01 September, 2016
30 April, 2017
41 Brian Arthur Qvale (USA)
23/02/2017
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A big thumbs-up to the 'Team of the Play-Off Qualifiers'

There was plenty of razzmatazz and many a clutch performance in the Basketball Champions League Play-Off Qualifiers.

Guards, forwards and big men rose to the occasion to spirit their clubs to important wins on aggregate that lifted each into the Round of 16.

Which players stood out the most? Here is our 'Team of the Play-Off Qualifiers'.

Guard: J'Covan Brown

You've heard "Brown from Downtown" and "J'Covan with the excellent pass on some of the broadcasts this season? Well, Brown can do it all, which is one very important reason why Pinar Karsiyaka, on their day, can beat any team. Brown was at his best this week to help the Turkish club fight back from a 10-point deficit at Fraport Skyliners from the first leg. The 27-year-old had 29 points and 5 assists in the first game and in this week's 72-52 triumph in front of the home fans, he turned on the style with 17 points and 9 assists.

Guard: Thaddus McFadden

Of all the decisions made by POAK since the start of the Regular Season, one now looks to have been a master stroke, the signing of Thaddus McFadden. The pride of Flint, Michigan, drilled 7 of 10 from behind the arc on Wednesday night to lead the Greek club past Partizan in Belgrade. McFadden, who finished with 26 points, 7 assists and 3 steals, had been pretty darn good in the first meeting, too. He helped PAOK battle back from a double-digit deficit with 20 points and also had 3 assists. It was no surprise that he scooped the honor as the MVP of the Play-Off Qualifiers.

Guard: Trevor Lacey

Lacey was vital for Dinamo Sassari against Nymburk

It's time to give the Dinamo Sassari man his due! Lacey has been outstanding all season. Without him, no way is the Italian club in the Round of 16 to take on Le Mans. The 25-year-old averaged 17.5 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 steals in his team's Play-Off Qualifier tie triumph over CEZ Nymburk. Lacey had ice running in veins in the second leg, too. With the Sardinians trailing by 9 on aggregate and 2:39 remaining, Lacey buried a 3-pointer to start a comeback. He then hit a 3-ball with 1:02 to play to trim the Nymburk advantage in the tie to 5. With 11 seconds to go, Lacey was fouled and made both free-throws to cut his team's aggregate deficit to 1 point before Dusko Savanovic added one more basket to give Sassari the overall lead in the tie and to punch their ticket to the Round of 16.

Forward: Michael Bramos

The Greece international played arguably his best game of the season at just the right time, the second leg of the Play-Off Qualifier tie with Ventspils. Needing to overcame a 7-point deficit from the first leg and trailing by 13 on aggregate early in the fourth quarter, Bramos shifted into overdrive and helped the Italian club claim a 70-61 second leg triumph. He finished with 17 points - 9 of them in the fourth quarter - and 11 rebounds. With the overall scored knotted at 132-132 and just 37.5 seconds remaining, Bramos grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with the put-back to put Umana Reyer in front in the tie to stay.

Center: Brian Qvale

On several occasions this season, 28-year-old Qvale has been unstoppable for EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The latest instance was on Tuesday night against Avtodor Saratov when Qvale was wheeling and dealing in the low post on his way to an eye-popping 34 points, 8 rebounds and a +40 efficiency rating. The production was the key for the German side as it fought back from a 87-84 defeat in Saratov, Russia, and won the home leg, 98-89.