BC "Prometey" - BC "Joventut Badalona" (Spain) - 95:90 (26:20, 23:18, 23:19, 23:33). February 1. 7DAYS EuroCup group tournament. Group A. 13th tour. Riga (Latvia). Arena "Riga".
BC "Prometey": Kennedy* (23 + 7 rebounds + 5 assists), Balvin* (11), Agada* (15), Lukashov*, captain (3), Stephens* (12 + 3 steals), Clavell (6), Klassen (0), Sanon (19), Lypovy (3), Dickey (3).
BC "Joventut Badalona": Guy* (16 + 5 assists), Vives* (8), Allen* (2), Tomic* (13), Parra* (17), Ellenson (14 + 10 rebounds), Feliz (11), Ventura (3), Busquets (3), Okeke (3).
Ronen Ginzburg words on the eve of the match “This is a great challenge for us” could be a suitable epigraph for today’s confrontation of “Prometey and Spanish “Joventut” in the 7DAYS EuroCup 13th tour regarding our team. During the previous two seasons, “Prometey” confidently paces on the way to the elite of continental club basketball. Today’s confrontation with an authoritative Spanish club had to be another great test of ambitions and current play level for “red and white”. Especially since the leadership in the EuroCup Group A was at stakes.
Our team withstood the test by a mighty opponent with honour! In the debut of the match the opponents built their offensive actions in a different way. If “Prometey” rotated fast attacks with attacks from the perimeter (first two attempts by Stephens and Kennedy were successful); the other way round, guests more relied on positional offense with its finishing in our three-second zone. “Prometey” constantly led in score and in the 5th minute after an amazing alley-oop finished by Stephens, the advantage of the best club of Ukraine reached a double-digit mark – 16:6. During the following 4 minutes guests halved their lag, however, the teams went for the first break with a precedence of “Prometey” 26:20.
In 12th minute, after the three-point shot by DJ Stephens, “Prometey” was back to “10+”. Our team kept acting on inspiration, surpassing the opponent in play and aggression. Such a wonderful picture for the fans was complemented by great individual actions. DJ Kennedy stood out in terms of effectiveness (16 points in 20 minutes), and brilliant drive by Caleb Agada at the same time with a siren for the long break allowed “Prometey” to go to rest with a handicap of 11 points – 49:38.
After 15-minute break due to efforts by Parra (5 points in the starting minutes of the third quarter) and Guy (4) guests did their best to change the course of confrontation. Their spurt 11:2 allowed them to approach “Prometey” by one possession (49:51), and then take a lead at the equator of the quarter (54:53). In this crucial moment, Attacks from the perimeter worked for Agada, Sanon (twice) Kennedy and Lypovyy. After Oleksandr’s hit, “Prometey” went for the last rest with a handicap “+15” (72:57).
“Joventut” has demonstrated in this match their ability to withstand pressure and reduced their lag to minimum in the penultimate minute (85:86). However, the best club of Ukraine managed to lead the game to the victorious end!
In one week, on February 8, in the status of a group leader Ukrainians will host Slovenian “Cedevita Olimpija”.
Natural mineral water "Vytautas" is the official hydration partner of BC "Prometey"
