ULEB - Russian quartet lead the way

MOSCOW (ULEB Cup) - The Russian sides were in fine form in the opening round of ULEB Cup matches this week.

Russia captured the gold medal at the FIBA Europe Championship this summer and now the country's basketball clubs are off to a good start in the ULEB Cup.

UNICS Kazan bounced back from their surprise weekend Superleague defeat to Lokomotiv Rostov to secure a 90-87 win against Zadar after overtime.

Dusko Savanovic fired 20 points for UNICS and Jerry McCullough weighed in with 19.

Dynamo Moscow ran out comfortable 91-66 winners over Beghelli Bologna, Travis Hansen contributing 27 points.

Dynamo coach Svetislav Pesic was understandably delighted with his side after the game.

"The game was very important for us. We played against one of ULEB Cup's favourites and won by more than twenty points," he told www.ulebcup.com.

Triumph were 75-66 winners at Buducnost, Terrell Lyday contributing 15 points and six rebounds.

BC Khimki won 90-81 at home to SLUC Nancy to make it four wins out of four for the Russian sides.

Elsewhere, DKV Joventut claimed a 79-67 victory at home over Alba Berlin and last year's EuroCup champions Akasvayu Girona slipped to 71-69 defeat at Galatasaray.

ASK Riga secured a 77-58 win over Lukoil Academic, BC Hemofarm were 73-71 winners against Spirou Charleroi and Turk Telekom were powered to a 97-90 win over Siauliai by Michael Wright, who contributed 37 points and 10 rebounds.

"Thirty-seven points is a personal record for me, but the victory is much more important," said the American forward.

Greek outfit Panionios went down 81-68 at BC Kalev, Hapoel Jerusalem held there nerve to edge out Strasbourg 74-73, PGE Turow Zgorzelec beat Den Bosch 80-65 and Besiktas won 87-79 at Ventspils to complete a good night for the Turkish sides.

In the other first round games FMP beat Ovarense 89-79, Slask Wroclaw were 71-63 winners against Gran Canaria, CSU Asesoft beat Hanzevast 80-73, Khimki beat Nancy 90-81, Koln ran out 94-84 winners against Elan Chalon, Artland Dragons beat Pau-Orthez 85-74, Asvel won 90-72 at Ludwigsburg and KK Bosna beat Guildford Heat 84-68.

Azovmash Mariupol, BC Kyiv, Swans Gmunden and Red Star all started the competition with away wins and Benetton Fribourg and Panellinios beat Antwerp and Telindus Oostende respectively.

By Jeff Taylor and David Clark
FIBA