Chernomorets enjoy double OT heroics, Jamtland win at the buzzer

MUNICH (Germany) - The FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers saw six games on Wednesday, but even after three days of competition, there are still no teams with tickets booked to the Regular Season.

Boras Basket and Tindastoll had the first two match points, but both the Swedes and the Icelanders lost their games which could've taken them straight to the Regular Season, and now have to play the waiting game.

Boras were were one defensive stop away from winning the game in regulation, but Tonny Trocha drew a foul on a rebound with 1.2 seconds left to play. He missed the first, then made the second to set the score at 87-all and push Chernomorets Burgas to overtime.

As if that wasn't heroic enough, the Bulgarian side had an even more spectacular end to the first overtime. Boras thought they had done enough when Jarred Godfrey made a floater to make it 98-96 with just 0.9 of a second left on the game clock.

But Travis McConico had a turnaround fadeaway at the buzzer to send the game to another overtime at 98-98. Despite playing 47 minutes on the day, his biggest highlight came in the final minute of the second overtime, when he hit another big shot, a clutch three to set the final score at 109-105.

Sean Smith en route to a double-double

McConico collected 31 points with 7 rebounds to lead Chernomorets, Trocha finished with 24 and 9 in the same columns, Sean Smith picked up a big double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds for coach Vassil Evtimov.

It did not go to double overtime, but BK KVIS Pardubice and Jamtland Basket played an equally exciting game in Group G. Jamtland seemed to be in control, opening up a 14-point lead late in the third quarter, but Pardubice bounced back with a 28-point fourth quarter.

Not only did they erase the gap, they owned a one-point lead with two seconds left to play. An out of bounds call allowed Jamtland to call their last timeout, and they set up a play perfectly for Pierre Hampton to receive the ball on the high post, fake a pass and get the dribble drive all the way to a layup at the buzzer.

It finished 77-76, and the game winning shot was Hampton's only second field goal of the game. Antonio Holder scored 24 points with 6 assists and 5 rebounds, as Jamtland get their first win and have to repeat the same against Casademont Zaragoza to finish top of the group in Ostersund.

Tindastoll had a similar situation to Boras' in Group C. They knew a win over BC Trepca would have sent them to the Regular Season, but the Kosovo club was not interested in that kind of math, handing their opponents a 77-69 defeat.

Mikaile Tmusic had a team-high 22 points for Trepca, Drilon Hajrizi finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists, while Kevin Davis added 15 points and 7 rebounds to the mix.

Callum Lawson had 17 for Tindastoll, who are now 1-1 and -1. That means they cannot win the group anymore, while Trepca face Parnu Sadam knowing not only a win would see them through, but also any defeat by seven points or less.

Meanwhile, Nevezis-Optibet had high hopes coming into the competition, but after losing to Porto by 16, they are out of the hunt with a 98-88 defeat to Manisa BBSK, pushing them to 0-2, despite leading 28-12 early on.

Manisa now know that they are in a direct head-to-head battle for first with Porto. The winner of that one will also win the group, which is why coach Ahmet Kandemir will hope his high-octane offense will be on the same level as against Nevezis.

John Roberson had 25 points, Daron Russell finished with 16, the same as Emanuel Terry, while Ryan Luther with 15, Pako Cruz with 11 and James Anderson with 10 all reached double digits.

There was a similar outcome in Group E, with the Rostock Seawolves pushing Feniks 2010 to 0-2 with a 101-72 win. All 12 players scored three or more points for Rostock, they take on Keravnos next in a battle of two 1-0 squads, knowing the winner will move to the Regular Season for sure.

In Group F, Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya opened up their account with a comfortable 87-63 triumph over Anorthosis Famagusta, with the club legend Chris Babb delivering 28 points. Herzliya will play Egis Kormend next, winner of the game will also advance to the Regular Season.

FIBA