ESP - Igor puts Tau on victory course

VITORIA (Euroleague) - Igor Rakocevic poured in a game-high 23 points as Tau Ceramica eased to a 77-61 win over Dynamo Moscow to underline their favourite status for Euroleague Group A.

The Serb had excellent support from Frederick House (14) and Luis Scola and Zoran Planinic who managed 12 each with Argentinian Olympic gold-medal winner Scola also hauling down eight rebounds.

Antonis Fotsis managed 17 points in a losing cause for Dynamo who were well in the hunt at the halfway point when the score was 39-37 to the Spaniards.

Tau took control in the third quarter which they took by a nine-point margin and further extended their lead in the final period.

Also in Group A, Olympiacos beat Climamio Bologna 93-86 with Henry Domercant contributing 29 points for the victors and Preston Shumpert managing 21 for the losers.

In Group C, Matjas Smodis managed 19 points for CSKA Moscow in an 83-68 win over Aris TT Bank while Pau-Orthez pipped Fenerbahce 68-66.

Michael Wright managed 22 points for the French club while Ibrahim Kutluay’s 19 were in vain for the Turks.

In Group B, Union Olimpija beat Lottomatica Roma 83-72 with a strong final quarter, which they took 21-11, instrumental to the success.

PA Sport