BERLIN (Germany) - This is how things work in the Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL. Since they were drawn together, we knew Unicaja and ALBA BERLIN would give us something special in these Quarter-Finals.
That's exactly what happened, as the German team had to go up against the back-to-back champions to fight for a spot in the BCL Final Four.
After securing the win in Game 1 in Malaga, Ibon Navarro's team was forced to work overtime in the German capital, but survived and won 88-85 to sweep ALBA, getting to their fourth straight BCL Final Four.
Turning Point
Following a 26-13 run in the third quarter, Unicaja found the 16-point lead (71-55) midway through the fourth quarter, being as close as they could to their fourth consecutive BCL Final Four.
However, ALBA answered back, led by Jack Kayil, who was clutch at the line with just a few seconds left to play, forcing overtime at 74-74.
Then, Unicaja proved how they still had gas in their tank, getting up by enough points to avoid another comeback by ALBA... which almost happened anyway.
Alex O'Connell went to the line for three throws with the hosts down by five (88-83), made the first two, and intentionally missed the third one to try getting another three. He got his own rebound, but could not connect on a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Players of the Game
After seeing them at the highest stages in the BCL for so many years, everybody knows Unicaja's biggest strength is relying on multiple assets on any given night.
It shouldn't be a surprise, then, to see a double MVP of the night for the back-to-back champions.
Both Emir Sulejmanovic (15 points and 3 rebounds) and Nihad Dedovic (17 points and 7 rebounds) were not only prolific but also constant throughout the night for Unicaja.
Stats don't lie
Despite the tension a game like this can bring to a newcomer at such a stage in the competition, ALBA had way too many turnovers (19) to compete against a well-experienced team like Unicaja, which had 12 steals.
Moreover, Ibon Navarro's team were better than the German opponents in points scored in the paint, outscoring ALBA 42-32 in this aspect. Their 15 offensive rebounds were crucial as well.
Bottom line
While Sulejmanovic and Dedovic took the spotlight during Unicaja's win in Game 2, three other players made their presence felt for Ibon Navarro's team in Berlin.
It's the case of Chris Duarte (13 points), Kendrick Perry (11 points out of 3-of-5 from deep), and James Webb III (9 points and 8 rebounds).
On the other side, ALBA's season has now come to an end, but they have shown why they can become one of the most important teams in the whole competition in the upcoming years.
Jack Kayil had yet again another stellar performance to cement his status as one of the most important candidates for Best Young Player of the Season, ending with 25 points (10-of-13 FT), 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.
They said
"We are extremely happy with the result, of course. It was a great series, especially for me against ALBA BERLIN - coming back to Berlin and playing here was really special. I want to congratulate all our players and staff on this amazing achievement. Only we know how difficult this season has been for us. It’s a huge step to reach the Final Four again and to be able to fight for the trophy. This is a huge boost for us." - Nihad Dedovic, Unicaja
"First of all, I want to congratulate the team, the club, the players, the staff and the fans. We are not in the same position as in previous seasons - we are struggling a lot with very important players being out - but we fought to be here. I would also like to congratulate ALBA BERLIN as an organization, and coach Pedro Calles for their playing style. Their roster changed after the move from the EuroLeague to the (Basketball) Champions League, but their energy and playing style remained. They never quit. They came back in both games, and that’s why they are the second-seeded team in the Bundesliga." - Unicaja head coach Ibon Navarro
"I think our coach said it best in the locker room right after the game: no one can be disappointed with the effort we gave. This loss hurts, as it should, because we are competitors and we want to win. We believed we could win, and everyone saw that in the last quarter. We stayed together throughout the whole season, despite the ups and downs and the injuries. That’s what good teams do, and that’s what gave us a chance to win against a high-caliber team like Malaga. They are the reigning champions, a great team, and they made big shots in big moments. In the end, they got the win, but I’m proud of us nonetheless." - Justin Bean, ALBA BERLIN
"First of all, congratulations to Malaga on the win and on qualifying for the BCL Final Four. Secondly, despite the fact that we lost today and are out of the competition, we are proud of our first BCL season and the way we played and competed. In many aspects, this game was similar to the first one in Malaga. Our turnovers and Malaga’s offensive rebounds were the key factors that didn’t allow us to control the game or put ourselves in a better position. But once again, we found a way to come back in the fourth quarter - this time forcing overtime. Overall, I’m proud of our team’s effort." - ALBA BERLIN head coach Pedro Calles