 17 points in the winning case. Marquinhos Vinicius (207-F-84) netted 43 points for Pinheiros/Sky.
BRB/Brasilia are step away from the semis after they defeated Uberlandia 84:72 at home court. Arthur Luiz Belchior (200-G/F-82) netted 21 points for BRB/Brasilia. Guilherme Giovannoni (202-F-80, agency: Interperformances) provided 18 points in the win. Valtinho Silva (187-G-77) answered with 14 points for Uberlandia.


*****************************************************
  BULGARIA   


Stats Leaders

Points Per Game
 Priest LAUDERDALE
  Cherno.
  (221-C-73)
  Avg: 23.2
 1. Lauderdale, Cherno.23.2 
 2. Harper, Levski23.2 
 3. Lilov, Rilski S.21.9 
 4. Dimitrov, Spartak19.8 
 5. Bozov, Balkan17.5 
 6. Naydenov, Chernomo.16.8 
 7. Davidov, Balkan15.7 
 8. Govedarov, Tundja15.5 
 9. Lauderdale, Levski14.9 
 10. Kambala, Lukoil A.14.4 
Rebounds Per Game
 Priest LAUDERDALE
  Cherno.
  (221-C-73)
  Avg: 13.1
 1. Lauderdale, Cherno.13.1 
 2. Varbanov, Tundja10.6 
 3. Yanev, Cherno More8.4 
 4. Todorov, Spartak7.8 
 5. Radojevic, Rilski7.3 
 6. Kolev, Cherno More7.2 
 7. Peterson, Lukoil A.6.8 
 8. Georgiev, Levski6.8 
 9. Kambala, Lukoil A.6.7 
 10. Dimitrov, Spartak6.7 
Assists Per Game
 Jason CROWE
  Levski
  (193-G-76)
  Avg: 5.6
 1. Crowe, Levski5.6 
 2. Bozov, Balkan4.3 
 3. Alexiev, Cherno M.4.3 
 4. Heath, Lukoil A.4.0 
 5. Dyakovski, Spartak4.0 
 6. Govedarov, Tundja3.9 
 7. James, Lukoil A.3.9 
 8. Gruev, Rilski S.3.4 
 9. Zahariev, Chernomo.3.4 
 10. Lilov, Rilski S.3.3 
Steals Per Game
 Jason CROWE
  Levski
  (193-G-76)
  Avg: 2.4
 1. Crowe, Levski2.4 
 2. Heath, Lukoil A.2.2 
 3. Zahariev, Chernomo.2.2 
 4. Bozov, Balkan2.1 
 5. Radionov, Tundja2.0 
 6. James, Lukoil A.1.9 
 7. Dimitrov, Spartak1.7 
 8. Marinov, Balkan1.6 
 9. Stojanovski, Lukoi.1.6 
 10. Bowman, Lukoil A.1.6 
Blocks Per Game
 Priest LAUDERDALE
  Cherno.
  (221-C-73)
  Avg: 2.4
 1. Lauderdale, Cherno.2.4 
 2. Doychinov, Balkan1.2 
 3. Radojevic, Rilski1.1 
 4. Varbanov, Tundja1.0 
 5. Lauderdale, Levski0.9 
 6. Neuhaus, Chernomo.0.8 
 7. Banev, Lukoil A.0.7 
 8. Vaklinov, Rilski S.0.7 
 9. Cole, Levski0.7 
 10. Iliev, Cherno More0.6 


*****************************************************
  CANADA   


Mill Rats hoops boss encouraged by talks - by Eurobasket News
The Saint John Mill Rats GM and president Ian McCarthy said a meeting with officials in London exceeded expectations.

He was in London along with the Halifax Rainmen's Andre Levingston, that team's owner, president and CEO, for a meeting with a prospective ownership group in London, Ont., Wednesday. They also met with city officials and management from London's main arena, the John Labatt Centre.

It represented the latest development as the Mill Rats, Rainmen and Quebec Kebs look to establish a new place to play after leaving the Premier Basketball League earlier this month.

'The city is very excited about the idea of having a professional basketball team,' McCarthy said.

The London ownership group, he said, has a solid foundation.

'They are very solid. We're not able to disclose their identity at this point,' McCarthy said.

The trip to London, he said, was the first that went beyond his group just looking at a map and deciding which markets could support a basketball team based on how saturated the market was with other franchises.

'This was actual real people who gave us great feedback.'

The Mill Rats, Rainmen and the Quebec Kebs left the PBL last week after concerns over playoff officiating. The three teams formed a united front and are now deciding what league they'll play in next season.

There are four options currently on the table - joining an existing league such as the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League, the International Basketball League or the National Basketball Association's Development League. The fourth option is the creation of a Canadian professional basketball league.

Moncton has also been pegged as a possible home to a franchise.

Three ownerships groups, he said, were actually interested in the London market. The strongest of the three groups will get first crack at the London market and the other two have expressed interest in placing teams in other Ontario cities.

'That hasn't been pegged as far as where, what. It's still very (much) in (its) infancy stage.'

McCarthy will fly back to Saint John today, but Levingston will stay in Ontario and investigate markets in Kingston, Windsor and Oshawa.

The future of the three teams and a Canadian league is expected to be announced in the second week of May.

Courtesy of http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com

*****************************************************
  CROATIA   


Stats Leaders - A1

Points Per Game
 Hrvoje PULJKO
  Kvarner .
  (193-G-83)
  Avg: 23
 1. Puljko, Kvarner23.0 
 2. Car, Zadar21.6 
 3. Zitko, Trogir20.1 
 4. Bogdanovic, Cibona18.9 
 5. Petkovic, Svjetlost18.0 
 6. Krapic, Zabok17.6 
 7. Bakovic, Darda17.4 
 8. Saric, Dubrava17.4 
 9. Zoric, KK.17.0 
 10. Krolo, Darda16.4 
Rebounds Per Game
 Dario SARIC
  Dubrava
  (205-F/C-94)
  Avg: 9.6
 1. Saric, Dubrava9.6 
 2. Krapic, Zabok9.4 
 3. Krolo, Darda9.0 
 4. Ivanov, Zadar7.4 
 5. Radic, Alkar Sinj7.3 
 6. Sobin, KK Split7.3 
 7. Zoric, KK.7.1 
 8. Brown, Zadar6.8 
 9. Grgurevic, KK Split6.5 
 10. Ridl, Darda6.5 
Assists Per Game
 Milan KARAKAS
  Trogir
  (190-G-80)
  Avg: 7
 1. Karakas, Trogir7.0 
 2. Petkovic, Svjetlost5.1 
 3. Car, Zadar4.4 
 4. Jugo, Kvarner 20104.1 
 5. Tomeljak, Zabok3.9 
 6. Blajic, Alkar Sinj3.8 
 7. Saric, Dubrava3.5 
 8. Delas, Alkar Sinj3.5 
 9. Renfroe, KK.3.4 
 10. Simon, KK.3.3 
Steals Per Game
 Alex RENFROE
  KK.
  (190-G-86)
  Avg: 2.9
 1. Renfroe, KK.2.9 
 2. Car, Zadar2.7 
 3. Marcinkovic, Zadar2.0 
 4. Saric, Dubrava2.0 
 5. Karakas, Trogir1.9 
 6. Anzulovic, Alkar S.1.9 
 7. Brown, Zadar1.9 
 8. Tomeljak, Zabok1.8 
 9. Bogdanovic, Cibona1.8 
 10. Petani, Borik1.7 
Blocks Per Game
 Luka ZORIC
  KK.
  (211-C/F-84)
  Avg: 1.6
 1. Zoric, KK.1.6 
 2. Kraljevic, Zabok1.4 
 3. Vitali, Trogir1.2 
 4. Saric, Dubrava1.0 
 5. Krolo, Darda1.0 
 6. Vukicevic, Svjetlo.0.9 
 7. Sobin, KK Split0.9 
 8. Vladovic, Trogir0.9 
 9. Ridl, Darda0.8 
 10. Sarlija, Borik0.8 


A1 Standings
A1 Standings
Group A
 1. Cedevita 8-1 
 2. KK Zagreb CO 7-2 
 3. Zadar 6-4 
 4. Cibona 5-4 
 5. KK Split 4-5 
 6. Borik 3-6 
 7. Alkar Sinj 3-6 
 8. Zabok 0-8 
Group B
 1. Darda 4-3 
 2. Dubrava 4-3 
 3. Kvarner 2010 4-4 
 4. Svjetlost 4-4 
 5. Trogir 4-4 
 6. Dubrovnik 3-5 


A1 (second stage): Round 9 - by Eurobasket News
Group A
KK Split - Alkar Sinj 55-72

Alkar Sinj's road win over 4th placed KK Split 72-55 was very exciting. The game without a history. Alkar Sinj led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. KK Split was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Swingman Ante Delas (201-G/F-88) stepped up and scored 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winners and forward Ivica Radic (207-90) chipped in 14 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Srdan Subotic (193-80) with 17 points and forward Toni Dijan (205-83) scored 11 points and 5 rebounds. KK Split's coach Mladen Vuskovic tested eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Alkar Sinj (3-6) moved-up to sixth place in Group A, which they share with Borik. Loser KK Split dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. Alkar Sinj will face league's second-placed KK Zagreb CO at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. KK Split will play against Borik Puntamika in Zadar and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Alkar Sinj: A.Delas 15+8reb+5ast, I.Radic 14+5reb+3ast, J.Blajic 12+2reb+2ast, Z.Zupic 9+4reb+3ast, M.Modric 8+2reb+1ast, M.Maric 5+4reb
KK Split: S.Subotic 17+3reb+1ast, T.Dijan 11+5reb, T.Katic 11+5reb, I.Mimica 7+5reb+2ast, S.Rezic 4+8reb, R.Mahalbasic 2+4reb+1ast
gschID: 124402


Zadar - Cibona 70-93

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Zadar (6-4) against fifth ranked Cibona (5-4) on Wednesday night. Host Zadar was crushed by Cibona in Zadar 93-70. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Zadar. The game without a history. Cibona led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Zadar to just 7 points in first quarter. Cibona made 16-of-18 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. They also forced 22 Zadar turnovers. The best player for the winners was international swingman Bojan Bogdanovic (202-89) who scored 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international guard Goran Vrbanc (194-84) chipped in 22 points. Four Cibona players scored in double figures. Cibona's coach Josip Vrankovic felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was center Ive Ivanov (201-85) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and swingman Marko Car (188-85) added 21 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Defending champion moved-up to fourth place in Group A. Loser Zadar keeps the third position with four games lost. Cibona's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Cedevita.
Top scorers:
Cibona: G.Vrbanc 22+2reb+1ast, B.Bogdanovic 20+5reb+4ast, M.Rozic 16+2reb+1ast, K.Vragovic 15+1reb+1ast, T.Zubcic 9+5reb, L.Radosevic 8+4reb+1ast
Zadar: M.Car 21+7reb+3ast, I.Ivanov 18+13reb+1ast, I.Batur 10+4reb+1ast, B.Brown 9+5reb+2ast, M.Ahmetbasic 5+1reb, S.Olivari 5+6reb+1ast
gschID: 124403


Cedevita - Borik 84-58

Very expected game in Zagreb where 6th ranked Borik Puntamika (3-6) was crushed by first ranked Cedevita (8-1) 84-58 on Wednesday. The game without a history. Cedevita led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Borik Puntamika's 30 and made 21-of-27 free shots (77.8 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Borik Puntamika 31-20 including a 31-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Borik Puntamika was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Bracey Wright (191-84, college: Indiana, agency: Priority Sports) stepped up and scored 23 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winners and the former international center Andrija Zizic (207-80, agency: Beo Basket) chipped in 10 points and 14 rebounds. Four Cedevita players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was power forward Marino Sarlija (207-89) with 10 points and guard Ivan Mikulic (194-91) scored 6 points and 5 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Cedevita have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain first place in Group A with 8-1 record. Loser Borik Puntamika keeps the sixth position with six games lost. Cedevita's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Cibona.
Top scorers:
Cedevita: B.Wright 23+6reb+1ast, D.Rudez 14+4reb, D.Draper 11+1reb+1ast, A.Zizic 10+14reb, F.Kastropil 8+2reb+1ast, M.Bazdaric 6+3reb+3ast
Borik: M.Sarlija 10+4reb+2ast, M.Cakarun 10+2reb+1ast, M.Jurjevic 10+2reb+2ast, J.Ruzic 8+5reb, I.Mikulic 6+5reb+3ast, T.Troskot 4+3reb
gschID: 124400


KK Zagreb CO - Zabok 100-60

Very predictable result when second ranked KK Zagreb CO (7-2) smashed at home bottom-ranked Zabok (0-8) 100-60 on Wednesday. The game without a history. KK Zagreb CO led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Zabok's 28. They outrebounded Zabok 31-18 including a 31-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. American guard Alex Renfroe (190-86, college: Belmont) stepped up and scored 21 points and 6 assists for the winners and the former international power forward Luka Zoric (211-84) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds. Five KK Zagreb CO players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was forward Sasa Jankovic (204-84) with 23 points and 7 rebounds and guard Luka Pesut (193-91) scored 8 points and 5 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. KK Zagreb CO maintains second place in Group A with 7-2 record behind leader Cedevita. Loser Zabok still closes the standings with eight games lost. KK Zagreb CO will face Alkar Sinj (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Zabok will play against Zadar and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
KK Zagreb CO: A.Renfroe 21+3reb+6ast, L.Zoric 17+5reb+3ast, D.Rancic 15+2reb+1ast, J.Heytvelt 11+7reb, K.Simon 11+8reb+4ast, P.Babic 8+1reb+4ast
Zabok: S.Jankovic 23+7reb, D.Krajacic 10+2reb+1ast, L.Pesut 8+3reb+5ast, J.Lozancic 5+2reb+1ast, T.Brnas 4+2reb+1ast, I.Perincic 3+7reb+1ast
gschID: 124401


Group B
Dubrovnik - Darda 78-77

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Vrijednosnice OS (4-3) on the court of sixth ranked Dubrovnik on Wednesday night. Visitors were edged by Dubrovnik 78-77. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Vrijednosnice OS. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning the initial quarter 19-15. But Vrijednosnice OS won second period 20-18. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Forward Frano Karac (207-79) stepped up and scored 20 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and swingman Antonio Ostric (200-89) chipped in 21 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was guard Ivan Bakovic (197-81) with 31 points and 7 rebounds and center Ivan Krolo (217-83) scored 19 points and 9 rebounds (perfect from the field making all eight shots !!!). Dubrovnik have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain sixth place in Group B with 3-5 record. Vrijednosnice OS at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. They share it with Dubrava. Dubrovnik are looking forward to face league's second-placed Dubrava in Zagreb in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Vrijednosnice OS will play on the road against Trogir in Trogir and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Dubrovnik: A.Ostric 21+5reb, F.Karac 20+9reb, M.Peric 13+1reb+1ast, N.Dosen 9+7ast, A.Vranjes 7+5reb+6ast, V.Soko 5+1reb+4ast
Darda: I.Bakovic 31+7reb+1ast, I.Krolo 19+9reb+1ast, M.Mandic 11+2reb+1ast, F.Kordic 8+4reb+2ast, L.Cutuk 6+3reb, A.Bicvic 2+2ast
gschID: 126622


Trogir - Kvarner 2010 99-97

Important game to mention about took place in Trogir. Fifth ranked Trogir (4-4) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 3rd placed Kvarner 2010 (4-4) 99-97 in the game for the third place. Trogir dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Kvarner 2010's 34. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists. Forward Luka Zitko (201-81) nailed 31 points and 7 assists for the winning side and center Mise Diminic (208-89) accounted for 16 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Rudolf Jugo (183-84) came up with 29 points and 9 assists and forward Tomislav Maruna (196-87) added 21 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Kvarner 2010 in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Trogir moved-up to third place in Group B, which they share with Kvarner 2010 and Svjetlost. Kvarner 2010 lost third consecutive game. Trogir will play against league's leader Vrijednosnice OS in Darda in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Kvarner 2010 will play at home against Svjetlost in Slavonski Brod and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Trogir: L.Zitko 31+4reb+7ast, A.Bilic 16+1reb+4ast, M.Diminic 16+11reb+1ast, M.Karakas 10+1reb+14ast, T.Vitali 9+4reb+2ast, I.Bilic 8+3reb
Kvarner 2010: R.Jugo 29+9ast, T.Maruna 21+8reb+2ast, M.Poscic 19+10reb+2ast, F.Filipovic 18+5reb+3ast, F.Gacesa 7+1reb+5ast, J.Surina 3+2reb
gschID: 127797


Svjetlost - Dubrava 83-77

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Dubrava (4-3) against fourth ranked Svjetlost (4-4) on Wednesday night. Visiting Dubrava was defeated by Svjetlost in a tough game in Slavonski Brod 77-83. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Dubrava. Svjetlost forced 19 Dubrava turnovers. 30 personal fouls committed by Dubrava helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for guard Luka Petkovic (190-88) who led his team to a victory with 28 points and 5 rebounds. Forward Filip Vukicevic (203-88) contributed with 11 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. The former international swingman Nino Primorac (195-82) answered with 20 points and power forward Dario Saric (205-94) added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Dubrava. Five Dubrava players scored in double figures. Dubrava's coach Boris Gnjidic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Svjetlost moved-up to third place in Group B, which they share with Kvarner 2010 and Trogir. Dubrava at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. Svjetlost's next round opponent will be Kvarner 2010 (#3) in Rijeka, which may be the game of the day. Dubrava will play at home against Dubrovnik.
Top scorers:
Svjetlost: L.Petkovic 28+5reb+2ast, F.Vukicevic 11+6reb+2ast, P.Zivkovic 10+2reb+1ast, S.Helbich 9+4reb+2ast, O.Misic 8+4reb+5ast, I.Maric 7+11reb+1ast
Dubrava: N.Primorac 20+4reb+1ast, D.Basic 12+1reb+1ast, D.Saric 12+7reb+4ast, M.Brzoja 10+5reb, R.Rikic 10+5reb+2ast, M.Juricic 7+3reb+3ast
gschID: 127798




*****************************************************
  CYPRUS   


The Cyprus Basketball is present!! - by Chris Mammides
23rd ISF World School Championship Basketball - Cyprus kids are doing marvelous!
Against all odds the Cyprus Basketball will survive as for another one time the Cypriot players showed that the Head Coaches must start trusting them and giving them time in the court as they are proving it with their teams (either national teams U16 or U18 in the recent tournament which took place at the end of 2010 in Manchester) or even now in the World School games which are taking place in China organized by the International School Sports Federation (ISF).
In the 23rd ISF World School Championship Basketball, which is taking place from the 23rd of April until the 1st of May, the School of St. Nickolas situated in Limassol which won the Cyprus School Basketball Championship and represents Cyprus in this Global Tournament is doing fantastic.
In the first round of the tournament, the Limassol School boys had to face Israel, China 1, Belgium FC, and Germany. The results were more than promising as the Cypriot players beat Israel 59-49, lost from the host Chinese team in the last second with 48-50 and then beat the Belgians 48-39 and the Germans with 44-32! The team of Coach Ninos Eliadis, finished at the second position in the Group C as the Chinese who lost from Belgians had better results on the other games and with a plus of 32 points, were better than the plus 29 which the Cypriot group had.
So, after a new draw for the top eight school teams of the world, the Cypriot team will play against the very strong team of France which ended in the top position of the Group D with the absolute 4-0. (the otehr teams in the Group D were Hungary, China 2, Estonia and Belgium).
The roster of the Cyprus team is as follows:
Stavros Filippou
Renos Georgiou (185-G-94)
Michalis Saliva
Renos Georgiou (185-G-94)
Panagiotis Christodoulou
Dimitris Kouridis
Nestoras Matsas (184-G-94)
Stefanos Iliadis (183-G-94)
Stefanos Lamaris
Giorgos Stylianou (198-F/C-94)
Dimitris Aristotelous (185-G-94)
Roberto Alexander Mantovani (200-F-94)



23rd ISF World School Championship Basketball - Cyprus kids are doing marvelous! - by Chris Mammides
Against all odds the Cyprus Basketball will survive as for another one time the Cypriot players showed that the Head Coaches must start trusting them and giving them time in the court as they are proving it with their teams (either national teams U16 or U18 in the recent tournament which took place at the end of 2010 in Manchester) or even now in the World School games which are taking place in China organized by the International School Sports Federation (ISF).
In the 23rd ISF World School Championship Basketball, which is taking place from the 23rd of April until the 1st of May, the School of St. Nickolas of Limassol which won the Cyprus School Basketball Championship and represents Cyprus in this Global Tournament is doing fantastic.
In the first round of the tournament, the Limassol School boys had to face Israel, China 1, Belgium FC, and Germany. The results were more than promising as the Cypriot players beat Israel 59-49, lost from the host Chinese team in the last second with 48-50 and then beat the Belgians 48-39 and the Germans with 44-32! The team of Coach Ninos Eliadis , finished at the second position in the Group C as the Chinese who lost from Belgians had better results on the other games and with a plus of 32 points, were better than the plus 29 which the Cypriot group had.
So, after the first rounds results, the Cyprus team of the Lyceum of St. Nickolas of Limassol will play with the very strong team from France which ended in the top spot of its group, the Group D with the absolute record of 4-0.
The roster of the Cyprus team is as follows:
Stavros Filippou
Renos Georgiou (185-G-94)
Michalis Saliva
Manolis Christofi
Panagiotis Christodoulou
Dimitris Kouridis
Nestoras Matsas (184-G-93)
Stefanos Iliadis (183-G-94)
Stefanos Lamaris
Giorgos Stylianou (198-F/C-94)
Dimitris Aristotelous (185-G-94)
Roberto Alexander Mantovani (200-F-94)



*****************************************************
  CZECH REPUBLIC   


1Liga Round 5 of Semi-Finals. J.Hradec reach Finals - by Eurobasket News
J.Hradec - Usti n/Labem 98-87

J.Hradec entered 1Liga Finals after they held off Usti n/Labem in the decisive fifth game of the series. Jiri Holanda (183-G-86) stepped up with 27 points to lead the charge. BK Lions led from start to finish in this one. Jan Tomanec (212-C-85) finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side. Thaddeus McFadden (188-G-87, agency: Stanley International, college: Fairmont St.) answered with 23 points for Usti n/Labem. Jaromir Fohler (211-C-85) accounted for 22 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
gschID: 127483




*****************************************************
  D-LEAGUE   


Vipers force deciding game in NBA D-League finals - by Eurobasket News
Iowa E. - Rio Grande 122-141
Jerel McNeal (6'3''-G-87, college: Marquette) had 37 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers forced a deciding Game 3 in the NBA Development League finals with a 141-122 victory over the Iowa Energy on Wednesday night. The defending champions overcame league MVP Curtis Stinson's (6'2''-G-83, college: Iowa St.) second straight triple-double to set up Friday's game at Wells Fargo Arena, which drew a record crowd of 14,036 for Game 2. Richard Roby (6'6''-G-85) scored 28 points for the Valley Vipers, who dropped the opener 123-106 at home on Sunday. Stinson finished with 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for Iowa. Ehambe Moses Randall (6'6''-G/F-86, college: ORU) scored 33 points. *Courtesy of www.mysanantonio.com



Maccabi Haifa Invite-Only Tryouts Set For June 14-15 - by Carl Berman
An exciting opportunity is available to current NBA D-League, players with overseas experience, and recently graduated NCAA Division I players. Maccabi Haifa is a professional basketball team of the Israeli Basketball Super League, Israels Top Division. The team is owned by Triangle Financial Services LLC, an international sports and entertainment firm, Maccabi Haifa is consistently amongst the top teams in Israel, as the team played in the EuroChallenge reaching the Top 16 as well as playing a preseason game vs. the NBAs New Jersey Nets last season.

Maccabi Haifa is conducting their fourth annual invitation-only tryouts, for the top Collegiate and Pro Basketball players in the country, held in South Florida in Mid-June. This is a great opportunity for players to improve their basketball career overseas. The team has consistently signed several players from each tryout to play on both Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tivon (Triangle's second division team).

This year only 30 to 35 players will be invited to Maccabi Haifa's U.S. tryouts with numerous NBA D-League, players with overseas experience, and NCAA Division I players expected to attend. Maccabi Haifa will continue to play NBA team (s) during the preseason with the intent to return to play in the EuroChallenge this upcoming season. Players will tryout for the opportunity to sign with either team, which gives them a better chance of earning a pro-contract. The past three years the tryouts have received an abundance of media coverage from NBC, South Florida media outlets and the Jewish Journal. The tryouts also have been featured on Maccabi Haifa's television show 'Inside Israeli Basketball', which airs on 10 Regional Sports Networks in 60 million homes throughout the United States.

To give you an idea of the type and quality of player who may have success attending the tryouts, below are the American players who played for each of the two teams this past season. Five Americans played for Maccabi Haifa including Sylven Landesberg (6'6''-F/G-90, college: Virginia) (University of Virginia), Derrick Low (Washington State), Frank Robinson (Cal St. Fullerton), Tyler Wilkerson (Marshall), and Jermaine Jackson (former NBA veteran). Hapoel Tivon, their second division team, finished in the top 8 of the standings. Three Americans played on the team: Ben Strong (college: Guilford), Rodney Webb (former NBA D-League player), Jeff Horowitz (Charleston/UNC-Wilmington), Drew Housman (Harvard) and Tramaine Stevens.

The Invite-Only Tryout Camp will be held on June 14th & 15th at the David Posnack Community Center, 5850 South Pine Island Road - Davie, FL) from 6-10pm each day. Hotel Rooms have been reserved at the Homestead Studio Hotel in Davie, Florida at a discounted rate $59.99. Players are responsible for their own hotel costs. However, the team will provide free transportation to & from the tryouts for players who decide to stay at this hotel. Every player who is invited will be given an opportunity to make the jump to the next professional level.

For more information, Adam Hurwitz can be contacted by players or player representatives @ (305)-933-8308 ext: 117 and/or at ahurwitz@trianglefs.com.

Carl Berman is a Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. Information on NetScouts Basketball can be obtained at www.netscoutsbasketball.com.

Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Trey JOHNSON
  Bakersfi.
  (196-G-84)
  Avg: 25.7
 1. Johnson, Bakersfi.25.7 
 2. Johnson, Erie B.22.6 
 3. Jeffers, Iowa E.21.1 
 4. McNeal, Rio Grande20.4 
 5. Sims, Maine RC20.3 
 6. Stinson, Iowa E.20.3 
 7. Alexander, Texas L.20.2 
 8. Dentmon, Texas L.18.7 
 9. Goods, Dakota W.18.2 
 10. Russell, Ft.Wayne.17.7 
Rebounds Per Game
 Jeff ADRIEN
  Rio Grande
  (201-F-86)
  Avg: 12.2
 1. Adrien, Rio Grande12.2 
 2. Ewing, Sioux F.10.6 
 3. Davidson, Idaho S.10.1 
 4. Williams, Texas L.9.6 
 5. Sims, Iowa E.9.6 
 6. Phillips, Ft.Wayne.9.3 
 7. Johnson, Dakota W.9.2 
 8. Jeffers, Iowa E.9.1 
 9. Aldrich, Tulsa 66e.8.9 
 10. Alexander, Texas8.9 
Assists Per Game
 Curtis STINSON
  Iowa E.
  (187-G-83)
  Avg: 9.8
 1. Stinson, Iowa E.9.8 
 2. Miles, Reno Bighor.8.7 
 3. Daniels, Texas L.8.5 
 4. Russell, Ft.Wayne.7.9 
 5. Jackson, Idaho S.7.5 
 6. Crittenton, Dakota.6.9 
 7. Jackson, Erie B.6.6 
 8. Johnson, Austin T.6.0 
 9. Ahearn, Erie Bay H.5.9 
 10. Reynolds, Spring.5.9 
Steals Per Game
 Zabian DOWDELL
  Tulsa 66ers
  (191-G-84)
  Avg: 2.5
 1. Dowdell, Tulsa 66e.2.5 
 2. Crittenton, Dakota.2.5 
 3. Miles, Reno Bighor.2.5 
 4. Lin, Reno Bighorns2.1 
 5. Jackson, Idaho S.2.1 
 6. Lofton, Iowa E.2.1 
 7. Greene, Utah F.2.0 
 8. Lafayette, Ft.Wayn.2.0 
 9. Kramer, Ft.Wayne.1.9 
 10. Jeffers, Iowa E.1.9 
Blocks Per Game
 Sean WILLIAMS
  Texas L.
  (208-F-86)
  Avg: 2.9
 1. Williams, Texas L.2.9 
 2. Johnson, Dakota W.2.8 
 3. Aldrich, Tulsa 66e.2.7 
 4. Gaffney, Utah F.2.3 
 5. Whiteside, Reno B.2.2 
 6. Naymick, Bakersfi.2.2 
 7. Goodridge, Maine R.2.1 
 8. Gladness, Dakota W.2.0 
 9. Fall, Maine RC1.9 
 10. Alabi, Erie Bay H.1.8 


*****************************************************
  EUROCHALLENGE   


Second clash scheduled on Friday night: BC Telenet Oostende will host KRKA Novo Mesto! - by Bert Larsimont

On Friday night, the 2011 FIBA EuroChallenge Final Four hosts of Telenet Oostende will clash with Slovenian side KRKA Novo Mesto for a place in the final.

Last February, I attended the Union Mons Hainaut vs. KRKA Novo Mesto game of the second round of the 2011 FIBA EuroChallenge at the mons.arena (see http://www.berthoop.net/monthlyevent.htm). That day, I already had the feeling that the Slovenian squad could reach the EuroChallenge Final Four and play an interesting role in the race to the 2011 EuroChallenge title. Well-balanced and led by a very convincing coach, Aleksandar Dzikic, KRKA Novo Mesto would like to be the second Slovenian club (after Union Olimpija Ljubljana in Saporta Cup in 1993-94) to win a major European club competition.

WIthout doubt, the KRKA roster looks impressive. Only one solid and athletic US player, Christopher Booker (208-F/C-81, agency: Lanshire Group, college: Purdue), is a member of the KRKA team. Well present in the paint and strong in defense, Texan center Chris Booker will be a star attraction in this Final Four for sure! You can also count on his mates Goran Ikonic (196-G-80), a real scorer from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zoran Dragic (196-G-89), the brother of Houston Rockets' forward Goran Dragic, Dusan Djordjevic (195-G-83, agency: Beo Basket), a fantastic Serbian guard who can score and defend very well, as well as Smiljan Pavic (210-F/C-80), a very mobile center who grabs tons of rebounds, to boost KRKA Novo Mesto in this Final Four.

KRKA Novo Mesto (see official website: www.basket.krka.si) will face Final Four hosts of BC Telenet Oostende at 21:00 on Friday.

This game will be particularly challenging for KRKA's experienced Slovenian forward Dragisa Drobnjak (200-F-77, agency: Beo Basket), who once played for Telenet Oostende. Other young Slovenian talents complete the roster. KRKA Novo Mesto eliminated Lukoil Academic Sofia of Bulgaria in the quarter-final round of the 2011 EuroChallenge.

When Telenet Oostende first qualified for the EuroChallenge Final Four and then was granted the right to organize the FIBA Europe event at home, many observers saw this as a unique opportunity for a Belgian club to win a first major European basketball title in Belgium's basketball history.

This week, BCO went through a tough program: they lost the Belgian Cup final against another 2011 EuroChallenge participant Union Mons Hainaut by a very close margin (66-68) on Monday, they rematched Union Mons Hainaut in a regular Belgian Ethias League game which could not be postponed and which BCO won on Wednesday (79-73) and they finally got prepared for the EuroChallenge Final Four to be played in 'their' Sleuyter Arena next Friday and Sunday.

When the Telenet Oostende staff hired Euroleague experienced center Thomas Van Den Spiegel (214-C-78) a few weeks ago, it was certainly done in order to prepare a possible major European event.

Young Belgian coach Jean-Marc Jaumin will count on his delegation of US players Caleb Green (203-F-85, college: ORU), Darrel Mitchell (180-G-84, agency: Beo Basket, college: LSU), Matt Lojeski (198-G-85, college: Hawaii), Will Thomas (200-F-86, agency: Interperformances) and maybe Trevor Huffman (185-PG-79, agency: Interperformances, college: Kent St.) who could be back from injury as well as European and Belgian experienced guys Dusan Katnic (194-G-89, agency: Beo Basket) of Serbia, Veselin Petrovic (196-G/F-77, agency: Beo Basket) of Bosnia, Americano-Belgian forward Marcus Faison (196-G-78, agency: Lanshire Group, college: Siena), etc. to challenge the KRKA team.

Quickness, strong defense -- Ben Ebong (202-F/C-76, college: Davidson) and Stephane Pelle (205-C/F-80, college: Colorado) are also intimidators in the paint -- and a very enthusiastic local crowd could be the ingredients for BCO players to be crowned EuroChallenge champions this season.

More info on the club from the Belgian Coast can be found on www.bcoostende.be. BCO qualified against BK Ventspils of Latvia in the quarter-finals.


*****************************************************
  EUROLEAGUE   


Panathinaios easy at 1-0 against Peristeri - by Kostas Papadopoulos
Panathinaikos did not find any difficulty in making the 1-0 in the serie against Peristeri for the A1 Greek play-offs. Coach Obradovic found the chance for a good test for his players almost a week before the Final Four of Barcelona.
The Greens entered the game nervously and that came up to a lead of five points at the first period (20-15) with a successive 3p shot from Antonis Fotsis (210-F-81) on the buzzer. At that time, Peristeri took nine points from the ex-Green player Papanikolaou.
At the second period, Calathes brought the difference at double digit (30-20), six minutes before the half. Diamantidis extended it to 15 points (39-24) and the rest of the game seemed quite common to the most of the previous games of Panathinaikos in this championship. The first half ended at 47-32, and what should also be noticed is the wonderful appearance of Antonis Fotsis, who scored 11 points. From Peristeri, which played totally free and nice basketball (it was ahead at rebounds with 17-12), except for Papanikolaou, Scott (12 points, 5 rebs) and Looby (6 points, 5 rebs) lead the team at scoring.
In the second half, nothing changed. Five minutes ahead at the third period, the Greens lead with 25 (59-34), the period ended at 69-46 and the only interest until the end of the game seemed to be whether the Greens will reach the 100 points and whether Tepic would score in order to complete the fact all the Greens having scored in the game. And although Tepic scored 6:28 before the end, the Greens did not reach the other goal. The game ended at 88-60, while the difference edged before the 31 points as well (86-55).

Panathinaikos: Tepic 2, Maric 5, Perperoglou 5, Batiste 6, Antonis Fotsis 15, Sato 2, Nicholas 12, Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 11, Vougioukas 6, Calathes 13, Kaimakoglou 3
Peristeri: Mantzaris V., Woodward 2, Psaropoulos, Papanikolaou 12, Marougas, Mantzaris An. 3, Scott 18, Petroulas 5, Vrkic 9, Looby 8, Marinos, Mocnic 3


*****************************************************
  FRANCE   


Chalon extends coach Gregor Beugnot until 2014 - by Eurobasket News
Chalon announced signing of three-year contract extension with their Head Coach Gregor Beugnot . It means that the French specialist will stay with the club until the end of 2013/14 season. Beugnot is a Head Coach of Chalon since 2003. They are currently the second ranked team in the league with 18-9 record. Chalon also reached the Semaine des As Finals recently.
Gregor Beugnot was Eurobasket.com All-French ProA Coach of the Year 2004. A year before that he reached the ULEB Cup Quarterfinals with Chalon. In 2004, 2005 and 2007 they played in the ProA Semis. Before Chalon, Beugnot worked two years with Italian Metis Varese. From 1992 until 2001 he was coaching Villeurbanne.

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  FYR MACEDONIA   


Superleague Semifinals: First games - by Eurobasket News
Superleague Semifinals started yesterday. Feni Industrija and Rabotnicki opened the series with victories. Feni Industrija was too strong for Torus Skopje taking 2-0 lead due to better score in regular season. On the other side, Rabotnicki and MZT Skopje started 'from zero' so Rabotnicki is 1-0 up after yesterday's 74-78 road win. The series is best-of-five and second games are scheduled for April 30 and May 1.



