EUROLEAGUE - Hernandez-Sonseca comes up big as DKV surprise Tau Ceramica

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BADALONA (Euroleague) - DKV Joventut have been undermined by injuries to key players this season but they put those problems to the side on Thursday and claimed a 95-90 triumph over Tau Ceramica.

Edu Hernandez-Sonseca turned in a man-of-the-match performance with 24 points and 10 rebounds for DKV, who are still playing without 18-year-old sensation Ricky Rubio (wrist) of Spain and Great Britain big man Pops Mensah-Bonsu (shoulder).

Hernandez-Sonseca's previous high had been 11 in a week two defeat at Lottomatica Roma. He did not reach double figures in the other three games.

"I was aware that tonight I'd had to fight strong against Tau's great big men," Hernandez-Sonseca said.

"Now we have to think about beating Union Olimpija and Lottomatica Roma."

Tau's "great big men" Tiago Splitter of Brazil and Mirza Teletovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina had 23 and 18 points, respectively.

The triumph over Tau improved DKV's record in Group C to 2-3 while the defending ACB champions slumped to 3-2.

Hernandez-Sonseca ended up with an index ranking of 38, making him the Week 5 MVP.

Lottomatica Roma top Group C at 4-1 following a 76-67 victory in the Eternal City over Fenerbahce (3-2).

Andre Hutson had a season-high for Roma with 26 points.

Bulgaria national team boss Pini Gershon returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv this week to lead the team he has coached to many a title in previous seasons but the Israeli giants crashed to an 80-73 home defeat to Unicaja Malaga in his first game back.

Puerto Rico point guard Carlos Arroyo had 14 points, five assists and six rebounds but he and his Maccabi teammates lost to Unicaja, whose boss is Spain's Olympic coach Aito Garcia Reneses.

Thomas Kelati poured in a game-high 23 points for Unicaja while Carlos Jimenez, who retired as Spain national team captain after the Olympics, contributed 15 along with seven rebounds.

Montenegro international playmaker Omar Cook also weighed in with 10 points and seven helpers for Malaga.

Maccabi are now 2-3 in Group A, which is led by Olympiacos and Cibona Zagreb (both 4-1), while Unicaja are 3-2.

Olympiacos, the team Gershon coached last season before being forced out midway through the campaign, won 98-93 at Le Mans (0-5).

Armani Jeans Milano (1-4) claimed their first win of the campaign, prevailing 77-73 in Group D at home against Panionios OT (2-3).

Regal Barcelona won for the fourth time in five games in Group B with a 75-60 road triumph at Zalgiris (0-5).

Barca, Montepaschi Siena and Panathinaikos are all 4-1 at the top of the pool.

FIBA