26 September, 2016
30 April, 2017
Erik Braal (Donar Groningen) (photo: Ivan Petuhov)
25/05/2017
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Donar Groningen complete back-to-back in the Netherlands

GRONINGEN (Dutch Basketball League) – Donar Groningen did not encounter any major obstacles in the final stretch of the Dutch Basketball League season, as the Erik Braal-coached club completed the club's first back-to-back in the Netherlands.

The team from Groningen, who reached the Second Round in the FIBA Europe Cup, crowned their season with a 4-1 victory against Landstede Basketbal Zwolle in a largely one-sided series in the Finals.

Having dominated the series with terrific two-way basketball, Donar registered the four victories by an average margin of 34.5 points, but fell short of a sweep after an unexpected home loss in Game 3.

Also standouts in the FIBA Europe Cup, Lance Jeter and Chase Fieler played first fiddle in the final showdown of the best-of-seven series, as Groningen cemented the championship with an 85-55 scoreline.

Jeter scored 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, while Chase Fieler wreaked havoc for Zwolle on both ends of the floor with 21 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal.

"We accomplished every prize. We were able to play well at the right moments, especially myself, so it's exciting," said Fieler after being presented with the DBL Play-Offs MVP award. "At the same time, it was a team effort, all year 'Together' was our motto. We do it as a team and we do it together and we did it all the way to the end."

It was the sixth overall national title for Donar Groningen, who also triumphed in the Dutch Basketball Cup and Supercup earlier in the season for a truly royal combination.

Their much-improved display in their second season in the FIBA Europe Cup was just one win shy of a place in the Play-Offs, but reaching the Second Round was still one of the team's best ever international performances.

FIBA