Feni Indistrija - Torus Skopje 85-60 (2-0)
The game was mostly controlled by Feni Indistrija. Torus Skopje was better in third quarter 16-15. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Feni Indistrija dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Torus Skopje's 28. They outrebounded Torus Skopje 51-27 including a 38-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Dime Tasovski (200-F-80) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. Serbian center Dusan Knezevic (207-80, agency: BeoExcell) contributed with 9 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. Feni Indistrija's coach Emil Rajkovic felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Ivica Dimcevski (192-89, agency: Interperformances) answered with 17 points and forward Bojan Krstevski (205-89, agency: Interperformances) added 11 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Torus Skopje.
Top scorers:
Feni Indistrija: D.Tasovski 17+10reb, J.Frye 16+3reb+1ast, D.Sokolov 11+2reb+3ast, B.Jovovic 10+4reb, O.Stojanovski 9+1reb+1ast, D.Knezevic 9+13reb+1ast
Torus Skopje: I.Dimcevski 17+4reb, B.Krstevski 11+5reb, M.Janevski 10+2reb+1ast, J.Markovski 8+2reb+1ast, A.Kostoski 8+4reb+3ast, M.Miljkovic 3+3reb+5ast

gschID: 127782


MZT Skopje - Rabotnicki 74-78 (0-1)
The guests trailed by 6 points after three quarters before their 29-19 charge, which allowed them to win the game. Fersped-Rabotnicki made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by MZT Skopje helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Guard Eftim Bogoev (185-80) fired 17 points and 7 assists for the winners. Geri Dendra chipped in a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. American guard Darnell Lindsay (196-87, college: Tennessee Tech) produced 17 points and 7 rebounds and guard Jane Petrovski (181-87) added 18 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side.
Top scorers:
Rabotnicki: E.Bogoev 17+3reb+7ast, D.Mirakovski 16+1reb+3ast, G.Dendra 13+10reb, E.Hadzibulic 9+2reb, P.Blazevski 8+11reb+1ast, T.Simic 5+6reb
MZT Skopje: J.Petrovski 18+5reb, D.Lindsay 17+7reb+1ast, N.Zivcevic 11+5reb+1ast, M.Pupovic 9+5reb, Z.Gocevski 8+3reb, P.Naumovski 8+1reb+1ast
gschID: 127783




Stats Leaders - Superleague
Points Per Game
 Darko MATIC
  Kumanovo.
  (192-G-84)
  Avg: 21.5
 1. Matic, Kumanovo.21.5 
 2. Jovanovic, Ultima.20.3 
 3. Trajkovski, Torus17.9 
 4. Petkovski, Pelist.16.8 
 5. Morban, Lirija16.4 
 6. Filipovic, Ovce Po.16.4 
 7. Mirakovski, Rabot.15.5 
 8. Nikolovski, MZT S.15.2 
 9. Blazevski, Rabotni.15.0 
 10. Anakievski, Pelis.14.3 
Rebounds Per Game
 Gjorgje JOVANOVIC
  Ultima.
  (209-C-80)
  Avg: 10.6
 1. Jovanovic, Ultima.10.6 
 2. Jovanovic, Lirija9.3 
 3. Nikolovski, MZT S.8.8 
 4. Pavlovski, Lirija8.4 
 5. Talevski, Pelist.8.1 
 6. Trajkovski, Torus7.7 
 7. Chappell, ABA S.7.7 
 8. Rejnerio, Lirija7.6 
 9. Jelesijevic, Torus.7.5 
 10. Knezevic, Feni I.7.3 
Assists Per Game
 Carlos MORBAN
  Lirija
  (187-G-82)
  Avg: 5.1
 1. Morban, Lirija5.1 
 2. Kostovski, Torus S.4.7 
 3. Mirakovski, Rabot.4.6 
 4. Blazevski, Rabotni.3.9 
 5. Petrovski, MZT S.3.8 
 6. Mladenovic, Ultima.3.7 
 7. Lazic, Ultimate.3.3 
 8. Bogoev, Rabotnicki3.2 
 9. Vukotic, Kumanovo.3.1 
 10. Miljkovic, Torus3.0 
Steals Per Game
 Gjorgi ANAKIEVSKI
  Pelist.
  (185-G-85)
  Avg: 2.5
 1. Anakievski, Pelist.2.5 
 2. Morban, Lirija1.6 
 3. Petrovski, MZT S.1.6 
 4. Boswell, ABA S.1.5 
 5. Blazevski, Rabotni.1.5 
 6. Mladenovic, Ultima.1.4 
 7. Frye, Feni Indistr.1.4 
 8. Stojanovski, Feni1.4 
 9. Dimcevski, Torus S.1.4 
 10. Pupovic, MZT S.1.3 
Blocks Per Game
 Bojan TRAJKOVSKI
  Torus S.
  (206-C/F-88)
  Avg: 1.8
 1. Trajkovski, Torus1.8 
 2. Chappell, ABA S.1.4 
 3. Jelesijevic, Torus.1.2 
 4. Dendra, Rabotnicki1.1 
 5. Petric, Kumanovo.1.1 
 6. Simic, Rabotnicki1.0 
 7. Gocevski, Rabotnic.1.0 
 8. Avramovski, MZT S.0.9 
 9. Frye, Feni Indistr.0.9 
 10. Krstevski, Torus0.9 


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  GEORGIA   


Superleague All Star 2011 - by Akaki Bakradze
Two weeks ago, were published lists of candidates for the Georgian Superleague's All Stars.

Players were divided by positions. 5-5 players, with the highest number by online votes for their positions, were in the Starting Five in Levan Moseshvili and Nugzar Cheishvili's
teams. The other 7 players selected by coaches decision.

Levan Moseshvili's team
1. Givi Bakradze (Army)

2. Kote Tugushi (Army)

3. Anatoliy Boisa (Army)

4. David Barbakadze (MIA)

5. Giorgi Sharabidze (Army)

Lasha Pargalava (Sokhumi)

Beso Lezhava (MIA)

Eugene Harris (MIA)

David Sakvarelidze (Army)

Giorgi Pirvelashvili (Army)

Carl Damus (Sokhumi)

Sergo Atuashvili (Army)



Cheishvili's team

1. Giorgi Gaprindashvili (TSU)

2. Buba Kvimsadze (Kutaisi)

3. Giorgi Barbakadze (Kutaisi)

4. Duda Sanadze (Batumi)

5. Richard Matiashvili (TSU)

Mikheil Chitashvili (TSU)

Micheil Berishvili (TSU)

Revaz Didia (Kutaisi))

Micheil ChoChua (Samedicino)

Akaki Dvalishvili (Samedicino)

Beka Bekauri (Samedicino)

Ilia Londaridze (TSU)

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  GERMANY   


Can BG Goettingen Go From 2010 Eurochallenge Spoiler To Deutsche Bank Skyliners 2011 beko BBL Playoff Spoiler? - by Miles Schmidt-Scheuber
In the past week playing beko BBl and NBA spoiler has been as common as little kids annoying their parents with the uncomfortable phrase 'where is the Easter bunny really', humans contemplating when a day will go by without seeing has been Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan in the tabloids and her latest sunglasses fashion, or Atlanta, Georgia citizens imagining driving the Lamborghini of Allen Iverson and wondering if the ex NBA star would give them his shiny sports car if the police department doesnt want it even if he has a collection of ten more rotting away in his garage. In the beko BBL spoilers were on the prowl as The Artland Dragons sent TBB Trier into summer vacation with a heart breaking one point loss or The Deutsche Bank Sklyinersgiving an unforgettable Globetrotter showcase not giving EnBW Ludwigsburg any real chance giving the players an early ticket home to the beaches and cafes of the world as both clubs were ousted on the last game day while in the NBA teams like Portland, Memphis and Indiana arent allowing Dallas, san Antonio or Chicago from dragging out the brooms as they have annoyed the favorites with pesky and a ruthless display of basketball. 'I am enjoying the NBA playoffs now. The top teams are getting more of a challenge, because the underdog teams are playing with their backs to the wall and giving all that they have. I have no real idea what is going on in the Spurs-Grizzlies series, but I think the injury to Manu Ginobolli is really hurting the Spurs. I think that Dallas-Portland are evenly matched. I think it will be a toss up to who wins this series', stressed Eisbaeren Bremerhaven guard Tyrone Brazelton (185-G-86, college: W.Kentucky) Last season BG Goettingen played spoiler entered the Eurochallenge tournament as a long shot, but plowed through the competition winning the title and letting coach John Patrick taste his first giant success of sweet champagne German style, while this season BG Goettingen want to get back to that spoiler role against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners in the opening round of the 2010-2011 beko BBL playoffs which start on April 30th. Actor George Clooney dying his head red while growing a beard of the same color, Cheyene Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods stealing the spotlight from him just a bit with her golf or world class designer Karl Lagerfeld taking off his sunglasses for an interview may be very unexpected, but the chances of BG Goettingen winning a 5 game series against Frankfurt should not be unexpected either. Frankfurt demonstrated last year that it can be done as they snuck by second seed Alba Berlin as the seventh seed 3-1. This time the roles are reversed as Frankfurt is seeded second and BG Goettingen seventh. 'I think that anything is possible in this series, but I think that Frankfurt might be a little to strong to handle for BG Goettingen. But I remember when I was with western kentucky we were the underdog against Drake who were the fifth seed in the NCAA and we pulled off a win, because we had as a team, had better players and good coaching. As a pro playing in Poland for Asseco Prokom in the Euroleague we were evenly matched against Armani Milian, but we came out with the win, because we had more determination from the start and that is exactly what BG Goettingen will need to have to beat Frankfurt and will need someone else to beat them besides DaShaun Wood (185-G-85, college: Wright St.)', warned Bremerhaven guard Tyrone Brazelton

After the sensational 2010 Eurochallenge win that brought some new fresh wind into German Basketball, BG Goettingen faithful fans were hoping for a majority of the team to remain, but the opposite happened. It may have been summer, but the atmosphere seemed as a big spring cleaning that didnt take place in just one family house, but a neighborhood. The club let go off nine players including such key players like Chris Oliver, Taylor Rochestie (185-G-85, college: Washington St.), Chris Mcnaughton, Ben Jacobson and Chester Frazier (188-G-86, college: Illinois). This BG Goettingen facelift was about as extreme as if the Los Angeles Lakers had parted with the one and only Kobe Bryant this summer. The only players to remain were Dwayne Anderson (198-F-86, agency: Interperformances, college: Villanova), John Little (180-G-84, college: N.Iowa), Jason Boone (198-F/C-85, college: New York U.) and Robert Kulawick. In the last years, BG Goettingen have always been in the playoff hunt and just performed very well. BG Goettingen coach John Patrick never has a lot of money for players, but he has the incredible talent of finding players out of college like a Taylor Rochestie (185-G-85, college: Washington St.) or Dwayne Anderson (198-F-86, agency: Interperformances, college: Villanova) or guys from lower leagues like a Chris Oliver and make them develop quickly into very solid role players moving to team star players. The only problem is that many players have such good seasons that they then become nmon affordable and leave as Taylor Rochestie (185-G-85, college: Washington St.) showed going to Turkey to continue playing the game he loves so much,but return back to the bEKO BBL to Alba Berlin recently.

BG Goettingen finished the 2010-2011 beko BBL season in seventh place with a record of 19-15. Before the first meeting between both teams this season, BG Goettingen had a 3-4 record. When comparing this years team to last years team after seven games, there was little difference as BG Goettingen had a record of 4-3. Last season after seven games BG Goettingen, then won 15 of their next 18 games and also were playing Eurochallenge. Defense seemed to be an issue in the early part of the season concerning the 3-4 start. 'We were missing 24 seconds of defense. Looking back on our loses, we did not do a good job playing defense until the possession was over. This is something that we have been working on', stressed BG Goettingen center Jason Boone (198-F/C-85, college: New York U.). BG Goettingen has been up and down since the start of the season and had a record of 10-8 and quietly moved on to the Top 16 of the Eurocup. The club had a 5 game winning streak around the holiday season having big wins against The Artland Dragons and The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. But then also had two 4 game losing streaks. The club then had a three game winning streak coming off a huge win at home against The Brose Baskets Bamberg. Despite being up and down, the team is capable of beating anyone in the BEKO BBL. 'Goettingen is a great team and have had an up and down season but they can beat anyone on any giving night because of there style of play', stressed John Bynum (191-G-78, agency: Scorers 1st Sportmanagement, college: Metro St.) After their 88-82 loss to Frankfurt in mid March, the club bowed out of the Eurocup competition and finished the beko BBL year strong with a record of 6-2 and they seemed to be ready for the post season. The competition wasnt as potent with opponents like Phoenix Hagen, Giessen or MBC, but that gave the team a chance to work on their defense as they averaged giving up only 63 points a game and didnt give up more than 65 points in 6 of the 8 games. Their biggest win in this time was against Alba Berlin BG Goettingen was always seen as a playoff team and the question was only at what position they would land. 'I always thought that they were a playoff team. They are capable of beating anyone on any giving night and if they get it going they are tough to beat on their home court as well', warned John Bynum

Losing key players like Taylor Rochestie (185-G-85, college: Washington St.), Chris Oliver, Ben Jacobson and Chester Frazier (188-G-86, college: Illinois) seems to have made a difference in the quality of play as well as in their style this season. 'Rochestie and Oliver are two great players that meant a lot to their team. They seem to be dearly missed. I think that they had a much better roster the last few years, but some players had success and moved on. Playing against them this season was much easier than the last few years, but they still have a lot of pressure. They still play their kind of style, but not as extreme as in the past', warned ex Walter Tigers Tuebingen guard Steven Wright (191-G-83, agency: Court Side, college: N.Kentucky). Despite a little change in the new style of BG Goettingen, the team has also gained a few new positives in their game. 'Our game plan changes from game to game, but we still try to control the tempo in each game. I think that our team is more athletic than in the past, but also better at slowing down the pace when its needed', stressed New York native Jason Boone (198-F/C-85, college: New York U.). 'BG Goettingen play a fast paced speed up style and have a lot of the same type of players. They are small and have to play like this. I like their style', stressed ex Michigan State guard Travis Walton (188-G-87, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Michigan St.). Patrick also seems to have understood how to form the style with the players that he has gotten this season. 'I think the coach of Goettingen is great at adjusting. And with this team this year he adjusted to the players he has they still put up pressure but are more controlled. Its not as 'wild' as the past couple seasons. Before it seemed like 'organized chaos'. Now, it is more controlled pressure. Nothing 'hell-like', laughed Wayne Bernard (190-G-81, college: Davidson). BG Goettingen may have to step up their pressure against DaShaun Wood. 'I think they Mix it up and still use some press but not like they used to. I would say like 75% press but for DaShaun Wood I would say more Pressure', joked Mark Dorris (188-G-85, college: Marshall)

This will be the ninth meeting between The Deutsche Bank Skyliners and BG Goettingen Goettingen, and the clan of Gordon Herbert have a 500 record of 4-4 since BG Goettingen arrived in the BEKO BBL in 2007. Frankfurt have won the last three games against BG Goettingen. Frankfurt is 2-2 at home and 2-2 in the dark Lokhalle. Who could forget the stellar 74-67 Frankfurt win in the Lokhalle in 2008 as half of the team was sick and Maksym Shtein showed a totally other side of him as he exploded on the court making just about every touch he had land in the basket as he led the club in scoring with 24 points. In 2008-2009, the luck of last years Frankfurt team seemed to be with BG Goettingen as they won two nail bitters. In Frankfurt, they prevailed 64-61 despite 16 points from Ilian Evtimov. In the return date in late February and 48 hours before the Top 4 in Hamburg, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost 70-65 as they had all chances to win in the crunch time, but missed some key shots. Pascal Roller had a huge game with 20 points. Last season, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost 90-78 and were outplayed for 40 minutes. In the return game in Frankfurt, BG Goettingen lost in overtime 90-88 as Aubrey Reese tied the game at 88 with a three pointer and then won the game with two free throws with nine seconds to play and Seth Doliboa blocked the last BG Goettingen shot with two seconds to play. In the first meeting this season between the two clubs, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were able to escape the Lokhalle with a 70-58 win as the club displayed a consistent defensive effort for 40 minutes and kept BG Goettingen at 33% from the field and 21% from the parking lot.. Frankfurt were led by DaShaun Wood and Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois) with 18 points a piece. In the second meeting this season, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners pulled out a 88-82 win after BG goettinge shot out the lights in the first quarter, Frankfurt did it in the second half. The fourth quarter was a shoot out and with the score tied at 67-67, DaShaun Wood took command of the game scoring 8 unanswered points leading the team to victory. Wood had a huge game with 25 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. Quantez Robertson (190-G-84, college: Auburn) chipped in with 14 points and Roger Powell (198-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: Illinois) steered 13 points. BG Goettingen was led by Dwayne Anderson (198-F-86, agency: Interperformances, college: Villanova) with 16 points, Louis Dale (180-G-88, college: Cornell) contributed 15 points and jason Boone 14 points.

Dwayne Anderson (198-F-86, agency: Interperformances, college: Villanova) is playing his second season in Goettingen. The 24 year old 198cm forward from Silver Spring, Maryland was one of the big surprises last season being of the top rookies in the BEKO BBL and being a very important part of the John Patrick winning formula playing 27 games: 11.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 64.4%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 74.3%; EuroChallenge: 10 games: 10.9ppg, Reb-5 (7.0rpg), 1.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 63.0%, 3PT: 19.2%, FT: 81.3%. He played at Villanova (NCAA) from 2005-2009 and in his senior year played 31 games: 9.0ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 84.5%. He reached the NCAA Lat 8 in 2006 and Sweet 16 in 2008. This season, he is averaging 13,2ppg, 6,8rpg and 1,5apg. He is shooting solid at 46,8% from the field. He hass cored in double figurers 19 times and exploded with 36 points against Bremerhaven.

The team added Louis Dale (180-G-88, college: Cornell) who is a 22 year old 180cm point guard from Birmingham, Alabama. He played at Cornell (NCAA) from 2006-2010 an din his senior year played 31 games: 12.8ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2010 and was All Ivy- League Player of the Year -08, All-Ivy League 1st Team -08, 09, 10 and was Ivy League Champion -08, 09, 10. He is currently averaging 8,2ppg, 2,4rpg and 2,1apg. He has scored in double figures 12 times and had two big games against Aris in the Eurocup. The club also added American Trenton Meacham (188-G-85, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Illinois) who is a 25 year old 188cm guard from Champaigne, Illinois. He played at Dayton (NCAA) from 2004-2005 and then transferred to Illinois where he played from 2005-2009. In his senior year, he played 34 games: 10.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3Pts: 42.1%, FT: 84.5%. He has quite a college career at Illinois especially in his senior year as he was named an Academic All-Big Ten selection in all 3 years at Illinois. Also, he was team captain in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He is an outstanding guard who is very capable of playing the point full time as well as the 2 spot. He started all 34 games on the season in 09, ranking third on the team in scoring with an average of 10.2 points. He is an outstanding shooter and he led the Illini and ranked second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal shooting at 42.1 percent (69-164). Ranks fifth on the Illinois career 3-point field goal percentage list at 40.8 percent (178-436) and ninth on the school career 3-point field goals list with 178 treys. Scored in double figures 16 times and was the Illini's leading scorer in six games on the year. In final game of his career, scored a season-high 24 points vs. Western Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 29 after averaging 19.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds in wins over No. 25 Missouri and Eastern Michigan. He scored 23 points vs. Mizzou and had 16 points vs. EMU. Scored 21 points vs. Indiana on Jan. 10 and made seven 3-pointers vs. the Hoosiers, one shy of his school record...Trent was third on the team in assists with an average of 2.7 apg. Tied career-high of six assists on three occasions, vs. Georgia (Dec. 6), at Purdue (Dec. 30) and at Ohio State (Feb. 22). Trent was third on the team with 31 steals. Last season, he played for Kraftwerk Wels (Austria-A Bundesliga, starting five): EuroChallenge: 6 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 91.7%; Austrian League: 37 games: 15.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT-2 (45.0%), FT: 82.4%. This season, he is averaging 11,3ppg, 1,9rpg and 2,9apg. he has scored in double figurers in 18 games and produced 28 points against Phoenix Hagen.

The biggest signing of summer was bringing back fan favorite Kyle Bailey (188-G-82, college: Santa Clara) who is one of the few Americans who will offer to do an interview in the German language. He is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Fairbanks Alaska that is playing his third season for BG Goettingen. He played at Santa Clara from 2000-2005 playing together with Macabbi Tel Aviv guard Dorin Perkins. He is a very smart player that handles the ball well and is strong in pressure situations. In his rookie season, he split time between the Florida Flame (NBDL) and BK Riga. Since 2006, he has played in Germany. He helped BG Goettingen reach the BBL in 2007 from the second division. In 2007-2008, he played for Ratiopharm Ulm and in 2008-2009 helped BG Goettingen reach the playoffs averaging 14,4ppg, 4,3rpg and 3,3apg. Last season, he played EnBW Ludwigsburg, but it was a season to forget. He played 21 games: 8.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 18.3%, FT: 82.0%. He was released in February 2010. He somehow didnt seem to fit into the game style of coach Tolga Ongoren. This season, Bailey is averaging 9,8ppg, 3,6rpg and 3,0apg. He is still looking for his three point shooting touch as he is only shooting 29% from outside. The American missed 17 BEKO BBL games this season, but is back in the lineup. he has scored in double figurers in nine games. 24 year old 191cm guard Robert Kulawick is playing his third season in Goettingen. He started his basketball career at TUS Lichterfelde in 2003 and also played for Alba Berlin from 2004-2006 playing 14 BBL games, three ULEB Cup games and winning the BBL cup in 2006. After playing with The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven in 2006-2007, he crossed the boarder into Holland and played for Den Helder Seals playing 34 games averaging 7.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 84.6%. Already in 2008-2009, one could see the confidence of John Patrick in the German letting him average 10 minutes per game, and last season he increased his minutes to 17 minutes This season, he is averaging 5,5ppg, and 1,9rpg He has been a member of the German U-18 and U-20 teams the last years and if he keeps developing the way he does, then German National coach Dirk Bauermann will have to invite him to the German National team some day.

Another important signing over the summer was bringing John Little (180-G-84, college: N.Iowa) back. John Little (180-G-84, college: N.Iowa) is a 26 year old 180cm guard from Peoria, Illinois. He is playing his third season with BG Goettingen. He played at Northern Iowa from 2002-2006. In 2007-2008, he wanted to play for the Peoria Kings of the ABA league, but the team folded, so he returned to Northern Iowa and finished the season as assistant coach. Last season, he played EuroChallenge: 16 games: 5.1ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 55.6%; German League: 37 games: 7.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 81.1%. Little is their energy guy. He brings a lot of energy and athletic ability from the bench. He doesnt have much of a shot and likes to drive to the hoop and finish at the rim. He is a good rebounder for his size. He is possibly the best defender on the team. He has long arms and plays the passing lanes well and is their best on ball defender, stressed Omari Westley. He is probably one of the scrappiest players in the league and always plays hard and gives 100% every minute on the court, added Ricky Hickman (190-G-85, college: NC-Greensboro). This season, Little is averaging 6,3ppg, 2,7rpg and 1,3apg. He hass cored in double figurers five times and scored 20 points against The Gloria Giants Duesseldorf. The team also brought back Jason Boone (198-F/C-85, college: New York U.) who is a 25 year old 198cm power forward/center from Sugar Loaf, New York who is playing his fourth season with Goettingen. Three years ago, he made the jump form the Regionalliga to the BBL, which is similar as if a professional baseball player jumped from A ball to MLB. Jason Boone (198-F/C-85, college: New York U.) is a strong athlete who likes to finish around the rim and is not a shooter at all. One should give him the jump shot and dont let him penetrate. He is a strong offensive rebounder and goes to the boards each time. He isnt a good free throw shooter and dont give him any easy layups. One should attack him on defense and despite his athletic body, doesnt move his feet so well and he is foul prone, stressed Omari Westley. Frankfurt will have to keep an eye on him in the paint. Boone is probably one of the strongest low post players in the BBL. He can move anybody with his strength down low, added Ricky Hickman (190-G-85, college: NC-Greensboro). Last season, he played 16 games: 10.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 59.6%, FT: 53.8%; German League: 35 games: 9.1ppg, 6.1rpg, FGP: 60.3%, FT: 55.9%. This season, he is averaging 8,7ppg and 6,0rpg. He has scored in double figurers 15 times and had three double doubles and manufactured 20 points against Ratiopharm Ulm.

The club also signed Jermaine Raffington who is a 25 year old 205cm power forward/center German. He played at TSG Ehingen from 2002-2005. He played at Southeastern CC from 2005-2007 and then returned back to Germany. He played at BV Chemnitz 99 (2.Bundesliga) in 2007-2008 playing 30 games: 12.6ppg, 5.7rpg, 2FGP: 53.4%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 59.3%. He played for BBC Bayreuth from 2008-2010. Last season, he played games: 10.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 72.7%. This season, he is averaging 2,4ppg and 1,7rpg.The team recently picked up 38 year old 207cm power forward Michael Meeks who was born in Jamaica, but has the Canadian/American citizenship. He was working out in Cologne and came to the team after Adam Waleskowski (203-F-82, agency: Court Side, college: Florida St.) was released. He is fast for his size and is a great jumper with good timing. Has a nice jump shot from the top of the key. When posting up low he likes to finish with a dunk. The switching of positions and his speed makes him very dangerous in offense. On the defensive side he impresses with his shot blocking. He can hit the three pointer. He played at Canisius from 1992-1996. Since then he has had a long and successful basketball career having played in Countries like Italy, France, Turkey, Croatia, Czech Republic and Germany. He played for Brandt Hagen and The Telekom Baskets Bonn. He played at the 1998 and 2002 World Championships for Canada with NBA star Steve Nash and at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000, where he was the tournaments fifth best scorer averaging 14,3ppg. Last season Meeks played Eurochallenge 15 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg; German League: 25 games: 5.3ppg, 2.3rpg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 70.4%. Currently he is averaging 3,6ppg and 2,orpg. The team also brought back Antoine Jordan recently who is a 28 year old 196cm forward from Baltimore, Maryland. he played at Siena from 2002-2006. In his senior year at Siena he averaged 8.1rpg, 3.0apg, 1.5spg, FG: 46.9%, 3PT: 45.3%, FT: 81.8%. From 2007-2009, he played in Holland for Magix Nijmegen (Holland-Eredivisie). Last season for BG Goettingen he played 8 games: 3.8ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.1apg; German League: 18 games: 4.8ppg, 1.9rpg. Currently he is averaging 5,2ppg and 2,2rpg.

The Deutsche Bank Skyliners are looking for their third straight win while BG Goettingen is going for their fourth win in a row. The loss of Mike Scott (203-F-86, college: Kent St.) will hurt the team especially on the offensive boards. He might of played little to no factor in the last six games missing three and scoring only 15 points in 26 minutes, but coach John Patrick has one less player to count on who always could ofbeen able to be inserted and create havoc on the court. At first glance, one might think that getting the ball inside against BG Goettingen should be the first priority, but this is something that BG Goettingen is prepared for. 'They might be undersized, but they have a good inside game. When you go inside, BG Goettingen shrink the court so you have to make the open shots, because they will force you to make them. They know that teams will always try to go inside against them', warned Ratiopharm Ulm guard Travis Walton (188-G-87, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Michigan St.). In their first meeting, Frankfurt was averaging 41 rebounds a game and now some months later Frankfurt is averaging 36,1 rebounds while BG Goettingen is averaging 35,6 rebounds a game. Adam Waleskowski (203-F-82, agency: Court Side, college: Florida St.) is gone, but the team has Michael Meeks for stability, but Frankfurt still has the upper hand under the boards. It is no secret, that BG Goettingen will have to work extra hard under the boards. 'We have to go inside and dictate the speed of which the game is played and rebound well. It would be nice to knock down shots', warned Jason Boone (198-F/C-85, college: New York U.). BG Goettingen might not play their furious 40 minutes of hell like in the past, but teams always have to be aware of their fast break game. Frankfurt should concentrate in getting BG Goettingen used to a half court game. 'Frankfurt has to defend them and control them in transition. They can not let them get hot from outside. BG Goettingen is small and Frankfurt should attack them inside. If Wood can control the tempo and lead them, then they will be ok. Powell is so big and will really help them', warned Steven Wright (191-G-83, agency: Court Side, college: N.Kentucky). As always Frankfurt have their road runner to get them on track. 'The Wood show. Let him do his magic and get players involved. Defensively I just think they have to make Gottingen play there sets all the way through and not get on too many runs. Gottingen just has to get easy baskets and also make Frankfurt play defense, attack when they can. At the defensive end they have to cause some turnovers and get some easy baskets', commented John Bynum Point guard Trenton Meacham (188-G-85, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Illinois) is injured and the question is when he will return, but BG Goettingen fan favorite is back after his long injury and will be playing his 7th game since coming back from injury missing 17 games. Bailey is back to his work horse role and is giving stability at the playmaker position scoring and running the team. Bailey will have to step up and bring his magic that he displayed the first two times that he played in Goettingen. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners host BG Goettingen in Game one of the 2011 beko BBL playoffs April 30th at 18:00.
































Eurobasket.com All-German 2. Bundesliga Pro B Awards 2010-11 - by Moritz Korff



#s#
Virgil Matthews
Matthews
Josh Young
Young
Marcus Monk
Monk
Devin Uskoski
Uskoski
Kristofer Speier
Speier
#e#1

Player of the Year: Devin Uskoski (198-F/C-85, college: Rocky Mountain) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Guard of the Year: Virgil Matthews (188-G-83, college: Montana) - Ehingen
Forward of the Year: Devin Uskoski (198-F/C-85) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Center of the Year: Kristofer Speier (206-F/C-81, college: Lewis-Clark) - Schwelm
Most Improved Player of the Year: Daniel Theis (205-C-92) - Braunschweig
Import Player of the Year: Devin Uskoski (198-F/C-85) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Domestic Player of the Year: Kristofer Speier (206-F/C-81) - Schwelm
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Monk (198-G/F-86) - Herten
Newcomer of the Year: Patrick Heckmann (196-G/F-92) - Langen
Coach of the Year: Stefan Goschenhofer - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen

1st Team:
Virgil Matthews (188-G-83) - Ehingen
Josh Young (185-G-88, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Drake) - Leverkusen
Marcus Monk (198-G/F-86) - Herten
Devin Uskoski (198-F/C-85) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Kristofer Speier (206-F/C-81) - Schwelm

2nd Team:
Willis Gardner (185-G-86, agency: Stanley International, college: Colorado St.) - Lich
Jason Holmes (191-G-86, college: Le Moyne) - Schwelm
Kimmani Barrett (198-F-87, college: La Salle) - Giessen
Christopher Rojik (200-F-74, college: Holy Cross) - Frankfurt
Auryn MacMillan (203-C-88, college: Gardner-Webb) - Langen

Honorable Mention:
Calvin Brock (196-F/G-86, college: Illinois) - Bernau
Kevin Bright (198-F/G-92) - Ehingen
Will Chavis (181-G-81, agency: Rasmussen Services, college: Texas Tech) - Nuernberg
Mychal Green (193-G-83, college: Ohio) - Stahnsdorf
Joseph Henley (196-F-85, college: Sacred Heart) - Wulfen
Henje Knopke (193-G/F-85) - Wolfenbuettel
Michael Mathey (188-G-87, college: W.Liberty St.) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Monyea Pratt (196-F-85, college: Stillman) - Leipzig
Matt Reid (185-G-84, college: Cameron) - Vechta
Andreas Seiferth (206-F/C-89, college: ALBA Berlin II) - Berlin
Daniel Theis (205-C-92) - Braunschweig
Peer Wente (203-F/C-77) - Lich

All-Domestic Players Team:
Maurice Stuckey (187-G-90, agency: Pro One Sports) - Breitenguessbach
Henje Knopke (193-G/F-85) - Wolfenbuettel
Kevin Bright (198-F/G-92) - Ehingen
Peer Wente (203-F/C-77) - Lich
Kristofer Speier (206-F/C-81) - Schwelm

All-Imports Team:
Virgil Matthews (188-G-83) - Ehingen
Josh Young - Leverkusen
Marcus Monk (198-G/F-86) - Herten
Devin Uskoski (198-F/C-85) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Auryn Auryn MacMillan (203-C-88, college: Gardner-Webb) - Langen

All-Newcomers Team:
Deon McDuffie (188-G-93, agency: Scorers 1st Sportmanagement) - Illertal
Joshiko Saibou (188-G-90) - Berlin
Patrick Heckmann (196-G/F-92) - Langen
Dominik Veney (200-F-87) - Leitershofen/Stadtbergen
Michael Wenzl (209-C-91) - Illertal

All-Defensive Team:
Akeem Vargas (191-G-90, college: Iowa Lakes CC) - Ehingen
Henje Knopke (193-G/F-85) - Wolfenbuettel
Marcus Monk (198-G/F-86) - Herten
Daniel Theis (205-C-92) - Braunschweig
Marcus King-Stockton (206-F-85, college: Colorado) - Vechta

Bryan Bailey (Artland Dragons) During This Time Of Year, Both Teams Are Going To Be Mentaly Ready - by Miles Schmidt-Scheuber
Bryan Bailey (185-G-80, agency: Lanshire Group, college: Bucknell) is a 30 year old 185cm combo guard that is playing his 9th professional basketball season playing his fourth with The Artland Dragons. He is a true team leader both on and off the court. He possesses a diverse game, with an ability to stroke the long-range jumper, penetrate to the rim or distribute the ball. He is solid on the defensive end of the floor as well. His fierce competitive drive rubs off on his teammates. He started his professional basketball career at Bucknell and player there from 1998-2002 and in his senior year played 17games averaging 18.1ppg,5.3rpg,2.4apg. He made All-Patriot League 1st Team in 2001 and 2002. In 2002-2003, he started his professional basketball season in Germany with DJK S. Oliver Wurzburg (Germany-1Bundesliga, starting five): 26 games, 15.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.4spg. In 2003-2004, he played in Holland for Landstede Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie, starting five): 35 games: 17.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.1apg, 2.4spg, 0.2bpg. He then played with The Artland Dragons from 2004-2007 reaching the league and cup final in 2007. His best statistical season was 2005-2006 playing 33 games and averaging 11.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 25.3%. In 2007-2008, he played with Bosna ASA BH Telecom Sarajevo (Bosnia-D1, starting five): ULEB Cup: 12 games: 10.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 84.3%. In 2008-2009, he played in Poland for PGE Turow Zgorzelec (Poland-DBE): Eurocup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg; Polish League: 32 games: 8.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 77.0%. Last season, he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg playing Euroleague: 4 games: 8.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg; German League: 6 games: 9.3ppg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 89.7%. He sat down and spoke with Eurobasket before game one against The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig.

The Artland Dragons finsihed the regular season in 4th place. How happy were you with the season. Could the team have been higher in the standings had some things gone differently?

I think we had a good regular season. I think we lost a couple of close games that we should have won, which would have made us higher in the standings.

What things do The Artland Dragons still have to work on to be successful in the playoffs?

We just have to stay sharp on offense and execute our plays precisely. We can't have breakdowns on the defensive end and allow teams to get big runs against us.

Your first opponent are the New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig. How do explain the sucess of Artland against them this season winning two blowouts?

Both games against Braunschweig were close at halftime. In the beginning of the second half of both games we played with more defensive intensity which led to easy points for us.

Does Braunschweig have a slight mental edge simply because they have that revenge factor going having lost so badly.

During this time of the year, both teams are going to be mentally ready.

When Braunschweig is on on defense then they are very hard to score against. What else will be key besides executing on offense?

Just playing with a lot of energy. Hustle plays and small things can make a big difference.

Could one of these teams reach the beko BBL final?

Yes.

How surprised have you been with the wild and unpredictable NBA playoffs so far?

It's definitely been surprising. All the games have been very competitive.

