May 24, 2012
Qualifying Round H, Game 1 report: ASK Riga 83-69 Cajasol
Corey Brewer - ASK RigaASK Riga took a major step to reach the Eurocup regular season by downing Cajasol 83-69 in the Latvian capital on Wednesday night. As such, ASK got a 14-point lead in the two-way series that now travel to Seville, Spain for the second leg next Tuesday. The winner of this two-way series will face Chorale Roanne, Maroussi Costa Coffee and Zadar in Eurocup regular season group A. Meanwhile, the loser will play the EuroChallenge. Bruno Sundov paced the winners with 21 points. Ricardo Marsh added 19 on 9-for-13 two-pointers while Milutin Aleksic and Sandis Valters each had 10 for ASK. Warren Carter led Cajasol with 15 points while Michal Ignerski added 12 for the guests, in its first European club competitions game since early 2001. ASK opened the game with a 17-7 run but Dusko Savanovic and Ignerski allowed Cajasol to get a 39-41 late in the second quarter. ASK led all the way in the second half and even when Cajasol got within 70-65 with 6 minutes to go, Sundov had 7 points in a game-breaking 13-2 run that allowed the hosts to get an important lead in the series.

Marsh got ASK going with a layup, igniting a 7-2 opening run that Corey Brewer capped with a three-pointer. Ignerski tried to change things for Cajasol but Sundov also struck from downtown for a 10-5 ASK lead. Aleksic soon found his first points while Brewer fired in his second triple to make it a double-digit game, 17-7. Andrea Pecile and Carter tried to rescue Cajasol while Tyrone Ellis sank a three-pointer for a 21-14 deficit. Aleksic stayed unstoppable but more three-pointers by Pedro Rivero and Ellis kept the guests within 27-20 after 10 minutes. ASK went scoreless for 3 minutes while Mile Ilic and Savanovic brought Cajasol back in the game, 27-24. Valters buried a big triple and Raitis Grafs sank a jumper to give ASK some fresh air at 32-24. Savanovic kept pacing Cajasol while free throws by Andres Miso, Ignerski and Pecile brought Cajasol back to life, 37-36. A three-pointer by Miso completed the guests' comeback, 39-41, but Sundov tied it at 41-41 at the break.

Sundov and Aleksic stepped up after the break to give ASK a 46-43 edge early in the third quarter. Andrius Mazutis struck from downtown while another jumper by Sundov allowed the hosts to restore an eight-point lead at 51-43. Cajasol was not done, however, as Ignerski sank a three-pointer that Carter followed with a layup-plus-foul to get the guests within 53-49. A jumper by Iñaki De Miguel made it a two-point game, 53-51. Marsh and Brewer for 5 quick points to boost the hosts' lead to 58-51. Rivero and Miso kept Cajasol within 61-55 after 30 minutes. Both teams trade baskets at full speed early in the fourth quarter and ASK made the most out of it, as an outstanding Uvis Helmanis made it a double-digit game, 68-58. Rivero rescued Cajasol with a three-pointer while Savanovic and Carter added conseuctive baskets to make ASK call timeout, 70-65, with 6 minutes to go. Sundov took over with 7 points in an 13-2 run that broke the game open, 83-67. Free throws by Pecile fixed the final score at 83-69, as all ASK fans were celebrating a key home win.

GAME QUOTES

Cajasol head coach Manel Comas:
"We played with a lot of pressure, as if we didn't know that this is an 80-minute game. We have a lot of room for improvement, especially on defense and rebounding, in which we struggled tonight. We lacked intensity on defense and allowed them to get a lot of second-chance shots. I Want to congratulate ASK Riga for their good game. They were tough, consistent and well coached. It is obvious that this 14-point lead means that ASK is closer to advancing, but we must try to rally. If we want to do that, we have to change a lot of things. To beging with, we cannot try to win the game in the fifth minute. Our options back in Sevilla start by going step by step, trying to get a little lead at the end of each quarter. Their big guys combined for 51 points and that is unacceptable. We have to be stronger in the paint, especially in European club competitions."

Cajasol forward Warren Carter: "We tried hard but we have to be a tougher team on defense. They gave their best in the final minutes, when we failed to play more determined and go for the win. ASK showed it is a good team and the only thing right now for us is to work hard to make up this mistake in Seville next week."

Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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