MIES (Switzerland) - La Laguna Tenerife have a chance of becoming the first team to win the Basketball Champions League for the third time. A lot of that has to do with their point god not slowing down.
The reigning BCL MVP of the Season Marcelinho Huertas was the best player of the elite eight phase, claiming the MVP of the Quarter-Finals award.
In Game 1 against Bertram Derthona Basket in Spain, he had 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting with 9 assists, powering the black-and-yellow club to a 1-0 series lead in overtime.
In Game 2 in Italy, he was under control for the full 40 minutes, getting 16 points, 13 assists and 4 rebounds. It was his first double-double of the season, and that sounds like a surprising fact.
Teammate Aaron Doornekamp would agree.
"It sounds crazy, but I feel like he should have 20 points and 10 assists every game, and for most people we would celebrate that, but for him, we look at it like 'Marce was just ok today.' I think getting to that level is motivation for not just me but everyone," Doornekamp said, adding:
"We have just come to expect him to be great every game."
Tim Abromaitis shares a similar view.
"Watching the way Marce prepares and performs every single day is inspiring to myself and to the whole team. He's a true point guard on and off the court and his leadership has helped all of us on the team be successful this season," the 35-year-old forward said.
While both of them are already used to playing with the MVP of the Quarter-Finals, David Kramer is still a newcomer in that locker room. The sharp shooter is still in awe when talking about Huertas.
Marcelinho is just a pure hooper, he loves to go out there. You go on the court and if you’re with him, you know you’re going to war. At 41 years old, at that age he still has his drive.
"To get to share the court with him day in day out - it’s an absolute pleasure, man. Just amazing to see he has this drive at such a 'young age...' (laughs) Definitely sparks motivation!"
With Huertas leading the way, La Laguna Tenerife had a perfect 12-0 run ahead of the Quarter-Finals. One would've expected the games against Derthona to be smooth. One would've been wrong.
"I would rather not imagine what the Quarter-Finals would have been like without Marce."
That's Doornekamp.
"He's been incredible all season, but he really stepped up in those two games and led us to two wins."
That's Abromaitis.
Overall, Marcelinho has averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 assists per game this season, done in just 26.5 minutes per game. Measuring his impact in the Quarter-Finals is probably the easiest through the +/- stat.
Tenerife won the two games by a combined 17 points. Meanwhile, they were a +32 team with him on the floor.
"He's obviously the key to how we attacked Dethrona on offense. He is the best in Europe at reading what the defense is trying to do and finding a solution," Doornekamp commented.
"Both of the games against Derthona were very competitive so we needed everything Marce did in order to win," Abromaitis added.
With Marcelinho's heroics, Tenerife became the first team in BCL history to reach the Final Four unbeaten, currently riding a 14-0 record.
Two more games left at the BCL Final Four, powered by SUNEL, and they could be the first team to complete a perfect season.