What is wrong with the Orlando Magic down 3-1 against the Atlanta Hawks. Are you surprised that the Hawks are up?

I'm not too surprised that the Hawks are up. The Magic are not shooting the ball well. They have to get more from their perimeter players.


Why are the Dallas Mavericks having problems with Portland?

Portland is deep team and have many scoring options. Brandon Roy is key for them coming off the bench.

The Lakers are 2-2 against the Hornets and Kobe Bryant left the arena on crutches. Is there anyway for Chris Paul to take over this series and kick out the Lakers?

It's going to be tough for the Hornets to take out the Lakers. Chris Paul has been playing well and now some other guys have to step up and help him for them to pull off the upset.

Thanks Bryan for the chat

Dane Watts (Walter Tigers Tuebingen) 2011 beko BBL Playoff Thoughts - by Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Dane Watts (203-F-86, agency: Pro One Sports) is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Warrensburg that is playing his second season for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He played at Creighton (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 11.3ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3Pts: 42.5%, FT: 71.8%. In 2008, he came to Germany and started his professional basketball career with EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP-1 (68.4%), 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 68.7%. Last season, he played for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 34 games: 10.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 71.0%. He returns to Tuebingen for the 2010-2011 BEKO BBL season. At Creighton, he won awards such as MVC Tournament Winner -05, 07, MVC All-Freshman Team -05, MVC Regular Season Runner-Up -07, and MVC Tournament Semifinals -08. Watts sat down with eurobasket and talked about the 2011 beko BBL playoffs.

Do you think the first round of the beko bbl playoffs will be as exciting and unpredictable as the current NBA playoffs?

Yes. I think that there are some good match-ups that will be hard to predict the winners. Every year I have been in the BBL there have been upsets to the higher ranked teams.


How do you see the series Bamberg-Bremerhaven? Will this be a sweep for Bamberg?

I think Bamberg will win the series but hopefully Bremerhaven can make it interesting.


What will Bremerhaven have to do to win this tough series?

They will have to make sure they can win their home games and try to make something happen in Bamberg. Don't think there is one thing to key on against Bamberg, they have played pretty solid all around this season.



How do you see the series Alba Berlin-EWE Baskets Oldenburg? This could be one of the exciting ones?

I think it can be exciting. Oldenburg has been playing much improved to finish the season, both teams have veteran players who have won playoffs series.



Could this series go 5 games?

I think it could, anything can happen.



Does Alba Berlin have what it takes to become champion? Could Taylor Rochestie be the missing piece to puzzle?

He has been playing well for them since he was picked up, he gives them another scoring/passing threat. I have to see who makes it past the first round of games before I pick a winner.



How do you see the Frankfurt-BG Goettingen series?

I think that will be a good series. Goettingen snuck in at the last game and Frankfurt has been holding their #2 spot all season. Goettingen is pretty good at home and their fans will want to see them move past the first round. It will come down to making adjustments on Wood and trying to make other guys step up.



What will Goettingen have to do besides control Dashaun Wood wt win?

Try to slow down my guy Roger Powell, he has been killing as of late. Try to match his energy and intensity.


How do you see the series Artland Dragons-Braunschweig?

Maybe the best match-up in the first round, either team is a good pick.

Could one of these teams reach the beko BBL final?

I think that is a good prediction. Both teams have depth and played pretty consistent all year. Braunschweig moved on last year so their guys know how to win and Artland will be hungry to be back in the playoffs.


Why are the Lakers, Spurs and Mavericks playing so weak?

I dont know but it is making the first round more interesting. I hope that Memphis closes San Antonio out!


What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Good Will Hunting


Thanks Dane for the chat.

*****************************************************
  GREECE   


Panathinaios easy at 1-0 against Peristeri - by Kostas Papadopoulos
Panathinaikos did not find any difficulty in making the 1-0 in the serie against Peristeri for the A1 Greek play-offs. Coach Obradovic found the chance for a good test for his players almost a week before the Final Four of Barcelona.
The Greens entered the game nervously and that came up to a lead of five points at the first period (20-15) with a successive 3p shot from Antonis Fotsis (210-F-81) on the buzzer. At that time, Peristeri took nine points from the ex-Green player Papanikolaou.
At the second period, Calathes brought the difference at double digit (30-20), six minutes before the half. Diamantidis extended it to 15 points (39-24) and the rest of the game seemed quite common to the most of the previous games of Panathinaikos in this championship. The first half ended at 47-32, and what should also be noticed is the wonderful appearance of Antonis Fotsis, who scored 11 points. From Peristeri, which played totally free and nice basketball (it was ahead at rebounds with 17-12), except for Papanikolaou, Scott (12 points, 5 rebs) and Looby (6 points, 5 rebs) lead the team at scoring.
In the second half, nothing changed. Five minutes ahead at the third period, the Greens lead with 25 (59-34), the period ended at 69-46 and the only interest until the end of the game seemed to be whether the Greens will reach the 100 points and whether Tepic would score in order to complete the fact all the Greens having scored in the game. And although Tepic scored 6:28 before the end, the Greens did not reach the other goal. The game ended at 88-60, while the difference edged before the 31 points as well (86-55).

Panathinaikos: Tepic 2, Maric 5, Perperoglou 5, Batiste 6, Antonis Fotsis 15, Sato 2, Nicholas 12, Tsartsaris 8, Diamantidis 11, Vougioukas 6, Calathes 13, Kaimakoglou 3
Peristeri: Mantzaris V., Woodward 2, Psaropoulos, Papanikolaou 12, Marougas, Mantzaris An. 3, Scott 18, Petroulas 5, Vrkic 9, Looby 8, Marinos, Mocnic 3


*****************************************************
  HUNGARY   


Crocker's season is over - by Tamas Deri
Tony Crocker (201-G/F-87, agency: Impact Basketball, college: Oklahoma) signed in september 2010 his first professional contract with Albacomp in our country. The very athletic wingman got to one of the best imports in our league and is one of the favourites of the basketball fans. Crocker graduated on the University of Oklahoma last seaon where he had a great senior season averaging 11.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg in 30 games. In July he played with the Houston Rockets on the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, after he had several NBA workouts with the Spurs, Mavs and Timberwolves.
Crocker played 31 games for Albacomp so far and was one of the top players of coach Dzunic's team. He scored 17.0 points, grabbed 4.3 rebounds, collected 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals in 32.6 minutes on the court. He scored in 10 games more than 20 points, had his season high 32 points against Szeged on the 6th of February 2011. In the first round of the playoffs he scored 99 points in five games against Falco KC Szombathely. He had also an amazing game against ASE in the first game of the semifinals on saturday in Szekesfehervar, but in the third quarter he had to leave the court and did not come back anymore. However he had almost a double-double of 23 points and 9 reobunds in 23 minutes on the court.

- Tony, in the last minute of the 3rd quarter you just felt on the floor and left the court. What happened exactly and how bad is your injury?
- I made a bad step on someone's foot and it was a fractured bone in my foot. It didn't break completely but it broke enough, so i am out for the rest of the season.
- You had a great rookie season so far, what are your feelings about it?
- Yes, i am real thankful to my agents and their hungarian partners for giving me the opportunity to start my professional carreer with a real professional club as Albacomp in a good level league.
- What are your plans for the future? Are you thinking about coming back to play in our country?
- The most important is to get fit again, after that me and my agents will take a look at the options for the next season. Of course i would consider to play for Albacomp again, as i collected real good experiences and like the athmosphere here.
- What do you think about the chances of Albacomp to win the Championship?
- I heard, that after my injury was published some people believed that our team will not get into the Finals. As everybody saw, the guys played real well yesterday and won in Paks by 20 points. We are up 2-0 now and with a home win on friday we would make the step into the Finals. You konw, every series begin from 0-0, so i am sure that my teammates would fight like lions in the Finals.
- Tony, thanks for your time and we wish you all the best for your future carreer!

*****************************************************
  ISRAEL   


Maccabi Haifa Invite-Only Tryouts Set For June 14-15 - by Carl Berman
An exciting opportunity is available to current NBA D-League, players with overseas experience, and recently graduated NCAA Division I players. Maccabi Haifa is a professional basketball team of the Israeli Basketball Super League, Israels Top Division. The team is owned by Triangle Financial Services LLC, an international sports and entertainment firm, Maccabi Haifa is consistently amongst the top teams in Israel, as the team played in the EuroChallenge reaching the Top 16 as well as playing a preseason game vs. the NBAs New Jersey Nets last season.

Maccabi Haifa is conducting their fourth annual invitation-only tryouts, for the top Collegiate and Pro Basketball players in the country, held in South Florida in Mid-June. This is a great opportunity for players to improve their basketball career overseas. The team has consistently signed several players from each tryout to play on both Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tivon (Triangle's second division team).

This year only 30 to 35 players will be invited to Maccabi Haifa's U.S. tryouts with numerous NBA D-League, players with overseas experience, and NCAA Division I players expected to attend. Maccabi Haifa will continue to play NBA team (s) during the preseason with the intent to return to play in the EuroChallenge this upcoming season. Players will tryout for the opportunity to sign with either team, which gives them a better chance of earning a pro-contract. The past three years the tryouts have received an abundance of media coverage from NBC, South Florida media outlets and the Jewish Journal. The tryouts also have been featured on Maccabi Haifa's television show 'Inside Israeli Basketball', which airs on 10 Regional Sports Networks in 60 million homes throughout the United States.

To give you an idea of the type and quality of player who may have success attending the tryouts, below are the American players who played for each of the two teams this past season. Five Americans played for Maccabi Haifa including Sylven Landesberg (6'6''-F/G-90, college: Virginia) (University of Virginia), Derrick Low (Washington State), Frank Robinson (Cal St. Fullerton), Tyler Wilkerson (Marshall), and Jermaine Jackson (former NBA veteran). Hapoel Tivon, their second division team, finished in the top 8 of the standings. Three Americans played on the team: Ben Strong (college: Guilford), Rodney Webb (former NBA D-League player), Jeff Horowitz (Charleston/UNC-Wilmington), Drew Housman (Harvard) and Tramaine Stevens.

The Invite-Only Tryout Camp will be held on June 14th & 15th at the David Posnack Community Center, 5850 South Pine Island Road - Davie, FL) from 6-10pm each day. Hotel Rooms have been reserved at the Homestead Studio Hotel in Davie, Florida at a discounted rate $59.99. Players are responsible for their own hotel costs. However, the team will provide free transportation to & from the tryouts for players who decide to stay at this hotel. Every player who is invited will be given an opportunity to make the jump to the next professional level.

For more information, Adam Hurwitz can be contacted by players or player representatives @ (305)-933-8308 ext: 117 and/or at ahurwitz@trianglefs.com.

Carl Berman is a Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. Information on NetScouts Basketball can be obtained at www.netscoutsbasketball.com.

*****************************************************
  ITALY   


Umana Reyer add Lans Harris - by Eurobasket News
Umana Reyer strengthened their roster before the most important games in LegaDue. They announced the signing of Lans Harris (195-G-83, college: Kansas St.). The 27-year-old guard started the season in Bosnia. He tallied 9.8 points, 3.3 boards and 1.3 steals per game for Igokea Aleksandrovac in Adriatic League. Later Lans Harris moved to Greece. The guard joined Ikaros Kallitheas. He notched 13.7 points, 4.1 boards and 1.5 assists per game in A1. Previously Lans Harris used to play for Kolossos in Greece and Zlatogor Lasko in Slovenia. The guard was Greek All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest winner in 2010 and 2011. Lans Harris is expected to debut for Umana Reyer on April 30 against Tezenis Verona.


Bennet Cantu signs Marko Scekic - by Eurobasket News
Marko Scekic (207-F-81, agency: Beo Basket) is a new member of Bennet Cantu. The 29-year-old Serbian signed a deal for rest of the season. Scekic arrives to Cantu from Buducnost Podgorica. He appeared 27 times in Adriatic league averaging 9.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Scekic added 9.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 6 EuroCup games, plus 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3 apg for two Euroleague qualifications games.
Marko Scekic spent last two seasons in Germany as a member of EWE Baskets Oldenburg. In 2009/10 he had 8.2 ppg and 4.7 rpg for 10 Euroleague games. In the German league Scekic added 8.7 ppg and 5.1 rpg that season. Before Oldenburg, Marko Scekic played for Polish Turow, Serbian Vojvodina Novi Sad and Bosnian Borac Banja Luka. He won the German league title with Oldenburg in 2009. This year with Buducnost, Scekic won the Montenegrin National Cup.

*****************************************************
  JAPAN   


BJ League announces Regular season Awards - by John Scribe
The bj league announced its regular season awards this week.

Jeffrey Parmer, a forward for the Hamamatsu-Higashimikawa Phoenix was awarded with the regular season MVP,
while teammate Wayne Arnold (193-G-84, agency: ACMT, college: Tennessee St.) was placed on the Best Five team. Phoenix head coach Kazuo Nakamura also won his second
straight coach of the year award for the Phoenix, which finished the regular season with the league's best record at 40-6.

Japan's National Team point guard Takumi Ishizaki (188-G-84)i also was notable in making the Best Five in his first season with the Shimane Susanoo Magic, which
also qualified for its first appearance in the league playoffs; despite being an expansion team.

See below for the 2011 bj league season official award winners:

Regular Season MVP:
Jeffrey Parmer (203-F-85, college: Florida Atlantic), Hamamatsu-Higashimikawa Phoenix


BEST FIVE:
Wayne Arnold, Hamamatsu-Higashimikawa Phoenix
Jeffrey Parmer, Hamamatsu-Higashimikawa Phoenix
Michael Parker (200-G/F-81, college: Evergreen St.), Rizing Fukuoka
Anthony McHenry (201-G/F-83, college: Georgia Tech), Okinawa Ryukyu Golden Kings

Coach of the Year:
Kazuo Nakamura , Hamamatsu-Higashimikawa Phoenix

Most Improved Player:
Tanaka Kensuke (187-G-85), Tokyo Apache

6th Man Award:
Wayne Arnold, Hamamatsu-Higashimikawa Phoenix

Best Booster Award (Best Fans in the League):

*****************************************************
  LATVIA   


LBL Round 2 of Semi-Finals. Liepaja edge VEF Riga in overtime - by Eurobasket News
Liepaja - VEF Riga 88-81 OT

Liepaja caught up with VEF Riga in the semis following a thrilling overtime victory at home. The hosts trailed by 3 points at the halftime before their 18-13 charge in the third quarter, which allowed them to tie the game at the end of regular time. They were better in overtime eventually winning that period 16-9. Liepaja made 20-of-26 free shots (76.9 percent) during the game. VEF Riga was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Pierce Caldwell (191-88, college: Incarnate World) scored 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and guard Martins Kravcenko (192-G-85) chipped in 22 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Caldwell is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. The former international power forward Kaspars Berzins (213-85, agency: FCM) responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds and the former international forward Kristaps Janicenoks (196-83) scored 17 points. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
VEF Riga: K.Janicenoks 17+4reb+1ast, S.Valters 14+1reb+4ast, A.Parakhouski 13+5reb+1ast, D.Bertans 13+2reb+2ast, K.Berzins 12+14reb+2ast, T.Cain 10+8reb+3ast
Liepaja: M.Kravcenko 22+5reb+2ast, P.Caldwell 16+6reb+7ast, A.Mitchell 13+7reb+7ast, A.Ozols 12+5reb+1ast, M.Mejeris 12+5reb+1ast, M.Meiers 6+6reb
gschID: 127503


Barons - Ventspils 63-72

Ventspils are on the verge of semifinal stage after a road win over Barons. The guests trailed by 7 points at the halftime before their 38-22 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. International guard Janis Strelnieks (191-89) scored 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Nigerian-Jamaican guard Oritseweyinmi Efejuku (196-86, college: Providence) chipped in 16 points during the contest. Five Ventspils players scored in double figures. Ventspils' coach Algirdas Brazys used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. International swingman Ingus Bankevics (195-85, agency: Alti Sport) responded with 15 points and the former international center Martins Skirmants (205-77, agency: Interperformances) scored 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Top scorers:
Barons: I.Bankevics 15+4reb, D.Willjam 13+1reb+3ast, M.Skirmants 10+7reb, D.Sweetney 8+2reb+3ast, A.Cavars 6+7reb+4ast, I.Bergmanis 5+4reb+5ast
Ventspils: O.Efejuku 16+3reb+2ast, J.Strelnieks 12+5reb+4ast, B.Hunter 12+9reb, A.Berzins 11+6reb+1ast, T.Carter 10+1reb+1ast, A.Strelnieks 5+3reb+1ast
gschID: 127502




Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Scott WILSON
  Zemgale
  (198-F-83)
  Avg: 16.1
 1. Wilson, Zemgale16.1 
 2. Willjam, Barons16.0 
 3. Caldwell, Liepaja15.1 
 4. Bergmanis, Zemgale15.1 
 5. Peiners, LU14.8 
 6. Veselovs, Valmiera14.7 
 7. Duselis, LU14.1 
 8. Mednis, Turiba13.8 
 9. Berzins, VEF R.13.3 
 10. Laksa, VEF Riga j.13.3 
Rebounds Per Game
 Roberts MEDNIS
  Turiba
  (204-C-89)
  Avg: 7.9
 1. Mednis, Turiba7.9 
 2. Berzins, VEF R.7.5 
 3. Rozitis, Zemgale7.5 
 4. Wilson, Zemgale7.2 
 5. Aleksejevs, Liepaja7.1 
 6. Hunter, Ventspils6.8 
 7. Selakovs, VEF R.6.3 
 8. Cavars, Barons6.0 
 9. Veselovs, Valmiera6.0 
 10. Piternieks, LU5.9 
Assists Per Game
 Dairis BERTANS
  VEF R.
  (192-G/F-89)
  Avg: 4.7
 1. Bertans, VEF R.4.7 
 2. Gabrans, Valmiera4.5 
 3. Strelnieks, Ventsp.4.2 
 4. Willjam, Barons4.0 
 5. Mitchell, Liepaja3.8 
 6. Bergmanis, Zemgale3.7 
 7. Carter, Ventspils3.6 
 8. Gailitis, VEF R.3.5 
 9. Piternieks, LU3.2 
 10. Bergmanis, Barons3.0 
Steals Per Game
 Gatis JAHOVICS
  VEF R.
  (200-F-84)
  Avg: 2.2
 1. Jahovics, VEF R.2.2 
 2. Gailitis, VEF R.1.9 
 3. Strelnieks, Ventsp.1.7 
 4. Mitchell, Liepaja1.7 
 5. Bertans, VEF R.1.6 
 6. Motivans, Turiba1.6 
 7. Slisans, LU1.6 
 8. Cavars, Barons1.6 
 9. Gabrans, Valmiera1.6 
 10. Efejuku, Ventspils1.5 
Blocks Per Game
 Kaspars BERZINS
  VEF R.
  (213-F/C-85)
  Avg: 2.1
 1. Berzins, VEF R.2.1 
 2. Rozitis, Zemgale1.8 
 3. Beard, Liepaja1.2 
 4. Skirmants, Barons1.2 
 5. Mejeris, Liepaja1.0 
 6. Meiers, Liepaja0.8 
 7. Piternieks, LU0.8 
 8. Kuzminskas, Ventsp.0.8 
 9. Blaus, Ventspils0.8 
 10. Aleksejevs, Liepa.0.7 


LBL D2 Round 3 of Finals. Ventspils Augustskola take the lead - by Eurobasket News
FINAL
Ventspils Aug. - BAA Riga 73-69

Ventspils Augustskola earned 2-1 lead in the LBL Division 2 Finals. They prevailed against BAA Riga at home court. The hosts trailed by 11 points after three quarters before their 29-14 charge, which allowed them to win the game. Karlis Apsitis (198-F-92) produced 22 points, while Davis Coders (180-G-92) added 19 points for the winners. Janis Timma (198-F-92) answered with 17 points, 15 boards and 4 assists for BAA Riga.
gschID: 127734




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  LEBANON   


Riyadi in the Final , A very exciting series between Champville & Moutahed - by Asia-Basket Lebanon
Riyadi the Champion for the past 6 seasons is one more time back in the Final after beating Sagesse in the semi final series 3-0. The Last game was a continuity to the first 2 games , Riyadi imposed its rhythm from the first minutes of the game , after leading the first quarter 22-15 , the champions had a big dominance on the 2nd quarter which they finished up by 18 43-25. The second half saw the same scenario and the Sagesse had no ambitions to fight back, the game finished at the score of 85-69. Nate Johnson and Darryl Watkins led all scorers with 24 points, Joe Vogel finished with 19 points.
The game stopped in the first half around 20 minutes due to some non disciplined fans who were thrown out the stadium by security forces and the game continued.

In the other series Champville is leading the series 2-1,the series is full of excitement and both teams are managing to win the home games , its predicted to be a 5 games series, in game 3 Fadi Khatib (199-F-79) led his team to a deserving win on the score of 93-79 after scoring 36 points , Lee Benson had another huge game with 23 points and 26 rebounds.On the other side Moutahed Austin Johnson had also a big game with 33 points.
The first half saw a small dominance of Champville who led from the first minutes and the lead was 4 points at the end of the first quarter them 9 points at the half. In the 3rd Champville made many runs to increase the lead to 15 points but Moutahed was always answering back with comebacks that reduced the difference to 5 points. This scenario continued in the 4th quarter and the lead was going up and down, but Fadi Khatib through his big experience controlled the game in the end and scored many consecutive points which secured the prestigious win for Champville at the score of 93-79, and the most important gave Champville the lead in the series 2-1. Game 4 will be played in Tripoli on Saturday and its expected to be full of excitement and intensity.


Stats Leaders - Men
Points Per Game
 Fadi KHATIB
  Champville
  (199-F-79)
  Avg: 27
 1. Khatib, Champville27.0 
 2. Warner, Byblos26.5 
 3. Johnson, Moutahed23.5 
 4. Cage, Hoops22.8 
 5. Johnson, Al Riyadi21.0 
 6. Shannon, Anibal20.9 
 7. Youngblood, Champ.20.1 
 8. Dawson, Chabab20.1 
 9. Byrd, Hoops20.0 
 10. Battles, Antranik19.5 
Rebounds Per Game
 Loren WOODS
  Al Riyadi
  (218-C-78)
  Avg: 14.3
 1. Woods, Al Riyadi14.3 
 2. Warner, Byblos13.1 
 3. Cox, Champville12.9 
 4. Dawson, Chabab12.5 
 5. Shannon, Anibal11.7 
 6. Payne, Moutahed11.2 
 7. Watkins, Sagesse10.7 
 8. Battles, Antranik10.6 
 9. Byrd, Hoops10.6 
 10. Thompson, Sagesse10.5 
Assists Per Game
 Willie BANNISTER
  Antranik
  (180-G-84)
  Avg: 7
 1. Bannister, Antranik7.0 
 2. Mason, Byblos6.7 
 3. Johnson, Moutahed6.5 
 4. Mahmoud, Al Riyadi6.0 
 5. Akl, Anibal5.2 
 6. Clemons, Chabab4.9 
 7. Barada, Byblos4.6 
 8. Khatib, Champville4.0 
 9. Fahed, Sagesse3.9 
 10. Warner, Byblos3.8 
Steals Per Game
 Enique CLEMONS
  Chabab
  (180-G-80)
  Avg: 3.2
 1. Clemons, Chabab3.2 
 2. Johnson, Moutahed2.8 
 3. Mahmoud, Al Riyadi2.3 
 4. Byrd, Hoops2.3 
 5. Youngblood, Champ.2.3 
 6. Bannister, Antranik2.3 
 7. Mason, Byblos2.2 
 8. Johnson, Al Riyadi2.1 
 9. Watkins, Sagesse1.9 
 10. Lakiss, Chabab1.9 
Blocks Per Game
 Darnell COX
  Champville
  (211-C-85)
  Avg: 3.7
 1. Cox, Champville3.7 
 2. Woods, Al Riyadi2.3 
 3. Thompson, Sagesse1.5 
 4. Byrd, Hoops1.4 
 5. Watkins, Sagesse1.4 
 6. Hamdar, Hoops1.3 
 7. Warner, Byblos1.3 
 8. Kanaan, Antranik1.2 
 9. Shannon, Anibal1.2 
 10. Payne, Moutahed1.0 


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  LITHUANIA   


Stats Leaders - LKL
Points Per Game
 Vilmantas DILYS
  Naglis-Adakris
  (208-F-87)
  Avg: 16.4
 1. Dilys, Naglis-Adak.16.4 
 2. Dimsa, Nevezis16.0 
 3. Kieza, Juventus15.7 
 4. Alijevas, Nevezis14.9 
 5. Dilys, Perlas14.9 
 6. Vasylius, Neptunas14.8 
 7. Sirvydis, Sakalai14.0 
 8. Ruikis, Neptunas13.9 
 9. Juskevicius, Rudup.13.7 
 10. Lowe, Naglis-Adak.13.6 
Rebounds Per Game
 Aurimas KIEZA
  Juventus
  (202-F-82)
  Avg: 9.8
 1. Kieza, Juventus9.8 
 2. Sarakauskas, Siaul.9.2 
 3. Valanciunas, Lietu.7.8 
 4. Dimsa, Nevezis7.1 
 5. Klimavicius, Zalgi.7.1 
 6. Jankunas, Zalgiris6.7 
 7. Adomavicius, Alytu.6.5 
 8. Vasylius, Neptunas6.5 
 9. Dilys, Perlas6.4 
 10. Valukonis, Techa.6.4 
Assists Per Game
 Rolandas ALIJEVAS
  Nevezis
  (192-G-85)
  Avg: 5.9
 1. Alijevas, Nevezis5.9 
 2. Broadus, Siauliai5.2 
 3. Rinkevicius, Techa.5.0 
 4. Juskevicius, Rudup.4.5 
 5. El-Amin, Lietuvos.4.4 
 6. Viskontas, Perlas4.3 
 7. Lowe, Naglis-Adakr.4.1 
 8. Collins, Zalgiris4.0 
 9. Janavicius, Siauli.4.0 
 10. Kalnietis, Zalgir.3.8 
Steals Per Game
 Gintaras LEONAVICIUS
  Techa.
  (194-G-83)
  Avg: 2.1
 1. Leonavicius, Techa.2.1 
 2. Vasylius, Neptunas2.1 
 3. Juskevicius, Rudup.2.0 
 4. Lowe, Naglis-Adakr.1.9 
 5. Rinkevicius, Techa.1.9 
 6. Razutis, Naglis-A.1.7 
 7. Valukonis, Techas.1.7 
 8. Alijevas, Nevezis1.7 
 9. Jasikevicius, Aisc.1.6 
 10. Birgelis, Alytus1.5 
Blocks Per Game
 Deng GAI
  Naglis-Adakris
  (206-F-82)
  Avg: 2.9
 1. Gai, Naglis-Adakris2.9 
 2. Begic, Zalgiris2.4 
 3. Valanciunas, Lietu.1.9 
 4. Silinskis, Techasas1.6 
 5. Cresnar, Nevezis1.5 
 6. Volkus, Techasas1.1 
 7. Cepukaitis, Juven.0.9 
 8. Jankauskas, Rudup.0.8 
 9. Petrukonis, Perlas0.8 
 10. Klimavicius, Zalg.0.8 


*****************************************************
  MONTENEGRO   


Standings - 1A
1A Stage Two Standings
SuperLeague
 1. Buducnost 6-0 
 2. Mornar Bar 4-2 
 3. Ulcijn 4-3 
 4. Lovcen 3-4 
 5. Teodo Tivat 2-5 
 6. Jedinstvo 1-6 
Play-Out
 1. KK Podgorica 5-3 
 2. Danilovgrad 5-3 
 3. Mogren 5-3 
 4. ABS Primorje 4-4 
 5. Gorstak 1-7 
Stage One Standings


Zvezdan Mitrovic announced 22 name for Montenegro - by Dragan Scepanovic
Senior B team selector Zvezdan Mitrovic announced expanding list of players who will do prepares for the tournament, 'Four Nations' in China, which is scheduled from 10 to 17 July.Senior B team selector Zvezdan Mitrovic announced expanding roster of 22 players who will do the preparation in Tivat, on the eve of the tournament, 'Four Nations' in China, which is scheduled from 10 to 17 July.

The list contains the following players:
1. Nenad Mijatovic (Lovcen, Cetinje MNE1A S-League )
2. Goran Martinic (Lovcen, Cetinje MNE1A S-League)
3. Nikola Pavlicevic (192-G-88) (Lovcen, Cetinje MNE1A S-League)
4. Milos Lopicic (216-C-90) (Lovcen, Cetinje MNE1A S-League)
5. Petar Stojanovic (185-G-90) (Lovcen, Cetinje MNE1A S-League)
6. Marko Mijovic (Ulcinj MNE1A S-League)
7. Milos Djurisic (Ulcinj MNE1A S-League)
8. Aleksa Popovic (201-G/F-87) (Buducnost, Podgorica MNE1A S-League)
9. Filip Barovic (205-F-90) (Buducnost, Podgorica MNE1A S-League)
10. Nemanja Milosevic (Buducnost , Podgorica MNE1A S-League)
11. Nikola Djokovic (ABS Primorje, H.Novi MNE1A Play Out-League )
12. Goran Bulatovic (184-G-88) (Teodo Tivat, MNE1A S-League)
13. Marko Milatovic (194-G-88) (Danilovgrad , MNE1A Play Out-League)
14. Nemanja Vranjes (Borac, Banja Luka, BiH Premier League)
15. Suad Sehovic (197-G/F-87) (Bosna, Sarajevo, BiH Premier League)
16. Goran Gajovic (199-G/F-88) (Bosna, Sarajevo, BiH Premier League)
17. Dragan Zekovic (OKK Beograd, SRB S-League)
18. Ljubo Jovanovic (206-C-87) (KAO Dramas, Greece)
19. Nikola Ivanovic (Kolosos, Greece)
20. Duan Stijepovic (Mens Sana Kampobaso, Italy)
21. Radoje Vujosevic (Mornar Bar MNE1A S-League)
22. Milorad Sutulovic (Igokea, BiH Premier League)



Caja Laboral officially signs Vladimir Dragicevic - by Eurobasket News
Vladimir Dragicevic (206-C/F-86) is set to continue his career in Spain. He passed the medical tests successfully and officially became a new player of Caja Laboral. The Spanish champion decided to reinforce its roster after a series of injuries.
Vladimir Dragicevic started this season with Buducnost Podgorica registering 16.1 ppg and 7 rpg for 27 Adriatic league games. He helped them reach the Semifinals. In EuroCup, Dagicevic had 19 ppg and 4 rpg in four games, while in two Euroleague Qualifications games he averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Dragicevic was a member of Buducnost since 2007. Last season he had 10.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg for 26 games in Adriatic league. He also added 14.2 ppg and 5.6 rpg for 12 EuroChallenge appearances. Before Buducnost, Dragicevic played for Lovcen Cetinje. Lottomatica Roma also showed serious interested for the player recently, but at the end the Spanish champion managed to secure his arrival.

MNE1A S-League 7.Round : Mornar win in derby - by Dragan Scepanovic
Lovcen - Mornar 76:77 (20:25, 15:22, 23:19, 18:11)
Cetinje - SC Lovcen. Spect: 250. Reff: Dragojevic (Podgorica), Savovic (Podgorica) and Kaludjerovic (Niksic).
Lovcen: Petar Stojanovic (185-G-90) 11 (4-4), Latkovic, Boricic 8 (4-4), Nikola Pavlicevic (192-G-88) 2, Vucurovic 13 (2-2), Martinic 12, Jevdjic 9 (2-1), Lopicic 11 (5-3), Kandic 5 (3-3), Koprivica, Todorovic 1 (2-1), Mijatovic 4 (2-2).
Mornar: Pesic, Damjanovic 7, Sarajlija 19 (5-5), Radovic 14 (2-1), Mikovic, Perovic, Jelenic 17 (4-3), Lekovic, Djordje Gagic (210-C-90) 14 (5-4), Vujosevic 6 (2-2), Ivanovic, Kuveljic.

Ulcinj - Teodo 76:67 (21:20, 25:10, 13:17, 17:20)
Ulcinj - SC Bratstvo i Jedinstvo. Spect: 250. Reff: Rutesic (Niksic), Jokic i Savovic (Podgorica).
Ulcinj: Latkovic 4, Djurisic 14, Milosevic 10, A. S. Radulovic 6, Durkovic 2, Jeftic 9, Klikovac, Mijovic 13, Mihailovic 2, Krstovic, Mijajlovic 16.
Teodo: Lucic, Goran Bulatovic (184-G-88) 4, Pekic, Stevan Lazovic (186-G-91) 2, Boskovic 11, Marko Calic (195-G/F-86) 7, Rondovic 10, Subotic 8, Vasilije Seferovic (193-G/F-85) 17, Aco Mandic (205-C/F-84) 8, Boovic.



*****************************************************
  MOROCCO   


Arabs Clubs Championship in Dubai. - by Marek Krala
Arab Union of Basketball has released the draw for the 23th edition of the Arab Clubs Champions to be held in Dubai from 15 to 25 May 2011, which will be attended by 12 teams. Basketball will be present with the national champion of last season , who is participating for the third time in its history in the Arab Clubs Championship as champions with major objective, the supreme title. For his first outing in the championship, ASS will play the Algerian club Dar Al Baida. Egypt with 9 titles and Lebanon with 7 titles dominate the league since its inception in 1978. A report absences representatives of Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

Group A
C.R Dar Al Baida (Algeria)
SSA (Morocco)
Al Ittihad of Alexandria (Egypt)
Al Ghraffa (Qatar)
Al Riyadh (Lebanon)
Al Sharjah (E IN)
Group B
Bani Yas (UAE)
Al Sahel (Kuwait)
Ahli Sadaba (Oman)
Champ Ville (Lebanon)
Al Karkh (Iraq)
Applied Science (Jordan)


*****************************************************
  NBA   


Kobe Bryant may see more minutes - by Eurobasket News
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Wednesday that he might up Kobe Bryant's (6'6''-G-78) workload in Game 6 against the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday.

In Tuesday's Game 5, Bryant scored a team-high 19 points in 29 minutes, despite lingering soreness and swelling in his sprained left ankle.

Jackson said that he wouldn't be afraid to play Bryant heavy minutes in Thursday's potential close-out game.

'This is a game we'll go all out to win and if it's 40 minutes we'll do it,' Jackson said. 'We're certainly not out of the woods on this situation, just because he had to play the day after, or two days after he sprained his ankle.

'It's still a lot of things going on. So we just have to wait and hope for each game that we get, and go through this series in the best possible shape we can get in at this point. There's nothing we can do about it but just play with it.'

Bryant spent Wednesday morning rehabilitating his ankle with the Lakers medical staff instead of taking part in a light workout at the team's practice facility before the team boarded a charter flight to New Orleans.

'He's sore, obviously,' Jackson said. 'We're trying to keep the swelling down again. We're going through that whole process that he started on Sunday [after spraining the ankle in Game 4] to try and eliminate the swelling and try and get some of the soreness out of that joint.'

Bryant was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Asked whether he thought Bryant would play on Thursday, teammate Pau Gasol laughed and said, 'I think so. What do you think?'

Courtesy of ESPN

2011 NBA Playoffs Contenders or Pretenders - by Darryl Reshaw
2011 NBA Playoffs Contenders or Pretenders by Darryl Reshaw

The first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs have been exciting an amusing to date.
Making a prediction on which team will ride into the sunset as the 2011 NBA Champions is a very difficult choice.
After watching all of the apparent top teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences some are Pretenders oppose to Contenders.

