BC Wolves leaned on a surprisingly strong away support at Copper Box Arena to defeat the London Lions 80-85 in Round 18 of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

BC Wolves got help from Lithuanian fans at Copper Box Arena in swan song

Wolves Vilnius bid farewell to the BKT EuroCup with a strong road victory over the London Lions, using dominance on the glass to get a win in front of some surprisingly strong support away from home.

Wolves were really pushed by the Lithuanian fans inside Copper Box Arena and it [helped the road team to an 80-85 triumph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/wolves-finish-season-on-high-note-downing-london-80-85-on-road/) in a game that often had the feeling it was taking place in Lithuania.

“We were so happy to see so many Lithuanians at the arena. It’s an amazing feeling to feel like you are playing at home. We knew that a lot of people would come to watch us, but we didn’t expect so much support. This victory is for them,” said Wolves head coach Nedas Pacevicius. 

“That is incredible. You cannot imagine how much they lifted us up during all the tough moments. And we had so many ups and downs. During those tough moments we felt like the fans were behind us. We are really happy about this win, really happy.”

The high-scoring Lions have roared with three wins from the last four and showed its firepower with an 87-101 win at Wolves earlier in the season. The guests may lean on the experience and shooting skills of Jeffery Taylor, who poured in a season-high 20 points in an impressive win over Hamburg.

London Lions-Wolves Vilnius | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### The battle of the boards was key

Wolves outrebounded London 44-31, including a 15-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. And that led to a 21-11 margin in second-chance points.

Add the rebounding advantage to London making just 3-of-19 three-pointers (15.8%) and Wolves had a good win to complete the season.

“It felt good. It’s a little bittersweet knowing we were so close to making the playoffs, knowing how many games we dropped in the middle of the year that we could have possibly won. But it’s a great way to end the season in the EuroCup and we’re happy with the win,” said Jeffery Taylor.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The BC Wolves 🐺 take down the <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LondonLions</a> 🦁 via a thrilling 85-80 win away from home in our final BKT <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> game!🏀💪😤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreWolves?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreWolves</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/GEWLVR2FIP">pic.twitter.com/GEWLVR2FIP</a></p>&mdash; BC WOLVES (@wolves_bc) <a href="https://twitter.com/wolves_bc/status/1755349435624886572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wolves had already been eliminated from playoff contention and that made the trip to London less than easy, but the fans’ support gave the team an added level of motivation.

“It was not easy. We came here without any chances of qualify for the playoffs,” added Cocah Pacevicius. “But I really think the guys felt the meaning of this game because so many Lithuanian fans came to watch.

“It was a big, big factor for us. During the tough moments, they actually pushed us for good stops defensively. This is a very good victory, a victory which will help us in the future.”

More Wolves News

Vaidas Kariniauskas of Wolves Vilnius in action against the London Lions in Round 18 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The Lithuanian side ended its debut EuroCup campaign on a high by beating the London Lions.

Wolves got help from Lithuanian fans at Copper Box Arena in EuroCup swansong

London Lions v Wolves Vilnius (2024-02-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball closed out the BKT EuroCup regular season with a 119-66 mauling of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and sent an ominous warning to its rivals ahead of the playoffs.

Paris routs Cededvita, 119-66, to celebrate club record EuroCup win

Paris Basketball closed out the BKT EuroCup regular season with a 119-66 mauling of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and sent an ominous warning to its rivals ahead of the playoffs.

It was the French team’s biggest win in the competition and tied for the second biggest overall in the EuroCup, bettered only by Joventut Badalona’s 116-53 rout of the Guildford Heat in the 2007-2008 season.

The gulf in class epitomized by the two sides finishing on inverse records - Paris 17-1 and Cedevita 1-17 - was everywhere to be seen in the cat-and-mouse contest as Paris hit the ground running and kept its foot on the gas from start to finish.

Game Videos

 Tyson Ward and Nadir Hifi paced Paris with 20 points apiece. Sebastian Herrera scored 14 points, Mehdy Ngouama and Mikael Jantunen chipped in with 12 each and TJ Shorts paired 11 points with 12 assists to underline a flowing team effort that saw the home side blow away the Slovenian outfit in every department.

At the other end, Justin Cobbs led Cedevita with 18 points and veteran Jaka Blazic added 12 for the hapless visitors, who had hoped for a better display in their last game of what has been a hugely disappointing season in Europe.

