Zoran Planinic MVP - BC Khimki - Finals Khimki 2012 See PHOTOS

The 2011-12 Eurocup season came to an end Sunday with a new champion after an exciting weekend full of great basketball. BC Khimki Moscow Region beat Valencia Basket 77-68 to win the Eurocup for the first time in club history at Basketball Center of Moscow Region. Zoran Planinic was named Eurocup Finals MVP after amassing 19 points and 4 assists in 24 minutes for Khimki, which also secured a return ticket to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague for the 2012-13 season. An exciting game arrived to the closing minutes even at 66-66 after a Nik Caner-Medely three-pointer with 2:13 left. But Vitaly Fridzon answered with a huge three and Chris Quinn tacked on 4 free throws, while Valencia turned it over twice, all of which allowed Khimki to grab the win. Kresimir Loncar added 14 points and Quinn 11 for the champs. Caner-Medley starred with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks for Valencia, while tying a Eurocup title game record for performance index rating with 38. Valencia also set a record with 22 turnovers committed. Earlier, Lietuvos Rytas beat Spartak St. Petersburg 71-62 to finish the 2011-12 Eurocup season in third place. Ronnie Seibutis scored 21 and Jonas Valanciunas posted a double-double as Rytas controlled the paint and outrebounded Spartak 38-25. Rytas never trailed and led by as many as 19, though Spartak rallied to within 4 early in the fourth quarter.

71-62

 

77-68

 

BC Khimki celebrates See PHOTOS

The title game of the Eurocup Finals this year is BC Khimki against Valencia Basket! Valencia became the first team to advance to the Eurocup final by downing Lietuvos Rytas 80-70 in the first semifinal in Khimki, Russia on Saturday. Valencia kept the chance to become the first team to get a third Eurocup title after winning the competition in 2003 and 2010. Meanwhile, L. Rytas lost the chance to get to the Eurocup final for the fourth time in club history. Brad Newley and Nik Caner-Medley led the winners with 12 points. Vitor Faverani, Victor Claver and Nando De Colo each added 10 for Valencia. Steponas Babrauskas led L. Rytas with 21 points - his new Eurocup career-high. Ronnie Seibutis added 15 and Lawrence Roberts beat a Eurocup semifinals record with 6 blocks. In the second semifinal, BC Khimki Moscow Region managed to make it to the title game for the second time in club history by edging Spartak St. Petersburg 77-73 in the second semifinal on Saturday night. Vitaliy Frizon led the winners with 16 points. Kresimir Loncar added 13 and 9 rebounds, Zoran Planinic had 12 points while Thomas Kelati got 10 for Khimki. Patrick Beverley and Yotam Halperin led Spartak with 15 points apiece. Valery Likhodey added 12 while Vladimir Dragicevic got 10 for Spartak. Planinic and Kelati shined early to give Khimki a 27-14 margin after 10 minutes.

80-70

 

77-73