Lets start with the San Antonio Spurs who are the top seeded team in the West.
After Los Angeles Lakers beat them down on their home court after the All Star beak experts and players predicted they were not going too far in the post season.
Their new high octane offense was designed to take them to the next level.
However they have ran into a very hungry Memphis Grizzlies team who are more athletic, younger, better defensively and have a tougher inside presence.
Mike Conley (6'1''-G-87, college: Ohio St.) has matured into a fine and elusive point guard who is giving Tony Parker (6'0''-G-80) nightmares.
His dribble penetration has been driving the Spurs defense crazy and benefited O.J. Mayo (6'5''-G-87, college: USC) who has been nailing down some dagger 3pt shots.
Zach Randolph (6'9''-C-81, college: Michigan St.) has shown the NBA community that he is a bona-fide offensive post presence and is a quality rebounder.
Darrell Arthur (6'9''-F-88, college: Kansas) play has been outstanding coming off of the bench and the play that he blocked Tony Parker (6'0''-G-80) shot and ran the floor and dunk the ball on the same possession defines the Memphis team.
Memphis coach Lionel Hollins who has a NBA ring as a player is doing a fantastic coaching job.
Will the Spurs be able to regroup after being down 3-1 or will they be the biggest Pretenders since Golden State ousted Dallas who was a #1 seed a few years ago?

The Los Angeles Lakers are having a very difficult time guarding another quick PG as usual in the playoffs.
Will their inability to defend Chris Paul (6'0''-G-85, college: Wake Forest) or the next quick point guard they face in the playoffs be their Achilles heal.
Most Lakers fans have known for years that Derek Fisher (6'1''-G-74, agency: Priority Sports, college: UALR) is slowing down and can't guard any of the quality young point guards in the NBA.

If they get past New Orleans they may get a break with the Dallas Mavericks who features an aging Jason Kidd (6'4''-G-73, college: California) who gets the majority of minutes at the point guard spot for Dallas.
However their chances of defending their NBA title may rely on the ability Derek Fisher being able to guard Russell Westbrook (6'3''-G-88, college: UCLA), Mike Conley (6'1''-G-87, college: Ohio St.), or Ty Lawson (5'11''-G-87, college: N.Carolina).
The Lakers have known to switch Kobe Bryant (6'6''-G-78) on the elite point guards that Fisher cant check but the scenario effects his offensive output.
The other issue that the Lakers have is the fact Pau Gasol (7'0''-F/C-80) struggles with physical defenders..
Assuming the Lakers advance to the Western Conference Finals to face possibly Oklahoma City their worst nightmares will be Russell Westbrook (6'3''-G-88, college: UCLA) and Kendrick Perkins (6'10''-C-84).

Boston Celtics made the Kendrick Perkins trade and everybody thinks they traded away their potential championship.
They had an easy time with the New York Knicks who play absolutely no defense and they made the craziest trade of the year.
Boston seems a little older, a step slower and an injury away from being the top dog in the Eastern Conference.
If any of the big four gets injured they will be a playoff after thought and their inside game sucks without Kendrick Perkins.
Shaquille O''Neal seems very overweight and a constant visitor to the injury reserve team the past few seasons.
His last injury was cause by just running the floor (unforced injury).
Kresimir Kristic (6'9''-C-81) is currently injured and even if he returns he lacks the physicality of Shaquille O'Neal (7'2''-C-72, college: LSU) or Kendrick Perkins in the middle.

Chicago is the top seeded team in the Eastern Conference and are led by the sensational soon to be MVP Derrick Rose (6'4''-G-88, college: Memphis).
They were lucky to escape a couple of losses to a young scrappy Indiana Pacer team who can not close a cookie jar.
The Pacers basically gave away two games and tried to give their only victory away as well.
They struggled to defend the pick and pop with Tyler Hansbrough (6'9''-F-85, college: N.Carolina) killing them in game one of their series.
The Chicago Bulls did not look like the Eastern Conference Champions in the first round series against Indiana.

Oklahoma City Thunder has been looking good offensively and defensively in the series against the Denver Nuggets.
Russell Westbrook (6'3''-G-88, college: UCLA) is a developing super star with crazy athleticism and an effective jump shot.
He is unstoppable attacking the basket and sometimes he may take too many contested jump shots.
Kevin Durant (6'9''-G/F-88, college: Texas) is a pure scorer that will always get his 25 points but if he gets hot it can easily be 40 points on any given night.
However the emerging star on their team has been Serge Ibaka (6'10''-C/F-89).
He has a nice mid range jump shot and is a relentless rebounder and a great athletic defender.
Their inside tandem of Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka is one of the best front lines in the NBA.
James Harden (6'5''-G-89, college: Arizona St.) has been tremendous off the bench providing perimeter scoring for the Thunder.
Their only question mark has been the ineffective scoring from Thabo Sefolosha (6'5''-G-84, agency: ACMT) who has been off the mark with his perimeter looks.
The Denver Nuggets were one of the hottest teams in the NBA going into the playoffs and have competed with the Thunder but lost a couple of close ones.
Denver's quick guards and quality inside play from Hilario Nene (6'10''-C-82) and Kenyon Martin (6'8''-F/C-77, college: Cincinnati) have made the series interesting.
The Nuggets are not going away without a good fight and might be one of the top three teams in the Western Conference.
They are loaded with talent at all of the positions and can really score some points when they get hot.

Atlanta Hawks are one of the most interesting teams in the NBA with a lot of talent but you never know which team is going to show up.
The Hawks management gave Joe Johnson (6'8''-F-81, college: Arkansas) franchise player money to a guy who is a questionable playoff performer.
I guess the Hawks are like Joe Johnson (6'8''-F-81, college: Arkansas), tune in and see who shows up
The Hawks lead the series against Orlando 3-2 going back to Atlanta for game six and a potential close out game.
In this series the Hawks have been led by the outstanding play of Jamal Crawford (6'5''-G-80, college: Michigan) who has been torching the Orlando defenders with his supreme one on one play.
The Hawks have a tendency to dribble too much and to play street basketball which will be an issue in the second round.
Orlando Magic has been reduced to a two man show of Dwight Howard (6'10''-C/F-85) and Jameer Nelson (6'0''-G-82, college: St.Joseph's).
Dwight Howard has been outstanding but still picks up the silly off the ball fouls and Jameer Nelson has done his job.
Their issue is all of the other players are only jump shooters that seem to all went ice cold at the same time.
If their shooters are hot they are one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.
However if you live by the jumper you will die by the jumper.
Stan Van Gundy seems like he would rather let Ryan Anderson (6'10''-F-88, college: California) shoot ill advised jump shots than have a more rugged defender or inside player on the court.
Playing Ryan Anderson (6'10''-F-88, college: California) a lot of minutes is like giving the Hawks an early Christmas present.
Another question is what ever happened to Hedo Turkoglu (6'9''-F-79)s game from a few seasons ago where he was outstanding for Orlando in their championship run.
Orlando is headed for a quick exit out of the NBA playoffs.

The Dallas and Portland series seems like and evenly matched contest.
Is there anybody on the East Coast who is willing to forgo their sleep to watch the boring Dallas Mavericks and their eventual exit in the playoffs?
They should be able to get by Portland but who seriously thinks they will advance any further.
I do like watching Portlands LaMarcus Aldridge (6'11''-C-85, college: Texas) who is one of the most under rated stars in the NBA.
LaMarcus Aldridge has a nice game and is one of the best power forwards in the NBA who features quality post moves and consistent perimeter shooting.

Last but not least the Miami Heat is positioning their team to past the test of the Boston Celtics.
The legendary Chicago Bulls had to overcome the Detroit Pistons before seeing the end of the rainbow that feature six (6) NBA Championships.
Boston has its NBA Championship ring featuring the Big Four and has dominated the Heat earlier in the year.
However the playoffs are a new season and will this be LeBron's and Dwayne Wade's year?
This potential second round match-up is the one all real basketball fans will be watching.
Boston has the coach, the chemistry and the experienced stars but Ray Allen (6'6''-G-75, college: Connecticut), Paul Pierce (6'7''-F-77, college: Kansas) and Kevin Garnett (6'10''-F-76) are not in their prime.
Miami has a lot to prove and they are the younger team with all of their big three stars in the prime of their careers.
This will be the epic battle of the 'changing of the guard'.
The winner of the Boston and Miami series I believe will be the Eastern Conference Champions.

East and West Quarterfinals: Fifth games - by Eurobasket News
East
Miami Heat - Philadelph.76 97-91
Not easy. But over. For the first time since 2006, the Miami Heat have won a playoff series - and, finally, can start thinking in earnest about another showdown with the Boston Celtics. Dwyane Wade (6'4''-G-82, college: Marquette) scored 26 points, Chris Bosh (6'11''-F-84, college: Georgia Tech) added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals by topping Philadelphia 97-91 on Wednesday night and ousting the 76ers in five games. Mario Chalmers scored 20 points off the bench and LeBron James finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Miami. Joel Anthony made a pair of free throws with 16.8 seconds left for the Heat, who will face Boston starting Sunday afternoon in Miami. It's the first series win for the Heat since the 2006 NBA finals. 'We're going to be ready,' Wade said. 'Philly got us ready.' Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand each scored 22 points for Philadelphia, which got 13 from Thaddeus Young, 12 from Jodie Meeks and 10 from Jrue Holiday. *Courtesy of www.sfgate.com

Orlando M. - Atlanta H. 101-76
The Orlando Magic aren't ready for their season to end just yet. Facing their first opening round postseason exit since 2007, the Magic blew out the Atlanta Hawks 101-76 on Tuesday night. Jason Richardson scored 17 points and J.J. Redick added 14 off the bench to lead the Magic. The win trims Atlanta's series' lead to 3-2 and keeps alive the Magic's hopes of becoming the ninth team in NBA history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-1. If they can win Game 6 Thursday in Atlanta, they would host a decisive Game 7 on Saturday. Magic center Dwight Howard (6'10''-C/F-85) battled foul trouble throughout the night and had just one field goal, finishing with eight points and eight rebounds. Orlando didn't need his offense, though, as it broke out of a series-long shooting funk with 11 3-pointers. 'We're a good shooting team,' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. 'This is more of us than what we showed in the first four games...This isn't an aberration. We've been doing this for four years. The first four games were the aberration.' Josh Smith (6'9''-F-85) scored 22 points to lead Atlanta, which shot below 40 percent for just the second time this series. The Magic cruised in the second half, allowing Howard to log his first extended rest of the series in the fourth quarter as their lead crept above 30 points. In a short turnaround following his team's loss in Game 4, Van Gundy preached patience over panic to his team. It paid off in a big way as Orlando was unselfish in its half court sets and passed the ball to free up its shooters. That allowed the Magic to push the pace and keep the game up tempo. The Hawks have won every game with the Magic this season in which it kept them under 90 points. For the second straight game the Magic's bench got some production led by Redick. It also got 11 points from Ryan Anderson and nine from Gilbert Arenas, who had erupted for 20 in Game 4. *Courtesy of www.newsobserver.com

Chicago B. - Indiana P. 116-89
Sitting on the bench with four fouls and his team struggling, Derrick Rose (6'4''-G-88, college: Memphis) pleaded with his coach to put him back in the game. Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau took the risk and his All-Star guard responded, lifting the Bulls to the second round. Rose scored 25 points, Luol Deng (6'7''-F-85, agency: Interperformances, college: Duke) added 24 and Chicago finally played like a top seed, knocking off the Indiana Pacers 116-89 in Game 5 to wrap up their first-round playoff series Tuesday night. The top-seeded Bulls can breathe a little easier after getting a dominant performance by their MVP candidate and an emphatic win that came on the heels of four dramatic games. They can also turn their attention to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they'll meet Atlanta or Orlando. 'Speechless right now,' Rose said. 'I really can't believe it. It's a great accomplishment. I'm happy for my teammates, happy for my coaching staff. They did a really great job.' Rose seemed just fine after spraining his left ankle in Game 4. He had it taped and acknowledged he was a bit apprehensive at first, but he wound up hitting 8 of 17 shots. He dominated in the early going and came up big in the third after the Pacers pulled within four. He scored 10 points over the final six minutes after returning with four fouls, and Chicago ended the quarter on a 23-8 run to blow the game open. The Bulls hit 14 of 31 3-pointers, including five by Keith Bogans (15 points) and three each by Deng and Rose. Deng also had seven assists and six rebounds. Joakim Noah added 14 points and eight rebounds, and the Bulls won a playoff series for the first time since they swept Miami in the first round in 2007 and only the second time since the championship era. It was clearly their most impressive performance of the postseason even though Carlos Boozer scored just two points. 'All year long, we've focused in on going step by step,' Thibodeau said. 'I think once you start skipping steps and looking at all the other stuff, that's when you get lost. So we knew we were capable of playing better, although when you look at the series, to be up 3-1, you've got to do a lot of things well, too.' Danny Granger scored 20 for the Pacers and had some strong words afterward for Noah. He accused Noah of throwing elbows that ultimately led to a technical foul for A.J. Price after an altercation with Tyler Hansbrough and an ejection by Josh McRoberts later in the game. 'He's a dirty player, honestly,' Granger said. 'Everyone knows in the league Jo is not dirty,' Deng countered. Tyler Hansbrough had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but the Pacers trailed the entire way and committed 21 turnovers. *Courtesy of www.signonsandiego.com





West
Oklah.City T. - Denver N. 100-97
Kevin Durant (6'9''-G/F-88, college: Texas) matched his best playoff performance with 41 points, including the final nine for Oklahoma City, and the Thunder closed out their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets with a 100-97 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Thunder overcame a nine-point deficit in the final 4 minutes, and Durant provided all the offense down the stretch to send the Oklahoma City franchise to its first playoff series win since it was still in Seattle in 2005. Durant put the Thunder ahead to stay on two free throws with 46 seconds left. Serge Ibaka then swatted Nene's dunk attempt for his ninth block of the game. Durant then added a 19-foot jumper to put the Thunder up 100-97 with 12 seconds left. Durant blocked J.R. Smith's shot at the tie from the left wing, and Arron Afflalo (6'5''-G-85, college: UCLA) missed one last attempt at a tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Afflalo, who missed the first two games of the series with a hamstring strain, led Denver with 15 points and Kenyon Martin added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Russell Westbrook had 14 points on 3-for-15 shooting, one game after he'd drawn criticism for attempting 30 shots. *Courtesy of www.deseretnews.com

Dallas M. - Portland TB 93-82
There was no fourth-quarter magic this time, just a pounding that now puts the Dallas Mavericks back in control of their playoff series against the Trail Blazers. Another poor third quarter by the Blazers led to a 12-point lead for the Mavericks that grew to as much as 20 before the Blazers closed the gap some in the final minutes before losing 93-82 on Monday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The victory gives Dallas a 3-2 series lead, with Game 6 in Portland on Thursday night. Andre Miller led the Blazers with 18 points, and Gerald Wallace added 16, 10 in the fourth quarter. Dallas rebounded from their Game 4 collapse with a solid all-around effort. Dirk Nowitzki (6'11''-F-78) led the Mavericks with 25 points, and Jason Terry (6'2''-G-77, college: Arizona) added 20. The Mavericks also held the Blazers' biggest weapons in check. Two days after his amazing performance in Game 4, Brandon Roy was a non-factor. He finished with five points on 2 for 7 shooting in 26 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge managed just 12 points on 6 for 15 shooting. *Courtesy of www.q13fox.com

LA Lakers - N.Orleans H. 106-90
Kobe Bryant (6'6''-G-78) scored 19 points and threw down two stirring dunks on a sprained left ankle, and the Los Angeles Lakers pushed the New Orleans Hornets to the brink of first-round playoff elimination with a 106-90 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night, taking a 3-2 series lead. Andrew Bynum (7'0''-C-87, agency: David Lee services) had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Pau Gasol added 16 points as the two-time defending NBA champions roared back from a slow start in a pivotal game for their threepeat hopes with another dramatic playoff performance by Bryant, who injured his ankle in Game 4. Trevor Ariza scored 22 points, Marco Belinelli added 21, and Chris Paul had 20 points and 12 assists for the seventh-seeded Hornets, who have lost three of four since their stunning Game 1 victory. Ariza hit five 3-pointers, but managed just six points in the second half as the Lakers took control of the game and perhaps the series. Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans. *Courtesy of www.newser.com

San Antonio S. - Memphis G. 110-103 OT
It took a while for the Grizzlies to finally get into gear, and when they did, the plucky eighth seed appeared as though they would leave the Western Conference's best regular-season team record-wise in their dust. But then, out of nowhere, the San Antonio Spurs found another gear. And they didn't mind admitting that their 110-103 overtime victory over the Griz in Game 5 at the AT&T Center was fueled by a little luck. That's essentially how Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (6'6''-G-77, agency: Interperformances) summed up the waning seconds of regulation. Reserve Gary Neal caught an inbounds pass with 1.7 seconds left, took a dribble and then connected on a straight away 3-pointer that forced overtime as the buzzer sounded on the fourth quarter. The Spurs then dominated the extra period, trimming the Grizzlies' lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2 with Game 6 scheduled for Friday night in FedExForum. 'When you're facing elimination, you always get something out of nowhere,' Ginobili said. 'I don't really think we showed the heart of a champion. We got lucky to tell you the truth. Overall, they played a better game. We just stuck in there and kept fighting.' The Griz had the Spurs on the ropes but couldn't knock them out despite Zach Randolph (6'9''-C-81, college: Michigan St.) 's 26-point, 11-rebound effort. Mike Conley chipped in 20 points while Marc Gasol's 17 rebounds tied a franchise single-game playoff record. Ginobili's 33 points led the Spurs, who also benefited from Tony Parker's 24 points. Parker scored six points in overtime when the Spurs were sharper offensively. The Griz missed 6 of their 7 field-goal attempts and were outrebounded 7-3 in the extra period. *Courtesy of www.commercialappeal.com



Limited in free agency, Knicks retain Billups - by Eurobasket News
The Knicks are keeping Chauncey Billups (6'3''-G-76, college: Colorado) for another season, opting for stability over payroll flexibility, and the chance to play a full season with a three-star lineup.

The Knicks announced Wednesday that they would retain Billups for 2011-12 at his full salary of $14.2 million. They had until Friday to waive him, a move that would have cost $3.7 million.

Either way, the Knicks would be limited in free agency this summer, which made retaining Billups the most practical move.

Chauncey is an extremely talented and experienced point guard, Donnie Walsh, the team president, said in a statement. We are very happy to have him back.

Walsh referred to Billups, Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony as a great nucleus to build around. The challenge now is acquiring new talent with little salary-cap room and few trading chips.

The Knicks have about $60 million in committed salary for the 2011-12 season, which would exceed the current cap of $58.5 million. With the labor deal expiring June 30, and with no progress in negotiations, there is no telling what the new cap will be.

But assuming a similar system, and a static cap, the Knicks could have created only about $8 million of room. They would still need a point guard, and Billups would be the best one available.

N.B.A. rules prohibit any prearranged deal in which Billups would agree to be waived and return for a lesser salary. Even if Billups re-signed for less, it would not leave the Knicks enough room to make an impact signing.

In fact, the Knicks might have just as much or more to spend by using the midlevel exception, assuming it remains in the new labor deal. That exception, which can be split among multiple players, was worth $5.8 million this season.

Keeping Billups gives the Knicks other options. His large expiring contract could be valuable as a trading chip next season. If Billups stays, his salary will drop off of the payroll in 2012, helping the Knicks drop below the cap.

At the moment, the Knicks have $43 million committed to four players in 2012-13: Stoudemire, Anthony, Toney Douglas and Renaldo Balkman. That amount will change when the Knicks add a first-round pick in June and presumably a free agent or two this summer.

The 2012 free-agent class could include two of the best point guards, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, as well as Dwight Howard, the leagues top center.

Walshs status remains the most pressing area of concern. His contract expires June 30, unless the team picks up a one-year option by Saturday or signs him to an extension. Walsh is due to meet with James L. Dolan, the Madison Square Garden chairman, to discuss his future and is seeking assurances that he will have full autonomy if he returns.

Walsh and Coach Mike DAntoni have not spoken to the news media since Sunday, when the Knicks were eliminated from the playoffs in a four-game sweep by the Boston Celtics.

Courtesy of www.nytimes.com

Udonis Haslem Returning to Action? - by Daniel Gibson
MIAMI---Back on November 20th Udonis Haslem (6'8''-C-80, college: Florida) went down with an injury that didn't look bad the moment it happened.

It wasn't the type of injury that causes you to wrinkle up your face as if you sucked on a lemon or instantly turn your head and look away.

One second he was playing post defense and then the next minute he was down on the floor holding his foot.

It was his reaction that let you know that something serious could be wrong.

He wasn't writhing on the court in pain or yelling. He was just sitting there holding his foot unable to stand up. He was carried back to the locker room by two teammates, unable to put any weight on it.

Haslem is as tough as they come and is considered by many to be the heart and soul of a Miami Heat team that features LeBron James (6'8''-F-84), Dwyane Wade (6'4''-G-82, college: Marquette), and Chris Bosh (6'11''-F-84, college: Georgia Tech). He is also a team captain.

If he was down and unable to get up then it must have been serious.

The Heat ended up losing that game to the Memphis Grizzles on a buzzer beater by Rudy Gay, but the worst news was losing Haslem for an extended period of time.

It turned out that Haslem ruptured a ligament in his left foot that required surgery. He wore a protective boot on that left foot for weeks following the surgery.

The doctors advised him to keep the boot on for six weeks. Haslem wasn't having that.

'I'll give it an even four,' said Haslem.

As soon as the boot came off he was determined to start the rehab process and return to the court by March to have a few weeks to work himself into game shape in time for the Playoffs.

March came and went. April came and went. The Playoffs started and the team has advanced to the second round and Haslem has not been active yet.

He has been practicing but his body is slow to recover afterwards and he takes days off after to recover from the soreness.

Even with the pain Haslem is expecting to hear coach Erik Spoelstra tell him he is suiting up for some game action.

'Every day is a different day,' said Haslem. 'One day, I might wake up and it might be ready and coach might say, Were going to put you out there, but until we get to that point, I just take it day by day.'

With the Heat playing as well as they have been there is no rush to throw Haslem out on the court before he is fully healed and risk further injury to himself.

'We want to be very careful with it,' said Spoelstra. 'He's very eager; certainly its been a great inspiration for all of us having him around. He gives us that heartbeat.'

Haslem may be called into action against the Boston Celtics. His toughness would be a welcome addition to the team.

Donnie Walsh seen as returning if autonomy is assured - by Eurobasket News
The future of Donnie Walsh and several other key Knicks officials should become clearer soon, after a meeting between Walsh, the team president, and James L. Dolan, the Madison Square Garden president.

Walsh and Dolan are expected to meet within the next few days, according to several people with ties to the team, all of whom asked for anonymity to protect their relationships. All expressed confidence that Walsh would be back, probably with a two-year contract extension.

Walshs contract is set to expire June 30, unless Dolan picks up a one-year option by Saturday or signs him to an extension before July 1. Dolan has apparently indicated that he wants Walsh to stay.

Some issues have to be resolved.

Walsh wants reassurance that he will have full autonomy on basketball decisions a promise Dolan made when he hired him three years ago. Although Walsh has generally called the shots, there have been notable exceptions.

Last summer, Dolan tried to hire Isiah Thomas, the former team president, as a consultant, over Walshs strenuous objections. The N.B.A. later disallowed the arrangement because Thomas is also a college coach, at Florida International University.

In February, Dolan pushed through the Carmelo Anthony trade, despite reservations from Walsh, who felt the Knicks were giving up too much. Walsh had taken a conservative approach to the negotiations, believing that Anthonys strong desire to play for the Knicks would work in their favor.

With Dolan leading the charge, the Knicks sent four rotation players and multiple draft picks to Denver.

Walsh is also perturbed that a number of people, both inside and outside the Garden, are advising Dolan on basketball decisions, undermining Walshs authority.

As several people with ties to the team explained it, the critical issue is whether Dolan wants the 70-year-old Walsh back badly enough to make those concessions. Money is not an issue, nor is Walshs health or his enthusiasm for the job.

I think Donnie will try to make it work, one friend of Walshs said. I assume theyll come to some understanding.

People close to Walsh say he is eager to finish the rebuilding job that he undertook in 2008, when he inherited a fractured, overpriced roster put together by Thomas. The Knicks made the playoffs this season for the first time in seven years and had their first winning record in a decade. They were swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics.

Neither Walsh nor Coach Mike DAntoni has spoken to reporters since the season ended, presumably because Walsh wants his situation resolved first. DAntoni has one year left on his contract, but his fate could be tied to Walshs.

Most of the front office is also in limbo, with the contracts of several scouts and team officials set to expire June 30. The list includes John Gabriel, the director of pro scouting and free agency; Misho Ostarcevic, the director of player personnel; Mark Warkentien, the director of pro player personnel; Rodney Heard, the director of East Coast scouting; and Mark Hughes, the director of West Coast scouting.

It is unclear whether the Knicks other scouts Kevin Wilson, Walker D. Russell, Ben Jobe, Scott McGuire and Steve Yoder are also on that list.

Ostarcevic and Gabriel were Walshs first major hires in 2008. Warkentien, a former Denver Nuggets executive, joined the Knicks in February, reportedly at Dolans insistence, as part of the campaign to acquire Anthony.

Heard, who was originally hired by Thomas, has hardly been seen since last fall, when Yahoo Sports reported that he had run a number of illegal workouts of college players. The N.B.A. fined the Knicks $200,000 for the violations and fined Heard $20,000.

Courtesy of www.nytimes.com

Golden State Warriors fire coach Keith Smart - by Eurobasket News
The Golden State Warriors parted ways with coach Keith Smart on Wednesday, the first major fallout this offseason from a new ownership group that has promised sweeping changes to the perennial underachieving franchise.

Smart spent seven years as an assistant with Golden State before he replaced the ousted Don Nelson just before training camp. The Warriors went 36-46 under Smart, a 10-game improvement from the previous season but clearly not enough to appease owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber.

They managed to hastily put Smart in place even before the NBA officially approved the sale of the Warriors last year. Smart was only given a one-year contract with a team option for next season, and nothing short of a rare playoff appearance was likely to save his job.

The new owners have vowed to restore the franchise to past glory with splashy signings and playoff performances. The Warriors have made the postseason just once since 1994; yet fans in the basketball-crazy Bay Area remain some of the most loyal and vocal in a market saturated with sports teams.

Golden State already had decided to retain general manager Larry Riley. The team also hired longtime NBA agent Bob Myers a few weeks ago to be the assistant general manager and Rileys eventual successor.

Its never easy to make difficult decisions, especially when it involves someone that we have a great deal of respect for like Keith Smart , Lacob said. After meeting extensively with Larry Riley and Bob Myers, we came to the conclusion that a change was necessary at this particular time. I think Keith did an admirable job this season, and he should be commended for many of the positive things that transpired both on and off the floor.

The team showed improvement, and their effort was never in question. However, weve elected to pursue a new path, and we wish Keith the very best. Hes a quality person, and we thank him for the time he invested with our organization.

Smart had little time to deliver them a winner.

Smart, the former Indiana guard best known for hitting The Shot against Syracuse that won the Hoosiers the 1987 NCAA title, declared from the moment he began that he would put his own stamp on the bench no matter how long his tenure lasted. He walked around the locker room before training camp asking for a handshake from each player, signaling a pact that they would allow Smart to coach them and be involved in their lives.

In the end, all those efforts werent enough.

Smart was still left with the same pitfall as so many of his predecessors: working with a flawed roster that, even at its best, was no playoff contender in the deep West Conference. Smart juggled the undersized guard combo of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry with mixed results, and the lack of a true inside presence again left the Warriors exposed.

Smart often took a hardline approach with Curry, even benching the second-year starting point guard late in a few games. Their relationship was never perfect, but Smart was still well liked by players including Curry and front-office members until the end.

The Warriors were expected to formally announce the change at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

I obviously have a great deal of admiration for Keith as both a professional and a friend, Riley said in a statement. Hes dedicated a lot of time, hard work and commitment to this job, not only over the course of the last year as the head coach, but the previous seven years with our organization.

Were grateful for his contributions and have the utmost respect for him. From our standpoint, however, we feel it is in our best interest as we move as an organization and begin to focus and prepare for the future. At this time, we do not have a timetable for hiring a successor. Well conduct our due diligence and make a good, sound decision when weve identified that individual.

The 46-year-old Smart kept the run-and-fun offense Nelson once perfected, leading to some dazzling outputs and upsets, including a three-game winning streak in April over the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas and Portland. But the defensive effort was never there, and a six-game losing streak in late March that knocked the Warriors out of postseason contention spelled the end of Smarts tenure.

Smart was drafted by the Warriors 41st overall in 1988. He had been an NBA assistant for a decade before becoming Golden States coach, although he had a brief stint as the Cleveland Cavaliers interim head coach for the final 40 games in 2003 after taking over for John Lucas.

Courtesy of www.suntimes.com

Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Kevin DURANT
  Oklah.Ci.
  (206-G/F-88)
  Avg: 28
 1. Durant, Oklah.Ci.28.0 
 2. James, Miami Heat26.6 
 3. Wade, Miami Heat25.3 
 4. Anthony, Denver N.25.2 
 5. Rose, Chicago B.25.2 
 6. Bryant, LA Lakers25.1 
 7. Stoudemire, New Y.24.7 
 8. Ellis, Golde S.24.1 
 9. Martin, Houston R.23.5 
 10. Nowitzki, Dallas23.4 
Rebounds Per Game
 Kevin LOVE
  Minnesota T.
  (208-C-88)
  Avg: 15.2
 1. Love, Minnesota T.15.2 
 2. Howard, Orlando M.14.2 
 3. Griffin, LA Clipp.12.1 
 4. Randolph, Memph.12.0 
 5. Bogut, Milwauke.11.1 
 6. Humphries, New J.10.4 
 7. Noah, Chicago B.10.4 
 8. Camby, Portland TB10.2 
 9. Gasol, LA Lakers10.0 
 10. Lee, Golde S.9.8 
Assists Per Game
 Steve NASH
  Phoenix Suns
  (190-G-74)
  Avg: 11.4
 1. Nash, Phoenix Suns11.4 
 2. Rondo, Boston C.11.2 
 3. Paul, N.Orleans H.9.9 
 4. Williams, Utah Jazz9.7 
 5. Felton, New Y.9.0 
 6. Calderon, Toron.8.9 
 7. Wall, Washington W.8.3 
 8. Kidd, Dallas M.8.1 
 9. Westbrook, Oklah..8.1 
 10. Harris, New J.7.6 
Steals Per Game
 Chris PAUL
  N.Orleans H.
  (183-G-85)
  Avg: 2.3
 1. Paul, N.Orleans H.2.3 
 2. Rondo, Boston C.2.1 
 3. Ellis, Golde S.2.1 
 4. Felton, New Y.1.8 
 5. Wall, Washington W.1.8 
 6. Westbrook, Oklah..1.8 
 7. Allen, Memphis G.1.8 
 8. Conley, Memphis G.1.7 
 9. Kidd, Dallas M.1.7 
 10. Gay, Memphis G.1.7 
Blocks Per Game
 Andrew BOGUT
  Milwauke.
  (212-F/C-84)
  Avg: 2.6
 1. Bogut, Milwauke.2.6 
 2. Ibaka, Oklah.Ci.2.6 
 3. McGee, Washingt.2.4 
 4. Howard, Orlando M.2.3 
 5. Duncan, San A.2.0 
 6. Milicic, Minnesota2.0 
 7. Bynum, LA Lakers2.0 
 8. Stoudemire, New Y.1.9 
 9. Jefferson, Utah J.1.9 
 10. Jordan, LA Clippe.1.8 


*****************************************************
  NCAA1   


Pitino will not coach Puerto Rico National Team - by Eurobasket News
Louisville's Rick Pitino will not coach Puerto Rico's national team, citing scheduling conflicts in announcing his change of plans Wednesday.

The Cardinals' coach had agreed in December to coach Puerto Rico in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament late this summer and had hoped to have his Louisville team play the Puerto Rican national team as part of a foreign trip. But the NCAA shot down that proposal because Puerto Rico is Commonwealth of the United States and is not considered a foreign country under NCAA rules.

An acceptable site for the foreign trip where both teams could visit simultaneously could not be arranged. The addition of a second tournament also conflicted with his duties at Louisville.

'I was so looking forward to coaching the Puerto Rico national team, but too many conflicts arose,' Pitino said. 'It is a great disappointment that we cannot take on the challenge to help them qualify for the Olympics.'

Pitino had planned to coach the Puerto Rico in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship basketball tournament in late August. Puerto Rico must finish among the top two teams to advance to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Pitino's announcement came a day after Kentucky coach John Calipari said he was considering an offer to coach the Dominican Republic national team in the same tournament.

Courtesy of ww.wcti12.com

Kenny Anderson might join UM staff - by Eurobasket News
Kenny Anderson might be joining Miamis basketball program.

Newly hired Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga said in a radio interview with WQAM-560 on Monday that he spoke with the retired NBA guard earlier in the day and plans to meet with him Thursday or Friday about joining his staff.

Larranaga and Anderson have known each other since Anderson was in the eighth grade. Both played for legendary coach Jack Curran at Archbishop Milloy High School in Queens, N.Y.

Larranaga, who was hired as UMs coach on Friday, said assembling his coaching staff is one of his top priorities right now. He has asked his three full-time assistant coaches at George Mason to join him at UM and were working out the details to make that happen.

Larranaga said hes looking to hire a strength-and-conditioning coach and video coordinator, but hopes to retain Mike Summey, UMs director of basketball operations under former coach Frank Haith.

Were moving in the direction very, very quickly of completing the staff, he said.

Andersons addition would thrill UM guard Malcolm Grant, who grew up admiring and trying to emulate the New York City legend. The two met last year through a friend of Grants who grew up playing with Anderson.

Grant left Anderson tickets for a Hurricanes home game. They talked afterward and have become good friends since, Grant told the Sun-Sentinel last month.

Ive learned a lot of things from Kenny, Grant said. How to be a floor general out there, which is something Ive continued to work on - how to get shots for others and then pick my spots.

Anderson, who attended Georgia Tech and then played 14 seasons in the NBA with nine teams, lives in Miami. He received a degree from St. Thomas University last year.

Courtesy of www.sun-sentinel.com

Coach Jim Calhoun, guard Kemba Walker defend UConn's program - by Eurobasket News
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun and star guard Kemba Walker (6'1''-PG-90) defended the program's academic reputation Wednesday, amid concern the national champions could lose scholarships based on academic performance.

The national Academic Performance Rating is due out next month. Connecticut is in danger of losing at least one scholarship if the rating, which measures four years of results, does not meet the NCAA minimum score of 925. The school has already been docked a scholarship for NCAA recruiting violations.

Last year, UConn recorded a four-year APR of 930, including an 844 for the 2008-09 season.

'Eight straight years, we made the APR,' Calhoun said after being lauded by the governor and lawmakers during 'Husky Day' at the state Capitol. 'If because someone left early or didn't finish, all those various things that get you...when you have 16 kids leave (for the pros) in a 10-year period, you are more likely to be more open to (a low APR) happening.'

A low rating could be costly to Calhoun personally. His contract calls for him to donate $100,000 to a UConn scholarship fund if the program doesn't meet the APR. He also would forfeit his postseason bonus of $87,500, earned during UConn's run to the national title.

Walker, a junior who is leaving early for the NBA, was recently quoted as saying he has only read one book cover-to-cover. He said it upsets him that the comment may have hurt the school's reputation.

'That's just what people want,' Walker said. 'They want to bring us down. Regardless of what they say, I'm still graduating in three years, so that comment means absolutely nothing. I've read a lot of books.'

He said he was talking about loving a book so much that he just sat down and read it cover-to-cover.

'It's a big emphasis on academics at UConn,' he said. 'They make sure we are student-athletes first. I'm going to get my degree. I will find time to do my work.'

Calhoun, who also faces a three-game suspension next season for the NCAA violations, says he still hasn't decided whether he will return to UConn or retire. He said he will make that decision sometime this summer, but has no real timetable.

'I don't have to rush,' he said. 'I have no plans to rush. The minute the horn went off and we won a national championship, I wanted to contemplate what is best for me, where I feel most comfortable.'

Courtesy of www.newser.com

*****************************************************
  NCAA3   


Whitworth coach moves to Division I - by Joan Manuel Sanchez
Whitworth's Jim Hayford has become the first Division III head men's basketball coach to jump directly to a Division I head coaching job since 2008. He was named head coach at Eastern Washington. Hayford, whose Pirates went 28-2 this past season before falling at Wooster in the Elite Eight, is 217-57 in 10 years at Whitworth and 254-84 (.751) as a collegiate head coach.

