02.03.2010

Buducnost Fight Back To Edge Scavolini

KK Buducnost conjured up a magical fightback against Scavolini Pesaro to inflict a first defeat for the Italian side in the Last 16 and give themselves a glimmer of hope in making the Quarter-Finals of the competition thanks also to events in Nicosia.

Their 90-87 victory was achieved despite a nightmare first quarter when they watched Scavolini rattle open up with a 9-0 run and then extend that advantage to 17-2.

Having worked hard to narrow to within five points at 30-25, it looked like any opportunity of a salvage mission might have gone when inspired by 15 points from Michael Hicks Taylor, the visitors finished the first half 40-31 ahead.

Undeterred and eager to try and keep their challenge alive, Buducnost put the shackles on Taylor and managed to tie the game up in the third. A bucket by Marko Simonovic made it all square at 48-48 and the same player then handed his team their first lead of game seconds later.

When Boris Savovic made a triple with just under five minutes to play to seemingly put some daylight between both teams at 74-68 it looked like the rescue of the game was complete. However the Italian team underlined their quality to narrow to within one point with just under a minute remaining.

Buducnost moved 86-81 in front but once again the Italians came back when Sam Van Rossom buried a big three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining to set up a nervy finale.

Thankfully for the home fans, Nikola Otasevic and Goran Jeretin held their nerve from the free-throw line to secure the win.

Eric Williams top scored for Scavolini with 17 points while Jeretin claimed 19 points for the winning side as well as 6 assists.

 

02.03.2010

Quotes KK Buducnost vs. Scavolini Pesaro

Dejan Radonjic, Buducnost m:tel coach:
"I am very happy because of a victory against such an important rival like Scavolini is. There are ver few games against Italian teams which Buducnost ended them with victory. We started the game badly. Our defense was bad and we missed 20 of 26 shots in first 20 minutes and also 6 free throws. But the second half was a different story. Our intensity in defense was connected with good efficiency in offence. In the last couple of minutes we allowed the players of Scavolini to hit five treys without fouling them. This fact was not decisive in the final score but we have to avoid it in the next games. So we will keep fighting to the end of this competition."

Luca Dalmonte, Scavolini Pesaro coach:
"The game had two different halves. In first one Buducnost scored only 31 points and in the second half 59! They hit an incredible 9 of 12 from outside in that half. Despite that fact I have to say that we had a very balanced offense. But our defense was not so aggressive. Buducnost took theadvantage thanks to their great percentages and won the game."

Marques Green, Scavolini Pesaro player:
"They played a great game, they played hard and deserved to win. We have to play more aggressive in defense in the next games if we want to achieve better results."