Dolphins Rally To Grab Victory

Oladapo Ayuba led the way for the Norrköping Dolphins with 11 points and 9 rebounds

Norrkoping Dolphins came storming back at the finish to snatch a 64-62 over Swedish neighbours Sodertalje Kings in Group C of the EuroChallenge.

The Dolphins trailed 58-51 with 3:08 left in the game, having been down by as many as 13 in the third quarter.

But Edgars Jeromanovs' three-pointer highlighted a 9-0 run that put them 60-58 up with 57 seconds left.

Dino Pita replied with a pair of free throws for the Kings, but Pavel Ermolinskij's lay-up restored the slim advantage with 25 seconds left.

Jeromanovs split a pair of free throws to edge them further clear, but Adnan Chuk hit both from the line to make it 63-62 with 11 seconds left.

Martin Ringstrom went to the line for the Dolphins but could only split his throws to give the Kings one last chance, which went begging when Pita was off-target with a late three-point attempt.

The Kings had led most of the game and several times built leads of 13 points, the last of which came when Tobias Borg's three-pointer made it 47-34 with 2:23 to go in the third quarter.

The Dolphins got themselves back into the game early in the third, with a 10-2 run closing the gap to 52-49 on Fred Drains' jump-shot.

Oladapo Ayuba led the Dolphins with 11 points and nine rebounds while Jeromanovs scored 10 and Anton Saks nine.

Borg had 19 points for the Kings, with Toni Bizaca adding 14.

Quotes Norrköping Dolphins vs. Södertälje Kings

"We were not getting the job done in the first three quarters. The Kings are very specific in what they want to run and did a good job. It was definitively another ugly game against the Kings, and they probably should have won today. We were horrible today, but the hard work ethic and the fact that we did not give up are important. At halftime I was really upset with our attitude. The guys were not playing for the team; they were playing for themselves. They were winning the rebound battle. They had 8 offensive rebounds that's a joke. We should never lose rebounds. That was the worst for me. But this was an important win."

Dolphins player Pierre Hampton
"Great comeback. We showed more will in the end. It was not a pretty game, but we won and that is what counts. We came out with higher intensity in the second half. We have a deep team, and almost anyone can come in and do the work."

Södertälje Kings player Adnan Chuk
"We lost by two points. It does not feel good of course. There was one period where we made mistakes and lost our game plan and that cost us. We were playing a very good game and had them the whole time but lost focus in the end. We have to step up when our best players are in foul trouble. Still, the Dolphins should get credit; they do not give up."

Södertälje Kings head coach Vedran Bosnic
"It makes me very sad when we lose in the final minutes. At the same time I am very proud of my guys, how they played the majority of the game, and what they are doing. But they do have to play for 40 minutes. Five turnovers in the last quarter definitively turned the game around, but that is what happens in basketball. I really like how Tobias Borg came out and played really well for being so young."

Quotes Norrköping Dolphins vs. Södertälje Kings

"We were not getting the job done in the first three quarters. The Kings are very specific in what they want to run and did a good job. It was definitively another ugly game against the Kings, and they probably should have won today. We were horrible today, but the hard work ethic and the fact that we did not give up are important. At halftime I was really upset with our attitude. The guys were not playing for the team; they were playing for themselves. They were winning the rebound battle. They had 8 offensive rebounds that's a joke. We should never lose rebounds. That was the worst for me. But this was an important win."

Dolphins player Pierre Hampton
"Great comeback. We showed more will in the end. It was not a pretty game, but we won and that is what counts. We came out with higher intensity in the second half. We have a deep team, and almost anyone can come in and do the work."

Södertälje Kings player Adnan Chuk
"We lost by two points. It does not feel good of course. There was one period where we made mistakes and lost our game plan and that cost us. We were playing a very good game and had them the whole time but lost focus in the end. We have to step up when our best players are in foul trouble. Still, the Dolphins should get credit; they do not give up."

Södertälje Kings head coach Vedran Bosnic
"It makes me very sad when we lose in the final minutes. At the same time I am very proud of my guys, how they played the majority of the game, and what they are doing. But they do have to play for 40 minutes. Five turnovers in the last quarter definitively turned the game around, but that is what happens in basketball. I really like how Tobias Borg came out and played really well for being so young."