Review of Round 3 of Second Stage

FIBA Europe Cup is at the halfway of the Second Stage and there are still another 3 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Round 3 most important game was a defeat of Bosnian Bosna (6-3). They were crushed by Italian Reggio Emilia (6-3) 93-67 on Wednesday night. Reggio Emilia shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 52.0 percentage. It was a great evening for South Sudanese forward JT Thor (206-2001, college: Auburn, agency: The Crew A.M.) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. American point guard Troy Caupain (193-1995, college: Cincinnati, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) helped adding 14 points and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was Puerto Rican Alfonso Plummer (185-1997, college: Illinois) with 20 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bosna will play next round against strong Oradea trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Reggio Emilia will try to continue on its current victory against Cedevita Jr. in Zagreb.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Greek Peristeri (7-2) in Athens. Hosts were rolled over by Turkish Petkimspor (7-2) 82-61. It was an exceptional evening for Dutch swingman Yannick Franke (196-1996) who led the winners and scored 29 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Stanley Whittaker accounted for 17 points and 6 assists. American swingman Jake Van Tubbergen (201-1998, college: GVSU) came up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds for Peristeri in the defeat. Peristeri's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Petkimspor will play against Sassari (#4) at home in the next round. Peristeri will play against Zaragoza and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of Portuguese Sporting (4-5) against Slovakian Prievidza (5-4) on Wednesday night. Visiting Sporting was defeated by Prievidza in Prievidza 94-82. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was James Bishop IV who scored 30 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Brandon Johns Jr who recorded 21 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Sporting's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Prievidza will meet at home PAOK in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Sporting will play against Bilbao and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 3: PAOK was destroyed by Bilbao on the opponent's court 95-73. Murcia managed to outperform Rostock in a home game 85-77. Zaragoza rolled over Sassari on the road 94-75. Szombathely defeated Trefl on its own court 86-79. Cedevita Jr. was smashed by Oradea in a road game 103-79.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points and 4 assists by Nikola Kocovic of Oradea.



Prievidza - Sporting 94-82

Very important is a road loss of Portuguese Sporting (4-5) against Slovakian Prievidza (5-4) on Wednesday night. Visiting Sporting was defeated by Prievidza in Prievidza 94-82. Prievidza looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Prievidza made 7 blocks. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was guard James Bishop IV (188-2000, college: GWU) who scored 30 points and 4 assists. Forward Naje Smith (203-2000, college: Boise St.) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Four Prievidza players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Brandon Johns Jr (203-1999, college: VCU) who recorded 21 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) and swingman Malik Morgan (194-1994, college: Tulane) added 14 points and 5 assists respectively. Sporting's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Prievidza will meet at home PAOK in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Sporting will play against Bilbao and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Prievidza: B.James 30+3reb+4ast, S.Naje 18+4reb+4ast, T.Davontrey 13+4reb+5ast, T.Sage 11+4reb+5ast, M.Bonke 9+3reb, T.Joe 5+5reb+4ast
Sporting: B.Johns Jr. 21+6reb, M.Morgan 14+2reb+5ast, F.Amarante 11+1reb+3ast, M.Harden-Hayes 9+2reb+1ast, R.Palhares 7+6reb, R.Robinson III 6+6reb+1ast

Bilbao - PAOK 95-73

Surne Bilbao used a home court advantage and crushed the opponent from Thessaloniki 95-73 on Tuesday night. Bilbao made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was swingman Aleix Font (194-1998) who scored 24 points and 5 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). American-Polish Luke Petrasek (206-1995, college: Columbia) chipped in 13 points. Four Surne Bilbao players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Lithuanian Tomas Dimsa (196-1994) who recorded 15 points and 6 rebounds and American forward Timmy Allen (198-2000, college: Texas) added 12 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Surne Bilbao will meet Sporting (#4) in the next round. PAOK will play against Prievidza and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bilbao: F.Aleix 24+5reb, J.Justin 14+2ast, P.Luke 13+4reb+2ast, H.Darrun 10+2reb+2ast, F.Harald 7+1reb+1ast, H.Tryggvi 6+6reb+2ast
PAOK: T.Dimsa 15+6reb+3ast, T.Allen 12+7reb, C.Melvin 11+1reb, B.Tyree 9+4reb+6ast, N.Persidis 7+4reb+1ast, N.Chougkaz 6+5reb

Murcia - Rostock 85-77

UCAM used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Rostock 85-77 on Wednesday night. The best player for the winners was American-Jamaican Devontae Cacok (201-1996, college: UNCW) who scored 18 points and 5 rebounds. Guard Daniel Garcia (185-1998) chipped in 8 points and 7 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was center Bent Leuchten (216-2002, college: UC Irvine) who recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds and Polish point guard Lukasz Kolenda (195-1999) added 21 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. UCAM will meet Szombathely (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Seawolves will play against Trefl in Sopot and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Murcia: C.Devontae 18+5reb+2ast, E.Dylan 13+2reb+3ast, F.Michael 11+1reb, R.Sander 10+8reb, C.Emanuel 9+4reb, G.Daniel 8+3reb+7ast
Rostock: L.Kolenda 21, B.Leuchten 13+12reb, D.Lansdowne 11+2reb, T.Crockett 9+1reb+2ast, J.Bowden 6+1reb, E.Baggette 6+2ast

