FIBA Basketball

Wednesday preview: Who has what it takes to make it to the Semi-Finals?

MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - The lineup for the Semi-Finals will be confirmed on Wednesday evening, with the last three Quarter-Final games in Russia, the Netherlands and Italy deciding who inches closer to

Nizhny Novgorod and Donar Groningen will try to erase first-leg deficits against Umana Reyer Venezia and Mornar Bar on their home floor, with Sidigas Scandone Avellino and Juventus attempting to break the deadlock in their tie.

Nizhny Novgorod v Umana Reyer Venezia

Umana Reyer Venezia may have a double-digit lead heading into the return leg after Hrvoje Peric and Austin Daye bombarded Nizhny Novgorod from beyond the arc, but a 10-point margin is certainly within reach for the Russians if things go well. Having started the first quarter of the game in Italy extremely well, the Zoran Lukic-coached side led by as many as eight points but couldn't do anything against a shower of three-pointers by Peric and Daye. In hot form, Stevan Jelovac dropped 28 points in Venice and will be the man to watch for the home side.

Time: Wednesday, 18:00 CET
Domestic Form: Nizhny Novgorod inscribed their second win in a row in the VTB League by defeating Tsmoki-Minsk 78-70 on the road in Belarus and climbed to 7th place with a 6-10 mark. Meanwhile, Reyer Venezia dropped to 2nd place in the Serie A after a 93-83 loss on the road at Pistoia, falling one game behind the top-of-the-table Olimpia Milano with a 17-6 record.
Key Matchup: Petr Gubanov v Hrvoje Peric
First Leg: Umana Reyer Venezia +10 (86-76)
Next Opponent: Winner of Donar Groningen v Mornar Bar
They Said: "We started the [first] game very well, but we reacted the wrong way when our opponents started to play more aggressively. And this was the reason for the defeat. The difference is neither small nor very big. If we draw the right conclusions from the first game, there is a chance for us to go further. In Nizhny, all depends on us." – Nizhny Novgorod head coach Zoran Lukic
"It was a good win [in the first leg], we played a very intense game against a physical team. Great attitude from all of the players of mine, we registered 20 assists. There are some things that we can do better in the return game. We will not go to Novgorod to maintain the +10; instead we want to go there and play our basketball." – Umana Reyer Venezia head coach Walter De Rafaele
Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Donar Groningen v Mornar Bar

A close-fought first leg in Montenegro has left the Quarter-Final tie relatively balanced ahead of the return clash in Groningen. Donar have been considerably better on their home floor this season and a sold-out MartiniPlaza will give them a much-needed boost. What they also have working in their favor is the fact that Mornar are just 2-5 on the road in the FIBA Europe Cup this season, so their 6-point lead definitely does not seem unbreakable. Both teams are coming into the game after domestic highs, with Donar claiming the Dutch Cup and Mornar prolonging the ABA League season by tying the Semi-Final series with Crvena Zvezda.

Time: Wednesday, 19:30 CET
Domestic Form: Donar Groningen triumphed in the Dutch Basketball Cup over the weekend, defeating ZZ Leiden 87-71 in the Final on Sunday. Mornar Bar tied the ABA League Semi-Final series with defending champions Crvena Zvezda at 1-1 after winning Game 2 88-84 at home in Bar.
Key Matchup: Brandyn Curry v Derek Needham
First Leg: Mornar Bar +6 (73-67)
Next Opponent: Winner of Umana Reyer Venezia v Nizhny Novgorod
They Said: "We knew that Mornar is a great team with great players. We had a lot of problems rebounding the ball, especially in the first half [of the first game]. In the second half, we defended better and limited Mornar under 80 points in the game." – Donar Groningen head coach Erik Braal
"We lacked energy, but it is good for many reasons that we managed to score a win in the first game. Our goal was to physically recover and refresh before the rematches with Crvena Zvezda and with Donar. It won't be easy in the Netherlands, because this is a very good team with many American players and a Croatian big man in Drago Pasalic. But we are a team with a winning mentality." – Mornar Bar head coach Mihailo Pavicevic
Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

Sidigas Scandone Avellino v Juventus Utena

Sidigas Scandone Avellino already have the experience of turning a draw in the first leg into an aggregate win after doing exactly that in the Round of 16 against Tsmoki-Minsk. They were held to a draw away from home in the first leg against an injury-depleted Juventus side in Lithuania as well. To make matters worse for the Utena side, they lost Kenny Gaines to a season-ending injury at the end of the game as well. On a brighter note, it appears they could have point guard Anthony Ireland, who missed the first contest, back in action in Italy. That being said, a home-court advantage and the luxury of a bigger rotation would suggest Avellino as the on-paper favorites.

Time: Wednesday, 20:30 CET
Domestic Form: Avellino lost for the second time in a row in the Italian championship, falling to the league-leading Olimpia Milano 82-75 and dropping to fourth place with a 15-8 record.
Key Matchup: Kyrylo Fesenko v Mindaugas Kupsas
First Leg: Draw (77-77)
Next Opponent: Winner of ESSM Le Portel v Bakken Bears
They Said: "It was a very physical game and we drew the first leg for the second time since we transferred to the FIBA Europe Cup. Everything will be decided at our home in Avellino. We have been able to maintain the balance for almost the whole game on both ends of the floor against a fearsome team like Juventus. While we did our best to limit their three-point shooting, they did a good job of feeding the big men." – Sidigas Scandone Avellino head coach Stefano Sacripanti
"I am happy with the result of the first leg, because after the injury of Kenny Gaines I had only three small guys on my roster. Now I want to get Anthony Ireland back and healthy for the next game, because we need more players to make a strategy for the return leg. But I feel good after the first game and I know that we will have a chance in Italy." – Juventus Utena head coach Zydrunas Urbonas
Stream: YouTube.com/FIBA

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