This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 18 showdown between Valencia Basket and ratiopharm Ulm.

Post-game quotes: Valencia vs. Ulm

### Joan Penarroya, Valencia Basket head coach:

"It is an important victory. Second place is important for us. Ulm tonight had important players out, but I think my team played a serious game, with concentration with energy and we passed the ball well. I am happy for the game. A club record 33 assists? Nice, but it is not the most important. The most important is the victory."

### Jaka Lakovic, ratiopharm Ulm head coach:

"It was a tough night. We played against Valencia and with the circumstances we had, the game was totally on their side. I want to congratulate Valencia for the win, for the second place and wish them all the best in the playoffs. For us, it is a good lesson, especially for the young guys who did not get so much opportunity during the season to see what it takes to play at this level. I hope this loss will not affect us against Joventut \[in the eighthfinals\]. We have to put all the things in perspective, we have to realize how we went into the game. We first have German League, that game in Badalona is in two weeks, still a long time until then."

Buducnost edges Bursaspor, 86-89, on the road

Buducnost fended off every Bursaspor comeback in the closing minutes to finish Group B action with a 10-8 record after having lost six of its last eight games. Buducnost will have to wait for later results to see what its final placing in the standings is going into the eighthfinals. Justin Cobbs poured in 21 points and Kendrick Perry scored 19 points to grab the victory. Edin Atic chipped in 14 points and Zoran Nikolic had 11 points in the win. Bursaspor had its four-game winning streak snapped to fall to 8-10 despite Andrew Andrews's 26 points. Onuralp Bitim and Omer Utku Al both tallied 14 points, David Dudzinski scored 13 points and Derek Needham contributed 11 points in the losing effort.

Kevarrius Hayes scored first in the game for the hosts before Atic netted 4 points at the other end in opening a 2-6 lead. Bursaspor responded with the next 6 points to reclaim the lead only to see Buducnost mount a 2-13 surge, including a three-pointer and 3 free throws from Cobbs and 5 points from Danilo Nikolic, to make it 10-19. David Dudzinski’s score had the hosts within 12-19 after 10 minutes.

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Bursaspor could not get defensive stops early in the second as Perry scored 4 points and the lead grew to 16-27. Andrews answered with a three-pointer and Omer Utku Al added free throws to cut the margin to 22-29. An Onuralp Bitim three-point play made it 27-33 only to see Perry answer from deep. Al knocked down 2 three-pointers and Bursaspor was within 37-38. Marko Jagodic-Kuridza responded with a triple and Zoran Nikolic’s three-point play made it 37-44. Andrews converted a three-point play and the advantage was 40-44 at the break.

After Cobbs’s free throws to start the second half, Bitim hit a three-pointer for the home side. Perry knocked down a triple at the other end in a 0-8 surge to push the lead to 43-54. Bursaspor used the long ball to get close with Dudzinski and Needham draining triples to pull within 49-54. Cobbs converted a three-point play and Atic hit a three-pointer, but Needham knocked down 2 more three-pointers and Bursaspor trailed just 58-62. But Atic punched back from deep and DJ Seeley’s free throws extended the gap back to 8 points. The Bursaspor barrage continued with Al and Bitim draining triples and Al free throws made it 68-70. Seeley converted twice from the free-throw line and the score was 68-72 after 30 minutes.

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Bursaspor finally knotted the game at 72-72 on Andrews’s jumper. Buducnost responded with 4 points each from Perry and Zoran Nikolic and led 75-80. Cobbs added a jumper to increase the lead to 6. Cobbs added another basket and Perry hit a three-pointer to put Buducnost ahead 80-87. Andrews responded with a three-pointer and three-point play to make it 86-87 with 76 seconds left. Both teams committed turnovers before Andrews’s three-point shot went in and out with 18 seconds to play. Perry finished it off with 2 free throws with 10 seconds left for an 86-89 lead. Dudzinski appeared to hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game but the ball was ruled out of bounds first.

Frutti Extra Bursaspor v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2022-04-05T17:45:00.000Z)

Edin Atic - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Bursaspor) - EC21-RS18

This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 18 showdown between Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Post-game quotes: Bursaspor vs. Buducnost

### Aleksandar Dzikic, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica head coach:

“We were focused and in the last 2 minutes, we controlled the rebounds. They’re so tough, they’re so tough. Every time you think you break them, they come back, they come back. Congrats to the home team, and the fans are great, great. I like noise. They were probably supporting their team, but this is a basketball atmosphere. And I hope that COVID is over.”

### Dusan Alimpijevic, Frutti Extra Bursaspor head coach:

“Buducnost was better and they deserved it more than us. I want to thank our fans for coming and supporting us the whole EuroCup season. This was probably our last home game in the EuroCup. I want to congratulate everybody in the club and the players for reaching the playoffs stage. It’s a big success for us and we have to be proud of that. We need to prepare the next game better.”