'Whitworth has been so good to me and my family the past ten years,' Hayford said. 'While to an outsider this decision might appear to be an easy one, this is one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make and I will forever be grateful to Whitworth.

'The men I have coached have made every day special for me. The accomplishments speak for themselves. But the real wins are those relationships.'

Eastern Washington declined to renew the contract of coach Kirk Earlywine after a season in which the Eagles went 10-20, 7-9 in the Big Sky Conference.

In 2011 Whitworth achieved its first-ever No. 1 ranking in men's basketball and advance to the Division III Sectional Finals (Elite Eight) for the first time. The Pirates finished 28-2, setting school records for most victories in a season and best single-season winning percentage (.933). Hayford was named the NWC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career.

*****************************************************
  NEW ZEALAND   


Where are your favourite NBL players playing this off-season - by Duncan Matheson
With the 2010-11 NBL season coming to an end tomorrow night, eurobasket takes a look at where your favourite NBL players will spend their 2011 off season playing in the minor/second tier competitions around Australia & New Zealand.

New Zealand Breakers

Paul Henare (182-G-79) Easy LPG Bay Hawks (NZNBL)
Thomas Abercrombie (198-G/F-87, college: Washington St.) Waikato Pistons (NZNBL)
Mika Vukona (197-F-82) Fico Finance Nelson Giants (NZNBL)
Corey Webster (185-G-88, college: Lambuth) Wellington Exodus Saints (NZNBL)
Leon Henry (200-G/F-85, college: S.Idaho JC) Wellington Exodus Saints (NZNBL)
Beny Anthony Waikato Pistons (NZNBL)
Dillon Boucher (196-F-75) Auckland Pirates (NZNBL)
Alex Pledger (216-C-87, college: Belm.Abbey) Waikato Pistons (NZNBL)

Sydney Kings

Luke Martin (182-PG-81, college: UTEP) Auckland Pirates (NZNBL)
Mark Dickel (187-G-76, college: UNLV) Zero Fees Southland Sharks (NZNBL)
Joel Wagner (184-G-87) Perth Redbacks (SBL)
Jarrod Scoines (197-G/F) Ballarat Miners (SEABL)
Jarrad Weeks (180-G) Hornsby Spiders (WBL)
Ben Hollis (193-F/C) Hornsby Spiders (WBL)
Kevin White (193-G-87, college: Alaska-Anch.) Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (WBL)
Luke Cooper (183-G-84, college: Alaska-Anch.) Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (WBL)
Ben Madgen (193-G-85, college: Augusta St.) Eastern Mavericks (CBL)
Graeme Dann (204-G/F-83) Parramatta Wildcats (WBL)

Gold Coast Blaze

Darryl Hudson (196-G-85, college: Howard) McDonalds Manawatu Jets (NZNBL)
Adam Gibson (188-G-86) Gold Coast Rollers (QBL)
Chris Goulding (190-G-88) Northside Wizards (QBL)
Tom Garlepp (203-F-86, college: UCSB) Brisbane Capitals (QBL)
Shaun Gleeson (189-G-86) Northside Wizards (QBL)
Pero Vasiljevic (209-F/C-78, college: Kansas St.) Rockhampton Rockets (QBL)
Brendan Teys (188-G-90) South West Metro Pirates (QBL)
Luke Kendall (193-G-81, college: Metro St.) Nunawading Spectres (SEABL)

Perth Wildcats

Jeremiah Trueman (206-F-87, college: Alaska-Anch.) McDonalds Manawatu Jets (NZNBL)
Greg Hire (201-F-87, college: Augusta St.) Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (SBL)
Jarrod Balcombe (198-F-90) East Perth Eagles (SBL)
Stephen Weigh (198-G/F-87) Rockhampton Rockets (QBL)
Cameron Tovey (200-F-85, college: Augusta St.) Willetton Tigers (SBL)

Skytrans Cairns Taipans

Lindsay Tait (194-G-82, agency: Impact Basketball) Wellington Exodus Saints (NZNBL)
Phill Jones (196-G-74) Fico Finance Nelson Giants (NZNBL)
Gareth Dawson (C) Zero Fees Southland Sharks (NZNBL)
Daniel Dillon (191-G-86, college: Arizona) Waverley Falcons (Big V)
Kerry Williams (185-G-87) Cairns Marlins (QBL)
Dean Brebner (201-F-84, college: Augusta St.) Cairns Marlins (QBL)
Aaron Grabau (196-G-78) Cairns Marlins (QBL)

Adelaide 36ers

Darren Ng (189-G-83) Sturt Sabres (CBL)
Jacob Holmes (201-F-83) Sturt Sabres (CBL)
Tom Daly Sturt Sabres (CBL)
Mitchell Creek (195-F-92) South Adelaide Panthers (CBL)
Daniel Johnson (212-C-88, college: Pepperdine) South Adelaide Panthers (CBL)
Rhys Carter (190-G-84) North Adelaide Rockets (CBL)
Brad Hill (198-G/F-86) Eastern Mavericks (CBL)
Jeff Dowdell (205-F-87) West Adelaide Bearcats (CBL)
Aaron Bruce (191-G-84) Eastern Mavericks (CBL)

Townsville Crocodiles

Chris Cedar (185-G-88) Townsville Heat (QBL)
Ben Allen (211-C-86, college: St.Mary's, CA) Townsville Heat (QBL)
Bradley Williamson (197-F/G-81) Ipswich Force (QBL)
Todd Blanchfield (200-F-91) Townsville Heat (QBL)

Melbourne Tigers

Corey Williams (191-G-77, college: Alabama St.) Brisbane Spartans (SEABL)
Benny Lewis (203-G/F-87, college: Benedict) Melbourne Giants (Big V)
Cameron Tragardh (209-C/F-83, college: ORU) Eltham Wildcats (Big V)
Tommy Greer (201-F-83, college: Nova SE) Eltham Wildcats (Big V)
Daryl Corletto (193-G-81) Ringwood Hawks (Big V)
Edin Zunic (205-C-88) Gladstone Port City Power (QBL)
Lucas Walker (203-F, college: St.Mary's, CA) Dandenong Rangers (SEABL)

Wollongong Hawks

Rhys Martin (193-G-86, college: Nova SE) Mackay Meteors (QBL)
Timothy Coenraad (201-G/F-85, college: Nova SE) Mackay Meteors (QBL)
Tim Behrendorff (212-C-81, college: Gardner-Webb) Ipswich Force (QBL)
Zac Delaney Illawarra Hawks (WBL)
Tyson Demos (192-G-88) Illawarra Hawks (WBL)
Jordan Barry (195-G-92) Illawarra Hawks (WBL)



Standings Men
NBL Standings
 1. Bay Hawks 4-0 
 2. Wellington S. 2-0 
 3. Waikato P. 2-2 
 4. Manawatu J. 1-1 
 5. Southland S. 1-1 
 6. Auckland P. 1-1 
 7. Taranaki MA 1-2 
 8. OceanaGold N. 0-2 
 9. Nelson G. 0-3 


Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Kevin MICKENS
  Auckland.
  (207-F/C-83)
  Avg: 27.5
 1. Mickens, Auckland.27.5 
 2. Horvath, Manawatu.25.5 
 3. Maxey, Wellington23.0 
 4. Polyblank, Southla.22.0 
 5. Smith, Waikato P.21.8 
 6. Pace, Bay Hawks21.8 
 7. Dora, Nelson G.21.3 
 8. Leasure, Taranaki.20.7 
 9. O''Gallagher, Ocean.20.5 
 10. McLean, Wellingt.20.0 
Rebounds Per Game
 Lance ALLRED
  OceanaGo.
  (211-C-81)
  Avg: 13
 1. Allred, OceanaGo.13.0 
 2. Bradshaw, OceanaG.11.0 
 3. Johnson, Wellingt.11.0 
 4. Frank, Wellington10.0 
 5. Horvath, Manawatu.10.0 
 6. Bartlett, Auckland.9.5 
 7. Seay, Waikato P.9.3 
 8. Dawson, Southlan.9.0 
 9. Anthony, Waika.9.0 
 10. Henry, Wellington9.0 
Assists Per Game
 George LE''AFA
  Wellingt.
  (178-PG-78)
  Avg: 7.5
 1. Le''afa, Wellingt.7.5 
 2. Dickel, Southland7.0 
 3. Kench, Manawatu J.5.5 
 4. Martin, Auckland.5.0 
 5. Frank, Wellington4.0 
 6. O''Gallagher, Ocean.4.0 
 7. Kenny, Bay Hawks3.8 
 8. Smith, Waikato P.3.8 
 9. Bartlett, Auckland.3.5 
 10. Leasure, Taranaki.3.0 
Steals Per Game
 Kareem JOHNSON
  Wellingt.
  (205-C-80)
  Avg: 2.5
 1. Johnson, Wellingt.2.5 
 2. Allen, Waikato P.2.5 
 3. Smith, Waikato P.2.5 
 4. Polyblank, Southla.2.5 
 5. Dickel, Southland2.5 
 6. Seay, Waikato P.2.3 
 7. Hudson, Manawatu.2.0 
 8. Maxey, Wellington2.0 
 9. Dempster, Nelson G.1.7 
 10. Spicer, Southlan.1.5 
Blocks Per Game
 Marcus CAMPBELL
  Taranaki.
  (214-C-82)
  Avg: 2.7
 1. Campbell, Taranaki.2.7 
 2. Henry, Wellington1.5 
 3. Anthony, Waika.1.5 
 4. Seay, Waikato P.1.5 
 5. Bradshaw, OceanaG.1.0 
 6. Iti, Southland S.1.0 
 7. Bailey-N., Taranak.1.0 
 8. Mickens, Auckland.1.0 
 9. Spicer, Southlan.1.0 
 10. Vessey, Wellingto.1.0 


*****************************************************
  PBL   


Spencer Paying His Dues - by Travis McAvene
Sometimes playing minor league pro basketball requires being a part of a long journey. Everett Spencer fits the bill of a talented player staying driven to earn a contract overseas.
Spencer finished his college career at South Carolina State University in 2008.

This past season Spencer played in the PBL for the Dayton Air Strikers, where he averaged 11.1ppg and 4.0rpg.
Everett is a long and athletic guard that really understands the game, said Travis McAvene. He is a natural leader who makes his teammates better.

In 2010 Spencer was one of the top players in the IBL for the Battlecreek Knights. During the 2010 spring season, Spencer averaged 19.2ppg, 8.2rpg, and 5.2apg. He was also top 20 in the league in scoring. In the 2010-2011 winter season, Spencer averaged 19.9ppg, 9.0rpg, and 4.7apg. During this time he was top 3 in the league in scoring and rebounding.

My goal as a basketball player is to keep getting better and land a good job overseas, said Everett Spencer.
Everett Spencer (6'6''-G/F-85, college: S.Carolina St.)

*****************************************************
  POLAND   


PLK Round 5 of Semi-Finals. Asseco Prokom advance - by Eurobasket News
Asseco Prokom - Energa Czarni 74-61

Asseco Prokom advanced into PLK Finals after they rallied past Energa Czarni at home court. It was a very close game until the last quarter, when Asseco Prokom's pressure prevailed and they won that period 21-11 extending their advantage to 13 points. Energa Czarni was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. The former international forward Robert Witka (205-F-81) nailed 14 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and international center Adam Hrycaniuk (208-84, college: Cincinnati) accounted for 14 points and 7 rebounds. Four Asseco Prokom players scored in double figures. Asseco Prokom's coach Tomas Pacesas allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Jerel Blassingame (177-81, college: UNLV) came up with 23 points and 6 assists and naturalized Lithuanian guard Mantas Cesnauskis (189-81, agency: Promotex) added 15 points respectively for Energa Czarni in the defeat.
Top scorers:
Asseco Prokom: A.Hrycaniuk 14+7reb+2ast, R.Witka 14+9reb+2ast, D.Ewing 11+4reb+5ast, F.Videnov 10+1reb+4ast, C.Eldridge 9+1reb+2ast, R.Varda 7+5reb
Energa Czarni: J.Blassingame 23+3reb+6ast, M.Cesnauskis 15+2reb, W.Szawarski 10+1reb, E.Jazvin 4+8reb, Z.Bialek 4+2reb+1ast, W.Avery 3+1reb+2ast
gschID: 127451


PGE Turow - Trefl Sopot 78-77

PGE Turow escaped with a narrow home win over Trefl Sopot to step closer to the Final. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Trefl Sopot won third quarter 20-16. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. American guard Torey Thomas (180-85, college: Holy Cross, agency: Interperformances) stepped up and scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and naturalized German forward Konrad Wysocki (201-82, college: Princeton, agency: Pro One Sports) chipped in 12 points and 9 rebounds. PGE Turow's coach Jacek Winnicki used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The former international forward Filip Dylewicz (202-80, agency: Beo Basket) responded with 19 points and 6 rebounds and international forward Adam Waczynski (199-89, agency: Limelight Hoops) scored 14 points and 7 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line).
Top scorers:
PGE Turow: T.Thomas 20+6reb+5ast, D.Kickert 13+1reb+1ast, K.Wysocki 12+9reb+1ast, D.Jackson 8+4reb+3ast, M.Brkic 8+3reb+2ast, R.Tomaszek 7+3reb
Trefl Sopot: F.Dylewicz 19+6reb+2ast, A.Waczynski 14+7reb+1ast, D.Ceranic 10+4reb, P.Kikowski 10+2reb, L.Harrington 8+2reb+1ast, G.Gustas 8+1reb+3ast
gschID: 127452




DBE Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Ted SCOTT
  SKK Kotwica
  (188-G-85)
  Avg: 25.4
 1. Scott, SKK Kotwica25.4 
 2. Hodge, Zastal17.0 
 3. Frazier, AZS K.16.7 
 4. Reynolds, AZS K.16.5 
 5. Hinson, Polonia Az.16.3 
 6. Reese, AZS Koszal.16.0 
 7. Dylewicz, Trefl So.14.9 
 8. Bennerman, Energa14.5 
 9. NaNa, Polonia Azb.14.4 
 10. Thomas, PGE Turow14.3 
Rebounds Per Game
 Darrell HARRIS
  SKK K.
  (208-C-84)
  Avg: 11.4
 1. Harris, SKK K.11.4 
 2. Truscott, Siarka9.9 
 3. Burgess, Zastal9.4 
 4. NaNa, Polonia Azb.8.3 
 5. Easley, Polonia Az.7.0 
 6. Wysocki, PGE Turow6.9 
 7. Miller, Anwil6.6 
 8. Ceranic, Trefl S.6.6 
 9. Reynolds, AZS K.6.4 
 10. Dylewicz, Trefl S.6.4 
Assists Per Game
 Igor MILICIC
  AZS K.
  (194-G-76)
  Avg: 6.6
 1. Milicic, AZS K.6.6 
 2. Blassingame, Energ.6.3 
 3. Thomas, PGE Turow5.6 
 4. Hodge, Zastal5.1 
 5. Skibniewski, Polph.4.8 
 6. Hawkins, PBG B.4.0 
 7. Szubarga, Asseco3.9 
 8. Vaughn, Polpharma3.5 
 9. Ewing, Asseco P.3.1 
 10. Nowakowski, Polon.3.0 
Steals Per Game
 Darnell HINSON
  Polonia Azbud
  (186-G-80)
  Avg: 2.7
 1. Hinson, Polonia Az.2.7 
 2. Blassingame, Energ.2.6 
 3. Hodge, Zastal2.5 
 4. Pringle, Siarka2.4 
 5. Skibniewski, Polph.2.4 
 6. Milicic, AZS K.2.3 
 7. Szubarga, Asseco2.2 
 8. Hawkins, PBG B.2.1 
 9. Thomas, PGE Turow2.1 
 10. Varda, Asseco P.2.0 
Blocks Per Game
 Darrell HARRIS
  SKK K.
  (208-C-84)
  Avg: 2
 1. Harris, SKK K.2.0 
 2. Reynolds, AZS K.1.4 
 3. Lapeta, Asseco P.1.4 
 4. Easley, Polonia Az.1.3 
 5. Hicks, Anwil1.3 
 6. Burgess, Zastal1.3 
 7. Davis, Energa C.1.0 
 8. Kesicki, Zastal0.8 
 9. Mirkovic, Polpharma0.8 
 10. Miller, Anwil0.8 


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  PUERTO RICO   


Standings - BSN
BSN Standings
 1. Quebradillas 8-2 
 2. Bayamon 7-3 
 3. Guaynabo 7-5 
 4. Humacao 6-5 
 5. Coamo 6-6 
 6. San German 5-6 
 7. Arecibo 4-5 
 8. Santurce 4-6 
 9. Isabela 4-7 
 10. Mayaguez 3-9 


Stats Leaders - BSN
Points Per Game
 Angel Daniel VASSALLO
  Guaynabo
  (198-G/F-86)
  Avg: 22.9
 1. Vassallo, Guaynabo22.9 
 2. Villegas, Coamo21.9 
 3. Dalmau, Bayamon21.4 
 4. Ramos, Quebradillas20.7 
 5. Clinch, Isabela20.0 
 6. Romero, Mayaguez18.6 
 7. Brown, Quebradillas18.4 
 8. Shannon, Bayamon17.5 
 9. Sanchez, Santurce16.6 
 10. Sweetney, Santurce16.4 
Rebounds Per Game
 Manuel Antonio NARVAEZ
  Coamo
  (211-C-81)
  Avg: 12.8
 1. Narvaez, Coamo12.8 
 2. Randolph, Isabela12.0 
 3. Ramos, Quebradillas11.9 
 4. Pruitt, Guaynabo11.5 
 5. Lloreda, San G.10.7 
 6. Shannon, Bayamon10.2 
 7. Romero, Mayaguez9.7 
 8. Ofoegbu, Humacao8.2 
 9. Vassallo, Guaynabo8.2 
 10. Robinson, Humacao8.1 
Assists Per Game
 Christian DALMAU
  Bayamon
  (194-G-77)
  Avg: 6.3
 1. Dalmau, Bayamon6.3 
 2. Brown, Quebradillas5.9 
 3. Clinch, Isabela5.7 
 4. Guzman, Guaynabo5.1 
 5. Cruz, Arecibo4.8 
 6. Rivera, Mayaguez4.2 
 7. Copeland, San G.4.2 
 8. Pagan, Santurce4.2 
 9. Vega, Coamo4.1 
 10. Garcia, Humacao3.7 
Steals Per Game
 Eddin ''Guayito'' SANTIAGO
  Santurce
  (185-G-79)
  Avg: 2.3
 1. Santiago, Santurce2.3 
 2. Hinson, Isabela2.2 
 3. Clinch, Isabela2.2 
 4. Chaney, Santurce1.8 
 5. Pinnock, Arecibo1.7 
 6. Harris, San German1.6 
 7. Carmona, Mayaguez1.5 
 8. Cruz, Arecibo1.5 
 9. Rivera, Mayaguez1.5 
 10. Robinson, Humacao1.5 
Blocks Per Game
 Herve LAMIZANA
  Mayaguez
  (207-F/C-81)
  Avg: 3
 1. Lamizana, Mayaguez3.0 
 2. Penn, Humacao2.8 
 3. Santiago, Arecibo2.1 
 4. Traylor, Bayamon2.0 
 5. Romero, Mayaguez1.9 
 6. Harris, San German1.4 
 7. Shannon, Bayamon1.4 
 8. Freije, Coamo1.2 
 9. Rice, San German1.2 
 10. Randolph, Isabela1.2 


BSN Round 9: Quebradillas keep a leadership position - by Eurobasket News
The round was rather attractive and full of interesting results. The round ended with favorites losing the games and games ending by tiny margin.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Quebradillas as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Quebradillas defeated 10th ranked Indios at home 87-82. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 34-19. But Indios won second period 19-12. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The game was decided in the last minutes when Quebradillas won last quarter 23-20. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was international center Peter John Ramos (222-85) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds. International guard David Huertas (196-87, college: Mississippi) chipped in 18 points and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Brandon Robinson (202-81, college: Auburn, agency: Paris Global Sports) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Indios lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with nine games lost. Indios will play next round against strong Mets trying to get back on the winning streak. Quebradillas will try to continue on its current victory against fourth ranked Caciques in Humacao.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Mets (7-5) against fifth ranked Caciques (6-5) on Wednesday night. Visiting Mets were defeated by Caciques in a tough game in Humacao 91-98. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Mets. It was a good game for the former international guard Miguel Ali Berdiel (198-83, college: Valparaiso, agency: Paris Global Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Denis Clemente contributed with 20 points for the winners. The former international swingman Angel Luis Figueroa (196-81, college: Dowling, agency: Paris Global Sports) answered with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds for Mets. Caciques have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place. Mets at the other side keep the third position with five games lost. Caciques will play against league's leader Quebradillas on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mets will play against Indios in Mayaguez and hope to get back on the winning track.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Vaqueros (7-3) against seventh ranked Atleticos (5-6) on Tuesday night. Host Vaqueros were defeated by Atleticos in a tough game in Bayamon 81-86. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Vaqueros. Mike Harris stepped up and scored 24 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. The best for the losing side was Terrence Shannon with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Atleticos moved-up to sixth place. Loser Vaqueros keep the second position with three games lost. Atleticos will meet Gallitos (#9) in the next round. Vaqueros will play against Capitanes (#7) in Arecibo and hope to secure a win.
We should not miss the game where eighth ranked Cangrejeros (4-6) against 4th placed Maratonistas (6-6) where Cangrejeros won at home by nine points 85-76. Ricky Sanchez nailed a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. Cangrejeros' coach Rolando Hourruitiner allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Cangrejeros maintains eighth place with 4-6 record. Maratonistas lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth position with six games lost. Cangrejeros' next round opponent will be league's second-placed Vaqueros in Bayamon and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.
Important game to mention about took place in Mayaguez. Ninth ranked Gallitos (4-7) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 10th ranked Indios (3-9) 74-73 in the game for the ninth place. The best player for the winners was Josue Soto who had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 13 rebounds. Gallitos maintains ninth place with 4-7 record. Indios lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with nine games lost. Gallitos will face higher ranked Atleticos (#6) in San German in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Indios will play on the road against Mets (#3) in Guaynabo.



Santurce - Coamo 85-76

We should not miss the game where eighth ranked Cangrejeros (4-6) against 4th placed Maratonistas (6-6) where Cangrejeros won at home by nine points 85-76. Maratonistas were ahead by 4 points after three quarters before a 25-12 charge of Cangrejeros, which allowed them to win the game. They made 18-of-22 charity shots (81.8 percent) during the game. International power forward Ricky Sanchez (212-87, college: High School) nailed a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side and American forward Michael Sweetney (203-82, college: Georgetown) accounted for 15 points and 11 rebounds. Five Cangrejeros players scored in double figures. Cangrejeros' coach Rolando Hourruitiner allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Ronnie Fields (193-77, college: High School, agency: Edge Sports) came up with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and guard Johwen Villegas (193-85, college: FIU) added 20 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Maratonistas in the defeat. Cangrejeros maintains eighth place with 4-6 record. Maratonistas lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth position with six games lost. Cangrejeros' next round opponent will be league's second-placed Vaqueros in Bayamon and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.
Top scorers:
Coamo: J.Villegas 20+8reb+2ast, R.Fields 19+10reb+2ast, C.Vega 14+5reb+3ast, M.Freije 7+4reb, A.Ortiz 6+1reb+1ast, N.Leon 6+2reb+2ast
Santurce: R.Sanchez 26+10reb+3ast, M.Sweetney 15+11reb+2ast, W.Hodge 13+3reb+1ast, R.Chaney 11+12reb+1ast, R.Melendez 10+2reb+2ast, W.Pagan 10+1reb+1ast
gschID: 125514


Mayaguez - Isabela 73-74

Important game to mention about took place in Mayaguez. Ninth ranked Gallitos (4-7) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 10th ranked Indios (3-9) 74-73 in the game for the ninth place. The guests trailed by 11 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 1-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 74-73. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Gallitos made 8 blocks. The best player for the winners was guard Josue Soto (186-80) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 13 rebounds. American guard Lewis Clinch (191-87, college: Georgia Tech) chipped in 14 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Brandon Robinson (202-81, college: Auburn, agency: Paris Global Sports) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks and the former international center Hector Valenzuela (204-82, college: Queens, NC) added 12 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Five Gallitos and four Indios players scored in double figures. Gallitos maintains ninth place with 4-7 record. Indios lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with nine games lost. Gallitos will face higher ranked Atleticos (#6) in San German in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Indios will play on the road against Mets (#3) in Guaynabo.
Top scorers:
Mayaguez: B.Robinson 21+10reb+1ast, E.Rodriguez 13+4reb+2ast, H.Valenzuela 12+11reb+3ast, C.Rivera 12+1ast, E.Ubiles 8+8reb+8ast, G.Jimenez 3+2reb
Isabela: S.Randolph 20+7reb+1ast, J.Soto 17+13reb+1ast, L.Clinch 14+8reb+8ast, D.Hinson 11+3reb+1ast, F.Valencia 10+7reb+1ast, J.Verdejo 2+2reb+4ast
gschID: 125515


Humacao - Guaynabo 98-91

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Mets (7-5) against fifth ranked Caciques (6-5) on Wednesday night. Visiting Mets were defeated by Caciques in a tough game in Humacao 91-98. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Mets. The hosts were already 16 points ahead after 3 quarters before a 38-29 Mets' run in the last quarter cut the lead to 98-91 at the end of the game. Caciques dominated on the defensive end, holding Mets to just 7 points in first quarter. They outrebounded Mets 47-33 including a 30-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Caciques brought some defensive toughness making 9 blocks. Mets were plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for the former international guard Miguel Ali Berdiel (198-83, college: Valparaiso, agency: Paris Global Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. point guard Denis Clemente (185-86, college: Kansas St., agency: KMG Sports Management) contributed with 20 points for the winners. The former international swingman Angel Luis Figueroa (196-81, college: Dowling, agency: Paris Global Sports) answered with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds and the former international guard Carlos Escalera (190-79, college: Missouri So.) added 28 points in the effort for Mets. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Caciques have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place. Mets at the other side keep the third position with five games lost. Caciques will play against league's leader Quebradillas on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mets will play against Indios in Mayaguez and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Guaynabo: C.Escalera 28+3reb+2ast, A.Luis Figueroa 22+11reb+1ast, M.Worthington 13+6reb+4ast, S.Pruitt 12+9reb+1ast, R.Dalmau 12+3reb+2ast, A.Guzman 2
Humacao: D.Clemente 20+2reb+2ast, M.Ali Berdiel 17+10reb+6ast, J.Life 16+3reb, J.Guitian 11+10reb+1ast, J.Garcia 11+5reb+4ast, J.Maye 9+4reb
gschID: 125516


Quebradillas - Mayaguez 87-82

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Quebradillas as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Quebradillas defeated 10th ranked Indios at home 87-82. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 34-19. But Indios won second period 19-12. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The game was decided in the last minutes when Quebradillas won last quarter 23-20. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was international center Peter John Ramos (222-85) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds. International guard David Huertas (196-87, college: Mississippi) chipped in 18 points and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Brandon Robinson (202-81, college: Auburn, agency: Paris Global Sports) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds and Venezuelan power forward Hector Romero (202-80, college: New Orleans) added 15 points and 12 rebounds respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Indios lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with nine games lost. Indios will play next round against strong Mets trying to get back on the winning streak. Quebradillas will try to continue on its current victory against fourth ranked Caciques in Humacao.
Top scorers:
Mayaguez: B.Robinson 21+10reb+2ast, C.Rivera 16+7reb+5ast, H.Romero 15+12reb+3ast, E.Rodriguez 14+1reb, E.Ubiles 10+5reb+2ast, A.Rosa-Clemente 4+2reb
Quebradillas: D.Huertas 18+1reb+6ast, P.John Ramos 16+13reb+1ast, J.Jones 15+4reb+4ast, D.Brown 14+4reb+6ast, D.Sims 12+2reb+2ast, A.Alamo 6+5reb
gschID: 125512


Bayamon - San German 81-86

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Vaqueros (7-3) against seventh ranked Atleticos (5-6) on Tuesday night. Host Vaqueros were defeated by Atleticos in a tough game in Bayamon 81-86. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Vaqueros. The guests started the game with a very strong first quarter 25-13. But Vaqueros won third quarter 24-19. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Forward Mike Harris (198-83, college: Rice) stepped up and scored 24 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and Panamanian power forward Jaime Lloreda (201-80, college: LSU) chipped in 16 points and 13 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American forward Terrence Shannon (203-79, college: Elgin CC, agency: Paris Global Sports) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds and the former international guard Christian Dalmau (194-77, college: Daytona Beach CC, agency: Paris Global Sports) scored 21 points and 6 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Atleticos moved-up to sixth place. Loser Vaqueros keep the second position with three games lost. Atleticos will meet Gallitos (#9) in the next round. Vaqueros will play against Capitanes (#7) in Arecibo and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Bayamon: C.Dalmau 21+4reb+6ast, T.Shannon 20+11reb+3ast, C.Antrone Lee 17+4reb+2ast, R.Jose Hatton 16+2reb+7ast, J.Mojica 7+6reb, K.Sanchez 0+1ast
San German: M.Harris 24+8reb+1ast, J.Lloreda 16+13reb+3ast, J.Pellot-Rosa 12+6reb+4ast, R.Orta 10+3reb+1ast, R.Abraham 9+2ast, D.Copeland 7+4reb+2ast
gschID: 125513




Josue Soto gets MVP of the Week award for Puerto Rican BSN - by Eurobasket News
Experienced Josue Soto (186-G-80) had an amazing evening in the last week for Isabela and that's him to receive a Latinbasket.com Player of the Week award for week 9.
The 30-year old guard had a double-double of 17 points and thirteen rebounds, while his team edged out Mayaguez (#10, 3-9) 74-73. The game was not the highest importance and did not have significant influence on the top of the standings. Isabela maintains the 9th position in Puerto Rican BSN. Isabela is currently ranked second from the bottom. They need more victories to improve their 4-7 record. It was one of impressive evenings for Soto as usually he does not deliver so high stats. Josue Soto averages this season 1.6ppg.

The second most remarkable performance in last week's games was 29-year old American forward Brandon Robinson (202-F-81, agency: Paris Global Sports) of Mayaguez. Robinson impressed basketball fans with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Bad luck as Mayaguez lost that game 82-87 to the higher-ranked Quebradillas (#1, 8-2). Mayaguez are still at the very bottom. 9 lost games are too many comparing to just three victories Mayaguez managed to get this year. Robinson is one of the most experienced players at Mayaguez and has a reputation of one of team's most reliable players.

The third best performed player last week was Mike Harris (198-F-83) of San German (#6). Harris scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He was a key player of San German, leading his team to a 86-81 win against the higher-ranked Bayamon (#2, 7-3). The chances of San German ranking at the top of the league, however are very questionable as they have already lost 6 games, recording just five victories. With bigger assistance of his teammates, Harris could help San German to bring them higher in the standings. Harris has a very solid season. In 5 games in Puerto Rico he scored 14.8ppg.

Other top performing players last week:
4. Ricky Sanchez (212-C/F-87) of Santurce - 26 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists
5. Brandon Robinson (202-F-81) of Mayaguez - 21 points and 10 rebounds
6. Shavlik Randolph (208-F-83) of Isabela - 20 points and 7 rebounds
7. Jaime Lloreda (201-F/C-80) of San German - 16 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists
8. Terrence Shannon (203-F-79) of Bayamon - 20 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists
9. Peter John Ramos (222-C-85) of Quebradillas - 16 points and 13 rebounds
10. Ronnie Fields (193-G-77) of Coamo - 19 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists

The Player of the week is choosen based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc.
The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy.
The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)

Pitino will not coach Puerto Rico National Team - by Eurobasket News
Louisville's Rick Pitino will not coach Puerto Rico's national team, citing scheduling conflicts in announcing his change of plans Wednesday.

The Cardinals' coach had agreed in December to coach Puerto Rico in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament late this summer and had hoped to have his Louisville team play the Puerto Rican national team as part of a foreign trip. But the NCAA shot down that proposal because Puerto Rico is Commonwealth of the United States and is not considered a foreign country under NCAA rules.

An acceptable site for the foreign trip where both teams could visit simultaneously could not be arranged. The addition of a second tournament also conflicted with his duties at Louisville.

'I was so looking forward to coaching the Puerto Rico national team, but too many conflicts arose,' Pitino said. 'It is a great disappointment that we cannot take on the challenge to help them qualify for the Olympics.'

Pitino had planned to coach the Puerto Rico in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship basketball tournament in late August. Puerto Rico must finish among the top two teams to advance to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Pitino's announcement came a day after Kentucky coach John Calipari said he was considering an offer to coach the Dominican Republic national team in the same tournament.

Courtesy of ww.wcti12.com

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  ROMANIA   


CSU Asesoft Ploiesti - CSA Steaua Turabo Bucharest series preview - by Sebastian Umbrich
The day of Thursday, 28th of April is the day when the semifinals of the 2010-2011 Romanian championship semifinals start. The teams to fight for the two places in the big final are the best four teams from the last season. In the semifinals, CSU Asesoft Ploiesti will meet CSA Steaua Turabo Bucharest, while U Cluj faces Gaz Metan Medias. The semifinals will be played best of 5 games, or the first team to win 3 matches will advance to the final. Ploiesti and Cluj will have the home court advantage, an advantage which could be crucial.
The first semifinal brings face to face Ploiesti and Steaua. These two teams met three times this season: two times in the regular season and once in the Cups semifinals. The score in these meetings is 2-1 for Steaua, Ploiesti having won the first meeting, 66-53 at home ground, while Steaua has won the match from the regular season played in Bucharest, 93-92, after two periods of overtime. Moreover, Steaua has won 75-60, in the Cups semifinal played in Mures.
In the offense, Ploiesti looks better: theyve score 2593 points in 30 matches, which means 86.43 points per game, while Steaua scored 2488 points, which means an average of 82.93 points per match. But there are also other factors which influence the offensive. Catalin Burlacu leads the field for Ploiesti in points scored, having an average of 17.3 points per game, while Virgil Stanescu, the basket-getter of Steaua, has an average of 13.9 points per game. Ploiesti leads the field also at the sharp-shooters: Calhoun Qarraan scored 47.2% of the 3-point shots hes made, while Joshua Jackson, Steauas best sharpshooter, has made 39% of the shots from more than 6.60 m away from the rim. If one of the matches will be a close one, and the players will have to shoot free thorws, Steaua may benefit from this, as Joshua Jackson has made 88.7% of the free throws, while Levente Szijarto has made 73.5%, having the best percentage from Ploiesti. Another important aspect of the offensive play is represented by the offensive rebounds. Here again Steaua has the better stats, with Virgil Stanescu having made 2.2 offensive boards per game, while Calhoun Qarraan is the best offensive robunder for Ploiesti, with 1.8 per match. Regarding the assists, Ploiestis point guard, one of the best point guards from Romania, has an average of 5 assists per game, with center Catalin Burlacu with another 2.4 assists per game. On the other hand, Ivan Tomeljak, one of Steauas point guards, has 3.2 assists per game, with Andrei Mandache, the starting five point guard having an average of 2.4 assists per game. Another important aspect of the offense is the turnovers. Steaua got the most turnovers done by its center, Virgil Stanescu, who lost 2.6 balls per match, while the main responsible for the lost balls at Ploiesti is point guard Adrian Blidaru, who practically erases the advantage brought by his assists, having 5.0 turnovers per match. As a result, it looks like things are pretty tied in the offense, with a small plus for Steaua.
In the defense things look interesting as well. Ploiesti has the better odds according to the defensive rebounds, with Catalin Burlacu having caught 6.1 missed shots of the opponents per game, while Virgil Carutasu of Steaua, who the previous season had the highest average of rebounds per match, has 5.3 defensive boards per match. Regarding the aggressive defenses, both teams centers, Catalin Burlacu have made 3.5 fouls per match, Virgil Stanescu having commited 3.4 personal mistakes per match. Virgil Carutasu has the highest average of Steaua in what is concerning the blocks, with 0.8 bloked shot per match, while on the other side, Catalin Burlacu has 0.8 blocks per game also. As it seems, it will be a quite balanced series, but the fact that they have the home court advantage, may prove crucial for Ploiesti.


