EUROCUP – Alba hit back to advance to Eurocup Finals

BERLIN (Eurocup) - Alba Berlin came back from a six-point first-leg deficit against Hapoel Jerusalem on Wednesday night to earn a trip to the Eurocup Finals.

The German outfit went into Wednesday's second leg without the services of Slovenia international Jurica Golemac and Julius Jenkins but prevailed 72-59 to progress with a 133-126 aggregate triumph.

"In this game, every member of the team showed his heart together with his brain, which was needed over 40 minutes in order be bring a 13-point win," Alba coach Luka Pavicevic said.

"I think that our crowd today was our sixth player. They made Alba Berlin have one of its best basketball nights in Europe."

Derrick Byars led a balanced Alba attack with 16 points.

Pavicevic's side had a dream start, outscoring Hapoel 20-7 in the first quarter to take the lead in the tie.

The Israeli club reduced the deficit in the second leg to 36-28 by half-time to trail by one point over the two legs.

Hapoel then allowed Alba to take a firm grip on the contest.

By the end of the third quarter, after outscoring the visitors 16-9, the Berliners had a 52-37 lead.

Pavicevic's men then held on for a famous win.

Alba’s progression means that Germany now have two teams playing in Final Fours.

BC Gottingen have reached the EuroChallenge Final Four and will host that event.

Bilbo, Valencia & Panellinios advance

Bizkaia Bilbao Basket lost the second leg of their tie at home against CEZ Nymburk 52-46 but their 12-point win last week in the Czech Republic was enough to see them through.

The Spanish team, which won't have to travel far for the Eurocup Finals as the event is being staged in nearby Vitoria, had some nervous moments at the end of the second leg.

Great Britain international Mike Lenzly sank two free-throws for Nymburk for a 52-45 lead and that left the Basque club with only a five-point advantage on aggregate.

Bilbao shut down Nymburk the rest of the way.

The home side, which had to go through qualifying just to make it into the Eurocup, trailed by eight points at half-time.

The fans were so disenchanted by the play of the team that they booed the players.

"I understand our fans," Bilbao coach Fotis Katsikaris said, "but I expected more support from them in our last Eurocup home game.

"Things like this can happen and if they want to boo someone, they should boo me and not the team.

“We all stayed together in a tough moment, like when we were down by eight at half-time, and I expected more support from our fans in such a dangerous situation."

Arthur Lee had 12 points for Nymburk in the win.

Power Electronics Valencia followed up their first-leg triumph over Aris with an 85-67 thrashing of the team at La Fonteta.

Thomas Kelati had 18 points and Australia international Matt Nielsen 13 with a team-high six rebounds.

Panellinios lost 75-68 at Gran Canaria 2014 but their 11-point victory in the first leg was enough for the Greek team to go through.

"I feel very proud of his team, which was playing in the Greek second division just a few years ago and now has made it to the Eurocup Finals," Panellinios coach Ilias Zouros said.

Valencia and Panellinios also had to go through qualifying just to reach the Eurocup.

FIBA