BC "Cedevita Olimpija" (Slovenia) - BC "Prometey" - 89:94 (24:18, 15:22, 25:26, 25:28). November 22. 7DAYS EuroCup group tournament. Group A. 5th round. Ljubljana (Slovenia). "Stosice-Arena".
BC "Cedevita Olympija": Ferrell* (18 + 7 assists), Adams* (19 + 6 rebounds), Omic* (11), Alibegovich* (15 + 8 rebounds), Muric* (5 + 6 rebounds + 2 steals) , Yeremych (16), Rebets (5), Mulalich (0).
BC "Prometey": Kennedy* (20 + 4 assists + 2steals), Balvin* (7), Clavell* (21 + 8 rebounds), Agada* (21 + 8 rebounds + 4 assists + 2steals), Stephens* (10 + 10 rebounds), Lukashov, captain (5), Lypovyy (2), Tkachenko (6), Hogue (2), Sanon (0).
20 teams participants of the 7DAYS EuroCup approached the half way of the first round of the tournament with the matches of the 5th tour. All of them have to play a lot of matches before the end of the group round, so each team has every chance either to strengthen their current positions or significantly improve their tournament conditions. The last point, to a great extent, related to today's “Prometey” rival the club "Cedevita Olympija" from Slovenia, which started the current Eurocup draw with four losses at once.
After four tours, the best Ukrainian club sat in the play-off zone, however, needed some recovery in front of their fans after the first loss in the LEBL to Estonian “Kalev/Cramo” last Saturday. “Red and white” have already demonstrated that they are able to learn from their mistakes after the significant defeat in Italian Brescia. Therefore, the fans of our team had every right to hope for something similar today.
First of all, our team should have improved their actions in defense as soon as possible. Although, this component did not work in the first quarter. “Olimpija” players succeeded in both quick attacks with bringing someone for the free throw (10 hits from the arc at once in the first 10 minutes) and individual actions. The guards of the hosts singled out with their productiveness: Adams brought his team 9 points and Ferrell – 7.
However, “-6” after the first quarter could not be a crucial gap. When the 16th minute was finishing, a spectacular pass by Gian Clavell finally brought “Prometey” in lead (31:30) for the first time in the game. The fact, that Ronen Ginsburg’s squad let their opponent to increase their asset only by 6 points, spoke volumes. The hosts of the court managed to take the lead in this quarter, but “Prometey” went for the long break as a leader. With the score of 39:37 in favour of Slovenians, Gian Clavell managed just fantastic shot from the ultra-long distance over the opponent hands (!).
After 15-minute break, “red and white” finally succeeded in three-point shots (it was Clavell again, and then – DJ Stephens twice). And when in 24th minute, DJ Kennedy “lifted” Alibegovic in the air with his false throw, and then made a wonderful pass under the rival’s backboard, the guests’ handicap raised up to 9 points (51:42). However, at the end of the quarter, “Cedevita” reminded that they are a “throw” team. After a short pause, they managed three-point shots and before the last break, Yeremych made “3+1”. After this, the gap was only one possession for Slovenian team 64:66.
The winner of this confrontation was determined in the last minutes. In the final segment of the match Caleb Agada, Gian Clavell and DJ Kennedy another time demonstrated their great individual skills. The productiveness pf all these players was recorded at the mark of ”20+”. The captain of our tean Denys Lukashov deserves peculiar nice words. In a clutch, he made a weighty rebound on the opponents’ board, and also hit from the arc when the advantage of the guests was just 2 points. After this hit it increased up to 5 and was fixed by the final siren.
“Prometey” obtained the first road victory in the 7DAYS EuroCup (94:89), and already on Saturday awaits the road confrontation within the LEBL against “Ventspils”, which is inferior only to our team.
Natural mineral water "Vytautas" is the official hydration partner of BC "Prometey"