CSU Asesoft Ploiesti - CSA Steaua Turabo Bucharest series preview - by Sebastian Umbrich
The day of Thursday, 28th of April is the day when the semifinals of the 2010-2011 Romanian championship semifinals start. The teams to fight for the two places in the big final are the best four teams from the last season. In the semifinals, CSU Asesoft Ploiesti will meet BC Steaua Turabo Bucuresti, while U Cluj faces Gaz Metan Medias. The semifinals will be played best of 5 games, or the first team to win 3 matches will advance to the final. Ploiesti and Cluj will have the home court advantage, an advantage which could be crucial.
The first semifinal brings face to face Ploiesti and Steaua. These two teams met three times this season: two times in the regular season and once in the Cups semifinals. The score in these meetings is 2-1 for Steaua, Ploiesti having won the first meeting, 66-53 at home ground, while Steaua has won the match from the regular season played in Bucharest, 93-92, after two periods of overtime. Moreover, Steaua has won 75-60, in the Cups semifinal played in Mures.
In the offense, Ploiesti looks better: theyve score 2593 points in 30 matches, which means 86.43 points per game, while Steaua scored 2488 points, which means an average of 82.93 points per match. But there are also other factors which influence the offensive. Catalin Burlacu (210-C-77, agency: Court Side) leads the field for Ploiesti in points scored, having an average of 17.3 points per game, while Virgil Stanescu (207-C/F-77, agency: Interperformances, college: S.Alabama), the basket-getter of Steaua, has an average of 13.9 points per game. Ploiesti leads the field also at the sharp-shooters: Qarraan Calhoun (203-F-86, agency: Hart Sports Mngm, college: Houston) scored 47.2% of the 3-point shots hes made, while Joshua Jackson (188-G-85, agency: Global Sports Plaza, college: Warner Pacific), Steauas best sharpshooter, has made 39% of the shots from more than 6.60 m away from the rim. If one of the matches will be a close one, and the players will have to shoot free thorws, Steaua may benefit from this, as Joshua Jackson has made 88.7% of the free throws, while Levente Szijarto (192-G/F-83, agency: Court Side) has made 73.5%, having the best percentage from Ploiesti. Another important aspect of the offensive play is represented by the offensive rebounds. Here again Steaua has the better stats, with Virgil Stanescu having made 2.2 offensive boards per game, while Qarraan Calhoun is the best offensive robunder for Ploiesti, with 1.8 per match. Regarding the assists, Ploiestis point guard, one of the best point guards from Romania, has an average of 5 assists per game, with center Catalin Burlacu with another 2.4 assists per game. On the other hand, Ivan Tomeljak (194-G-79), one of Steauas point guards, has 3.2 assists per game, with Andrei Mandache (190-G-87, agency: Global Sports Plaza), the starting five point guard having an average of 2.4 assists per game. Another important aspect of the offense is the turnovers. Steaua got the most turnovers done by its center, Virgil Stanescu, who lost 2.6 balls per match, while the main responsible for the lost balls at Ploiesti is point guard Adrian Blidaru (182-G-85), who practically erases the advantage brought by his assists, having 5.0 turnovers per match. As a result, it looks like things are pretty tied in the offense, with a small plus for Steaua.
In the defense things look interesting as well. Ploiesti has the better odds according to the defensive rebounds, with Catalin Burlacu having caught 6.1 missed shots of the opponents per game, while Virgil Carutasu (204-C-76) of Steaua, who the previous season had the highest average of rebounds per match, has 5.3 defensive boards per match. Regarding the aggressive defenses, both teams centers, Catalin Burlacu have made 3.5 fouls per match, Virgil Stanescu having commited 3.4 personal mistakes per match. Virgil Carutasu has the highest average of Steaua in what is concerning the blocks, with 0.8 bloked shot per match, while on the other side, Catalin Burlacu has 0.8 blocks per game also. As it seems, it will be a quite balanced series, but the fact that they have the home court advantage, may prove crucial for Ploiesti.


Stats Leaders - Men
Points Per Game
 LeRoy DAWSON
  Polite.
  (188-G-81)
  Avg: 22
 1. Dawson, Polite.22.0 
 2. Krstanovic, U.Mobi.21.0 
 3. Dykes, U.Mobite.20.5 
 4. Hannah, Miercure.20.5 
 5. Horton, Craiova20.1 
 6. Tomic, CSM B.19.9 
 7. Pesic, Timisoara19.8 
 8. Darby, Rovinari19.1 
 9. Vujacic, Pitesti19.0 
 10. Gennie, Pitesti18.8 
Rebounds Per Game
 Kenneth SIMMS
  Craiova
  (203-C-)
  Avg: 11.1
 1. Simms, Craiova11.1 
 2. Coleman, Miercure.9.8 
 3. Bennett, CSM B.9.6 
 4. Nicoara, Gaz Metan9.5 
 5. Krstanovic, U.Mobi.9.4 
 6. Bigus, Rovinari9.3 
 7. Forte, Mures8.5 
 8. Burlacu, Ploiesti7.8 
 9. Harrison, CSU Sibiu7.7 
 10. Eichelberger, Pit.7.7 
Assists Per Game
 JuJuan COOLEY
  Mures
  (175-G-82)
  Avg: 8.3
 1. Cooley, Mures8.3 
 2. Dzambic, CSM B.7.9 
 3. Hannah, Miercure.6.2 
 4. Cuic, U.Mobitel.CN5.4 
 5. Howell, Gaz Metan5.3 
 6. Stojakovic, Craiova5.2 
 7. Blidaru, Ploiesti5.1 
 8. Medvedj, Otopeni4.9 
 9. Gennie, Pitesti4.8 
 10. Dzambic, Timisoara4.7 
Steals Per Game
 Nikola STOJAKOVIC
  Craiova
  (188-G-84)
  Avg: 2.5
 1. Stojakovic, Craiova2.5 
 2. Mitchell, Gaz Metan2.4 
 3. Cooley, Mures2.4 
 4. Gennie, Pitesti2.4 
 5. Harrison, CSU Sibiu2.4 
 6. Howell, Gaz Metan2.4 
 7. Blidaru, Ploiesti2.0 
 8. Dawson, Polite.2.0 
 9. Dykes, U.Mobite.2.0 
 10. Loyd, CSU Sibiu1.9 
Blocks Per Game
 Michael HARRISON
  CSU Sibiu
  (206-F/C-84)
  Avg: 1.8
 1. Harrison, CSU Sibiu1.8 
 2. Capusan, Rovinari1.6 
 3. Eichelberger, Pite.1.6 
 4. Masiulis, CSU S.1.5 
 5. Herndon, CSU Sibiu1.4 
 6. Mladenovic, Mures1.4 
 7. Simms, Craiova1.3 
 8. Lazar, Oradea1.2 
 9. Dragusin, Gaz M.1.0 
 10. Thomson, U.Mobite.0.9 


*****************************************************
  RUSSIA   


Stats Leaders - Superleague A
Points Per Game
 Keith LANGFORD
  Khimky
  (193-G/F-83)
  Avg: 18.2
 1. Langford, Khimky18.2 
 2. Baxter, Enisey16.6 
 3. Domercant, Spart.16.2 
 4. Lampe, Unics15.9 
 5. Keyru, Dynamo15.6 
 6. Williams, Enisey15.6 
 7. Labovic, Enisey14.3 
 8. Beverley, Spart.13.6 
 9. Wilkinson, Lokomot.13.6 
 10. Vyaltsev, Triumph13.6 
Rebounds Per Game
 Alexey ZHUKANENKO
  Dynamo
  (210-F-86)
  Avg: 7.7
 1. Zhukanenko, Dynamo7.7 
 2. Khryapa, CSKA7.1 
 3. Lampe, Unics7.1 
 4. Beverley, Spart.6.9 
 5. Baxter, Enisey6.8 
 6. Papadopoulos, Khi.6.6 
 7. Monya, Khimky6.3 
 8. Brezec, Krasnie6.2 
 9. Wilkinson, Lokomot.6.2 
 10. Massey, Lokomotiv6.1 
Assists Per Game
 Marcus WILLIAMS
  Enisey
  (191-G-85)
  Avg: 7
 1. Williams, Enisey7.0 
 2. Bremer, Krasnie5.5 
 3. Vyaltsev, Triumph5.0 
 4. Ponkrashov, Spart.4.8 
 5. Popovic, Unics4.5 
 6. Khvostov, Dynamo4.1 
 7. Planinic, Khimky3.8 
 8. Holden, CSKA3.5 
 9. Rush, Krasnie Kril.3.2 
 10. Aleksic, N.Novgor.3.0 
Steals Per Game
 Patrick BEVERLEY
  Spart.
  (185-G-88)
  Avg: 2.1
 1. Beverley, Spart.2.1 
 2. Voronov, Dynamo1.8 
 3. Surovtsev, Lokom.1.6 
 4. Ponkrashov, Spart.1.5 
 5. Massey, Lokomotiv1.4 
 6. Labovic, Enisey1.4 
 7. Komarovskiy, Eni.1.4 
 8. Lyday, Unics1.4 
 9. Wilkinson, Lokomot.1.4 
 10. Pashutin, Unics1.3 
Blocks Per Game
 Sergey VARLAMOV
  Triumph
  (208-C-84)
  Avg: 1.1
 1. Varlamov, Triumph1.1 
 2. Eze, Khimky1.1 
 3. Kaun, CSKA1.0 
 4. Zabelin, CSKA1.0 
 5. Likhodey, Triumph1.0 
 6. Monya, Khimky1.0 
 7. Zhukanenko, Dynamo0.9 
 8. Davidson, Krasni.0.9 
 9. Yakovenko, N.Nov.0.9 
 10. Lampe, Unics0.8 


*****************************************************
  SERBIA   


Bennet Cantu signs Marko Scekic - by Eurobasket News
Marko Scekic (207-F-81, agency: Beo Basket) is a new member of Bennet Cantu. The 29-year-old Serbian signed a deal for rest of the season. Scekic arrives to Cantu from Buducnost Podgorica. He appeared 27 times in Adriatic league averaging 9.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Scekic added 9.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 6 EuroCup games, plus 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3 apg for two Euroleague qualifications games.
Marko Scekic spent last two seasons in Germany as a member of EWE Baskets Oldenburg. In 2009/10 he had 8.2 ppg and 4.7 rpg for 10 Euroleague games. In the German league Scekic added 8.7 ppg and 5.1 rpg that season. Before Oldenburg, Marko Scekic played for Polish Turow, Serbian Vojvodina Novi Sad and Bosnian Borac Banja Luka. He won the German league title with Oldenburg in 2009. This year with Buducnost, Scekic won the Montenegrin National Cup.

Superleague: Round 9 - by Eurobasket News
The fans could enjoy quite many interesting games in the last round. The round ended with derby games and favorites losing the games.

Exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Beograd: Partizan (#1) and FMP Zeleznik (#5). Partizan (7-1) crushed visiting FMP Zeleznik (3-6) by 16 points 78-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of FMP Zeleznik. Rasko Katic (208-C-80, agency: Beo Basket) stepped up and scored 15 points and 8 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winners and Jan Vesely chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Mile Ilic (215-84, agency: Beo Basket) with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Partizan have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 7-1 record. FMP Zeleznik at the other side dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Beograd. Partizan will play against Radnicki (#3) in Kragujevac in the next round, which may be the game of the day. FMP Zeleznik will play at home against Mega Vizura and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game for Hemofarm (7-2) which hosted in Vrsac 4th placed Crvena Zvezda (4-5). Second ranked Hemofarm had an easy win 86-64. Bojan Krstovic nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists for the winning side. Sava Lesic came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds for Crvena Zvezda in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Hemofarm maintains second place with 7-2 record having just -1 point less than leader Tamis. Loser Crvena Zvezda keeps the fourth position with five games lost. Hemofarm will meet Metalac (#5) in the next round. Crvena Zvezda's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beograd OKK Beograd.
We should not miss a home victory of eighth ranked Mega Vizura (2-7) over 5th ranked Metalac (3-5) 77-69. The best player for the winners was Branko Milisavljevic who scored 23 points and 7 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Mega Vizura maintains eighth place with 2-7 record. Metalac at the other side keeps the fifth position with five games lost. Mega Vizura's next round opponent will be higher ranked FMP Zeleznik (#6) in Beograd and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Metalac will play at home against the league's second-placed Hemofarm where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
The game in Beograd was also quite interesting. Third ranked Radnicki (6-3) played at the court of 7th ranked OKK Beograd (3-6). Radnicki managed to secure a 6-point victory 91-85 on Wednesday. It was a good game for Michael Lee who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Radnicki maintains third place with 6-3 record behind leader Tamis. Loser OKK Beograd dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. Radnicki will face league's leader Partizan in Beograd in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. OKK Beograd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beograd to the arena Crvena Zvezda.


Partizan - FMP 78-62

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Beograd: Partizan (#1) and FMP Zeleznik (#5). Partizan (7-1) crushed visiting FMP Zeleznik (3-6) by 16 points 78-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of FMP Zeleznik. It looked good early as FMP Zeleznik took an 1-point lead at the end of first quarter. But then Partizan had a 17-15 second period charge getting the lead and FMP Zeleznik was not able to take back game control losing it eventually 62-78. FMP Zeleznik was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. Rasko Katic (208-80, agency: Beo Basket) stepped up and scored 15 points and 8 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winners and Czech forward Jan Vesely (211-90) chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds. Four Partizan players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was center Mile Ilic (215-84, agency: Beo Basket) with 12 points and 8 rebounds and American forward Brandon Bowman (204-84, college: Georgetown) scored 9 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Partizan have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 7-1 record. FMP Zeleznik at the other side dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Beograd. Partizan will play against Radnicki (#3) in Kragujevac in the next round, which may be the game of the day. FMP Zeleznik will play at home against Mega Vizura and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
FMP: M.Ilic 12+8reb, B.Bowman 9+5reb+1ast, B.Subotic 8+2reb, M.Dimic 8+2reb+3ast, V.Radivojevic 7+4reb+4ast, S.Zivanovic 5+1reb+2ast
Partizan: R.Katic 15+8reb, D.Milosavljevic 12+2reb+2ast, D.Kecman 12+2reb+1ast, J.Vesely 11+7reb+2ast, N.Jawai 10+3reb+2ast, J.Gist 8+6reb+1ast
gschID: 124167


Beograd - Radnicki 85-91

The game in Beograd was also quite interesting. Third ranked Radnicki (6-3) played at the court of 7th ranked OKK Beograd (3-6). Radnicki managed to secure a 6-point victory 91-85 on Wednesday. The guests trailed by 5 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 5-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 91-85. Radnicki made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. OKK Beograd was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for American forward Michael Lee (207-86) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Naturalized Australian guard Steven Markovic (190-85) contributed with 22 points for the winners. Forward Dragan Mitrovic (200-85) answered with a triple-double by scoring 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and guard Slobodan Dundjerski (190-88, agency: Alti Sport) added 11 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals in the effort for OKK Beograd. Four Radnicki and five OKK Beograd players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Radnicki maintains third place with 6-3 record behind leader Tamis. Loser OKK Beograd dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. Radnicki will face league's leader Partizan in Beograd in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. OKK Beograd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beograd to the arena Crvena Zvezda.
Top scorers:
Beograd: D.Mitrovic 22+11reb+10ast, D.Zekovic 15+6reb+1ast, S.Zivkovic 14+2reb+2ast, M.Pavlovic 12+3reb+1ast, S.Dundjerski 11+5reb+7ast, U.Lucic 6+3reb+3ast
Radnicki: S.Markovic 22+2reb+3ast, M.Lee 15+11reb+5ast, B.Jereminov 13+4reb+3ast, N.Sulovic 11+3reb+3ast, P.Miletic 10+1reb, M.Cakarevic 8+4reb+2ast
gschID: 124168


Hemofarm - Crvena Zvezda 86-64

An interesting game for Hemofarm (7-2) which hosted in Vrsac 4th placed Crvena Zvezda (4-5). Second ranked Hemofarm had an easy win 86-64. The hosts trailed by 5 points after first quarter, but they stormed back to get the 11-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 86-64. Hemofarm looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Crvena Zvezda's players. Guard Bojan Krstovic (194-80) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists for the winning side and guard Marko Sutalo (194-83) accounted for 24 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). Power forward Sava Lesic (205-88) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds and power forward Uros Nikolic (207-87) added 9 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Crvena Zvezda in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Hemofarm maintains second place with 7-2 record having just -1 point less than leader Tamis. Loser Crvena Zvezda keeps the fourth position with five games lost. Hemofarm will meet Metalac (#5) in the next round. Crvena Zvezda's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beograd OKK Beograd.
Top scorers:
Crvena Zvezda: S.Lesic 16+14reb+1ast, N.Nedovic 10+2reb+2ast, U.Nikolic 9+8reb, A.Cvetkovic 9+1reb+2ast, L.Drca 7+6reb, L.Radosavljevic 5+1reb
Hemofarm: M.Sutalo 24+2reb+1ast, B.Krstovic 16+8reb+11ast, B.Savovic 11+11reb, J.Jordan 8+5reb+1ast, M.Jeremic 8+2reb+1ast, D.Andjusic 6+2reb+1ast
gschID: 124165


Mega Vizura - Metalac 77-69

We should not miss a home victory of eighth ranked Mega Vizura (2-7) over 5th ranked Metalac (3-5) 77-69. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 24-11. But Metalac won second period 20-12. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The best player for the winners was guard Branko Milisavljevic (193-76, agency: Beo Basket) who scored 23 points and 7 assists. Power forward Branislav Djekic (207-91, agency: Beo Basket) chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Marko Ljubicic (197-87) who recorded 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and swingman Marko Ljubojevic (202-84) added 9 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Mega Vizura maintains eighth place with 2-7 record. Metalac at the other side keeps the fifth position with five games lost. Mega Vizura's next round opponent will be higher ranked FMP Zeleznik (#6) in Beograd and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Metalac will play at home against the league's second-placed Hemofarm where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Metalac: M.Trtic 13+2reb, D.Bunic 11+1reb+2ast, M.Ljubicic 10+9reb+5ast, S.Sinovec 10+4reb+2ast, M.Ljubojevic 9+5reb+2ast, S.Bircevic 8+6reb+1ast
Mega Vizura: B.Milisavljevic 23+2reb+7ast, A.Mitrovic 17+4reb+1ast, B.Djekic 13+9reb+1ast, V.Micic 7+3reb+2ast, D.Cantekin 6+5reb+1ast, D.Cvetkovic 4+2reb
gschID: 124166


Round 3
Beograd - Crvena Zvezda 89-88

The most exciting game of round 9 in the A League took place in Beograd. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 4th placed Crvena Zvezda (4-5) to seventh ranked OKK Beograd (3-6) 89-88 on Wednesday evening. The hosts trailed by 5 points after three quarters before their 27-21 charge, which allowed them to win the game. OKK Beograd looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. 26 personal fouls committed by Crvena Zvezda helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for center Uros Lucic (207-83) who saved his team from a defeat with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Forward Dragan Mitrovic (200-85) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals for the winners. OKK Beograd's coach Marko Icelic used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Power forward Uros Nikolic (207-87) answered with 20 points and 6 rebounds and power forward Sava Lesic (205-88) added 16 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Crvena Zvezda. Five OKK Beograd and four Crvena Zvezda players scored in double figures. OKK Beograd moved-up to sixth place, which they share with FMP. Crvena Zvezda at the other side keeps the fourth position with five games lost. OKK Beograd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beograd to the arena Crvena Zvezda.
Top scorers:
Crvena Zvezda: U.Nikolic 20+6reb, B.Bakic 18+3ast, S.Lesic 16+10reb, A.Cvetkovic 10+2reb+1ast, L.Drca 9+1reb+1ast, V.Subotic 6+5reb+1ast
Beograd: D.Zekovic 21+4reb, U.Lucic 19+8reb+1ast, S.Zivkovic 11+2reb, D.Mitrovic 11+6reb+10ast, S.Dundjerski 10+5reb+11ast, M.Pavlovic 10+4reb
gschID: 125731




Standings - A Liga
A Standings
SuperLeague
 1. Partizan 7-1 
 2. Hemofarm 7-2 
 3. Radnicki 6-3 
 4. Crvena Zvezda 4-5 
 5. Metalac 3-5 
 6. FMP 3-6 
 7. Beograd 3-6 
 8. Mega Vizura 2-7 
Places 9-16
 1. Tamis 15-11 
 2. Napredak 12-14 
 3. Sloga 12-14 
 4. Novi Sad 12-14 
 5. Sloboda Uzice 12-14 
 6. Vojvodina 12-14 
 7. Borac 11-15 
 8. Proleter Naftagas 10-16 
 9. Crnokosa 9-17 
 10. Superfund 1-25 


Stats Leaders - 1A
Points Per Game
 Branko MILISAVLJEVIC
  Mega V.
  (193-G-76)
  Avg: 20.6
 1. Milisavljevi., Meg.20.6 
 2. Janjusevic, Crnok.18.8 
 3. Sinovec, Metalac18.2 
 4. Micevic, Sloboda17.6 
 5. Bozovic, Sloga17.4 
 6. Bunic, Novi Sad16.6 
 7. Zekovic, Beograd16.5 
 8. Kovacevic, Super.16.3 
 9. Majkic, Prolet.16.2 
 10. Sulovic, Napredak16.0 
Rebounds Per Game
 Nikola MARKOVIC
  FMP
  (208-F/C-89)
  Avg: 7.8
 1. Markovic, FMP7.8 
 2. Ljubicic, Metalac7.6 
 3. Cantekin, Mega V.7.0 
 4. Jelovac, Mega V.6.7 
 5. Majkic, Prolet.6.6 
 6. Djurovic, Crnokosa6.4 
 7. Cubrilo, Sloga6.4 
 8. Bozovic, Sloga6.4 
 9. Borovcanin, Sloga6.3 
 10. Sulovic, Napredak6.3 
Assists Per Game
 Marko LJUBICIC
  Metalac
  (197-F-87)
  Avg: 6.2
 1. Ljubicic, Metalac6.2 
 2. Zarkovic, Prolet.6.0 
 3. Vlahovic, Sloga5.1 
 4. Radivojevic, FMP5.0 
 5. Mitrovic, Beograd4.8 
 6. Milisavljevi., Meg.4.6 
 7. Covic, FMP4.4 
 8. Atanackovic, Prole.4.3 
 9. Kocergin, Superfund4.3 
 10. Dundjerski, Beogr.4.1 
Steals Per Game
 Slobodan DUNDJERSKI
  Beograd
  (190-G-88)
  Avg: 2.9
 1. Dundjerski, Beograd2.9 
 2. Kuzeta, Novi Sad2.7 
 3. Gagovic, Prolet.2.3 
 4. Ljubicic, Metalac2.2 
 5. Mukanovic, Crnok.2.0 
 6. Marjanovic, Vojvo.2.0 
 7. Kovacevic, Novi Sad1.9 
 8. Jovic, Sloga1.9 
 9. Vulin, Prolet.1.8 
 10. Fekete, Sloboda1.7 
Blocks Per Game
 Stefan BIRCEVIC
  Metalac
  (209-F/C-89)
  Avg: 1.3
 1. Bircevic, Metalac1.3 
 2. Ilic, FMP1.2 
 3. Majkic, Prolet.1.1 
 4. Cantekin, Mega V.0.9 
 5. Marjanovic, Vojvo.0.9 
 6. Buric, Tamis0.8 
 7. Ljubojevic, Slobod.0.8 
 8. Karalic, Crnokosa0.7 
 9. Kalinic, Novi Sad0.7 
 10. Dramicanin, Mega0.7 


*****************************************************
  SLOVENIA   


Vladimir Panic gets MVP of the Week award for Slovenian Telemach League (Second Stage) - by Eurobasket News
Serbian Vladimir Panic (194-F-82, agency: 011 Sports) had an amazing evening in the last round for Zlatorog Lasko and that's him to receive a Eurobasket.com Player of the Week award for round 8 (Second Stage).
The 28-year old forward had the game-high 29 points adding six rebounds for Zlatorog in his team's victory, helping them to beat Maribor Messer (#8, 1-7) 85-76. Zlatorog maintains the 3rd position in Slovenian Telemach League. They would have been even better if they hadn't lost a few games earlier in Second Stage. Zlatorog will need more victories to improve their 5-3 record. In the team's last game Panic had a remarkable 81.8% from 2-point range. He turned to be Zlatorog's top player in his first season with the team. Panic has impressive league stats. He is league's best scorer averaging so far 21.5ppg. Panic is in league's top in and averages solid 51.1% FGP.

The second most remarkable performance in last round's games was 28-year old center Salih Nuhanovic (209-C-82) of Elektra Esotech. Nuhanovic impressed basketball fans with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Bad luck as Elektra lost that game 49-84 to the higher-ranked Union Olimpija (#4, 5-3). Elektra is still in a red zone at 7th spot in the standings. 7 lost games are too many comparing to just one victory Elektra managed to get this Second Stage. Nuhanovic is a newcomer at Elektra and it seems he did not have too much trouble to become one of team's leaders.

The third best performed player last round was Grega Mali (197-G-84) of second-ranked Helios Domzale. Mali scored 24 points. He was a key player of Helios, leading his team to a 90-74 easy win against the lower-ranked Polzela (#5, 3-5). Helios needs these victories very badly if they think about taking over top position in the standings. Their record at this point is 6 victories and 2 lost games. Mali has a great season in Slovenia. After 23 games, he made it on the list of the league's leaders in points with 13.9ppg (9th best).

Other top performing players last week:
4. Jaka Blazic (193-G-90) of Geoplin Slovan - 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists
5. Goran Jagodnik (203-F-74) of Union Olimpija - 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists
6. Sasa Mucic (202-F-83) of Maribor Messer - 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists
7. Dmitry Sviridov (212-C-85) of Polzela - 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists
8. Benjamin Raymond (198-G/F-87) of Helios - 20 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists
9. Jure Balazic (204-F-80) of Krka - 12 points and 9 rebounds
10. Domen Zerak (203-C-79) of Helios - 9 points and 5 rebounds

The Player of the week is choosen based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc.
The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy.
The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)

*****************************************************
  SOUTH KOREA   


With KBL finals MVP, Ha is back on track - by Jerry Lee
The giant raised his hands up just one second before the final buzzer as the gym erupted into a thunderous roar of support for Ha Seung-Jin (222-C-85), who jumped around the court with glee because he knew that his team had just won the KBL Championship.

Has Jeonju KCC Egis beat Wonju Dongbu Promy 79-77 in Game 6 of the KBL finals on Tuesday, winning the best-of-seven series by 4-2. It was Egis fifth KBL title, giving it the most titles of any other KBL team.

For Ha, the win gave him his second championship ring since 2009.

After the game, Ha was named the KBL Championship MVP, given by sports reporters, garnering 66 of the 75 votes.

But this years victory is likely more meaningful to Ha, given his nightmare at the KBL finals last year, and is on his way to becoming one of the best basketball players in Korea.

Last year, Ha watched his team give up the trophy to Ulsan Mobis Phoebus and started most games from the bench. Although he did get some court time, he failed to make a significant impact because of an ankle injury.

Last years championship was just shocking, Ha said to Ilgan Sports. I was so ashamed of sitting on the bench.

But this years final series was different for Ha. He stayed injury-free and dominated the low post.

In Tuesdays game, Ha successfully penetrated the Promys twin towers, Kim Joo-sung and Rodrique Benson, and averaged 16.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game throughout the final six games.

At 2.21 meters (7 feet, 3 inches), Ha is the tallest player in the KBL and no one has come close to matching his stature. Yet he has always been criticized for having low stamina and lacking speed. Thats also the reason why the player didnt do well when he signed with the Portland Trailblazers in 2004. Despite having the honor of being the first Korean to play in the NBA, Ha wasnt able to do much in defense with his slow steps.

After his stint with the team was over, Ha returned to Korea in 2008. But in his first season with the KBL, Ha spent half of the games on the bench, both during the regular season and in the finals. The former Yonsei University team member was just another supporting player for his foreign teammates.

But finally, after two KBL seasons, Ha led his team to victory after victory. He improved his weaknesses and learned how to finish a game without flaming out. In this years postseason, he stayed on the court for an average 32 minutes per game, removing any further concerns about his weak stamina.

Ha has also improved his free throws, which some considered the weakest part of his game. The Egis center said that he practiced by shooting 500 free throws per day and that as a result his free throw percentage has gone up to 55 percent, 10 percent higher than when he was a rookie.

Ha is different from his early years, especially his stamina, said Hur Jae, the Egis head coach. He will get better and better over time.

Ha edged out another tall man, Seo Jang-hoon of Incheon ET Land Elephants, in the semi-finals and beat national team teammate Kim Joo-Sung in the finals, making him the best center in the country.

Yet Ha says he is still not satisfied. The Egis player said that he is happy with having won the championship and the MVP title but feels there is more he can do to improve his game.

I feel like I have the world in front of me right now, but this season is not the end, Ha said after the game. Ill be a better player next year, just watch me.



*****************************************************
  SPAIN   


Caja Laboral officially signs Vladimir Dragicevic - by Eurobasket News
Vladimir Dragicevic (206-C/F-86) is set to continue his career in Spain. He passed the medical tests successfully and officially became a new player of Caja Laboral. The Spanish champion decided to reinforce its roster after a series of injuries.
Vladimir Dragicevic started this season with Buducnost Podgorica registering 16.1 ppg and 7 rpg for 27 Adriatic league games. He helped them reach the Semifinals. In EuroCup, Dagicevic had 19 ppg and 4 rpg in four games, while in two Euroleague Qualifications games he averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Dragicevic was a member of Buducnost since 2007. Last season he had 10.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg for 26 games in Adriatic league. He also added 14.2 ppg and 5.6 rpg for 12 EuroChallenge appearances. Before Buducnost, Dragicevic played for Lovcen Cetinje. Lottomatica Roma also showed serious interested for the player recently, but at the end the Spanish champion managed to secure his arrival.

*****************************************************
  SWITZERLAND   


Stats Leaders LNA
Points Per Game
 Mohammed ABUKAR
  Lugano T.
  (208-F-85)
  Avg: 21.1
 1. Abukar, Lugano T.21.1 
 2. Brown, Starwings20.5 
 3. Glover, Boncourt20.3 
 4. Byron, BBC Nyon20.2 
 5. Smith, Fribourg20.1 
 6. Polyblank, Geneve20.1 
 7. Popovich, SAV V.20.0 
 8. Farokhmanesh, SAM19.5 
 9. Reid, Monthey18.5 
 10. Hunte, BBC Nyon18.2 
Rebounds Per Game
 Cruz DANIELS
  BBC Nyon
  (211-C-85)
  Avg: 12.2
 1. Daniels, BBC Nyon12.2 
 2. Thompson, Starw.10.6 
 3. Ofoegbu, SAM M.9.9 
 4. Gugino, Boncourt9.7 
 5. Reid, Monthey8.5 
 6. Dos Santos, Bonco.8.2 
 7. Sloan, Geneve Lio.8.1 
 8. Toure, Geneve Lio.7.8 
 9. Esterkamp, Fribo.7.6 
 10. Smith, Fribourg7.5 
Assists Per Game
 Rickey GIBSON
  SAV Vacallo
  (191-G-84)
  Avg: 7.5
 1. Gibson, SAV Vacallo7.5 
 2. Glover, Boncourt6.3 
 3. Williams, Fribourg6.0 
 4. Angley, Lugano T.4.5 
 5. Brown, Starwings4.5 
 6. Draughan, Lugano4.3 
 7. Hollins, Starwings4.2 
 8. Petkovic, Fribourg4.1 
 9. Ross, Geneve Lions4.1 
 10. Esterkamp, Fribo.4.1 
Steals Per Game
 Rickey GIBSON
  SAV Vacallo
  (191-G-84)
  Avg: 3.9
 1. Gibson, SAV Vacallo3.9 
 2. Glover, Boncourt3.7 
 3. Hunte, BBC Nyon3.0 
 4. Gugino, Boncourt2.6 
 5. Draughan, Lugano2.4 
 6. Angley, Lugano T.2.4 
 7. Farokhmanesh, SAM2.3 
 8. Efevberha, Lugano2.3 
 9. Sharper, Monthey2.1 
 10. Louissaint, Month.2.1 
Blocks Per Game
 Cruz DANIELS
  BBC Nyon
  (211-C-85)
  Avg: 3.3
 1. Daniels, BBC Nyon3.3 
 2. Toure, Geneve Lio.2.2 
 3. Thompson, Starw.2.0 
 4. Lukic, Zurich W.1.7 
 5. Gugino, Boncourt1.5 
 6. Sloan, Geneve Lio.1.4 
 7. Sanders, Lugano T.0.9 
 8. Matter, Starwings0.8 
 9. Moris, Monthey0.8 
 10. Vogt, Fribourg0.8 


*****************************************************
  UKRAINE   


Stats Leaders - Men
Points Per Game
 Steve BURTT
  Dnipro
  (185-G-84)
  Avg: 22.4
 1. Burtt, Dnipro22.4 
 2. Burns, Fe.16.9 
 3. Flores, BC Donetsk16.7 
 4. Washington, BC Od.16.4 
 5. Curry, Azovmash16.2 
 6. Wiggins, Halychyna15.1 
 7. Millage, Khimik14.9 
 8. Love, Mykolaiv14.7 
 9. Fraser, DniproAzot14.5 
 10. Bakic, Kryvbasb.14.5 
Rebounds Per Game
 Michael FRASER
  DniproAzot
  (203-C/F-84)
  Avg: 10.9
 1. Fraser, DniproAzot10.9 
 2. Wiggins, Halychyna9.3 
 3. Burns, Fe.8.4 
 4. Saltovets, BC Kyiv7.6 
 5. Austin, Dnipro7.3 
 6. Morrison, Halyc.7.2 
 7. Owens, Azovmash6.7 
 8. Hunter, Fe.6.6 
 9. Coleman, Hoverla6.6 
 10. Chappell, Hoverla6.6 
Assists Per Game
 Steve BURTT
  Dnipro
  (185-G-84)
  Avg: 5.5
 1. Burtt, Dnipro5.5 
 2. Abernethy, Halyc.5.2 
 3. Zimmerman, Hoverla5.0 
 4. Vasiljevic, BC Do.4.9 
 5. Sparks, BC Odessa4.8 
 6. Funn, Halychyna4.7 
 7. Millage, Khimik4.5 
 8. Brewer, BC Odessa4.5 
 9. Slipenchuk, Kryvba.4.2 
 10. Harris, Fe.3.9 
Steals Per Game
 Curtis MILLAGE
  Khimik
  (185-G-81)
  Avg: 2.4
 1. Millage, Khimik2.4 
 2. Sparks, BC Odessa1.8 
 3. House, Azovmash1.8 
 4. Sirutavicius, Dnip.1.5 
 5. Mazutis, Mykolaiv1.5 
 6. Burns, Fe.1.4 
 7. Chappell, Hoverla1.4 
 8. Sirsnins, DniproAz.1.4 
 9. Love, Mykolaiv1.4 
 10. Burenko, BC Kyiv1.4 
Blocks Per Game
 James HUGHES
  Mykolaiv
  (211-C-83)
  Avg: 2.1
 1. Hughes, Mykolaiv2.1 
 2. Kravtsov, BC Do.1.9 
 3. Hunter, Fe.1.5 
 4. Morrison, Halyc.1.4 
 5. Zaitsev, Kryvbasb.1.4 
 6. Turner, BC Odessa1.3 
 7. Coleman, Hoverla1.3 
 8. Pettway, Dnipro1.2 
 9. Balashov, BC Odes.1.2 
 10. Owens, Azovmash1.1 


Superleague Round 4 of Quarter-Finals. Budivelnyk cruise into semifinals - by Eurobasket News
Dnipro - Budivelnyk 71-86

Budiivelnyk reached Superleague semifinals. They brushed by Dnipro in Dnipropetrovsk. The game was mostly controlled by Budivelnyk. Dnipro managed to win second period 26-22. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. American guard William Keys (188-77, college: N.Mexico St.) fired 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. British center Andrew Betts (216-77, college: Long Beach St.) chipped in 13 points and 6 rebounds. Five Budivelnyk players scored in double figures. Budivelnyk's coach Josep Berrocal used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Steve Burtt (185-84, college: Iona) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 assists and Canadian forward Denham Brown (198-83, college: Connecticut, agency: Edge Sports) added 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side.
Top scorers:
Budivelnyk: W.Keys 16+7reb+6ast, D.Spencer 15+2reb+1ast, A.Betts 13+6reb+2ast, L.Wilson 12+4reb+1ast, M.Anisimovas 10+7reb+1ast, Z.Morley 10+4reb+3ast
Dnipro: S.Burtt 19+1reb+10ast, S.Tymofeyenko 13+2reb+2ast, D.Brown 11+8reb+4ast, M.Kornienko 8+7reb, M.Austin 7+4reb, A.Pettway 5+1reb+1ast
gschID: 127736


Mykolaiv - Hoverla 89-73

Mykolaiv leveled the series versus Hoverla celebrating the second straight win at home court. The game without a history. Mykolaiv led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. Mykolaiv brought some defensive toughness making 9 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Justin Love (188-78, college: St.Louis) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Power forward Ivan Gilyevych (205-82) contributed with 13 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Five Mykolaiv players scored in double figures. American center Eric Coleman (200-85, college: N.Iowa, agency: Hart Sports Mngm) replied with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks and his fellow American import guard Jeremy Chappell (191-87, college: Robert Morris, agency: Hart Sports Mngm) added 13 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Hoverla. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
Top scorers:
Mykolaiv: J.Love 21+10reb+7ast, I.Gilyevych 13+6reb, B.Greene 11+1reb+3ast, O.Onufriyev 10+2reb+4ast, A.Mazutis 10+4reb, L.Iailo 8+2reb+2ast
Hoverla: E.Coleman 21+12reb+2ast, D.Swanson 14+1reb+1ast, J.Chappell 13+5reb+2ast, V.Gerasimchuk 7+5reb, A.Poltoratskiy 6+1reb, D.Zimmerman 5+3reb+4ast
gschID: 127735




*****************************************************
  UNITED KINGDOM   


Garbelotto Grabs Molten BBL Coach Of The Year - by Paul Nilsen
Mersey Tigers play-caller Tony Garbelotto has been voted Molten Coach of the Year after a fine season for the Liverpool club.