Peristeri - Petkim 61-82

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Greek Peristeri (7-2) in Athens. Hosts were rolled over by Turkish Petkimspor (7-2) 82-61. Petkimspor brought some defensive toughness making 8 blocks. It was an exceptional evening for Dutch swingman Yannick Franke (196-1996) who led the winners and scored 29 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). American point guard Stanley Whittaker (183-1994, college: Keiser) accounted for 17 points and 6 assists for the winning side. American swingman Jake Van Tubbergen (201-1998, college: GVSU) came up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import C.J. Harris (191-1991, college: Wake Forest) added 13 points and 5 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) respectively for Peristeri in the defeat. Peristeri's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Petkimspor will play against Sassari (#4) at home in the next round. Peristeri will play against Zaragoza and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Petkim: F.Yannick 29+6reb+6ast, W.Stanley 17+4reb+6ast, S.Martynas 13+6reb+1ast, K.Mustafa 8+4reb, B.Roberts 6+8reb+3ast, S.Yunus 5+1reb
Peristeri: J.Van Tubbergen 14+12reb+3ast, C.Harris 13+5reb+1ast, A.Cardenas 9+6reb+1ast, T.Nichols 9+4reb+2ast, D.Kaklamanakis 7+7reb+1ast, W.Carius 5+2reb+1ast

Reggio Emilia - Bosna S. 93-67

Round 3 most important game was a defeat of Bosnian Bosna (6-3). They were crushed by Italian Reggio Emilia (6-3) 93-67 on Wednesday night. Reggio Emilia shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 52.0 percentage. It was a great evening for South Sudanese forward JT Thor (206-2001, college: Auburn, agency: The Crew A.M.) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. American point guard Troy Caupain (193-1995, college: Cincinnati, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) helped adding 14 points and 4 assists. Four Reggio Emilia players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Puerto Rican Alfonso Plummer (185-1997, college: Illinois) with 20 points and American Michael Young (206-1994, college: Pittsburgh) scored 13 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. Bosna will play next round against strong Oradea trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Reggio Emilia will try to continue on its current victory against Cedevita Jr. in Zagreb.
Top scorers:
Reggio Emilia: T.JT 21+4reb, B.Jaylen 15+2reb+2ast, C.Troy 14+4reb+4ast, E.Jaime 10+6reb, W.Tomas 9+3reb+3ast, W.Bryson 8+6reb+2ast
Bosna S.: A.Plummer 20+2reb+2ast, M.Young 13+5reb+2ast, J.Zubac 8+3reb, P.Kovacevic 7+2reb+1ast, D.Salic 6+1reb, J.West 6+1reb+7ast

Sassari - Zaragoza 75-94

The game between closely ranked teams ended with Italian Sassari's (4-5) home loss to Spanish Zaragoza (6-3) 75-94 on Wednesday. Zaragoza looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was Santiago Yusta (200-1997) who scored 23 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). American forward Devin Robinson (203-1995, college: Florida) chipped in 23 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Georgian-American point guard Jacob Pullen (183-1989, college: Kansas St., agency: AltusBasket) who recorded 14 points and 4 assists and American forward Rashawn Thomas (203-1994, college: TAMUCC) added 10 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zaragoza will meet Peristeri in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Sassari will play against Petkim in Izmir and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zaragoza: R.Devin 23+4reb+2ast, Y.Santiago 23+6reb+3ast, R.Joaquin 13+7reb+1ast, G.Miguel 10+2reb+2ast, J.Fernandez 7+4reb+2ast, T.Youssouf 7+2reb
Sassari: J.Pullen 14+1reb+4ast, N.McGlynn 12+6reb+1ast, R.Visconti 10+4reb+2ast, R.Thomas 10+7reb+2ast, A.Mezzanotte 9+3reb+2ast, L.Vincini 8+5reb+2ast

Szombathely - Trefl 86-79

Szombathely used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Sopot 86-79 on Wednesday night. Szombathely outrebounded Trefl 34-16 including 21 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was guard Zoltan Perl (195-1995) who scored 19 points. Puerto Rican center Arnaldo Barea (203-1997, college: St.John's) chipped in a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Ghanian guard Dylan Addae-Wusu (193-2001, college: Seton Hall) who recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists and Lithuanian forward Mindaugas Kacinas (204-1993, college: S.Carolina, agency: BIG) added 19 points respectively. Four Szombathely and five Trefl players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Szombathely will meet at home Murcia in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Trefl will play against Rostock and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Szombathely: P.Zoltan 19+3reb+3ast, A.Marchelus 17+3reb+2ast, K.Akos 12+4reb, B.Arnaldo 12+11reb+1ast, V.Benedek 9+4reb+2ast, T.Andras 6+1reb+2ast
Trefl: M.Kacinas 19+1reb+1ast, S.Zapala 12+3reb+1ast, K.Suurorg 12+3ast, J.Schenk 10+7ast, D.Addae-Wusu 10+8reb+8ast, M.Witlinski 6+3reb+2ast

Oradea - Cedevita Jr. 103-79

Oradea used a home court advantage and outplayed the opponent from Zagreb 103-79 on Wednesday night. Oradea outrebounded Cedevita Jr. 37-22 including 23 on the defensive glass. Oradea looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Serbian guard Nikola Kocovic (197-1996) who scored 20 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). American-Cambodian guard Sayeed Pridgett (196-1998, college: Montana, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 16 points and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Niko Sare (196-2005) who recorded 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Luksa Buljevic (199-2002) added 14 points respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Oradea will meet Bosna in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Cedevita Jr. will play against Reggio Emilia and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Oradea: K.Nikola 20+4reb+4ast, N.Emmanuel 16+5reb, P.Sayeed 16+3reb+6ast, S.Bandja 14+5reb+1ast, B.Thomas 14+2reb+3ast, L.Jaizec 13+4reb+7ast
Cedevita Jr.: N.Sare 20+5reb+5ast, L.Buljevic 14+4reb+3ast, C.Daniels 11+2reb+4ast, N.Zemljic 11+2reb+2ast, A.Vrankovic 10+6reb, M.Kalajzic 7+2ast