
Gameday 8 Team of the Week: Bochoridis, Kulboka, Pierre, Rautins, Soko
MIES (Basketball Champions League) - There was one outstanding performance after another in the Basketball Champions League on Gameday 8. Once again, there were plenty of candidates for Team of the Week. Here is our fabulous five:
Lefteris Bochoridis, guard
Bochoridis shifted into overdrive at Stelmet Zielona Gora
He played with a legend, Dimitris Diamantidis, at Panathinaikos and now plays for another legend, Panagiotis Giannakis, at Aris. Who knows, maybe Bochoridis will become a legend himself. He had the sort of performance that legends are known for this week at Zielona Gora, pouring in 22 points, dishing out 9 assists and coming up with 3 steals in an 80-72 Aris win. Did you see the range on his 3-point shot? Man, 'Lefty' was way out there!
Bochoridis leads @ArisBCgr to second win over @basket_zg
— #BasketballCL (@BasketballCL) December 12, 2017
: https://t.co/QMiH11hdc7#BasketballCL pic.twitter.com/m2oPj05HAK
Andy Rautins, guard
Rautins flashed three fingers four times against Umana Reyer Venezia
Someone must have shouted "Bombs away!!!!" because Rautins dropped a few from long range on reigning Italian champions Umana Reyer Venezia. The Canada international in fact connected on 4 of his 7 attempts from deep and that wasn't all. Rautins came up just short of recording the Basketball Champions League's second triple-double of the season because he also had 13 rebounds and 9 assists. He had a sparkling +30 efficiency mark.
Arnoldas Kulboka, guard
Kulboka left it fly and with good effect against Gaziantep
SikeliArchivi Capo d'Orlando's Lithuanian sharpshooter was downright nasty in an 83-57 romp over Gaziantep. Kulboka nailed 4 of 6 from behind the arc and finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and a +25 efficiency rating. Kulboka must like the sight of Gaziantep because he had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the first meeting. Maybe there's a nickname just waiting to be handed to this gunslinger. Just call him Mr. Cool-boka.
Dyshawn Pierre, forward
🔞Up high, down HARD!💥 @DyshawnPierre with the highlight reel dunk! 😱 #BasketballCL@Dinamo_Sassari
— #BasketballCL (@BasketballCL) December 12, 2017
📺https://t.co/tvGWbXJ559 pic.twitter.com/qfcats3NTL
Pierre is starting to become a go-to man for Dinamo Sassari because he can beat teams in a myriad of ways. The Canadian can drill the 3, throw down some vicious slams and run the break. He's also good on defense. At high-quality opposition, Pinar Karsiyaka, Pierre set the tone for his team's third straight victory in the Basketball Champions League with terrific early play. He finished Tuesday's game with 17 points, 10 rebounds, a swat and a +24 efficiency mark.
Pierre played for Canada's national team at the FIBA Americup 2017
Ovie Soko, forward
HUGE game for Ovie Soko in @BasketballCL action on Tuesday - 21 points, 14 rebounds & 6 assists to lead @UCAMMurcia to a 75-81 road win! 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/7e0ynmLj54
— Hoopsfix 🇬🇧🏀 (@Hoopsfix) December 14, 2017
UCAM Murcia fans ought to be head "ovie" heels in love with Soko, a player that just oozes with talent. He sure put it all on display in Israel against UNET Holon. The 26-year-old Londoner put on a stunning, all-round display, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a +33 efficiency rating.
Soko played for Great Britain in the November World Cup Qualifiers