### Kendrick Perry, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica guard: 

“\[The team’s energy\] was great. In a rowdy environment like this, it would be hard to stay focused. But I think we did a good job most of the game staying focused and sticking to the game plan. We had a little extra motivation to win this one for Willie \[Reed\], our teammate that went down last week. I’m proud of the way we fought tonight.”

Kendrick Perry - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Bursaspor) - EC21-RS18

Game Night: Last round of regular season starts

### [Frutti Extra Bursaspor 86-89 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/frutti-extra-bursaspor-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2021/177/)

Buducnost will go into the playoffs on a high note after defeating Frutti Extra Bursaspor 86-89 on the road. Buducnost fended off every Bursaspor comeback in the closing minutes to finish Group B with a 10-8 record after having lost six of its last eight games. Justin Cobbs poured in 21 points and Kendrick Perry scored 19 points to grab the victory. Bursaspor had its four-game winning streak snapped to fall to 8-10 despite Andrew Andrews's 26 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/kendrick3perry?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kendrick3perry</a> is CLUTCH 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/KOLZRrqYE1">pic.twitter.com/KOLZRrqYE1</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1511428369870512131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 68-90 Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-virtus-segafredo-bologna/U2021/178/)

Virtus captured a convincing win at the Ekinox when it defeated Bourg 68-90 on Tuesday night. The visitors trailed 51-40, but a 0-16 run in the last 4 minutes of the third quarter flipped the coin for good. Virtus improved to 11-7 behind 17 points from Daniel Hackett and locked in home-court advantage in the eighthfinals. C.J. Harris scored 12 for already-eliminated Bourg, which finished with a 6-12 record. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Daniel Hackett beats the buzzer to close the half💥<a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Virtusbo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/uzgoFy94kg">pic.twitter.com/uzgoFy94kg</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1511418244086652931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Valencia Basket 103-71 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/valencia-basket-ratiopharm-ulm/U2021/176/)

Valencia never trailed and set a club record with 33 assists in beating visiting Ulm 103-71 in the regular-season finale for both teams. Valencia improved to 12-6 and clinched second place in Group B, while Ulm, which entered the game locked into eighth place, finished the group stage with a 7-11 record. Bojan Dubljevic paced Valencia with 19 points on 5-for-6 three-point shooting, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Karim Jallow led Ulm with 19 points. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Beautiful ball movement by <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> to find Louis Labeyrie for the dunk!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xyg6ZD4Hcw">pic.twitter.com/Xyg6ZD4Hcw</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1511416889448181762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Here are the first duels of the last round of the 2021-22 Regular Season!

Game Night: Valencia clinches second in Group B; Buducnost, Virtus win

Valencia Basket celebrates (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21-RS18

This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 18 showdown between Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Post-game quotes: Bourg vs. Virtus

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach Sergio Scariolo:

“We had a great defensive third quarter. We put the game back on the right track. We didn’t change one inch of our game plan, but of course, players changed big time their energy, their intensity, their concentration. We did everything the same from the tactical point of view, but completely different from the real actual point of view. From then, we could run, then Teodosic had some of his magic passes and put everybody in rhythm. We had a very good second half.”

### Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse head coach Lurent Legname:

“In the second half, we were pushed out by their defense. And after all, when the game is on a decision stage, they made their shots and we missed the open shots. After that, we relaxed a bit on defense. We had good 20 minutes, but after that, it was very difficult for us to stay and win the game.”

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna guard Daniel Hackett:

“The fact that we gave up only 21 points in the second half speaks a lot about the defensive effort we had in the second half. First half we were kind of sloppy, slow, we allowed their guards to kind of dictate the game and they got us in trouble. 47 points is too much. But in the second half, our defense gave us the boost to play better on offense. We started making shots and we clamped down on defense.”

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2022-04-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Sergio Scariolo - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Alexia Graziani - Bourg) - EC21-RS18

Talented scorers Anthony Clemmons of Turk Telekom Ankara and Jaylon Brown of Hamburg Towers will lock horns in a major matchup on Wednesday.

Major Matchup: Turk Telekom’s Clemmons vs. Hamburg’s Brown 

Clemmons has been a boost for the Turk Telekom attack since he joined the team in Round 5. He is far from a one-dimensional scorer, alternating games where he relies mostly on outside shooting with games where he attacks the basket. He has drawn at least 6 fouls in half of his 12 appearances and had at least 4 assists on five occasions. For the season, Clemmons has averaged 12.0 points on 44.0% three-point shooting, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals for an average PIR of 14.8. He shined with 14 points, 8 assists and 5 steals for a PIR of 25 against Hamburg in Round 9, though his team lost by 20.

