30.10.2007

Pleven Hold Off Patras

Spartak Pleven used a big third quarter to capture a 76-71 home victory over Olympias Patras in the first leg of their EuroCup Elimination Round showdown.

Sasha Topchov scored 23 points for the winners while Vladimir Jojic tallied 16 off the bench – he buried all four of his shots from behind the arc - and dished out four assists.

Hrisimir Dimitrov and Ilia Stankov each added 10 points for the Bulgarians, who out-scored the Greeks 25-9 in the decisive third period for a 60-50 lead.

Patras only joined the Greek first division in 2006 and played last season in the EuroCup Challenge.

Lithuanian Tomas Nagys did all he could for Yannis Christopoulos' team, collecting 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

And Lelton Brown, Periklis Dorkofikis and Yannis Lappas each had 11 points.

But Czech international playmaker Maurice Whitfield was held to seven points and two assists.

The return leg will be played on November 6 in Greece.