BASKETBALL IN EUROPE

Former Spain head coach Pepu Hernandez enjoyed an opening day triumph over direct rivals Valencia on his return to Estudiantes

Spain - Estudiantes Win For Pepu

Former Spain national team boss Pepu Hernandez is off to a winning start in his second spell at Estudiantes.

Antoine Wright had 22 points, Luis Flores 15 and former Spain captain Carlos Jimenez 12 as Estu thrilled an 11,000-strong crowd with a 71-69 victory over Valencia on the opening weekend of the Liga Endesa.

Serbia guard Stefan Markovic, one of the newcomers at Valencia, had a chance force overtime but his runner in the game's final seconds bounced off the back of the rim.

Nik Caner-Medley had 17 points on his return to Estu, where he spent the previous four seasons.

Hernandez, who led Spain to the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and silver at EuroBasket 2007, coached DKV Joventut the previous two seasons.

He had been at the helm of Estu from 1994-2005.

Spanish heavyweights Caja Laboral, Real Madrid and Regal Barcelona all won their openers.

With France international Kevin Seraphin of the Washington Wizards in the squad during the NBA lockout, Caja Laboral won 73-60 over Cajasol Sevilla.

Seraphin had 11 points in his Liga Endesa debut while Mirza Teletovic led Dusko Ivanovic's team's with 20.

Real Madrid brushed aside Fuenlabrada, 88-70, in a Madrid derby.

Nikola Mirotic had 16 points and Sergio Llull 15 for Madrid while New Zealand international Kirk Penny poured in a game-high 25 in defeat.

James Augustine had 19 points and 14 rebounds for new club Murcia but the former Valencia man couldn't lead his side to an upset of defending champions Barcelona.

EuroBasket MVP Juan Carlos Navarro, new point guard Marcelo Huertas and center Boniface Ndong each scored 12 points as Barca won, 62-54.

Slovenian center Erazem Lorbek led Barcelona with 14 points.

There were also opening-week wins for Manresa, Bluesens Monbus, Unicaja Malaga and Lucentum Alicante.

Lucentum upset Bizkaia Bilbao Basket, 81-77.

Germany - FC Bayern Get First Triumph

FC Bayern battled their way to a 90-87 victory over New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig as Dirk Bauermann's men got their first victory in the German top flight since winning promotion.

Jonathan Wallace had 25 points for Bayern, who had a nervous finish in the round two clash.

Rich Melzer's three-pointer for Braunschweig just three seconds from the end closed the gap to 89-87 and Nick Williams fouled Je'Kel Foster.

He made the first but missed the second.

Nils Mittmann grabbed the rebound for the visitors and put up a desperation heave  that missed, to leave the majority in the 5,823-strong crowd at Bayern happy.

The Munich club had opened their account in the league with an 80-76 defeat at Telekom Baskets.

So far in Germany's Beko BBL, EWE Baskets Oldenburg, s.Oliver Baskets, ratiopharm ulm and Telekom Baskets are still unbeaten at 2-0 each.

Oldenburg cruised to an 88-67 victory over BBC Bayreuth at the weekend while Telekom Baskets beat Phoenix Hagen, 95-83.

Danilo Gallinari, who has joined Milano during the NBA lockout, was in fine form in his first game in the Italian league in years

Ulm were 84-79 winners over Artland Dragons and Wurzburg outfit s.Oliver Baskets prevailed 85-60 over LTi GIESSEN 46ers.

Italy - Gallinari, Milano Roll

Danilo Gallinari looks right at home in an Armani Milano shirt.

The Italy international, among the many Europeans to have returned home to compete for clubs during the NBA lockout, had 12 points as Milano beat Cimberio Varese, 89-75, in their first Lega A game of the season.

Milano, whose coach is Spain national team boss Sergio Scariolo, were led by Drew Nicholas' 16 points.

Yakhouba Diawara, a France international who hasn't featured for the national team since the EuroBasket 2009 Qualifying Round, had a game-high 26 points for Varese.

Bo McCalebb, who made the all-tournament team at EuroBasket 2011, had 14 points in Montepaschi Siena's 75-67 triumph at Bancas Tercas Teramo.

Pietro Aradori's 15 points were a team high for Siena.

Virtus Bologna scraped a 93-91 overtime win at home against Lottomatica Roma.

Jared Homan had 13 points for Virtus.

Montenegro international Vladir Dasic scored 22 points in defeat.

Pepsi Caserta edged Benetton Treviso 85-84 in a thrilling encounter.

A pair of free-throws by Oritseweyinmi Efejuku, who played for BK Ventspils last season, were the winning points.

Alessandro Gentile had a chance to win at the death for Benetton but missed an attempt from long range.

Andre Smith's 24 points led Caserta.

There were also opening round wins for Banco di Sardegna, Bennet Cantu, Fabi Shoes Montegranaro and Angelico Biella.

Russia - Primorye Stun Kazan

Spartak Primorye shocked UNICS Kazan 80-73 in the first round of Russian PBL action.

Spartak, who face BC Enisey in the second leg of their EuroChallenge tie on Tuesday, got 18 points from Torey Thomas.

UNICS won last season's Eurocup and will play in the Euroleague this season.

"It was an incredible game, simply incredible," Thomas said.

"What we did today - it's great.

"I would also like to note the atmosphere at the game.

"From the beginning to the end we had excellent support, and that gave us the strength to fight."

Milos Teodosic played for CSKA Moscow as they clinched a 79-62 victory at Nizhny Novgorod.

Teodosic, who has made the switch from Olympiacos, wasn't the leading scorer, though.

That honor fell to Darjus Lavrinovic (20pts).

Recent signing Andrei Kirilenko didn't play but Aleksey Shved did and scored 14 points.

BC Khimki also prevailed in their opener, 85-79, over Krasnye Krylia.