A big showdown between undefeated teams in Last 16 Group I takes place in Berlin, Germany, where Alba welcomes DKV Joventut on Tuesday at 20:00 CET. Both teams meet for the first time since last year's Euroleague regular season, in which Alba beat Joventut twice to make it to the Top 16. Above all, it is the chance to see two of the best scorers in the competition, Julius Jenkins of Alba and Clay Tucker of Joventut. Jenkins was the Last 16 Game 1 top scorer with 27 points against Le Mans. Tucker has not had a big scoring night in the Eurocup so far this season despite his many exhibitions in the Spanish League. Joventut will be concerned to stop Immanuel McElroy, who earned Euroleague weekly honors with a 38-index performance in Badalona last season. Derrick Byars offers defense and the occasional three-pointer off the hosts' bench. McElroy will have to give his best in defense against Joventut streak shooter Uros Tripkovic. At the same time, Joventut small forward Pere Tomas is ready to see extended playing time against McElroy due to his explosiveness and athleticism. Christian Eyenga can be Joventut's X-facor due to his unbelievable physical skills. The point guard battle will also be important, as Alba relies on Steffen Hamann and Rashad Wright to call its plays. Wright will have to use his defense and court vision against Kris Valters, the Eurocup assists leader this far. Hamann will try to use his experience against do-it-all playmaker Mario Fernandez. Joventut has a very versatile frontcourt in which all five players can contribute. Coach Sito Alonso can play more physical with Henk Norel and Alain Koffi, open the court with Luka Bogdanovic or try to bang use with experienced big guys Antonio Bueno and Edu Hernandez-Sonseca. Bueno and Koffi have the tough mission to guard Blagota Sekulic, who is in great shape recently. Hernandez-Sonseca will try to use his experience against Jurica Golemac. Bogdanovic is ready for a shootout against Dragan Dojcin while Norel is set to test his defensive skills against recently signed Cemal Nalga. Alba must run its offense through Jenkins and McElroy and set a slow game tempo. Joventut must play up-tempo, find open three-point shots and get Tripkovic and Tucker involved. Expect a big showdown at the state-of-the-art O2 World on Tuesday.
REFEREES: Costas Mouzakis, Oscar Lefwerth, Marcin Kowalski