A big showdown between the first two ULEB Cup champions takes place in Valencia, Spain, where Power Electronics hosts Hapoel Jerusalem in both teams' Group J opener on Tuesday night. Power VLC won the first edition of the ULEB Cup in 2003, downing Krka Novo Mesto in the finals, and returned to the semis again in 2005. Hapoel Jerusalem won the 2004 ULEB Cup in an unforgettable title game against Real Madrid and returned to the semis two years later. Power VLC won regular season Group B while Hapoel was second in Group C. Power VLC is expected to be without injured point guard Marko Marinovic. As such, Nando De Colo and youngster Jose Simeon will share the playmaker duties. De Colo has a critical matchup against scoring machine Pooh Jeter, while Simeon is expected to see playing time against Yuval Naimy and Yogev Ohayon. Hapoel features a good battery of shooters in which Dijon Thompson and Tre Simmons play a key role at both wings. Thompson, who already downed a buzzer-beating jumper to beat Valencia against Azovmash last season, is expected to guard small forward Victor Claver, a tough mismatch due to his size, speed and ball-handling skills. Simmons is set to test his scoring skills against Rafa Martinez and Thomas Kelati. Martinez will be Power VLC's go-to guy if the game goes down to the wire, just like he was against Le Mans and Hemofarm Stada in the regular season. The battle in the paint will also be interesting, as Kosta Perovic and Matt Nielsen must step up for Power VLC and dominate the boards against Kevinn Pinkney and Brandon Hunter. Perovic must use his size and post skills against Hunter and Leo Lyons. Hapoel will try to open the floor with Sharon Shason or improve its defense and aggressiveness with Uri Kokia on the floor. Power VLC relies on Serhiy Lishchuk and Flo Pietrus to offer more intensity, rebounding skills and power off the bench. Power VLC must stop Jeter and Thompson and find its big men down low, especially Perovic. Hapoel must deny that option and play up-tempo, using quick possessions. Expect a clash of styles in Valencia, as both teams try to open the Last 16 with an important win.
REFEREES: Costas Mouzakis, Gianpaolo Cicoria, Robert Lottermoser