The award is voted for by owners of the 12 BBL clubs, and the 42-year-old collects the award for the first time having lifted two trophies so far this season.

The Londoner has now won all four pieces of silverware at the top level of British basketball.

Garbelottos team won a thrilling BBL Championship title with a 25-8 record as the trophy went to Liverpool for the first time.

They completed a double when a dominant second half display saw them overcome Guildford Heat 84-66 in the Franklin & Marshall BBL Trophy final in front of a big crowd at the O2 Arena in London.

The only negative in a season where his side have struggled with injuries but have lost just ten of their 49 games came at the NIA in January as Tigers were hammered 93-66 by One Health Sharks Sheffield in the BBL Cup final.

Garbelotto and his British dominated side will look to gain revenge for that on Saturday when the season reached its finale with the BBL Championship Playoff final against the Sharks.


Jeremy Bell is 2010-11 MVP - by Paul Nilsen

Cheshire Jets' shooting guard Jeremy Bell (183-G-83, college: Williams Baptist) has been named as Molten BBL Most Valuable Player for the 2010/11 season.

The 61 point guard joined the Jets in the summer, and made an immediate impact as he finished top scorers in Championship games with an average of 23 points per game.

The award was voted for by the BBLs 12 head coaches, and 28-year-old Bell came out on top after a stunning debut season in Britain. Bell beat fellow American Trey Moore of Newcastle Eagles and Team GB captain Andrew Sullivan into second and third place respectively.

It is the fifth time that a Jets player has taken the award this century, but the first time since 2005 when Trey Moore took the title.

The Memphis, Arkansas born player went to Williams Baptist College in his home state also dished out 3.7 assists per game as well as 2.03 steals for the Jets as they finished fourth in the BBL Championship and also reached the semi-finals of both the BBL Cup and play-offs.

Bell played in all 33 BBL Championship games for the Jets, averaging just over 38 minutes per game - a league-high - and scored a point every 100 seconds for his side.

Cheshire coach Paul Smith paid tribute to his player: I am really pleased for Jeremy to pick up such a prestigious award in his first season at the club he said.

He is a phenomenal scorer and a tenacious defender. He has been a real pleasure to work with and has proven to be a popular player with the fans.


BBL Team Of The Year Announced - by Paul Nilsen
After casting their respective votes, head coaches across the British Basketball League have joined forces to establish the BBL Team of the year for 2010/11.

Three different clubs provided players for the team, with the only real surprise being that Saturdays BBL Play-off final between One Health Sharks Sheffield and Mersey Tigers will see only one player from the Team on display.

Trey Moore (Newcastle Eagles)
Moore continues to show that he is one of the best players in the BBL with some outstanding performances for the Eagles. An injury in March saw him miss the final seven regular season and all of the play-offs, but during most of the campaign he was in scintillating form. His 22.7 points per game saw him finish with the second highest average in the BBL, but he certainly couldnt be accused of being selfish as he dished out a league-high 6.2 assists per game. He added 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game as narrowly missed out on adding a second BBL MVP award having previously taken the accolade in 2005.

Jeremy Bell (Cheshire Jets)
Bell couldnt have asked for much more from his debut BBL season. The 61 point guard joined the north west club in the summer, and made an immediate impact as he finished top scorers in BBL Championship games with an average of 23 points per game. He also dished out 3.7 assists per game as well as 2.03 steals for the Jets as they finished fourth in the BBL Championship and also reached the semi-finals of both the BBL Cup and play-offs. Bell played in all 33 BBL Championship games for the Jets, averaging just over 38 minutes per game - a league-high - and scored a point every 100 seconds for his side and those numbers persuaded the BBL coaches to vote for him as league MVP as he became the fifth Jets player to take the award in 12 years.

Charles Smith (198-F-75, college: Rider) (Newcastle Eagles)
Now a true veteran of the BBL, Eagles forward Smith continues to be a dominant player for the north east club. Now in his ninth season with Newcastle, Smith finished second in total points scored and third in average points per game in the BBL, averaging 21.3ppg. His accuracy from outside the three-point arc was a key factor in his selection, as he drained 40 percent of his shots and he also pulled down 5.6 rebounds per game. The 35-year-old was one of only four Eagles to play in all 33 BBL Championship games, and he added 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Quemont Greer (Cheshire Jets)
The second member of the Cheshire Jets to be picked for the BBL Team of the year, Greer has also had a great first season in British basketball. Greer finished eighth in the scoring charts, averaging 19.9 points per game and was also a dominant presence on the boards as he pulled down 8.3 rebounds per game to also finish eighth in that category. The 30-year-old De Paul graduate also came up with 1.5 steals and dished out 2.1 assists as Jets challenged at the top of the table.

Andrew Sullivan (Mersey Tigers)
Great Britain captain Andrew Sullivan continued to be one of the stand-out performers in the BBL last season, and added a place in the all-BBL team to his selections for the Defensive Team and British Team. During what has sometimes been a turbulent year for Mersey Tigers, Sullivan has led his team superbly at both ends of the floor with impressive numbers in just about every category showcasing his all-round influence and skill-set. He was a strong contender for BBL MVP and will look to add a third winners medal to his collection for this season on Saturday before again linking up with GB for EuroBasket.



*****************************************************
  VENEZUELA   


LPB 2011 News - Richard Lugo (Bucaneros) was Week 8's MVP - by Francisco Vega
Barquisimeto, Venezuela.- Venezuelan C Richard Lugo (209-C-73) was named Week 8's Most Valuable Player, as he helped Bucaneros de La Guaira get a winning streak on its way with averages of 20.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per match.

Lugo's performance topped others such as Dainmon Gonner (198-F-80) of Toros de Aragua, DeAndre Coleman (201-F-86) of Panteras de Miranda, Clarence Matthews (201-F-83) of Gigantes de Guayana and Ruben Nembhard (191-G-72) of Gaiteros del Zulia.

Meanwhile, David Cubillan (183-PG-87), of Trotamundos de Carabobo, was named Rookie of the Week for the eighth straight week in the LPB 2011 season with averages of 13.0 points and 3.0 assists per game.

LPB 2011 - Week 8 (Apr. 12th): Cocodrilos, Marinos, Trotamundos, Guaiqueries and Bucaneros win - by Francisco Vega
Barquisimeto, Venezuela.- The five top teams in the LPB 2011 regular season standings got important victories. Cocodrilos de Caracas, Guaiqueries de Margarita and Bucaneros de La Guaira did so as visitors, while Trotamundos de Carabobo and Marinos de Anzoategui got them as hosts.

COCODRILOS DE CARACAS 82 - GIGANTES DE GUAYANA 73
Hermanas Gonzalez Arena - Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar

Quarter by quarter
GIG: 16-16-23-18= 73
COC: 28-15-17-22= 82

Scorers
COC: Jesus Centeno 15 points, Jack Martinez 14 points and 9 rebounds, Luis Bethelmy 14 points and 8 rebounds, Juan Herrera 11 points, Carl Elliott 10 points, Kenji Urdaneta 6 points, Tayron Thomas 5 points, Nestor Colmenares 5 points, Windy Graterol 2 points, Keving Palacios 0 points, Henry Paez 0 points, Derson Santos 0 points
GIG: Blake Walker 22 points, Clarence Matthews 13 points, Jose Juan Bravo 12 points and 8 rebounds, Jorge Leon 11 points, Elvis Baez 7 points, Paul Stoll 6 points, 5 assists and 7 steals, Jorge Diaz 2 points, Daniel Macuare 0 points, Jader Fernandez 0 points, Randy Vazquez 0 points, Marlon Patino 0 points, Derwin Ramirez 0 points

BUCANEROS DE LA GUAIRA 96 - TOROS DE ARAGUA 81
Rafael Romero Bolivar Colisseum - Maracay, Aragua

Quarter by quarter
TOR: 20-24-19-18= 81
BUC: 23-23-26-24= 96

Scorers
BUC: Richard Lugo (209-C-73) 25 points and 8 rebounds, Maurice Acker 17 points, Fred Warrick 15 points, Hernan Salcedo 13 points, Heissler Guillent 11 points, Marcus Melvin 8 points and 11 rebounds, Oswaldo Gonzalez 4 points, Alejandro Barrios 3 points, Rafael Guevara 0 points, Luis Julio 0 points, Yonaiker Ecker 0 points, Samuel Marseille 0 points
TOR: Dainmon Gonner 25 points, Jameson Curry 15 points, Alejandro Flores 12 points and 8 rebounds, Ernesto Mijares 7 points, Jesus Urbina 6 points, Robert Palacios 6 points, Alejandro Otaiza 5 points, Jhon Romero 5 points, Johan Pinero 0 points, Rodrigo Rodriguez 0 points, Fernando Lucena 0 points

GUAIQUERIES DE MARGARITA 90 - GUAROS DE LARA 81 (ET)
Domo Bolivariano - Barquisimeto, Lara

Quarter by quarter
GUA: 29-18-18-14-2= 81
GUAI: 12-22-29-16-11= 90

Scorers
GUAI: Rogers Washington 26 points, Carlos Cedeno 20 points, Evan Brock 17 points and 11 rebounds, Steve Thomas 10 points and 9 rebounds, Francisco Sanabria 7 points, Cesar Silva 4 points, Douglas Chiquito 3 points, Tulio Cobos 2 points, Pablo Machado 1 point, Edgar Arteaga 0 points, Carlos Rodriguez 0 points, Jorge Rondon 0 points
GUA: John Millsap 19 points and 7 rebounds, Cordell Henry 18 points, Heberth Bayona 12 points and 8 rebounds, Torraye Braggs 12 points, Leonardo Berroteran 8 points, Kervin Bracho 6 points, Jackson Zapata 4 points and 6 steals, Jose Martinez 2 points, Rene Farias 0 points, Antonio Torcatt 0 points, Sonys Reyes 0 points, Deivis Ananguren 0 points

MARINOS DE ANZOATEGUI 100 - GAITEROS DEL ZULIA 93
Luis Ramos Arena - Puerto La Cruz, Anzoategui

Quarter by quarter
MAR: 27-23-17-33= 100
GAI: 14-19-26-34= 93

Scorers
MAR: Oscar Torres 24 points, Axiers Sucre 20 points and 10 rebounds, Jeremis Smith 10 points, Gregory Vargas 9 points and 9 assists, Maurice Carter 9 points, Leonardo Cappare 9 points, Mark Bortz 8 points and 5 assists, Carlos Morris 7 points, Dennis D'Adezzio 2 points, Manuel Briceno 2 points, Jose Manaure 0 points, Jorge Prada 0 points
GAI: Ruben Nembhard 28 points and 5 assists, Francisco Centeno 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Juan Carlos Rodriguez 18 points, Enielsen Guevara 10 points, Pedro Cubillan 9 points, Jhoyfer Diaz 6 points, Omar Mejias 3 points, Kervis Ramirez 0 points, Jaime Finol 0 points, Morris Sierraalta 0 points

TROTAMUNDOS DE CARABOBO 79 - PANTERAS DE MIRANDA 77
Forum of Valencia - Valencia, Carabobo

Quarter by quarter
TRO: 21-20-23-15= 79
PAN: 19-12-26-20= 77

Scorers
TRO: Robert Gleen 15 points, Carl Edwards 12 points, Rafael Perez 12 points, Tomas Aguilera 12 points, Jose Vargas 11 points, David Cubillan 8 points, Miguel Marriaga 4 points and 7 rebounds, Ryan Wright 3 points, Leiner Zerpa 2 points, Pedro Brito 0 points, Yorbis Umbria 0 points, Javinger Vargas 0 points
PAN: DeAndre Coleman 27 points and 12 rebounds, Victor David Diaz 21 points, Curtis Withers 6 points, Eduardo Torres 6 points, Roque Osorio 5 points and 4 blocks, Manuel Berroteran 4 points and 10 assists, Michael Flores 4 points, Darwin Christopher 2 points, Richard Mejias 2 points, Elvis Burguillos 0 points, Rosmel Blanco 0 points

LPB 2011 - Week 8 (Apr. 15th): Home teams show the way - by Francisco Vega
Barquisimeto, Venezuela.- Guaiqueries de Margarita, Trotamundos de Carabobo, Bucaneros de La Guaira, Gigantes de Guayana and Panteras de Miranda, all playing at home, were able to show the way and defeat their respective rivals in the beginning of the weekend matches in Week 8 of the regular season schedule.

BUCANEROS DE LA GUAIRA 84 - GUAROS DE LARA 80
Jose Maria Vargas Dome - La Guaira, Vargas

Quarter by quarter
BUC: 17-24-23-20= 84
GUA: 17-13-26-24= 80

Scorers
BUC: Fred Warrick 24 points, Heissler Guillent 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, Richard Lugo 11 points and 8 rebounds, Marcus Melvin 11 points and 7 rebounds, Rafael Guevara 6 points, Hernan Salcedo 6 points, Luis Julio 3 points, Calvin Warner 2 points, Alejandro Barrios 2 points, Oswaldo Gonzalez 0 points, Yonaiker Ecker 0 points, Samuel Marseille 0 points
GUA: John Millsap 17 points and 10 rebounds, Cordell Henry 12 points, Heberth Bayona 12 points, Kervin Bracho 10 points and 9 rebounds, Rene Farias 10 points, Torraye Braggs 8 points, Leonardo Berroteran 8 points, Edgar Lugo 3 points, Jackson Zapata 0 points, Jose Martinez 0 points, Antonio Torcatt 0 points, Sonys Reyes 0 points

PANTERAS DE MIRANDA 87 - TOROS DE ARAGUA 80
Jose Joaquin Carrillo Arena - Caracas, D.C.

Quarter by quarter
PAN: 15-21-24-27= 87
TOR: 22-21-14-23=80

Scorers
PAN: DeAndre Coleman 21 points, Victor David Diaz 21 points, Marcus Fleming 18 points and 7 rebounds, Darwin Christopher 11 points, Kojo Mensah 6 points and 8 assists, Roque Osorio 4 points, Eduardo Torres 4 points, Michael Flores 2 points, Manuel Berroteran 0 points, Ludwing Irazabal 0 points, Rosmel Blanco 0 points, Elvis Burguillos 0 points
TOR: Alejandro Flores 31 points and 8 rebounds, Jameson Curry 16 points, Jhon Romero 12 points and 8 rebounds, Ernesto Mijares 11 points, Jesus Urbina 3 points, Alejandro Otaiza 3 points, Jamahr Warren 2 points, Jose Silvera 0 points, Fernando Lucena 0 points, Peter Kvietek 0 points, Rodrigo Rodriguez 0 points

MARINOS DE ANZOATEGUI 91 - TROTAMUNDOS DE CARABOBO 82
Luis Ramos Arena - Puerto La Cruz, Anzoategui

Quarter by quarter
MAR: 38-15-23-15= 91
TRO: 16-19-21-26= 82

Scorers
MAR: Axiers Sucre 24 points, Oscar Torres 20 points, Tre Kelley 19 points, Gregory Vargas 13 points and 6 assists, Dennis D'Adezzio 6 points, Jeremis Smith 3 points, Mark Bortz 3 points, Leonardo Cappare 3 points, Carlos Morris 0 points, Manuel Briceno 0 points, Robert Yriarte 0 points, Jorge Prada 0 points
TRO: David Cubillan 19 points, Jose Vargas 16 points, Carl Edwards 13 points, Rafael Perez 10 points, Robert Gleen 8 points, Miguel Marriaga 5 points, Leiner Zerpa 5 points, Tomas Aguilera 4 points, Ryan Wright 2 points, Pedro Brito 0 points, Yorbis Umbria 0 points

GUAIQUERIES DE MARGARITA 76 - COCODRILOS DE CARACAS 59
Ciudad de La Asuncion Arena - La Asuncion, Nueva Esparta

Quarter by quarter
GUAI: 26-8-22-20= 76
COC: 14-16-11-18= 59

Scorers
GUAI: Rogers Washington (198-F-77) 26 points, Carlos Cedeno 15 points, Steve Thomas 11 points and 7 rebounds, Cesar Silva 9 points, Francisco Centeno 8 points, Evan Brock 7 points and 9 rebounds, Tulio Cobos 0 points, Pablo Machado 0 points, Francisco Sanabria 0 points, Edgar Arteaga 0 points, Douglas Chiquito 0 points, Jorge Rondon 0 points
COC: Carl Elliott 11 points, Tayron Thomas 8 points, Kenji Urdaneta 8 points, Juan Herrera 6 points, Jesus Centeno 6 points, Windy Graterol 6 points, Jack Martinez 5 points and 12 rebounds, Nestor Colmenares 5 points, Luis Bethelmi 4 points, Keving Palacios 0 points, Henry Paez 0 points, Derson Santos 0 points

GIGANTES DE GUAYANA 85 - GAITEROS DEL ZULIA 69
Hermanas Gonzalez Arena - Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar

Quarter by quarter
GIG: 24-17-23-21= 85
GAI: 13-23-14-19= 69

Scorers
GIG: Andrew Feeley 25 points, Paul Stoll 16 points and 6 assists, Blake Walker 14 points, Derwin Ramirez 8 points, Jose Juan Bravo 7 points, Randy Vazquez 4 points, Jorge Diaz 3 points, Elvis Baez 2 points, Jorge Leon 2 points, Daniel Macuare 2 points, Jose Ramos 2 points, Jader Fernandez 0 points
GAI: Jhoyfer Diaz 17 points, Ruben Nembhard 15 points, Pedro Cubillan 11 points, Omar Mejias 10 points, Morris Sierraalta 8 points, Juan Carlos Rodriguez 6 points, Enielsen Guevara 2 points, Jaime Finol 0 points, Kervis Ramirez 0 points

LPB 2011 - Week 8 (Apr. 13th): Marinos and Cocodrilos with easy sweeps - by Francisco Vega
Barquisimeto, Venezuela.- The five top teams in the LPB 2011 regular season standings got important victories. Cocodrilos de Caracas, Guaiqueries de Margarita and Bucaneros de La Guaira did so as visitors, while Trotamundos de Carabobo and Marinos de Anzoategui got them as hosts.

COCODRILOS DE CARACAS 107 - GIGANTES DE GUAYANA 81
Hermanas Gonzalez Arena - Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar

Quarter by quarter
GIG: 8-17-28-28= 81
COC: 31-20-30-26= 107

Scorers
COC: Jack Michael Martinez (203-F/C-81) 21 points, Tayron Thomas (191-PG-84) 19 points, Luis Bethelmi (200-C-86) 13 points
GIG: Clarence Matthews (201-F-83) 31 points, Derwin Ramirez (191-F-82) 16 points

MARINOS DE ANZOATEGUI 98 - GAITEROS DEL ZULIA 74
Luis Ramos Arena - Puerto La Cruz, Anzoategui

Quarter by quarter
MAR: 27-28-16-27= 98
GAI: 12-23-18-21= 74

Scorers
MAR: Carlos Morris (194-G-76) 16 points, Mark Bortz 14 points and 7 rebounds, Gregory Vargas 12 points and 9 assists, Dennis D'Adezzio 11 points, Axiers Sucre 11 points and 8 rebounds, Maurice Carter 9 points, Jeremis Smith 8 points, Leonardo Cappare 6 points, Oscar Torres 5 points and 6 assists, Manuel Briceno 4 points, Jose Manaure 2 points, Jorge Prada 0 points
GAI: Ruben Nembhard (191-G-72) 20 points, Francisco Centeno 11 points, Omar Mejias 11 points, Enielsen Guevara 9 points, Pedro Cubillan 7 points, Jhoyfer Diaz 6 points, Juan Carlos Rodriguez 6 points, Morris Sierraalta 4 points, Kervis Ramirez 0 points, Jaime Finol 0 points



LPB 2011 - Week 8 (Apr. 16th): Cocodrilos splits, other home teams swept their series - by Francisco Vega
Barquisimeto, Venezuela.- Cocodrilos de Caracas got a series split in their visit to Margarita Island to face Guaiqueries de Margarita, while other home teams such as Bucaneros de La Guaira, Gigantes de Guayana, Panteras de Miranda and Marinos de Anzoategui were able to sweep their respective series at home.

BUCANEROS DE LA GUAIRA 104 - GUAROS DE LARA 103 (ET)
Jose Maria Vargas Dome - La Guaira, Vargas

Quarter by quarter
BUC: 18-21-19-31-15= 104
GUA: 19-24-23-23-14= 103

Scorers
BUC: Fred Warrick (195-G/F-76) 30 points, Richard Lugo 21 points, Hernan Salcedo 20 points
GUA: John Millsap 22 points, Cordell Henry 22 points, Heberth Bayona 14 points

PANTERAS DE MIRANDA 94 - TOROS DE ARAGUA 87
Jose Joaquin Carrillo Arena - Caracas, D.C.

Quarter by quarter
PAN: 24-25-21-24= 94
TOR: 19-22-21-25= 87

Scorers
PAN: DeAndre Coleman 24 points and 10 rebounds, Kojo Mensah 21 points and 9 rebounds, Marcus Fleming 18 points and 11 rebounds, Victor David Diaz 14 points, Eduardo Torres 7 points, Darwin Christopher 6 points, Michael Flores 3 points, Roque Osorio 1 point, Ludwing Irazabal 0 points, Elvis Burguillos 0 points, Rosmel Blanco 0 points, Manuel Berroteran 0 points
TOR: Jameson Curry 29 poins, Alejandro Flores 18 points and 8 rebounds, Jhon Romero 10 points, Kervis Ramirez 10 points, Jamahr Warren 7 points, Ernesto Mijares 7 points, Robert Palacios 2 points, Peter Kvietek 2 points, Alejandro Otaiza 0 points, Fernando Lucena 0 points, Rodrigo Rodriguez 0 points

MARINOS DE ANZOATEGUI 86 - TROTAMUNDOS DE CARABOBO 69
Luis Ramos Arena - Puerto La Cruz, Anzoategui

Quarter by quarter
MAR: 12-29-18-27= 86
TRO: 20-11-20-18= 69

Scorers
MAR: Tre Kelley 20 points, Oscar Torres 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jeremis Smith 11 points and 8 rebounds, Carlos Morris 10 points, Mark Bortz 10 points, Gregory Vargas 8 points and 9 assists, Leonardo Cappare 5 points, Axiers Sucre 3 points, Jorge Prada 2 points, Manuel Briceno 0 points, Dennis D'Adezzio 0 points, Robert Yriarte 0 points
TRO: Raymond Sykes 17 points and 9 rebounds, Carl Edwards 16 points, David Cubillan 10 points, Jose Vargas 8 points, Miguel Marriaga 6 points and 7 rebounds, Rafael Perez 6 points, Robert Gleen 4 points, Tomas Aguilera 2 points, Leinert Zerpa 0 points, Pedro Brito 0 points, Yorbis Umbria 0 points

COCODRILOS DE CARACAS 74 - GUAIQUERIES DE MARGARITA 65
Ciudad de La Asuncion Arena - La Asuncion, Nueva Esparta

Quarter by quarter
GUAI: 17-16-17-15= 65
COC: 15-11-21-27= 74

Scorers
COC: Jack Martinez 19 points and 7 rebounds, Juan Herrera 16 points, Carl Elliott 13 points, Luis Bethelmi 12 points, Tayron Thomas 6 points, Jesus Centeno 3 points, Henry Paez 2 points, Keving Palacios 2 points, Kenji Urdaneta 1 point, Nestor Colmenares 0 points, Windy Graterol 0 points, Derson Santos 0 points
GUAI: Carlos Cedeno 14 points, Cesar Silva 11 points, Francisco Centeno 9 points, Steve Thomas 8 points and 7 rebounds, Rogers Washington 7 points, Evan Brock 6 points, Francisco Sanabria 4 points, Tulio Cobos 4 points, Pablo Machado 2 points, Edgar Arteaga 0 points, Douglas Chiquito 0 points, Jorge Rondon 0 points

GIGANTES DE GUAYANA 97 - GAITEROS DEL ZULIA 82
Hermanas Gonzalez Arena - Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar

Quarter by quarter
GIG: 22-20-24-31= 97
GAI: 16-20-21-25= 82

Scorers
GIG: Paul Stoll 26 points and 7 assists, Blake Walker 18 points, Jose Juan Bravo 15 points, Andrew Feeley 12 points and 13 rebounds, Jose Ramos 8 points, Jorge Leon 6 points, Derwin Ramirez 6 points, Jorge Diaz 3 points, Daniel Macuare 2 points, Douglas Rodriguez 1 point, Jader Fernandez 0 points, Elvis Baez 0 points
GAI: Jhoyfer Diaz 18 points, Omar Mejias 18 points, Ruben Nembhard 17 points, Pedro Cubillan 10 points, Morris Sierraalta 7 points, Julio Miglionico 6 points, Jaime Finol 4 points and 9 rebounds, Juan Carlos Rodriguez 2 points, Lenin Lopez 0 points

Standings - LPB
LPB Standings
 1. Cocodrilos 22-6 
 2. Marinos 22-6 
 3. Trotamundos 19-10 
 4. Bucaneros 15-14 
 5. Guaiqueries 14-13 
 6. Gigantes 14-15 
 7. Panteras 14-16 
 8. Toros 11-19 
 9. Guaros 9-19 
 10. Gaiteros 4-26 




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Women News

*****************************************************
  AUSTRALIA - Women  


Lauren Jackson to skip part of 2012 WNBA season - by Eurobasket News
Reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson (6'5''-F/C-81) will skip the first half of the 2012 WNBA season to focus on training with the Australian national team in preparation for the London Olympics.

The Storm say the agreement announced Tuesday came after negotiations with Jackson's representatives and Basketball Australia.

Jackson has three Olympic silver medals playing for Australia, losing all three times to the United States in the gold medal game. Jackson will join the Storm after the Olympics, which are scheduled to end on Aug. 11, 2012.

Jackson has played her entire WNBA career for Seattle and led the Storm to a second league title last season. She is also a three-time league MVP.

Courtesy of www.seattlepi.com

*****************************************************
  BAHRAIN - Women  


Qatar overcome Bahrain for GCC Championship trophy - by Eurobasket News
Qatar - Bahrain 66:40

Qatar earned the top position in the inaugural GCC Championship in Doha. The hosts celebrated four wins in as many games played. Warda Mourgam scored 18 points to lead Qatar to the fourth win at the tournament.
The hosts started the game aggressively. They accounted for 18 points in the opening frame and recorded a 6-point lead. Qatar stayed in front throughout the second frame and registered a 30:22 lead at halftime. The home team outgunned their opponents 23:12 in the third stanza and rallied to a comfortable win at the end. Hayat Ali contributed 16 points for the winners. Mariam Hedar responded with 13 points for Bahrain. Fatima Hassan had 8 points in the loss and Bahrain finished at 2-2 record in the third place.

Qatar: Warda Mourgam 18, Hayat Ali 16, Amal Mohd 9
Bahrain: Mariam Hedar 13, Fatima Hassan 8


*****************************************************
  BELGIUM - Women  


D1 Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Sara LEEMANS
  Sint K.
  (178-G/F-88)
  Avg: 20.3
 1. Leemans, Sint K.20.3 
 2. Tatham, Point C.18.4 
 3. Meesseman, Ieper18.0 
 4. Dennett, Sint K.16.8 
 5. VanMalderen, Dexia.16.5 
 6. Decroos, BBC Boom15.7 
 7. Gaither, Dexia N.15.1 
 8. Wilkins, Point Cha.15.1 
 9. Mayombo, Point C.14.8 
 10. Blommaers, Houth.13.7 
Rebounds Per Game
 Emma MEESSEMAN
  Ieper
  (188-C-93)
  Avg: 11.1
 1. Meesseman, Ieper11.1 
 2. Dennett, Sint K.10.1 
 3. Wilkins, Point Cha.9.0 
 4. Tatham, Point C.8.9 
 5. Gaither, Dexia N.8.8 
 6. Kurtozi, R.Spirou.8.6 
 7. Van Respaill., War.8.0 
 8. Deyaert, Waregem7.7 
 9. Malfait, Jeugd G.7.2 
 10. Maes, Deerlijk7.1 
Assists Per Game
 Sara LEEMANS
  Sint K.
  (178-G/F-88)
  Avg: 3.2
 1. Leemans, Sint K.3.2 
 2. Mayombo, Point C.2.2 
 3. Ballau, R.Spirou.2.1 
 4. Van Dessel, Sint K.2.0 
 5. Vanloo, Waregem1.9 
 6. Deyaert, Waregem1.8 
 7. Van Driel, BBC B.1.8 
 8. Devliegher, Ieper1.8 
 9. Blommaers, Houth.1.8 
 10. Degels, Jeugd G.1.8 
Steals Per Game
 Emma MEESSEMAN
  Ieper
  (188-C-93)
  Avg: 2.4
 1. Meesseman, Ieper2.4 
 2. Mayombo, Point C.2.2 
 3. Gaither, Dexia N.2.2 
 4. Van De Bruae., Dee.2.1 
 5. Leemans, Sint K.2.1 
 6. Van den Vond., BBC.2.0 
 7. Ballau, R.Spirou.2.0 
 8. Van Driel, BBC B.2.0 
 9. Celus, Sint Kateli.2.0 
 10. Deyaert, Waregem1.9 
Blocks Per Game
 Emma MEESSEMAN
  Ieper
  (188-C-93)
  Avg: 2.8
 1. Meesseman, Ieper2.8 
 2. Boonen, BBC Boom1.8 
 3. Dennett, Sint K.1.7 
 4. Kurtozi, R.Spirou.1.1 
 5. Lentacker, Jeugd G.0.9 
 6. Malfait, Jeugd G.0.8 
 7. Van Respaill., War.0.8 
 8. VanMalderen, Dexia.0.8 
 9. Gaither, Dexia N.0.8 
 10. Raman, Waregem0.7 


*****************************************************
  CHINA - Women  


Sky to play Chinese National Women's Team in preseason game - by Eurobasket News
The Chicago Sky announced today it will host the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team in a preseason game at Trinity College in Deerfield, Ill on May 23 at 11:30 a.m.
A leading power in women's basketball in Asia, the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team currently ranks eighth in the world according to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). China, the host nation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, reached the semifinals in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

'The Chinese National team is always one of the more competitive teams in international play, and it has earned them a Top 10 world ranking,' said Pokey Chatman, Head Coach and General Manager of the Sky. 'They will showcase a style of play that will be a challenge, but also be good preparation for our upcoming season.'

As part of its 2011 international tour, the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team is scheduled to play additional WNBA preseason games and scrimmages during the month of May against the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.

This is the latest cooperation between the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) who have a long history of working together to grow the game of basketball in China. Last season, the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team played three preseason games in the U.S. against the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, San Antonio Silver Stars and Phoenix Mercury.

Courtesy of www.oursportscentral.com

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  CROATIA - Women  


Gospic steal homecourt advantage with Game One win - by Zeljko Zule
Defending champion Gospic CO took game 1 from Sibenik Jolly JBS, and home court advantage, with a thorough 84-66 win. Gospic was led by Jelena Ivezic (184-G-84) who scored 19 points, Maurita Reid added 15 and Ivana Jurcevic 11. Gospic led 28-18 after the first quarter and by 59-44 going into the final period. Ana Misura had 14 points for Sibenik and Lindsey Wilson had 13 points.
2001 Finals - Game1 (best of five): Sibenik Jolly JBS-Gospic CO 66-74 (Cakic 9, Lokas 3, Stampalija 7, Misura 14, Semren 1, Wilson 13, Vasovic 9, Ivankovic 10 - Ivezic 19, Mandir 9, Reid 15, Jurcevic 11, Aleksic 3, A.Vrsaljko 2, Pavetic 6, Maslowski 9).
Game 2 is Saturday in Gospic.



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  GERMANY - Women  


Eurobasket.com All-German DBBL Awards 2010-11 - by Karol
All-German DBBL 1st Team
#s#
Sequoia Holmes
Holmes
Yvonne Turner
Turner
Sarah Hayes
Hayes
Candace Williams
Williams
Mirna Paunovic
Paunovic
#e#5

Player of the Year: Sequoia Holmes (185-F-86) of Wasserburg
Guard of the Year: Sarah Hayes (173-G-84) of Freiburg
Forward of the Year: Sequoia Holmes (185-F-86) of Wasserburg
Center of the Year: Mirna Paunovic (185-F/C-76) of Freiburg
Bosman Player of the Year: Mirna Paunovic (185-F/C-76) of Freiburg
Import Player of the Year: Sequoia Holmes (185-F-86) of Wasserburg
Domestic Player of the Year: Margret Skuballa (186-F-87) of Marburg
Defensive Player of the Year: Sequoia Holmes (185-F-86) of Wasserburg
Coach of the Year: Hans Brei of Wasserburg

1st Team
G: Yvonne Turner (174-87) of Freiburg
G: Sarah Hayes (173-84) of Freiburg
F: Sequoia Holmes (185-86) of Wasserburg
F: Candace Williams (183-88) of Leipzig
F/C: Mirna Paunovic (185-76) of Freiburg

2nd Team
G: Tiffany Porter-Talbert (175-84) of Wasserburg
C: Dasa Rajecka (189-87) of Donau-Ries
F: Margret Skuballa (186-87) of Marburg
G/F: Jahzinga Tracey (185) of Freiburg
G/F: Ofa Tulikihihifo (180-84) of Wolfenbuettel

Honorable Mention
Tyresa Smith (178-F-85) of Saarlouis
Amanda Rego (170-G-86) of Donau-Ries
Morgan Henderson (185-F-88) of Donau-Ries
Tamara Tatham (187-F-85) of Halle
Brianne O'Rourke (171-G-87) of Chemnitz
Melissa Jeltema (175-G-88) of Chemnitz

All-Domestic Players Team
C: Lisa Koop (197-85) of Marburg
F: Margret Skuballa (186-87) of Marburg
C/F: Sabine Loewe (191-82) of Donau-Ries
G: Stina Barnert (174-89) of Saarlouis
G: Dorothea Richter (176-83) of Donau-Ries

All-Imports Team
F: Shanara Hollinquest (183-88) of Saarlouis
F: Sequoia Holmes (185-86) of Wasserburg
F: Candace Williams (183-88) of Leipzig
G: Yvonne Turner (174-87) of Freiburg
G: Sarah Hayes (173-84) of Freiburg

All-Bosmans Team
F/G: Rebecca Thoresen (178-78) of Wasserburg
F/C: Mirna Paunovic (185-76) of Freiburg
C: Dasa Rajecka (189-87) of Donau-Ries
G: Michaela Abelova (185-85) of Halle
G: Katarina Flasarova (171-85) of Wolfenbuettel



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  JAPAN - Women  


Phoenix Mercury sign G Yuko Oga - by Eurobasket News
The defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday signed Japan native Yuko Oga (170-G-82) to a training camp contract.

