ULEB Cup - Good night for Spanish sides

GIRONA (ULEB Cup) - Akasvayu Girona continued their return to form with a 96-63 win over Hanzevast Capitals on what proved a good night for Spanish sides in the ULEB Cup on Tuesday.

After hammering KK Hemofarm in the competition last week and a derby win on the road at local rivals Ricoh Manresa in the Spanish ACB last weekend, things look a little brighter for last year's FIBA EuroCup champions after an up-and-down start to the year.

In a real team performance in which Girona coach Pedro Martinez gave minutes to every single player of his squad, Jarod Stevenson led the way with 14 points with Fernando San Emeterio, Arriel McDonald and Roman Montanez also getting into double figures with 12, 11, and 10 points resectively.

"All the players have brought something to the game today," said Martinez after the game. "Today they're going home with the feeling of having done a good job and will be ready for the next game."

Victory had been taken as read against a team now 0-3 in Group C and struggling defensively, with their previous rivals in the competition shooting 55% and 61% from the field.

In Girona, the Dutch side seemingly left their defence in the team hotel for the first quarter, with Martinez's charges notching 30 points before their guests made double figures, and by the time they showed up in the second quarter it was too late with Akasvayu into their stride and looking impressive on their way to sinking 65% of their field goals.

Despite such a good win the rotations shed light on some of Girona's problems, as the team performance seemed to rise and fall when certain players were not on the court.

Just down the road in Badalona, DKV Joventut won the clash of the unbeaten sides in Group A with a 102-83 triumph over Turk Telecom, while other group rivals Siauliai beat KK Bosna 85-76 and Alba Berlin overcame Guilford Heat 81-63.

In Group B, Besiktas Cola Turka edged FMP on their own court 78-77, Elan Chalon recorded a 99-86 victory against Ovarense and BK Ventspils beat Koln 99ers 88-73.

Akasvayu Girona's Group C rivals Galatasaray Cafe Crown lost their unbeaten record on their own court losing 83-75, while last week's victims at Fontajau bounced back with a big 95-85 win against CSU Asesoft.

Pamesa Valencia continued the good results for Spanish sides with a 78-58 win over Anwil Wloclawek in Group D, Khimki beat Deutsche Bank Skyliners 81-69 and SLUC Nancy overcame Azovmash Mariupol 80-57.

Triumph Lyubertsy kept up their unbeaten run in Group E with an 83-53 win on the road at Swans Gmunden, H. Galil Elyon kept up Antwerp Giants' miserable run with a 93-83 win while KK Buducnost beat Benetton Freibourg 82-73.

Red Star lost the only unbeaten record in Group F as Dynamo Moscow overcame them 97-76 in the Russian capital, while CEZ Nymburk beat Panellinios GS 75-65 and Telindus got the better of Beghelli Bologna 89-76 in Italy.

In the biggest-scoring game of the night, Asco Slask beat Ludwigsburg 107-93 in Group G. Gran Canaria Grupo Dunas beat BC Kalev/Cramo 80-67 and Asvel downed Panionios On Telecoms 98-91.

BC Kyiv stayed perfect with a resounding 91-55 thrashing of EB Pau-Orthez, while elsewhere in Group H Benetton Tamoil beat Lukoil Academic 89-82 and Artland Dragons edged ASK Riga 73-71.

In the final group, Hapoel Jerusalem hammered Unics Kazan 107-68, EiffelTowers beat Zadar 93-83, and in the lowest-scoring game of the night PGE Turow won 66-42 against Strasbourg.

Dan Aubrey
FIBA