MIES (Switzerland) - Guess what? The fourth day of action with eight games scheduled in Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL didn't disappoint at all. Wednesday night had probably the best game of the season thus far.
Pallacanestro Trieste and Galatasaray MCT Technic put up a show, decided only in the remaining instants of the 40-minute battle. Other three teams enjoyed road victories, while one Spanish side had their first home party.
Pallacanestro Trieste 90-91 Galatasaray MCT Technic
If Italy is a basketball-loving country, huge credit must be given to Trieste, put to sleep for too many years. This European return felt like an awakening from hibernation.
The red-and-white side, whose jerseys celebrate the historic shattered backboard from Michael Jordan in a friendly game played in Trieste back in 1985, gave Galatasaray a tough battle in their BCL home debut.
However, last season's BCL runners-up escaped from a packed Palasport "Cesare Rubini" with the 91-90 thrilling road win, as Freddie Gillespie scored the putback with nine seconds to go.
Jahmi'us Ramsey had the three for the win, but missed it.
Galatasaray boost up to 2-0 in Group E, while Israel Gonzalez's team stay winless at 0-2.
Will Cummings couldn't be stopped. The veteran guard finished with a winning effort of 25 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, and Galatasaray were a +13 team with him on the floor.
Fabian White Jr had yet again another brilliant performance to start this season, finishing with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Therefore, he became only the third player in BCL history to score 15+ points in 10 games in a row after former Galatasaray player DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and Zoltan Perl.
Five players concluded in double-digits for Trieste, including Mady Sissoko, who captured everybody's attention with a double-double of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and crazy dunks.
Jarrod Uthoff put up 15 points over 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, including the corner three to almost win it with 25 seconds to go.
"It was high tension for us, but I believe it was really nice to watch for the fans. 90-91, both teams have huge scoring ability, huge talents. Trieste changed the mentality," Yakup Sekizkok said.
"They are playing faster compared to other Italian teams. In their last game in Germany, they couldn't find their rhythm on the road, but today, especially in the 3rd quarter, after every rebound, they pushed the ball, and they created problems for us."
Congratulations to Galatasaray. Today we flipped the coin and it wasn't for us.
Filou Oostende 86-104 Mersin Sports Club
Mersin Sports Club had a rough BCL debut, losing by 31 points (97-66) against the back-to-back champions in Malaga. Moving to Belgium, they reacted with a powerful 104-86 road win over Filou Oostende.
Mersin's five-headed monster stepped up consistently: Gabriel Olaseni (18 points and 9 rebounds), Justin Cobbs (19 points), Anthony Cowan (19 points and 4 assists), Ronald March Jr (15 points and 10 rebounds), and Jack White (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) each scored at least 15 points.
Overall, the Turkish club always had control of the encounter, leading for 37:58 minutes while also out-rebounding 36-22 and outscoring the opponents 48-30 in points from the paint.
It was the most points Oostende allowed in a single BCL game, this being their 108th battle in this League.
Oostende's starting backcourt duo, composed of Aaron Estrada and Silas Melson, combined for 32 points.
After becoming the youngest player to combine for more than 25 points and more than 5 dimes in a BCL game, Noam Yaacov had another positive outcome, finishing with a losing effort of 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Legia Warszawa 64-68 Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola
How could we describe a game where one team lead for 17:21 and the other for 17:54 minutes? Balanced, hard-fought, leveled? Call it whatever you want, call it a second straight win for Promitheas Patras Vikos Cola.
Standing alone on top of Group A following Rytas Vilnius' early loss to MLP Academics Heidelberg, the black-and-orange team exploited small details to beat the Polish champions 68-64 in Poland.
Without their main offensive source, Rob Gray, the Greeks got the upper hand thanks to Leyton Hammonds (20 points and 5 rebounds) sinking in the decisive dagger with 15 seconds to go.
Kendale McCullum (11 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds) and JP Macura (15 points) also stepped up. Promitheas managed to slow down the opponents with 9 steals, forcing Legia to 16 turnovers and scoring 20 points off missed possessions by the hosts.
Jayvon Graves (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Andrzej Pluta (14 points and 6 rebounds) were the main scorers for the Polish team.
Shane Hunter flirted with a double-double at 13 points and 9 rebounds, but he also committed 6 turnovers.
The home-game losing streak continues for Legia, which have now been defeated in four consecutive encounters played in front of their fans in Torwar Arena.
"We can definitely do better, but it's also understanding that at the Basketball Champions League level, you have to really play as a team. For us to be successful, we have to play as a team. It's not enough that 1 or 2 guys try to score," head coach Heiko Rannula commented.
Dreamland Gran Canaria 73-68 Le Mans Sarthe Basket
Dreamland Gran Canaria indeed had a dream debut to their BCL campaign, winning by 37 points (98-61) on Portuguese soil against SL Benfica. Returning home, they slowed down, but still emerged victorious.
Hosting Le Mans Sarthe Basket, Jaka Lakovic's team won 73-68 in Gran Canaria Arena, pushed by Isaiah Wong's 18-point effort in only 20:59 minutes of playing time.
Miquel Salvo and Eric Vila added 10 points apiece to contribute to their second consecutive win in Group H.
After 12 lead changes between the first and second quarters, Gran Canaria got in control, eventually improving their margin to a 13-point gap (54-41) midway through the third.
They took advantage of Le Mans' tough shooting night from three (8-of-25) and at the charity stripe (8-of-14).
The French side still had hope towards the end of the encounter, led by Trevor Hudgins, who concluded with a team-high 14 points (4-of-8 from deep), 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
SL Benfica 74-90 KK Spartak Office Shoes
Wednesday action concluded in Portugal, where KK Spartak Office Shoes managed to become the only Serbian team able to win their first two games in the BCL.
They did so with a convincing 90-74 road outcome against SL Benfica. This time, it was a way more relaxed way of grabbing the victory compared to their thrilling one-point win against Le Mans in Week 1.
KK Spartak's best scorers, Igor Drobnjak (19 points and 7 rebounds) and Olivier Hanlan (17 points), both came off the bench.
Shevon Thompson went close to a double-double with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
For Benfica, Geno Crandall had a losing effort of 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.