Game News

Paris raced into an 8-0 lead inside the opening 90 seconds and that set the tone for the rest of the contest, with Cedevita only able to briefly slash the deficit to 15-12 after a timeout.

It was one-way traffic from there on, as Paris displayed its vast array of weapons to carve out a 62-34 advantage at halftime, having sank 10 shots from three-point range. The French side also racked up 18 assists in the first half while committing only 4 turnovers.

Blazic said at halftime that Cedevita had to restore its dignity after the long break but the second half only produced more one-way traffic, with the hosts extending their lead to 89-49 at the end of the third quarter.

The final score added insult to injury for Cedevita, as Paris rolled on relentlessly and the whole-hearted display will have boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the business end of the competition.

The French side put the icing on the cake of an impressive regular season with a masterclass performance.

Paris Basketball v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-02-07T19:45:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca reached the EuroCup Playoffs on Wednesday night, despite losing at BC Lietkabelis, due to Buducnost VOLI's win against CB Gran Canaria.

Helping hand from Buducnost pushed Cluj into quarterfinals

U-BT Cluj-Napoca advanced to the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals in the most fortuitous fashion after [a 92-87 defeat at 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/lietkabelis-sinks-cluj-92-87-visitors-wrap-up-second-spot-due-to-gran-canaria-defeat/) had knocked the Romanian team’s fate out of its hands in the final round of the competition’s regular season.

Cluj was left sweating on the outcome of the game between Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and Dreamland Gran Canaria, as victory for the Spanish side would have seen the defending champion overhaul Cluj on a better head-to-head record and clinch the runner-up spot in Group B.

However, Buducnost won that game 90-77, despite the fact that the Montenegrin team had no chance of making the playoffs, leaving Gran Canaria in third place while Cluj finished second by the skin of its teeth and thus earned a bye in the first knockout round.

After snapping a four-game losing streak by downing Slask behind 21 points from the consistent Deividas Sirvydis, eliminated Lietkabelis try to complicate the progress of Cluj, who needs a victory to secure a second-place finish in Group B and construct a direct passage to the EuroCup quarterfinals.

7-Bet Lietkabelis Panevezys-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### A night to forget in Panevezys

Under pressure to deliver at the end of an impressive regular-season campaign, Cluj looked jittery for the lion’s share of the contest against Lietkabelis, which had only pride to play for after losing any chance of reaching the postseason.

Instead, it was the Lithuanian outfit which looked like a playoff team with its quick movement of the ball on the offensive end as well as more aggressive defense, although Cluj thrived on long-range shooting as the visitors sank 9-of-14 shots from downtown in the first half.

Cluj briefly redressed the balance early in the fourth quarter when it levelled the score at 73-73, only for the battling Lietkabelis to pull away again, 81-75. The hosts stood their ground in the home stretch to come away with a season-ending victory, while Cluj could only hope for a Buducnost win to avoid getting leapfrogged by Granca in the runner-up spot.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">Final score: Lietkabelis 92 - 87 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBTCluj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UBTCluj</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eurocup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eurocup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cluj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cluj</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/haideU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#haideU</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCupx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCupx</a> <a href="https://t.co/IwZlhTrN2p">pic.twitter.com/IwZlhTrN2p</a></p>&mdash; U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@UBTCluj) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj/status/1755309330608296406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Buducnost delivered the goods for Cluj, with the Romanian side now able to focus on potential rivals for a berth in the competition’s last eight, having enjoyed a huge slice of good fortune in the regular season’s dramatic climax.

More Cluj News

Some U-BT Cluj-Napoca players come together during their team's game at 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 18 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The Romanian side benefited from another result going its way after losing to Lietkabelis.

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-02-07T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv finished regular season in style, defeating Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul 73-94 on Wednesday night in a game played at Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia. With this win, Hapoel secured second place in Group A, meaning it earned a direct place in the quarterfinals, where it will host either the defending champ Dreamland Gran Canaria or Besiktas. That achievement moved Hapoel head coach Danny Franco and forward Tomer Ginat.

After 'impressive achievement' Hapoel wants to 'go all the way'

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv finished the regular season in style, defeating Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul 73-94 on Wednesday night in a game played at Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia. With the win, Hapoel secured second place in Group A, meaning it earned a direct place in the quarterfinals, where it will host the winner of the eighthfinals duel between defending champion Dreamland Gran Canaria and Besiktas.

That achievement moved Hapoel head coach Danny Franco: "We can talk about X's and O's, but this season for us is not just about that", he said.

