MUNICH (Germany) - Last year's finalists, PAOK BC and Surne Bilbao Basket, hold the cards after the FIBA Europe Cup Semi-Final first legs concluded with plenty still on the line.
The second legs of the last four encounters both take place next Wednesday, as UCAM Murcia and Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely will look to overturn their respective deficits.
Key Storylines
Strong second half propels PAOK to success over Murcia;
Holders Bilbao continue their winning ways with road win over Szombathely.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Melwin Pantzar (Surne Bilbao Basket) - 25 Points: Zoltan Perl (Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely) / Cleveland Melvin (PAOK BC) - 22 Rebounds: Devontae Cacok (UCAM Murcia) - 13 Assists: Melwin Pantzar (Surne Bilbao Basket) - 9 Steals: Marko Filipovity (Falco Vulcano KC Szombathely) / Margiris Normantas (Surne Bilbao Basket) - 2 Blocks: Tryggvi Hlinason (Surne Bilbao Basket) / Luke Petrasek (Surne Bilbao Basket) - 2
Strong second half sees PAOK beat Murcia
PAOK BC were dominant in the second half as they beat UCAM Murcia 79-73 in the first leg.
After trailing 43-34 at the break, PAOK soon tied the game at 55-55 in the third quarter before storming away in the final period, outscoring their Spanish counterparts 45-30 in the third and fourth quarters.
However, despite losing the first leg - only their second defeat in the FIBA Europe Cup this season - Murcia will head to the second leg full of confidence, having gone unbeaten at home in this competition to this point.
Cleveland Melvin led the victors with 22 points and eight rebounds, helped along by 19 from Breein Tyree. For Murcia, Kelan Martin went 4-for-5 from three-point land for his 16 points in response, while Devontae Cacok had a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Holders Bilbao secure first leg advantage over Szombathely
Reigning FIBA Europe Cup champions Surne Bilbao Basket took a significant step towards reaching their second consecutive Final by beating Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely on the road 98-81.
After an exciting first quarter, where Szombathely enjoyed the lead for the majority of that ten-minute spell, Bilbao regrouped, and once they took a 36-35 lead early in the second through a Tryggvi Hlinason dunk, they never looked back.
Bilbao extended their lead further, with it peaking at 22 points as they head home with a commanding 17-point cushion.
Darrun Hilliard and Margiris Normantas led Bilbao with 18 points apiece. Meanwhile, Zoltan Perl paced Szombathely with a game-high 22 points as they will look for a big turnaround on the road.
Results
Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely 81-98 Surne Bilbao Basket PAOK BC 79-73 UCAM Murcia
FIBA