26 September, 2016
30 April, 2017
5 Corey Walden (Telenet Oostende) (photo: Filip Vanloocke)
15/03/2017
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Oostende, Telekom Baskets punch Semi-Final tickets

MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - Telenet Oostende and Telekom Baskets joined Nanterre 92 in the FIBA Europe Cup Semi-Finals after taking care of business in second-leg action and getting past the Quarter-Final barrier.

While the Belgian side had to go through hell, high water and an overtime against Enisey Krasnoyarsk, Bonn could afford to take the scenic route against Ironi Nahariya after claiming a big win at the Telekom Dome last week.

The last unknown Semi-Finalist will be decided next week, with Elan Chalon hosting Cibona in France for the return leg after a slender two-point defeat in Zagreb when the sides first met.

TELENET OOSTENDE v ENISEY KRASNOYARSK

There was no shortage of drama in Belgium, where Telenet Oostende and Enisey needed overtime to settle the destiny of the Semi-Final spot, with the home side coming out victorious 95-79 in a nail-biting contest to win 167-163 on aggregate.

Having lost the first game in Siberia by 12 points, an inspired Oostende performance saw the deficit vanish already in the first half, but a back-and-forth tussle around the margin ensued until the very end.

"We played a very good team with a combination of great shooting, a smart game and some of the best screening I have seen. This makes the performance of my players even greater. In the overtime, we found the necessary stability to win this game," said Oostende play-caller Dario Gjergja after the game.

Corey Walden was the star of the evening, going 10-of-11 from the field for a game-high 25 points, as well as adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Meanwhile, Dusan Djordjevic stepped up in a time of need for Oostende and collected the majority of his 16-point output down the stretch.

After surviving two overtimes against Demir Insaat in the Round of 16, Enisey, who were hoping to reach the Semi-Finals stage in the FIBA Europe Cup for the second year in a row, couldn't pull off a similar escape this time around.

The exit will be particularly tough for Anthony Hilliard and Frank Elegar, who kept the Krasnoyarsk side afloat throughout the game. Hilliard scored a team-high 20 points, while Elegar chipped in with 17 points, 15 rebounds and 5 steals.

IRONI NAHARIYA v TELEKOM BASKETS

Telekom Baskets managed to avoid major drama on the road in Israel, absorbing a 90-80 loss to Ironi Nahariya, but still winning the tie by 11 points on aggregate (169-158) after setting themselves up with a comfortable 21-point cushion in the first leg in Bonn.

The German club had the situation under control throughout the contest, with the hosts never leading by more than a few baskets, although a late rally by Ironi Nahariya did see the home side snatch up a double-digit win on the night in the end.

Julian Gamble came through for the Bonn side once again, registering his second consecutive double-double in the competition with 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Predrag Krunic-coached team.

For the hosts, Brian Hopson finished the evening with a game-high 31 points and 5 rebounds for the Israeli team, while Yancy Gates added 25 points and 6 boards in a losing effort.

Telekom Baskets will face Nanterre 92 in the Semi-Finals, which will pit the 33-year-old Germany international Heiko Schaffartzik against the Bonn side in return to his homeland.

FIBA