2008-09 EuroLeague Update ... Vol. 3.1
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Vol. 3 - Dec. 4, 2008 (Vol. 1 // Vol. 2)
- 2008-09 EuroLeague Results
- Select USA Basketball Players: 2008-09 EuroLeague Stats
- Official EuroLeague Site
- Have a comment or suggestion? Let us know!
We've heard back from several of you who would prefer to see the game updates and top U.S. performances in a group-by-group listing so we've changed our weekly updates to the format you'll see below. Happy reading!
Lest you forget that there's another league playing in Europe, we're here to remind you! Seimone Augustus and Taj McWilliams-Franklin have helped lead her Galatasary squad to a perfect 6-0 slate heading into the EuroCup Sixteenth-Finals (Round of 32) against the 4-2 Municipal Targovista. Augustus has been key for her team in its six EuroCup contests, leading the team in scoring (17.8 ppg.), while McWilliams-Franklin has been no slacker herself, leading in rebounding (7.5 rpg.) to go with a team second-best 11.3 ppg.
Nobody's Perfect
No undefeated teams remain after Umana Reyer Venezia dropped its first game of the EuroLeague season to TTT Riga and UMMC Ekaterinburg lost to Ros Casares.
Stats Leaders
As of Wednesday, Dec. 3, the following USA Basketball players are standing out among their EuroLeague counterparts:
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| Standings | W/L | PTS |
| 1. Halcon Avenida | 6/2 |
14 |
| 2. Bourges Basket | 5/3 |
13 |
| 3. Wisla Can-Pack | 5/3 |
13 |
| 4. MiZo Pcs 2010 | 4/4 |
12 |
| 5. Nadezhda | 2/6 |
10 |
| 6. Besiktas Cola Turka | 2/6 |
10 |
On a roll after getting their feet wet in EuroLeague competition, Nadezhda came up with its second straight victory after stunning Bourges Basket 65-61. The Russian club, trailing by 15 points at halftime (38-23), came out in the second half and quickly made up the difference. Tying the score at 42-all with 4:38 to go in the third quarter, Nadezhda was able to keep it close from there for the eventual win in front of their hometown fans. However, with only two weeks remaining in qualifying play, it's unlikely that the team will advance to the Round of 16.
In front of their hometown fans, Wisla Can-Pack earned a 57-48 victory over MiZo Pecs 2010 (4-4) with Candice Dupree contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Playing in Salamanca, Halcon Avenida (6-2) took the top spot in Group A with a 80-70 win over Besiktas Cola Turka (2-6), whose playoff hopes are fading fast. Michelle Snow came just short of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds for the victors. Besiktas received another strong performance from Laura Harper, who posted 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists; while Alexis Hornbuckle added eight points, five boards and one assist.
| Standings | W/L | PTS |
| 1. Umana Reyer Venezia | 7/1 |
15 |
| 2. MKB Euroleasing Sopron | 4/4 |
12 |
| 3. TTT Riga | 3/5 |
11 |
| 4. CSKA Moscow | 4/3 |
10 |
| 5. Gambrinus SIKA Brno | 3/4 |
10 |
| 6. ESB Lille Metropole | 2/6 |
10 |
Group B:
Umana Reyer Venezia (7-1), which went seven weeks with no losses was handed its first of the EuroLeague season by TTT Riga (3-5), 61-57. The Latvian squad benefitted from its bye last week in two ways when CSKA briefly closed up shop. The extra day kept the team a little fresher and ready to eclipse Umana and with CSKA's forfeit, the Russian squad gained no classification points so despite CSKA currently owning a better record at 4-3, they only have 10 points (2 points for each win plus one point for its two losses and zero for the forfeit) and lag behind by one. Essence Carson scored 17 points in the victory and is currently averaging 17.1 ppg. for TTT Riga.
ESB Lille Metropole (2-6) collected its second win of the year after handing MKB Euroleasing Sopron (4-4) a 61-55 loss. The Hungarian squad went 0-10 from 3-point land, while the French side, bolstered by Jolene Anderson's nine points on 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, hit 7-of-17 from afar.
Sunday Game: No, we don't know why it's being played Sunday. Maybe it's got something to do with last week's debacle. Whatever the reason the EuroLeague has the final Group B game of the week, a contest between CSKA and Gambrinus, being played on Dec. 12.
| Standings | W/L | PTS |
| 1. UMMC Ekaterinburg | 7/1 |
15 |
| 2. Ros Casares Valencia | 6/2 |
14 |
| 3. ZVVZ USK Prague | 3/5 |
11 |
| 4. LOTOS PKO BP Gdynia | 3/5 |
10 |
| 5. Union Hainaut Basket | 3/5 |
10 |
| 6. Jolly JBS Sibenik | 2/6 |
9 |
Group C:
With the help of 10 points and eight rebounds from Swin Cash and 11 points, four rebounds and two assists from Lindsay Whalen, ZVVZ USK Prague (3-5) remained in contention for the next round as the Czech club downed Jolly JBS Sibenik (2-6) 102-78 and likely dashed the Croatian side's playoff hopes.
Ros Casares (6-2) picked off previously undefeated UMMC Ekaterinburg (7-1) 71-63. While Ekaterinburg still stands at the top of Group C, Ros Casares distanced itself from the rest of the pack while also getting a huge emotional boost over the Russian team. DeLisha Milton-Jones once again had a great game with 19 points, seven boards and a pair of dishes and Roneeka Hodges added 11 points. Cappie Pondexter scored a team second-best 17 points for her Russian side, while Ashja Jones added six points.
LOTOS PKO BP Gdynia (3-5) used a Duke one-two punch to knock out Union Hainaut Basket (3-5) 86-62, making the playoff race even tighter with three teams jostling for position in this Group C game of musical chairs. Former Blue Devil teammates Alana Beard and Monique Currie led the Polish squad in the win with a combined 41 points and 11 rebounds as Beard scored a game-best 22 points to go with eight boards and an assist and Currie tossed in 19 points, three rebounds and also had an assist.
| Standings | W/L | PTS |
| 1. Spartak Moscow Region | 7/1 |
15 |
| 2. TEO Vilnius | 5/3 |
13 |
| 3. Maxima Broker Kosice | 5/3 |
13 |
| 4. Fenerbahce | 5/3 |
13 |
| 5. Basket Lattes Montpellier | 1/7 |
9 |
| 6. Beretta Famila Schio | 1/7 |
9 |
Group D:
Spartak Moscow Region (7-1) is on a six-game winning streak thanks in part to Sue Bird and Diana Tauarasi's combined 36 points and 18 assists in Spartak's 100-76 victory over Fenerbache (5-3). Holding a 29-15 lead at the end of the first quarter and 53-35 at the half, Spartak cruised in for the win. Bird finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 assists; Taurasi notched 22 points, two boards and seven assists; while Sylvia Fowles got into foul trouble for the first time this season and played just 18 minutes, collecting two points, three boards and four whistles. Despite today's performance, Fowles is still averaging a double-double on the season with 15.1 ppg. and 10.1 rpg. Matee Ajavon produced 17 points and a pair of assists for Fenerbache.
Broker Kosice (5-3) took a six-point, 80-74, win over visiting Beretta Famila, which dropped to 1-7. Sidney Spencer gave the winning side six points and three boards, while Tasha Humphrey had an off week with just three points.
Crystal Langhorne poured in 23 points and grabbed nine caroms as TEO Vilnius upped its slate to 5-3 with a 73-62 victory over Lattes Montpellier (1-7). Sheana Mosch produced 18 points for her side's losing effort.
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