"We are always judged by wins and losses but I am proud of the guys, and management. It is a special group we created, it brought us to an amazing achievement for us."

When it came to beating Besiktas, Hapoel did it behind a sold defense, which allowed 20 points in the first 5 minutes and then in the next 28 minutes, it allowed just 29 points.

"Everything that happened on the floor we were reacting a second too late", coach Franco explained those first 5 minutes of the game.

But after he called a timeout, his team responded, holding Besiktas to just 3 points the rest of the first quarter.

Meanwhile, throughout the night on offense, different Hapoel players stepped up at different junctures of the game, like a relay-race where they passed a scoring baton to each other.

First it was Tomer Ginat and Will Cummings who scored Hapoel's first 18 points, 9 each to open the game. Then, Dez Wells, Bar Timor and Idan Zalmanson chipped in with a couple baskets apiece, helping Hapoel grab the lead for good in the second quarter.

Late in the second quarter, Jaylen Hoard, Kyle Alexander, Braian Angola and J'Cowan Brown, all scoreless to that point, combined to score 11 points and build a 39-47 halftime margin.

After the break, Brown was joined by Xavier Munford to open a 39-55 lead, and the team cruised to victory the rest of the way.

When all was said and done, Hapoel held Besiktas to just 39.5% shooting on two-pointers and 5-of-18 on threes.

"We played a very good defense," said Ginat. "It is a very good job by us a very important win."

Ginat finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds in 24 minutes on the floor and had a message that will surely be heard: "After all we've been through this season, with the situation in Israel, with all the injuries, with everything, finishing second in the group is very impressive.

"We have a very good group of guys, first of all of the court. And I think with the roster we have right now we can go all the way, and I have no doubt we are going to do it."

In about five weeks, Ginat and his teammates will begin a new journey, through the EuroCup Playoffs, with a chance to act on this proclamation.

Clinching second place in Group A felt great for Hapoel's coach and his players.

After 'impressive achievement', Hapoel wants to 'go all the way'

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2024-02-07T18:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Vilnius finished its EuroCup season on a high note as it knocked off London Lions 80-85 on the road in its final game. 

Wolves finish season on high note, downing London 80-85 on road

Wolves Vilnius finished its EuroCup season on a high note as it knocked off London Lions 80-85 on the road in its final game. The Lithuanian club grabbed its fourth win in the last five games to depart the competition with an 8-10 mark. Christian Mekowulu and Jeffery Taylor were Wolves’ leading scorers with 18 points each and Kristupas Zemaitis had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

London will go into the playoffs as the third seed from Group A after it had a 12-6 record. It slumped to only a 4-5 home record and will face off against Turk Telekom Ankara in the eighthfinals. David Nwaba and Matthew Morgan led London with 16 points each.

Regimantas Miniotas scored Wolves’ first 6 points for a 3-6 lead. After Garrison Brooks scored to make it 7-12, Nwaba threw down a dunk to even the game at 14-14. The guests scored the next 5 points only to see London tally five straight and Tre’Shawn Thurman’s three-pointer had Wolves up 23-24 after 10 minutes.

Mekowulu scored 7 straight Wolves points to put the visitors up 25-31. Tarik Phillip trimmed the deficit to 30-32. Mekowulu added 4 more points as the cushion grew to 8 points and it stood at 39-45 at the intermission.

Wolves pushed the advantage to 41-50 only to see London score the next 5 points. Zemaitis answered with a three-pointer and Miniotias’s dunk on the break had Wolves up by a game-high 11 points, 46-57. London tried to get close and Josh Sharma picked up two scores for the hosts to make it 58-62. The score was 60-64 after 30 minutes.

London started the fourth quarter better with Matthew Morgan scoring 5 points and Sharma’s basket putting the hosts ahead 69-67. Wolves responded with the next 4 points and Zemaitis added a pair of three-pointers for a 75-80 advantage with under 3 minutes to play. Wolves continued to get the stops it needed and Taylor's free throws left the visitors up 78-84 with 81 seconds to go. And that was enough for the win.

The victory was Wolves' fourth win in the last five games.

Aris B.C., with Nikos Galis watching on from the bleachers, scored 50 second-half points in its 84-77 win against Aquila Basket Trento in Round 18 of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

Sublime fourth quarter on offense inspired Aris B.C. to victory over Trento

Rightfully considered to be one of the best defenses in the BKT EuroCup, Aris Midea Thessaloniki demonstrated on Wednesday night that it can also win games with its offense.