Brown is one of Hamburg’s top weapons and his 16.5 points per game are eighth-best in the competition. He has averaged 2.9 three-pointers per game – which is third-best in the EuroCup – at 40.4% three-point shooting plus 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals for a PIR of 13.2 per game. Brown, who missed the game against Turk Telekom earlier this season, has scored in double figures in every game in the second half of the regular season and he will look to add to that streak with a strong showing in the Turkish capital.  

Turk Telekom Ankara v Hamburg Towers (2022-04-06T17:00:00.000Z)

Anthony Clemmons - Turk Telekom Ankara (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21

It is a head-to-head clash for sixth and seventh place in Group A: Turk Telekom Ankara (7-8) takes on Hamburg Towers (6-9). 

Keys to victory: Turk Telekom vs. Hamburg 

### Turk Telekom should keep Geyik involved

Turk Telekom Ankara will rely on Samet Geyik to play a more important role in the team going forward. Turk Telekom was with JaJuan Johnson and Octavius Ellis in Round 17, but Geyik stepped up with 32 points and a PIR of 35 against Lietkabelis Panevezys. Johnson and Ellis returned in a Turkish League game this weekend, but Geyik still got 22 points and a PIR of 23. Turk Telekom needs to be more aggressive on the boards against a physical team like Hamburg; the hosts rank 19th in offensive rebounds with just 8.6 per night.

### Hamburg needs its frontcourt to step up

Hamburg Towers was without leading scorer Caleb Homesley in a rescheduled game against Lietkabelis on Monday. If Homesley remains unavailable, players like Jaylon Brown and Maik Kostar must step up on offense. Kotsar needs to use his size and power against Ellis and Geyik, in what is one of the biggest keys to this game. Hamburg ranks second in offensive rebounds (12.7 orpg.) and first in steals (9.6 spg.), but allows opponents to make 58.2% of their two-point shots. Protecting the paint should be critical for Coach Pedro Calles's team.

Maik Kotsar - Hamburg Towers (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (10-5) hosts Lietkabelis Panevezys (9-6) with third place in Group A at stake. Only the winner will claim that spot. 

Keys to victory: Metropolitans vs. Lietkabelis 

### Metropolitans' diversified offense is key

Even though Metropolitans has a well-defined floor general and leader in Will Cummings, getting many different players involved on offense makee the team even better. That has given the hosts a very efficient offense, dishing 19.4 assists per game and committing just 12.2 turnovers per night. Not allowing Gediminas Orelik to take open shots or get one-on-one opportunities should be critical, and Metropolitans relies on Tomer Ginat and Bandja Sy to stop him. Finding Jordan McRae on offense could be a big key for Coach Vincent Collet's team.

### Outside shooting may be critical for Lietkabelis

Lietkabelis shot the ball really well in its road win against Hamburg Towers on Monday, making 69.0% of its two-pointers and 45.5% from downtown. Nikola Radicevic returned to its lineup, giving   Coach Nenad Canak much-needed experience and court sense at point guard. Lietkabelis has made 11.2 three-point shots on 41.1% shooting in wins and just 8.5 triples on 30.2% shooting in losses. Finding open looks for its best shooters - Orelik, Vytenis Lipkevicius, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis - should be really important for the visitors.

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-04-06T18:30:00.000Z)

Bandja Sy - Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) - EC21

Albicy was chosen to the 2018-19 All-EuroCup First Team and is in his sixth season in the competition. He leads the EuroCup in steals (1.8 spg.) and ranks fifth in assists (6.3 apg.), while averaging 6.0 points and a PIR of 12.8 in 12 games. In Round 9 against Reyer, Albicy had 6 points, 5 assists and 3 fouls drawn for a PIR of 10. He is a key player for Coach Porfi Fisac, as Albicy makes sure to keep everyone happy and put the ball in the right places.

Theodore will try to make sure that Albicy doesn't feel comfortable in this game. Theodore, a EuroCup finalist with UNICS Kazan last season, joined Reyer midway through the current campaign and did not get to play against Gran Canaria yet. He is averaging 12.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals and a PIR of 13.1. Both Albicy and Theodore are outstanding on-the-ball defenders, so get ready for a high-intensity matchup at Gran Canaria Arena on Wednesday.

Gran Canaria takes on Umana Reyer Venice in Round 18, giving EuroCup fans the chance to see Andrew Albicy face another experienced playmaker, Jordan Theodore. 

Major Matchup: Gran Canaria's Albcy vs. Reyer's Theodore 

Gran Canaria v Umana Reyer Venice (2022-04-06T19:00:00.000Z)

Andrew Albicy - Gran Canaria (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) - EC21