EUROCUP - De Colo, Nielsen fire Valencia into final against awesome Alba

VITORIA (Eurocup) – National team stars from France and Australia on Saturday led Power Electronics Valencia into the Eurocup title game.

Power Electronics Valencia got 20 points from Frenchman Nando De Colo and 16 from Matt Nielsen in a 92-80 win over Panellinios in the first semi-final while Alba Berlin clinched a 77-70 victory over Bizkaia Bilbao Basket in the nightcap.

Valencia led by 14 at half-time and then 13 with 10 minutes remaining.

The Greeks closed to within six points midway through the last period but Valencia, who shot the ball well from long range all game long, got two three-balls from Nielsen and prevailed.

Valencia buried 16 of 29 from behind the arc in the game with France international De Colo the most prolific.

De Colo suffered a sprained ankle 10 days before the Panellinios game but worked his way back into shape and drilled five of eight three-pointers on his way to a team-high 20 points.

“We chose to risk something during the game, this was our tactic, and we risked the three-point shot of Nielsen in order to tougher inside the paint,” Panellinios boss Ilias Zouras said.

“In the crucial moment, though, when we cut it to six points, he made the crucial three-point shots.

“He made everything. De Colo was unbelievable in the first half, making five of six three-point shots. The good thing is we didn't give up.”

De Colo was relieved.

“I worked hard throughout the week to be ready for this game and showed it on the court,” he said.

“This is the Eurocup Finals and I needed to play tonight.”

Nielsen said his team’s defense had been the difference.

“We stayed together on defense and that was the key to this game,” he said.

Serbia international Kosta Perovic poured in 13 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds for Valencia, while Rafa Martinez drilled two of three shots from long range on his way to 13 points and also handed out five assists.

Devin Smith had a game-high 29 points in defeat for Panellinios.

Next up for Valencia is a game against the Alba Berlin, who had to overcome a first-leg deficit against Hapoel Jerusalem just to reach the Eurocup Finals.

Adam Chubb led all Berlin scorers with 27 points and also corralled seven rebounds in their triumph over Bilbao.

Germany national team point guard Steffen Hamann took just three shots and didn’t score but handed out five assists and pulled down four rebounds.

Spain international Alex Mumbru’s three-ball cut the Berlin lead to 67-64 with less than three minutes to go only for Immanuel McElroy’s long-range shot to take the advantage back to six and propel Alba to victory.

Berlin’s Slovenia international big man Jurica Golemac said: “This is an amazing achievement.

“Of course, this win is for our fans that came all the way from Berlin. It took them 26 hours to come here and this is for them. It was really hard against 70-80% of Bilbao fans but we are experienced and played the underdog role. We know what we came here for."

FIBA