Two modern classics in European club basketball are ready to battle in already a pivotal game in Group J, as Unics welcomes Power Electronics Valencia on Tuesday at 17:00 CET. Unics registered a road win against Galatasaray Cafe Crown and would most probably lock a playoff spot by winning its three home games. Meanwhile, Power VLC registered its first-ever Eurocup home loss against Hapoel Jerusalem. Power VLC had won 33 of its 34 Eurocup home games in Valencia, registering a 85-85 tie against DKV Joventut in the second leg of the 2005 ULEB Cup eighthfinals. As such, Power VLC needs a road win to keep most of its options alive. It will be a special game for Unics superstar Marko Popovic, who played in Valencia several years ago. Popovic has been unstoppable so far this season playing alongside Unics playmaker Terrell Lyday. Petr Samoylenko offers defense and court vision off the bench. Lyday faces a critical matchup against Nando De Colo, in a direct fight to control theg ame rhythm. Meanwhile, Samoylenko will see minutes against Marko Marinovic and Jose Simeon. Marinovic can change any change with his quickness and deep range. Popovic will not have it easy against Rafa Martinez, right at the prime of his career. Unics is really deep at both wings, as Popovic can get help from streak shooter Igor Zamanskiy, experienced scorer Saulius Stombergas or small forward Artem Kuzyakin. Stombergas is set to see extended playing time to guard Victor Claver, a natural-born mismatch due to his ballhandling, explosiveness and jumping skills. Stombergas, however, is a tough defender that can put Claver in trouble in offense, too. Zamanskiy is ready to guard effective shooter Thomas Kelati. The battle in the paint will be critical, as both teams have two of the most talented frontcourts in the competition. Unics relies on Kresimir Loncar, Maciej Lampe and Vladimir Veremeenko, three great all-around players with deep range, post skills and size. Lampe is ready for an important matchup against Kosta Perovic. Matt Nielsen and Florent Pietrus will have to use their experience and toughness against Veremeenko. Meanwhile, Serhiy Lishchuk is the perfect player to guard Loncar due to his timing and defense. Unics must play up-tempo and get its battery of big men involved to get an important win. Power VLC must run its offense through Claver and Martinez and try to lock the defensive board. Expect one of the best games that the Eurocup Last 16 can offer in this 2009-10 season.
REFEREES: Recep Ankarali, Boris Ryzhyk, Miroslav Tomov