Karhu stay perfect with Kantonen winner, Craiova first team to advance

MUNICH (Germany) - A very busy Gameday 4 in the FIBA Europe Cup Regular Season saw the first ticket punched to the next phase in the midst of more dramatic action.

The thriller of the night came courtesy of a Group G battle between winless Egis Kormend and undefeated Karhu Basket that went down to the wire. Henri Kantonen ensured the visitors kept their perfect record with an eventual game-winner with less than 30 seconds remaining as they held on for a 90-89 victory.

SCMU Craiova became the first club to punch a ticket to the Second Round of the competition. as they took down Romanian counterparts CSO Voluntari 74-60. The visitors shot 11-of-18 from three-point range to move to 4-0 with HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim cruising to victory against Norrkoping Dolphins, 95-64 to move into second spot in Group H.

Meanwhile, BC Balkan lost their undefeated status as Patrioti Levice picked up their first win in Group D. Miha Lapornik powered his team to a 73-62 triumph via a tournament season-high 33 points, which included 5-of-7 three-point shooting.

Opava kept their hopes of advancing alive with a 79-74 victory over Keravnos BC on the road. October's MVP Ousman Krubally was dominant again in his team's loss; scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a full 40-minute effort.

"It was a very important game for us. We needed to win to keep our chances. We are very happy we did that. Keravnos is a top team to beat, especially on their home court. We fought from the first minute to the end," said Opava's Jan Svandrlik.

BC Budivelnyk Kyiv fought off a fourth quarter comeback attempt from Happy Casa Brindisi to win 93-83. The Ukrainian club is now 3-1 as Johnny Berhanemeskel scored 31 in the win on 11-of-15 shooting with teammate Jerai Grant adding 14 points on 100 percent shooting along with 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Meanwhile, they were joined at the top of Group F game by BC Kalev/Cramo after they took home an easy victory against Donar Groningen, 94-41. 

Hapoel B-Cure Laser Haifa managed to avenge a Gameday 1 blowout loss with victory on the road over previously unbeaten Gaziantep, 79-69. Both sides are in pole position to advance from Group A after OCS Swans Gmunden claimed their first win by beating Telenet Giants Antwerp 90-87, on Tuesday.

Anwil Wloclawek missed a chance to guarantee a trip to the Second Round, falling to Sporting CP 85-73 in a Group G battle with the result also making Karhu wait on qualification.

CSM CSU Oradea downed Cholet Basket at home 77-69, while Kangoeroes Basket managed an impressive triple-digit scoring effort in its win over Rilski Sportist, 105-74 with the two victors leading the way in Group E with three wins from four.

Group A is evenly poised as Niners Chemnitz overcame Brose Bamberg to snag a road win, 84-68 in the all-German clash with Golden Eagle Ylli unable to repeat last week's heroics as they were beaten 85-73 by Hapoel Nofar Galil Eilon.

Heroes Den Bosch sit at the top of Group C after protecting their home court with a 77-65 victory over Fribourg Olympic, while FC Porto rounded out the night with a convincing 87-64 success at home to BC Parnu Sadam.

The Regular Season will resume in three weeks time following the break for international action.

FIBA