KORAC CUP 98-99
GROUP O

Elimination Round (16/9/98 and 23/9/98)
Azovbasket Mariupol (UKR) - Grodno 93 (BLR) 79-54
Grodno’93 (BLR) – Azovbasket Mariupol (UKR) 79-60
Tapiolan Honka Espoo (FIN) - AZS Elana Torun (POL) 87-73 (Joyner 22, Makela 22, M. Hemdahl 17, Hamilton 15, Ailus 5, Niku 4, Zitting 2 - Jeklin 22, Miœkovic 10, J. Robak 7, Darnikowski 6, Lewin 5, Sowiñski 11, A. Robak 6, Drwisz 6)
AZS Elana Torun (POL) - Tapiolan Honka (FIN) 102-89 (Jeklin 31, Miskovic 20, Lewin 18, Derwisz 10, J. Robak 8, Sowinski 10, A. Robak 5 - Hamilton 19, Ailus 7, M. Hemdal 15, Makela 33, Zitting 0 oraz Tavanainen 5, Allen 8, J. Hemdall)
Attendance: 2,500
Torun was only half of the second short to qualify to the group of Korac Cup. Just in the last second of the game, Canadian guard Sherman Hamilton of Tapiolan got the last shot, which qualified his team to the next round.
There is one Finish team to continue in Korac Cup, Honka and the point guard Sherman Hamilton did it. There were 23 sec left, Torun made both of the free shots and led the game by 15. Loosing by 13 would keep Honka in Korac Cup. Honka kept the ball and Hamilton, who made also the earlier two points was given the ball. Hamilton made his penetration fron the middle the ball rolling on the basket and dropped in. The MVP of the game was Roope Makela. There were no way for the Polish to stop the young Finnish guard. Right handed his been all his life but looks like he is udes to it and Hamilton as the brain of the game helps Roope a lot. Honka is for the first time in Korac Cup regular league after getting this new organisation. On 7th of October Honka will meet NeptunusKlaipedan from Lituania.

1st round (7/10/98)
Azovbasket Mariupol - Arsenal Tula 61-90
Tapiolan Honka Espoo - Neptunas Klaipeda 93-73 (Ailus 6/3, M. Hemdahl 18/7, Tahvanainen 5/2, Hamilton 32/6/5, Makela 5/4, J. Hemdahl 7/0, Allen 20/11 - Macijauskas 6/2, Seferis 2/0, Verenitsh 4/1, Pranchkevicius 5/3, Airosius 19/3, Urkis 2/2, Vaganas 0/1, Pazdraznis 10/3, Bugys 4/3, Miliunas 13/2)
Three minutes and Klaipade was ahead by 11 points. Honka took a time out and desided to play some defense. After that their was only one team (HONKA) and one man Sherman Hamilton Honka's Canadian playmaker. He stopped the keyman from Lithuanian team, Alvydas Pazdrazdis, only 4 points in the first half. Also offensive king was Hamilton 32 points- three point shots 6/6- 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Honka was a team again and the attitude was to win, even on the last seconds of the game.

2nd round (14/10/98)
Arsenal Tula - Neptunas Klaipeda 74-63
Azovbasket Mariupol - Honka 66-68 (Allen 27/16 , Hamilton 15/ 7 -)
A great victory to Honka and Finnish basketball

3rd round (21/10/98)
Tapiolan Honka Espoo - Arsenal Tula 51-83 (Hamilton 18 - Judin 20)
Arsenal (RUS ) gave no chance to Honka on their fight of the first place in Korac Cup group D. It was not - like it usually is - that the Russians were much taller, but they were this time quicker and stronger. Both of the teams had no defates in Korac Cup, but in this game Arsenal Tula took the lead from the first second of the game. They were stronger both in offense and defense. In defense pushed the Honka players to the corners and off the baseline. Honka had in the first half no real shooting places and no chance to painted area. First half the visitor were leading already 22-49. The usual best in Honka"s team playmaker Sherman Hamilton and forward Marcus Allen were out of control.
Arsenal was playing with Honka like cat with the mouse. Most effectively that playing wer done by Alexander Petrenko and Anteo Yudin, Yudin makin already in the first half 15 points. Arsenal was a Team with a capital T even Ydin made altogether 20 and Mihael Soloviev 17.
From Honka mostly in second half Hamilton made 18 and Allen 17. "Yes we were expecting a good team, but did not expect that we had to day no chance to their level of playing, absolutely no places to shoot" said coach Herbert from Honka
Neptunas Klaipeda - Azovbasket Mariupol 120-88

4th round (4/11/98)
Arsenal Tula - Azovbasket Mariupol 85-54
Neptunas Klaipeda - Tapiolan Honka Espoo 82-65 Honka's manager Paavo Koskivaara was very pleased after they lost by only 13 points. Winning back home means that in even points Honka is better that Neptunas. Honka do has to win their next game against Azovbasket Mariupol and even that is not enough if Arselan Tula the supreme team in Group O loses to Neptunas Klaipeda. The next round on Wednesday 11.11. is very important for Honka.

5th round (11/11/98)
Neptunas Klaipeda - Arsenal Tula 94-76
Tapiolan Honka Espoo - Azovbasket Mariupol 93-74 (Allen 34/7, Hamilton 23/3 -)
Honka is on its way to playoffs in Korac Cup. The final round however is not that easy, now when Klaipeida won The Russian Arsenal and by 20 points making almost 100 points. That is a lot Arsenal being one of the toughest defensive team in the league. Even Honka wins it does not mean the are in playoff. The game itself was not that easy. Honka made a lot of mistakes in the first half, but after the break there was only one winner at the court - Honka. Coach Herbert had noticed that noboby from the other tem could take Marcus Allen. The command was: "Lets use Allen". Ray Ailus made 7 assist in the second half and all to Marcus Allen. When Allen was taken pointguard Sheron Hamilton found himself free or after the penetration shooting guard Makela was free to take his threepointer. Honka has played very well know in Korac Cup and would be a shame if they do not make the playoffs, but that is basketball.

6th round (18/11/98)
Arsenal Tula - Tapiolan Honka Espoo 79-75 (- Allen 32, Mäkelä 18, Hamilton 11, Ailus 6, Joyner 6, J. Hemdahl 2)
It felt impossible to Honka to go and win Arsenal Tulan at their home court by 26 points. Indeed there were an other chance. Russians won 79-75 . Azovbasket should have won Klapeida, which from the early point of view was impossible. Klapeida gave no chance and won 90-85.
Honka did fight all they could. They wanted to make the play offs, but Arsenal Tula wanted to win the group. No matter how hard Honka tried, being only two points behind when 5 minutes was left and making the points even 74-74 when 20 sec. were left. The Russians were free for a three pointer 10 sec later. Making that meant that Honka was out from play offs.
Azovbasket Mariupol - Neptunas, Klaipeda 85-90