In Round 18, [the Greek side defeated Dolomiti Energia Trento 84-77](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/aris-beats-trento-84-77-and-clinches-fifth-place/) at home to clinch fifth spot in Group B and thus guarantee qualification to the eighthfinals, where it will play on the road at Prometey Slobozhanske.

Trento was in control throughout the first half, but Aris’s defense held the guests to just 11 points in the third quarter. The Italian side took a narrow 51-52 lead into the final period, where the hosts outscored their opponent 33-25 to clinch the victory in front of an ecstatic crowd, which included European basketball legend Nikos Galis in attendance.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Greek GOAT watching live <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARISBCgr</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/hNQAskFQLM">pic.twitter.com/hNQAskFQLM</a></p>&mdash; Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/1755296714292928763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### A fourth period to remember

This was Aris’s highest scoring quarter this season and its second highest of all time in the competition, having previously netted 36 points in their 89-86 defeat at Bnei Hasharon back in 2009.

“This is a great achievement for our players, for the whole organization and our fans,” head coach Ioannis Kastritis said in the flash interview after the game. “In our first season back in the European competition, and in EuroCup specifically, we had nine victories and one more great performance tonight. These guys deserve a lot. We are very happy. We are very proud and we move on.”

Trento took to the Nikos Galis Hall court looking for a win that would secure its place in the playoffs. The visitors dictated the pace of the game in the first half and scored 41 points against the stingiest defense in the league, as Aris conceded an average of 75.0 points coming into Wednesday’s clash.

Aris can guarantee its postseason-place, and potentially finish fourth in the group, by overcoming a Trento roster that also has to triumph to stand a chance of extending its season. The Greeks Ulm overcame Ulm behind a sensational Ronnie Harrell, who matches up against the dangerous Andrejs Grazulis.

Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Erupting on offense after the break

Yet, the Greek side bounced back after the break, outscoring Trento 17-11 in the third quarter and going on to net a total of 50 second-half points to clinch its fifth home win in the regular season.

“I have to congratulate the players for the way they made the comeback, even if we didn’t start the game the way we wanted to,” Kastritis commented in the post-game press conference. “No matter what happened during the game, our guys were on the same page, they executed the plan the way they are doing it every time and we are very happy that we won.”

In fact, the 50 points Aris scored after halftime were the most the Greek team has netted in one half this season. Should Kastritis’s men build on their offensive display in the fourth quarter and their defensive performance in the third, Aris will have nothing to fear against Prometey.

Having beaten ratiopharm Ulm on the road, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens away from home in the Greek League and Trento in Thessaloniki in the space of one week, Aris has demonstrated that the sky is the limit for this team.

More Aris News

Vassilis Toliopoulos of Aris Midea Thessaloniki celebrates a made three-pointer against Dolomiti Energia Trento in Round 18 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The Greek side went up a couple of gears after the break to come away with the win in front of a European basketball legend.

Sublime fourth quarter on offense inspired Aris to victory over Trento

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-02-07T18:00:00.000Z)

BC Prometey defeated Joventut Badalona 94-80 in Round 18, inspired by a 36-9 fourth quarter.

Small lineup led to Prometey’s historic fourth quarter, comeback win 

Ronen Ginzburg did not have many options left as Prometey Slobozhanske found itself with a hefty deficit to Joventut Badalona in the final game of the regular season. The Prometey head coach decided to install a small lineup and it worked to perfection, as the team responded with a historic fourth quarter in [a magical comeback en route to a 94-80 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/prometey-rallies-from-13-points-down-in-fourth-to-beat-joventut-94-80/).

Prometey trailed by 13 points after three quarters and Joventut was up 64-76 with more than 8 minutes to go. That caused Ginzburg to go with the quartet of Caleb Agada, Gian Clavell, Issuf Sanon and Ronald March, along with big man Ondrej Balvin, in search of a response.

The quickness and length of the Prometey guards and wings gave the hosts enough scoring ability while also providing problems for Joventut’s offense.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Amazing W in Riga 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/TKHni0EdwA">pic.twitter.com/TKHni0EdwA</a></p>&mdash; BC Prometey (@BcPrometey) <a href="https://twitter.com/BcPrometey/status/1755325859173396802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### A historic fourth quarter

Prometey reeled off a 20-0 fourth-quarter run to turn the game on its head before taking the fourth quarter 36-9. It set a new club record for the most points in a EuroCup fourth quarter and it evened the team’s mark for most points in a quarter, tying the 36 points from the second quarter of a 105-100 win over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana on December 27, 2023.

