Team of the Week: Punter, Jones, Owens, Hunter and Gamble
MIES (Switzerland) - You saw the games and then watched the highlights. You read the tweets, the Instagram posts. You studied the boxscores. Now, you're wondering, which players have been chosen for the Team of the Week.
Let's get it on!
Lamont Da'Sean Jones, Guard
That's the Ludwigsburg we are used to seeing! @MHP_Riesen collect their first win of the #BasketballCL, handing @UCAMMurcia their first defeat of the season, and it happened in the most Ludwigsburgian way possible - with a steal in the final minute!
— Basketball Champions League (@BasketballCL) November 13, 2018
📊 https://t.co/YrKqPtPNS8 pic.twitter.com/nuEWrDfPQ9
The only numbers that mattered for Jones, his MHP Riesen teammates, coaches and fans, were the ones on the scoreboard at the end of Tuesday night's game that read: MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 81 UCAM Murcia 80. In a frustration-filled season for a club that had reached the 2017-18 Basketball Champions League Final Four, the German outfit FINALLY had more points on the scoreboard than the opponent. Make no mistake, however. Without Jones' 9-of-15 shooting and 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and +24 efficiency, Ludwigsburg would not have even been close to a win against a Murcia club side that beat it in last year's Third Place Game in Athens. Warning: Don't sleep on MHP Riesen!
Kevin Punter, Guard
Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? Punter played a vital role in last season's title-winning success with AEK and now he's taking his game to new heights with Segafredo Virtus Bologna. Punter wants the ball in his hands in the key moments and so far in the Basketball Champions League has delivered big style. In their 87-81 home triumph over a determined and very good SIG Strasbourg team on Wednesday, Punter poured in 26 points. He connected on 6 of his 12 shots from deep and finished +22 on the efficiency meter.
Josh Owens, Forward
Can we just go ahead and put the words "UP IN THE AIR" in front of "Owens" for the rest of the season? We say that because that's where he always is in Basketball Champions League games. Josh "UP IN THE AIR" Owens is forever catching alley-oop passes and throwing them down in anger, or pulling down big rebounds. He had 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block for Hapoel Jerusalem in their thrilling 88-85 triumph at Brose Bamberg on Wednesday.
Vince Hunter, Forward
Guess who's beginning to look like an MVP candidate for the season for defending champions AEK? Yes, it's big man Hunter, the man that plays above the rim and not only scores in spectacular fashion but hustles like crazy on defense and while chasing loose balls. Hunter, a MVP of the week once already this season, had on Tuesday night 28 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals to lead AEK past a gritty and upset-minded Lietkabelis, 65-59. His layup with 2:57 remaining snapped a 54-54 tie and put AEK in front to stay. Hunter finished with a +34 efficiency.
Julian Gamble, Center
You know what 28 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and a +35 efficiency gets you in a 99-87 Nanterre win at Italian juggernauts Umana Reyer Venezia? Yes, it gets you a spot on the Team of the Week. Gamble was a tower of power, an indefatigable warrior who carried Nanterre to victory.