If the 25-year-old Oga makes the team, she will become the second Japanese player in league history. The other was Mikiko Hagiwara, who played in the WNBA in 1997-1998.

Oga, who lived in Los Angeles when she was a child, is recognized as one of the top female athletes in Japan. She became a member of the JOMO Sunflowers in 2001 and has led the team to four Womens Japanese Basketball League titles.

Oga was named the leagues Most Valuable Player this season, leading the WJBL in assists (7.1) and steals (2.4) and ranking fourth in scoring (15.6).

Yuko is a point guard who will thrive in our up-tempo offense, Mercury coach Corey Gaines said. Her experience playing international ball and her quickness will help her fit in with our system.

Courtesy of Yahoo

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  KAZAKHSTAN - Women  


Irtysh are new Kazakh champions - by Eurobasket News
Astana Tigers - Irtysh 64:71

Irtysh earned D1 title. They overcame Astana Tigers in the decisive fifth game of the championship series. Angelina Yuskova (170-G-90) was once again unstoppable for Irtysh as she unleashed 35 points and collected 6 rebounds in the victory.
Astana Tigers led by three points at the end of the first quarter 19:16. But Irtysh gradually took over. They narrowed the deficit at just a single point 34:35 at halftime. Irtysh surged ahead in the third term. Relying mainly on Angelina Yuskova Irtysh rolled to a 53:50 lead with one quarter to go. Irtysh outscored the hosts 18:14 in the final period and celebrated the title at the end. Anna Vinokurova (191-C-92) added 10 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Elena Doc (178-F-89) replied with answered with 18 points for Astana. Elena Hustnitdinova (172-G-85) delivered 16 points in the loss.

Astana Tigers: Elena Doc 18, Elena Hustnitdinova 16
Irtysh: Angelina Yuskova 35, Anna Vinokurova 10, Yuliya Korotkaya (175-G-77) 9


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  KUWAIT - Women  


Kuwait topple Oman for the first win in Doha - by Eurobasket News
Kuwait - Oman 47:24

Kuwait finished their GCC Championship campaign on a high note. They held off Oman to earn the first win at the tournament. Kuwait finished at 1-3 record in the fourth position, while Oman stayed winless at 0-4.
Kuwait led from the start in this one. They posted a 15:4 lead after ten minutes. Oman came up with arguably their best quarter then outscoring Kuwait and narrowing the deficit at 9 points 14:23. But Kuwait quickly regained control as they built a 37:20 lead with one quarter to go. Oman scored only 4 points in the final stanza as Kuwait rallied to the victory at the end. Mariam Ali nailed 10 points for Kuwait. Esha Adnan and Hanan Mohd had 8 points apiece in the victory. Hiba Saeed answered with 13 points for Oman. Gohaina Ali accounted for 4 points in the losing effort.

Kuwait: Mariam Ali 10, Esha Adnan 8, Hanan Mohd 8
Oman: Hiba Saeed 13, Gohaina Ali 4


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  OMAN - Women  


Kuwait topple Oman for the first win in Doha - by Eurobasket News
Kuwait - Oman 47:24

Kuwait finished their GCC Championship campaign on a high note. They held off Oman to earn the first win at the tournament. Kuwait finished at 1-3 record in the fourth position, while Oman stayed winless at 0-4.
Kuwait led from the start in this one. They posted a 15:4 lead after ten minutes. Oman came up with arguably their best quarter then outscoring Kuwait and narrowing the deficit at 9 points 14:23. But Kuwait quickly regained control as they built a 37:20 lead with one quarter to go. Oman scored only 4 points in the final stanza as Kuwait rallied to the victory at the end. Mariam Ali nailed 10 points for Kuwait. Esha Adnan and Hanan Mohd had 8 points apiece in the victory. Hiba Saeed answered with 13 points for Oman. Gohaina Ali accounted for 4 points in the losing effort.

Kuwait: Mariam Ali 10, Esha Adnan 8, Hanan Mohd 8
Oman: Hiba Saeed 13, Gohaina Ali 4


*****************************************************
  QATAR - Women  


Qatar overcome Bahrain for GCC Championship trophy - by Eurobasket News
Qatar - Bahrain 66:40

Qatar earned the top position in the inaugural GCC Championship in Doha. The hosts celebrated four wins in as many games played. Warda Mourgam scored 18 points to lead Qatar to the fourth win at the tournament.
The hosts started the game aggressively. They accounted for 18 points in the opening frame and recorded a 6-point lead. Qatar stayed in front throughout the second frame and registered a 30:22 lead at halftime. The home team outgunned their opponents 23:12 in the third stanza and rallied to a comfortable win at the end. Hayat Ali contributed 16 points for the winners. Mariam Hedar responded with 13 points for Bahrain. Fatima Hassan had 8 points in the loss and Bahrain finished at 2-2 record in the third place.

Qatar: Warda Mourgam 18, Hayat Ali 16, Amal Mohd 9
Bahrain: Mariam Hedar 13, Fatima Hassan 8


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  RUSSIA - Women  


Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
 Ana DABOVIC
  Dy.
  (183-G/F-89)
  Avg: 19.5
 1. Dabovic, Dy.19.5 
 2. Charles, Nadezhda.19.1 
 3. Davenport, Cheva.17.7 
 4. Lacy, Spartak SP17.1 
 5. Harding, Dynamo K.16.1 
 6. Parker, UMMC15.9 
 7. Kuzina, Dynamo M.15.6 
 8. Snow, Dynamo K.14.1 
 9. Petrakova, Cheva.13.6 
 10. Mosch, Dy.13.6 
Rebounds Per Game
 Tina CHARLES
  Nadezhda.
  (193-C-88)
  Avg: 9.5
 1. Charles, Nadezhda.9.5 
 2. Davenport, Cheva.8.9 
 3. Myasoedova, Dynam.8.8 
 4. Veremeenko, Nadez.8.0 
 5. Stepanova, UMMC7.7 
 6. Psareva, Dynamo M.7.1 
 7. Petrakova, Cheva.6.5 
 8. Tolikova, Spart.6.5 
 9. Cherepanova, Chev.6.4 
 10. Snow, Dynamo K.6.3 
Assists Per Game
 Becky HAMMON
  Nadezhda.
  (168-G-77)
  Avg: 5.1
 1. Hammon, Nadezhda.5.1 
 2. Dabovic, Dy.5.1 
 3. Dumerc, UMMC4.0 
 4. Pondexter, UMMC3.7 
 5. Moore, Chevakata3.6 
 6. Johnson, Dynamo K.3.4 
 7. Linkeviciene, Dyna.3.4 
 8. Harding, Dynamo K.3.1 
 9. Keyru, Spartak SP3.1 
 10. Ciglar, Spartak SP3.1 
Steals Per Game
 Loree MOORE
  Chevakata
  (176-G-83)
  Avg: 3.1
 1. Moore, Chevakata3.1 
 2. Prince, Spartak2.4 
 3. Linkeviciene, Dyna.2.2 
 4. Dabovic, Dy.2.2 
 5. Vodopiyanova, Dyn.2.2 
 6. Keyru, Spartak SP2.0 
 7. Khodzhayan, Spart.1.9 
 8. Ivanova, Spartak1.9 
 9. Nevzorova, Spart.1.9 
 10. Milanovich, Spart.1.8 
Blocks Per Game
 Anastasiya VEREMEENKO
  Nadezhda.
  (192-C-87)
  Avg: 2.5
 1. Veremeenko, Nadez.2.5 
 2. Myasoedova, Dynam.2.0 
 3. Kuzina, Dynamo M.1.3 
 4. Snow, Dynamo K.1.2 
 5. Davenport, Cheva.1.1 
 6. Parker, UMMC1.1 
 7. Paskalenko, Spart.0.9 
 8. Loginova, Spart.0.8 
 9. Kiseleva, Chevaka.0.8 
 10. Stepanova, UMMC0.7 


UMMC triumph in the Final series with three consecutive wins over Spartak! - by Eurobasket News
FINAL
Spartak V MR - UMMC 70-75

UMMC clinched 2010/2011 title! After two wins at home UMMC added 75:70 road win to weep the series. It looked good early as Spartak Vidnoye took an 8-point lead at the end of first quarter. But then UMMC Ekaterinburg took control winning next two quarters and eventually winning the game that evening by 5 points. It was a good game for American power forward Candace Parker (193-86, college: Tennessee) who led her team to a victory with 20 points. International center Maria Stepanova (202-79) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. American power forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin (189-70, college: St.Edward's, agency: Josep and Nicolas) answered with 21 points and 6 rebounds and international forward Irina Osipova (196-81) added 13 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for Spartak Vidnoye. Five UMMC Ekaterinburg and four Spartak Vidnoye players scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Spartak V MR: T.McWilliams-Franklin 21+6reb+1ast, S.Bird 16+2ast, E.Prince 14+2reb+2ast, I.Osipova 13+11reb+2ast, S.Petrovic 4+1reb, I.Korstine 2+4reb+1ast
UMMC: C.Parker 20+3reb+3ast, C.Pondexter 15+2reb+2ast, C.Dumerc 14+7ast, D.Nolan 13+5reb+2ast, M.Stepanova 11+11reb+2ast, S.Gruda 2+2reb



3rd place
Dynamo K. - Nadezhda O. 68-78

The guests trailed by 4 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 3-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 78-68. Nadezhda Orenburg made 23-of-27 free shots (85.2 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was the former international forward Elena Baranova (194-72) who scored 8 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Belarusian center Anastasiya Veremeenko (192-87) chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Svetlana Maksimenko (183-82, agency: LBM Management) who recorded 14 points and 8 rebounds and American center Michelle Snow (196-80, college: Tennessee, agency: LBM Management) added 15 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures.
Top scorers:
Dynamo K.: M.Snow 15+5reb+1ast, S.Maksimenko 14+8reb+1ast, S.Linkeviciene 11+6reb+3ast, N.Vodopiyanova 11+7reb+2ast, T.Johnson 7+4reb+7ast, K.Lapteva 6+2reb+2ast
Nadezhda O.: L.Sapova 15+5reb+1ast, T.Burik 14+2ast, A.Veremeenko 13+9reb+2ast, E.Berseneva 12+3reb+3ast, O.Zakalyuzhnaya 8+2reb, E.Baranova 8+11reb+7ast

gschID: 127630



gschID: 127631




*****************************************************
  SLOVAKIA - Women  


Dobri Anjeli sweep MBK Ruzomberok in the Finals, win seventh straight title - by Eurobasket News
Finals, Game 3: Dobri Anjeli - MBK Ruzomberok 78-63

Dobri Anjeli won the seventh straight Extraliga title. The team from Kosice swept MBK Ruzomberok in the Finals with perfect 3-0, including 78-63 win last night in Game Three. Lucia Kupcikova (184-F-84) was the leading player of this meeting with 19 points. Ashley Shields (178-G-85, college: SW Tenn.St.CC) had 15 and Erin Marie Lawless (188-F-85, agency: LBM Management, college: Purdue) added two points less. In the loosing squad, Smith top-scored with 19 points. Katarina Tetemondova (185-F-88) stopped to 10 pts. Visitors were slightly better at the beginning as they won the first period with 16-17, but it was all from them last night. Dobri Anjeli improved until the halftime and took 40-32 lead. Nothing has changed after that as there was just one team playing on the court and it was Dobri Anjeli. They smashed Ruza 29-13 in third period and it was already clear who the winner of the night will be. Dobri Anjeli slowed down in Q4, what MBK Ruzomberok used to cut the margin for 9 points but that was all. Dobri Anjeli celebrated 78-63 win for their seventh straight title in Slovakia.

Dobri Anjeli: Lucia Kupcikova 19, Ashley Shields 15, Erin Marie Lawless 13
MBK Ruzomberok: Smith 19, Katarina Tetemondova 10

*****************************************************
  SPAIN - Women  


Stats Leaders - LFB
Points Per Game
 Eshaya Marie MURPHY
  Mariana
  (180-G/F-85)
  Avg: 25.5
 1. Murphy, Mariana25.5 
 2. Brunson, Ros C.16.6 
 3. Valdemoro, Rivas E.15.9 
 4. Ferrari, Mariana15.5 
 5. Bonner, Rivas E.15.3 
 6. Traore, Olesa15.3 
 7. Sliskovic, Real C.15.0 
 8. Chones, Navarra15.0 
 9. Traore, Cadi la Seu14.0 
 10. Douglas, Ros C.13.8 
Rebounds Per Game
 Gisela VEGA
  Girona
  (188-C-82)
  Avg: 9.6
 1. Vega, Girona9.6 
 2. Brunson, Ros C.8.7 
 3. DeSouza, Perfumer.8.5 
 4. Paris, Rivas Ecopo.8.5 
 5. Lyttle, Perfumer.8.4 
 6. Sliskovic, Real C.8.2 
 7. Vega, Mariana8.2 
 8. Murphy, Mariana7.8 
 9. Ress, Gran Canaria7.7 
 10. Staknevicien., Re.7.3 
Assists Per Game
 Paola FERRARI
  Mariana
  (178-G/F-85)
  Avg: 4.2
 1. Ferrari, Mariana4.2 
 2. Morales, Ibiza3.7 
 3. Ocete, Mariana3.6 
 4. Infantes, Olesa3.6 
 5. Sanchez, Gran C.3.2 
 6. Thorburn, Ibiza3.1 
 7. Lacy, Hondar.-Irun3.1 
 8. Ouvina, Mann Filter3.0 
 9. Jordana, Real C.2.9 
 10. Palau, Ros Casar.2.9 
Steals Per Game
 Eshaya Marie MURPHY
  Mariana
  (180-G/F-85)
  Avg: 2.5
 1. Murphy, Mariana2.5 
 2. Lacy, Hondar.-Irun2.1 
 3. Lyttle, Perfumer.2.0 
 4. Thorburn, Ibiza1.9 
 5. Bermejo, Rivas E.1.8 
 6. Morales, Ibiza1.8 
 7. Sanchez, Gran C.1.7 
 8. Ouvina, Mann Filter1.7 
 9. Sousa, Extrugasa1.6 
 10. Zlatanova, Mann1.6 
Blocks Per Game
 Olga PODKOVALNIKOVA
  Olesa
  (195-C-84)
  Avg: 1.3
 1. Podkovalniko., Ole.1.3 
 2. Henry, Mann Filter1.3 
 3. DeSouza, Perfumer.1.1 
 4. Denti, Olesa1.0 
 5. Kerr, Olesa0.9 
 6. Lacy, Hondar.-Irun0.8 
 7. Bavendam, Hondar.-.0.7 
 8. Brunson, Ros C.0.7 
 9. Lyttle, Perfumer.0.6 
 10. Paris, Rivas Ecop.0.6 


*****************************************************
  UNITED KINGDOM - Women  


EBL Stats Leaders
EBL Stats Leaders
Points Per Game
1 Dwyer, Abbey 22.7
2 Gandy, Hatters 22.1
3 Hardy, Wildcats 20.0
4 Clark, Northumb. 19.9
5 Naylor, Hatters 17.9
Rebounds Per Game
1 Clark, Northumb. 14.0
2 Hoffman, Archers 11.3
3 Hardy, Wildcats 10.3
4 Yea, Suns 8.9
5 Gandy, Hatters 8.3
Assists Per Game
1 Hutchinson, Hatters 5.8
2 Clark, Northumb. 4.3
3 Allen, Wildcats 4.1
4 Dwyer, Abbey 4.0
5 Collins, Archers 3.5


Eurobasket.com All-English EBL Awards 2010-11 - by Greg
All-English EBL 1st Team 2010-2011
#s#
Stephanie Gandy
Gandy
Stefanie Collins
Collins
Ta
Clark
Meagan Hoffman
Hoffman
Kisha Lee
Lee
#e#5

Player of the Year: Stephanie Gandy (178-F-82) of Sheffield Hatters
Guard of the Year: Stefanie Collins (174-G-82) of UWIC Archers
Forward of the Year: Stephanie Gandy (178-F-82) of Sheffield Hatters
Center of the Year: Kisha Lee (181-F/C-85) of Sheffield Hatters
Bosman Player of the Year: Niamh Dwyer (176-G-82) of Barking Abbey
Import Player of the Year: Ta'Yani Clark (173-G-86) of Northumbria
Domestic Player of the Year: Stephanie Gandy (178-F-82) of Sheffield Hatters
Coach of the Year: Vanessa Ellis of Sheffield Hatters

1st Team
G: Stefanie Collins (174-82) of UWIC Archers
G: Ta'Yani Clark (173-86) of Northumbria
F: Meagan Hoffman (183-82) of UWIC Archers
F: Stephanie Gandy (178-82) of Sheffield Hatters
F/C: Kisha Lee (181-85) of Sheffield Hatters

2nd Team
G: Niamh Dwyer (176-82) of Barking Abbey
G: Lisa Hutchinson (173-83) of Sheffield Hatters
G/F: Harriett Yea (180-89) of Sevenoaks Suns
F: Sarah Naylor (183-83) of Sheffield Hatters
C: Wilesia Hardy () of Nottingham

Honorable Mention
Helen Naylor (180-F-87) of Sheffield Hatters
Kate Butters (178-F-86) of UWIC Archers
Hannah Shaw (193-C-90) of Nottingham
Phynique Allen (170-G) of Nottingham
Joanna Clayden (183-G/F-84) of Leeds Carnegie
Rehana Khalil (173-G-86) of Leeds Carnegie
Tina Menz (174-G/F-88) of Leeds Carnegie
Kristen London (178-G/F-87) of Northumbria
Christina Gaskins (185-C-93) of Barking Abbey
Ejay Ofomata (180-G/F-86) of Brixton Topcats

All-Domestic Players Team
G: Stefanie Collins (174-82) of UWIC Archers
G: Lisa Hutchinson (173-83) of Sheffield Hatters
F: Meagan Hoffman (183-82) of UWIC Archers
F: Stephanie Gandy (178-82) of Sheffield Hatters
C: Wilesia Hardy () of Nottingham



*****************************************************
  USBA - Women  


WUSBA to partner with seven major church groups with its 2011 Community Partnership initiatives - by USBA Media

Atlanta, Ga. (April 28, 2011) -----The Women's United States Basketball Association (WUSBA) states, they will play top level basketball while dedicating its efforts to aid those in need in all of their communities with a variety of programs provided by the WUSBA Youth Outreach, Inc., the 501 (c) (3) not for profit sister company of the WUSBA. Through the Community Partnership Programs, the league will attempt to tackle some of the core challenges facing the nations cities, churches and schools.

The league will partner with the Presbyterian Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Progressive National Baptist Church, the United Methodist Church, the A.M.E. Zion Church, the African Methodist and the Episcopalian Church. According to league source, All of our programs are available to any church that needs assistance.

WUSBA players and coaches will be active on and off the court, assisting in a very wide variety of community outreach programs, charitable fund raising events, youth advocates programs, RSVP retired senior citizen programs, and family progress initiatives. These programs will aid the community and its citizens as a whole. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach prides itself on being an advocate within the community. From the youngest child to the oldest senior citizen, helping people is our strongest commitment. The WUSBA will build relationships by its loyalty and its faith based participation in each community.

WUSBA players, coaches, and team staff members will visit senior facilities, hospitals, Boys and Girls Clubs, and local schools. The WUSBA will help raise money for local charities, collect food for local food banks and be a positive mentor to children who are housed in juvenile retention facilities, as well as children who live in foster care facilities.

The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach have partnered with the United States Marine Corps and the 'Toys for Tots' holiday program and Feeding America, who supplies the local community food banks.

The WUSBA's coaches, players, staff and the WUSBA Youth Outreach will serve as a great role model to other and will always be a positive inspiration to all, thus being an important asset to all team cities and their communities.

The WUSBA Community Partnership programs will team up with a league wide community service partnership that will join with the city, the county, the private sector, the local business community and major industry to instill the ideals of educational values, ethical performance, honesty, sportsmanship, fair play and integrity to the youth of the local community. These programs will allow youth to develop a personal positive educational commitment and practice Faith based contributions to their community.

The purposes of the WUSBA Youth Outreach programs is to provide the youth in the community with a positive role model through a series of free educational programs.

The league has three planned events for each of our cities for 2011. The following are the programs we will start in July and conclude before the Christmas holidays. The following are the events that have been sanctioned by the local school districts in each of the teams cities:

(A). The 2011 WUSBA School Supply Event, featuring Elizabeths Book Bag July 18, 2011
This program is designed to collect and distribute school supplies to children in each of our team cities.

(B). The 2011 WUSBA Winter Coat and Mitten Event, featuring Patricias Closet- October 1, 2011

This program will concentrate on collection and distribution of new overcoats and gloves for children in each of our team cities.

(C). The WUSBA Can Slam and Toy Fest, featuring the USMC 'Toys for Tots' and Feeding America - December 2011

This program will collect new toys and perishable food products that will be distributed to families in each of our team cities.

Church leaders and local school districts from across the southeast United States are supporting this novice concept created by the WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach, which will comprise of a partnership between church groups, the community, the local schools, the WUSBA league office and all WUSBA basketball teams. The program labeled the WUSBA Community Partnership Initiative will be implemented in every town which houses a WUSBA team. The partnership programs will be made available to all churches and synagogues and their members and is open to the general public.

The initiative is launched by the WUSBA, national church leaders, local independent congregations and general religious groups. The not-for-profit initiative was designed to encourage enthusiasts to be included in the assistance of the local community. The partnership will help churches and local charities raise funds for their own causes, as well as making a contribution towards Christian aid programs.

The Community Partnership campaign is designed to unite churches and professional basketball with its emphasis on a total partnership. Selling alcohol beverages is not permitted at any WUSBA game, we heard beer is a huge profit center for sporting events, it will not be a part of our profit center said Duane Allen Jenkins, WUSBA President, 'Having children integrated in our games is our main focus, we have structured the WUSBA to be a different kind of basketball league.

WUSBA Youth Outreach Programs:

WUSBA players and coaches will be active on and off the court, assisting in a very wide variety of community outreach programs, charitable fund raising events, youth advocates programs, RSVP retired senior citizen programs, and family progress initiatives. These programs will aid the community and its citizens as a whole. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach prides itself on being an advocate within the community. From the youngest child to the oldest senior citizen, helping people is our strongest commitment. The WUSBA will build relationships by its loyalty and its faith based participation in each community. All WUSBA players, coaches, and team staff members will visit senior facilities, hospitals, Boys and Girls Clubs, and local schools, help raise money for local charities, collect food for local food banks and be a positive mentor to children who are housed in juvenile retention facilities and children who are live in foster care facilities. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach have partnered with the United States Marine Corps and the 'Toys for Tots' holiday program. The WUSBA's coaches, players, staff and the WUSBA Youth Outreach will serve as a great role model to other and will always be a positive inspiration to all, thus being an important asset to all team cities and their communities.

The WUSBA community assistance programs will team up with a league wide community service partnership that will join with the city, the county, the private sector, the local business community and major industry to instill the ideals of educational values, ethical performance, honesty, sportsmanship, fair play and integrity to the youth of the local community. 'These programs will allow youth to develop a personal positive educational commitment and practice Faith based contributions to their community,' said Jenkins

The purposes of the WUSBA Youth Outreach programs is to provide the youth in the community with a positive role model through a series of free educational programs:

*Goals for Graduation
Through the Goals for Graduation program, the league has developed programs to assist students from grade 6 through grade 12. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach will offer free tutoring sessions in all the core subjects with local college students. The sessions will be held in a positive and secure learning environment. This tutoring program is available to all students. The goal of all communities is to have 100% of its student graduate and attend a higher learning center, whether it is vocational or academic. A 100% graduation rate may seem impossible; however, at one time in history the majority of the people on earth believed the world was flat. With the Goals for Graduation everyone wins, particularity the students who earnestly participate in this program.

* Kids Kamp
Kids Kamp is another example of a student tutoring program specifically developed for younger students in the 4th and 5th grade levels. Student with special needs can better prepare themselves for middle school. Kids Kamp promotes volunteerism with older school age children. Any group of students, who volunteer their weekends in a community project, can join the WUSBA and others to help clean up roadways, neighborhoods, clear the local parks and lakes of litter and trash, help senior citizen with small jobs around their homes, read to young children at school or at the public library or any other organized project. The WUSBA will award such community spirit with a $25.00 Visa gift card to students who will donate a Saturday to help others and their community.

* Book-a Lious
Reading is fun. Book-a-lious is a program that will allow students and adults, who can't afford to purchase books, to select new books to keep for their family to enjoy. This will allow a household to begin to establish their own personal library. With the assistance of a host of Publishing companies and a major retail book store, people will have an opportunity, to receive, read, keep or swap free books with their family and friends.

* Mount-Read Moor
Through the Mount-Read-Moor program, local area students will discover that reading and comprehension skills can be greatly improved with the proper practice. This program will also promote literacy among youth and young adults. This free program will encourage school age students and young adults to read through the guidance and help of volunteer college student. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach will work in conjunction with Reading is Fundamental (RIF). This is a program where youth can develop their reading skills to greatly improve their learning capabilities so they can experience the adventure and entertainment of reading.

* Math Berry Pie
The Math Berry Pie program is designed to assist students through a free tutorial agreement with collegiate math students. The program will cover all segments of math from 'one plus one' to 'pre-calculus'. Assistance in this area will give students the skills they need to meet and exceed federal requirements. Math is a critical core subject that is essential for a child's advancement to collegiate levels.

* Father, Mother, and Child Reunion
The successful family unit is proven to be the single most important factor in a child's educational achievements. The WUSBA Youth Outreach will work in conjunction with local Family Services, Church Groups, and other family oriented organizations to assist families in the areas of housing, nutrition, family counseling, job placement assistance, medical assistance and other interdiction programs when deemed needed to assist the family.

* Star Vision
When President John F. Kennedy looked toward the moon he must have felt what all children see every night as they gaze at the stars. Science, in all its many categories has been at the heart of human curiosity. Many students love science. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach will organize after school and summer science introduction sessions that will be run by volunteer students and faculty from the local colleges. This will include field trips to scientific venues. The careers that can be found in the fields surrounding science seldom get explored by a large segment of the student population. With these programs students will be able to get a glimpse of a career field they may never have attempted to explore.

* Elizabeth's Book Bag
Through the Elizabeth's Book Bag program students will have access to free book bags, paper, notebooks, pencils, markers, pens and all other material that are a requirement to start the new school year. Each year the school sends a material list to the parents of what items are needed in that grade for the first day of school. The Elizabeth's Book Bag program will make all required materials available to all students, twice a year, in August and in January (students will have additional access to materials if needed during the course of the school year). This program is sponsored by the WUSBA Youth Outreach, the WUSBA and the sponsors and advertisers This is a free program to all families in need. Having all the materials needed, will help a student strive for a successful school year.

* Grandma Cora's Kitchen
The difference in a persons ability to improve their lives could hang on the balance of a hot meal. The WUSBA believes that no person should go hungry. The WUSBA will join forces with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), local churches and other faith based organizations to open a series of restaurants that will be open to the public with the sole purpose allowing anyone to fulfill their daily nutritional requirements. The WUSBA has made arrangements will major industry sponsors and governmental entities to fully fund this endeavor. The oldest senior citizen to the youngest child will be welcome to sit down at the table and break bread with other neighbors. This program will also include emergency grocery vouchers for families with children in need.

* Patricia's Closet
A warm blanket, a new pair of socks, a overcoat in winter or a umbrella during the spring rain in most times are taken for granted by most people, but to some others it may be a luxury they can't afford but they so desperately need. The WUSBA will assist The Salvation Army and others to help collect wearable goods for those in need. The WUSBA has made arraignments with clothing and other manufacturers to acquire goods for the needy. Children can compete in school more effectively, when they show confidence in their appearance. An extra blanket in winter can be a warm feeling to a child, a new pair of shoes will keep a child's feet dry, a new shirt, a pair of slacks or a new stylish dress could be the difference in a helping, bolstering a Childs self confidence. This program will be open to everyone in the community and will offer new clothing and other unused products from participating manufactures.

* The Queens English
Through the Queens English program, area community elementary through high school students will discover that speaking proper English will open doors across the educational and business communities. The WUSBA and the WUSBA Youth Outreach will partner with communication students from local colleges to tutor students in the importance of using correct enunciation and proper speech structure. The WUSBA will sponsor a competition spelling bee that will pit students of schools against each other to establish a champion. Prizes and certificates of recognition of accomplishment will be awarded to all students. The WUSBA encourages all students to participate in this program.

* The Toy Fest and Can Slam Basketball Games
This program was a great success in 2009 and 2010. We coordinated with High Schools, the USMC Toys for Tots and Feeding America to collect food and toys during the holiday season.

*The Overcoat and Mitten Collection Event
This program will collect slightly used and new winter coats and mittens to keep our children warm in the wintertime. With the help of the school system, w e will discretely approach teachers and parents to deliver the coats and mittens to the children.

The WUSBA have adopted these programs to share with the team cities. Everyone will have equal access to any program offered by the Womens United States Basketball Association


*****************************************************
  WNBA - Women  


Latest WNBA signings - by Eurobasket News
The Indiana Fever signed Jori Davis (5'9''-G-89, agency: Merit Sports) and Jeanette Pohlen (6'0''-G, agency: LBM Management) to training camp contracts.

The Washington Mystics signed Karima Christmas (6'0''-G/F-89), Victoria Dunlap (6'1''-F) and Ta'Shia Phillips (6'6''-C-89) to training camp contracts.

The Chicago Sky signed Angie Bjorklund (6'0''-G/F-89), Linda Frohlich (6'2''-F/C-79, agency: LBM Management, college: UNLV), Amy Jaeschke (6'5''-C-89), Carolyn Swords (6'6''-C-89, agency: LBM Management) and Courtney Vandersloot to training camp contracts.

The San Antonio Silver Stars signed Danielle Adams (6'1''-F/C-89), Porsha Phillips (6'2''-F-88) and Danielle Robinson to training camp contracts.

The Phoenix Mercury signed Yuko Oga (5'7''-G-82) and Olayinka Sanni (6'2''-C-86, agency: Josep and Nicolas, college: W.Virginia) to training camp contracts.

The Seattle Storm signed Lauren Prochaska (5'11''-G/F-88), Jasmine Thomas and Krystal Thomas to training camp contracts.

The Tulsa Shock signed Italee Lucas (5'8''-G-89) and Kayla Pedersen (6'4''-F, agency: LBM Management) to training camp contracts.

Lauren Jackson to skip part of 2012 WNBA season - by Eurobasket News
Reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson (6'5''-F/C-81) will skip the first half of the 2012 WNBA season to focus on training with the Australian national team in preparation for the London Olympics.

The Storm say the agreement announced Tuesday came after negotiations with Jackson's representatives and Basketball Australia.

Jackson has three Olympic silver medals playing for Australia, losing all three times to the United States in the gold medal game. Jackson will join the Storm after the Olympics, which are scheduled to end on Aug. 11, 2012.

Jackson has played her entire WNBA career for Seattle and led the Storm to a second league title last season. She is also a three-time league MVP.

Courtesy of www.seattlepi.com

WNBA president Laurel Richie calls league a 'terrific product' - by Eurobasket News
Laurel Richie has a big task - getting the public to buy into something she never did.

A former marketing executive for the Girl Scouts of the USA, Richie was named WNBA president last week despite not having a strong sports background.

'I am learning along the way,' she said during a media teleconference Tuesday. ' ... I have been a viewer of (WNBA) games, not necessarily an attender of games.'

But it was Richie's three decades of marketing experience that led to her being chosen to replace Donna Orender, who announced her retirement in December.

'We found somebody who was ... culturally adept at understanding what impact the game and the players could have on the community, the global community,' said NBA commissioner David Stern, who also participated in the call. 'My own basketball background was ripping up my ACL in a lawyers' league. So I don't think it's essential to have played the game at a high level at all.'

Although funded by the NBA, the WNBA is seeking to break even for the first time in its 15-year history. The season begins in five weeks, and the Tulsa Shock's opener is June 4 at San Antonio.

'Our teams are doing better than they've ever done,' Stern said. 'I don't have the specific results in front of me, and many of them are still a bit at a minus. ... We're getting to a point where we think this may be the season where it's break even and better for all of our teams.'

In 2010, the Shock's first year in Tulsa after relocating from Detroit, attendance at the BOK Center averaged 4,829, the second-worst in the league. Overall, the WNBA averaged 7,834.

'What's great is sometimes in marketing you have a great product and sometimes you have a not-so-great product,' Richie said. 'In this case I feel like there's a terrific product to work with, and that makes the job so much easier.

'It's not without its challenges, but a lot easier than a tough sale.'

The first black person to become president of a pro sports league, Richie said the position is her dream job.

' ... My eyes are truly wide open to the challenges ahead,' she said. 'But I don't really feel daunted by that. I see tremendous opportunity to grow the game by building on what I believe is a very strong foundation.'

Courtesy of www.tulsaworld.com

Sky to play Chinese National Women's Team in preseason game - by Eurobasket News
The Chicago Sky announced today it will host the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team in a preseason game at Trinity College in Deerfield, Ill on May 23 at 11:30 a.m.
A leading power in women's basketball in Asia, the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team currently ranks eighth in the world according to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). China, the host nation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, reached the semifinals in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

'The Chinese National team is always one of the more competitive teams in international play, and it has earned them a Top 10 world ranking,' said Pokey Chatman, Head Coach and General Manager of the Sky. 'They will showcase a style of play that will be a challenge, but also be good preparation for our upcoming season.'

As part of its 2011 international tour, the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team is scheduled to play additional WNBA preseason games and scrimmages during the month of May against the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.

This is the latest cooperation between the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) who have a long history of working together to grow the game of basketball in China. Last season, the Chinese National Women's Basketball Team played three preseason games in the U.S. against the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, San Antonio Silver Stars and Phoenix Mercury.

Courtesy of www.oursportscentral.com

Minnesota Lynx sign former BSM star Kachine Alexander - by Eurobasket News
Kachine Alexander (5'9''-G-89, agency: LBM Management), a Benilde-St. Margaret's standout who went on to star at the University of Iowa, signed with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx today, according to a team press release.

Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Alexander was drafted by her hometown team earlier this month in the third round of the WNBA draft following a stellar career at Iowawhere she was the first player in school history to record 1,000 career points, 800 career rebounds and 300 career assistsand at BSM, leading the Red Knights to a 2006 state title.

'I have wanted a chance to play in the WNBA since I started playing basketball as a kid,' Alexander said in a statement after getting drafted on April 11. 'I can't wait to get back home to Minneapolis.'

The Lynx open training camp on May 15, with their first regular season game at Los Angeles on June 3. The team will make its home debut on June 5.

Courtesy of http://stlouispark.patch.com