“We went 36-9 in the fourth quarter. I have never seen anything like this in my life,” admitted Prometey’s Illia Sydorov.

“We started playing with a small lineup. It was a gamble because it can go both ways. It worked great. All the respect to the players. Amazing game for us,” said Ginzburg.

Playoff-bound Prometey and Spanish side Joventut playing for the final group position as they go head-to-head separated by just one win. A key matchup is to take place in the paint between veteran big men Ante Tomic and Ondrey Balvin, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds in November 2023's meeting.

Prometey Slobozhanske-Joventut Badalona | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Joventut had committed just 6 turnovers in the first 34 minutes of the game, but Prometey forced three turnovers in a stretch of four possessions in its big 20-0 surge. That took Joventut completely out of its offense and Prometey never let go of the game.

That quintet of Prometey players remained in the game almost the entire fourth quarter and ended up carrying the weight offensively as well.

Clavell finished with 24 points, Sanon had 23 points, March added 19 points and Agada collected 14 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Balvin scored just 6 points in the game, but he provided the support on the glass with 12 rebounds.

More Prometey News

Ronald March of Prometey Slobozhanske looks to score against Joventut Badalona in Round 18 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Joventut had no answer for the hosts in the final period.

Small lineup led to Prometey’s historic fourth quarter in comeback win 

Prometey Slobozhanske v Joventut Badalona (2024-02-07T17:00:00.000Z)

The bracket for the 2024 EuroCup Playoffs is set after an exciting Round 18.

Here is the 2024 BKT EuroCup Playoff bracket!

The playoff picture is set for the BKT EuroCup following the first five games on Wednesday. Turk Telekom Ankara was the final team to qualify after winning on Tuesday and going through based on Wednesday’s results.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and U-BT Cluj-Napoca clinched direct quarterfinal berths by finishing second in their respective groups. Paris Basketball of Group A and Mincidelice JL Bourg-en-Bresse from Group B had already locked up the top spots in their groups prior to Round 18.

The eighthfinals matchups will feature the London Lions against Turk Telekom, Prometey Slobozhanske against Aris Midea Thessaloniki, Dreamland Gran Canaria versus Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, and ratiopharm Ulm against Joventut Badalona.

The single-game EuroCup Eighthfinals will be played on Tuesday, March 5, and Wednesday, March 6. The winners will enter the single-game quarterfinals, scheduled for Tuesday, March 12, and Wednesday, March 13.

Twelve teams have advanced to the postseason where they can chase EuroCup glory!

Despite being already eliminated, Buducnost dominated Gran Canaria from start to finish, reaching a game-high 23-point difference in the last period.

Buducnost overcame disappointment to roll over Gran Canaria

It was reasonable to think that Buducnost VOLI Podgorica’s mood was not at the highest level right before its Round 18 game against Dreamland Gran Canaria. Even though its win against Dolomiti Energia Trento the previous week had kept alive its chance to make it to the playoffs, the dream came to its end on Tuesday when Turk Telekom Ankara won on the road 70-86 against Slask Wroclaw.

In spite of that, Buducnost's players and coaching staff forgot about everything beyond the game and finished the regular season in style by displaying a terrific performance against the reigning BKT Eurocup champion. The Montenegrin powerhouse needed no more than 5 minutes to take the reins, building a 22-16 margin at the end of the first period, growing it to 15 points before halftime and raising it to 20-plus early in the last.

“Congratulations to Buducnost and Coach Zakelj for a great performance. They deserved to win,” Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic admitted in the press conference. “We started the game solid, but from minute 5 it was all Buducnost. They had the intensity, they had also good percentages from two. In the first half what hurt us the most were their easy points in fastbreaks and offensive rebounds. And then, in the second half… it was all Buducnost.”

What gives Buducnost even more credit is the fact that Gran Canaria had what to play for. When U-BT Cluj-Napoca lost earlier on Wednesday, the door opened for Granca to take second place - and a direct berth in the quarterfinals - by winning at Moraca.

“I think we play the good game, no matter what the situation is,” Buducnost head coach Andrej Zjakel celebrated after the game. “Unfortunately, everything together is not enough to go through but I'm proud of the guys. I think that last few games we were really on a good level and we have to continue like this. I think that for Gran Canaria this was their game for the second spot. So For sure, they were motivated. But in the end, I think we were better tonight.”

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-02-07T18:00:00.000Z)