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Last 16
- March 09, 2010
- PALAU OLĂMPIC DE BADALONA
Local time: 20:30
TV
CET: 20:30
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Head Coaches
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HERNANDEZ, PEPU
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DKV Joventut head coach
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"Alba Berlin is a quality team, they have several players that can score easily. Tactically they try to use the two on two as often as they can. I have already told my players that the two on two does not exist, that if they want to play that way they will find a two on five. These are the important concepts. Joventut is a quality team also and we have to start using our resources and try to put them into trouble."
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PAVICEVIC, LUKA
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Alba Berlin head coach
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"In this extraordinarily important game we have to put together all we have from our will and from our skills and try to move forward. Looking at the recent results it looks like both teams find themselves not exactly in the best moment for such a crucial game. But for teams that are running four, five months there is bound to be such moments, that are not the best. It's not the ideal moment for us and I assume, that Joventut has reached the lower level of the moment. That's why they changed the coach and probably they expect an input from this. As for me, I just want that we resume to run our game with the same purpose and with the same focus knowing, that it may not be enough, but wishing to do all our best to complete the very difficult task."
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Players
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BUENO, ANTONIO
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DKV Joventut center
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"This is a do-or.die game for both teams. There is nothing else to be said. We have to win this game no matter what, and we have to stay united, also involving the fans. I think the biggest danger in this game is ourselves, because we know that Alba will play at its maximum in order to defeat us. We have to focus on playing well and try to forget about what Alba will do. If we do that, we will be able to beat them just like we would be able to beat any other team. I want to make a call to our fans because this is an important game for our club and also for them. We have to support each other and they will always give us the energy we need."
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A do-or-die fight to make it to the Eurocup Quarterfinals in Group I takes place in Badalona, Spain, where DKV Joventut hosts Alba Berlin on Tuesday at 20:30 CET. Both teams join a three-way tie for first place with Aris BSA 2003, that is already qualified due to its tie-break advantage against Joventut and Alba. In other words, the winner will make it to the next round and the loser will leave the competition right away. A new era has started for Joventut with the arrival of head coach Pepu Hernandez, who inked a contract until the end of the 2011-12 season. Sharp shooter Clay Tucker, who missed a Spanish League game due to personal issues, will be back in Badalona for the big game against Alba. Meanwhile, Uros Tripkovic is questionable to play against the German powerhouse. Without Tripkovic around, Pere Tomas and Christian Eyenga will share playing time at small forward while up-and-coming talent David Jelinek will see quality playing time as Tucker's backup. Tucker is ready for a big scoring battle against Julius Jenkins. Meanwhile, Eyenga and Tomas face a critical matchup against Immanuel McElroy, whose last visit to Badalona last year allowed him to earn Euroleague weekly MVP honors under similar circunstances - a winner-take-all game in the fight to reach the Top 16 in which Alba downed Joventut. Derrick Byars is set to offer Alba a helping hand at both wings. Joventut has to be concerned on stopping Rashad Wright, in good shape recently. Wright shares the point guard duties with Steffen Hamann, whose experience and court sense helps Alba in many ways. Wright is ready for an interesting matchup against pass-first point guard Kris Valters. Meanwhile, Hamann will not have it easy against do-it-all playmaker Mario Fernandez. With Adam Chubb still sidelined, Alba relies on Blagota Sekulic as its main reference under the baskets. Sekulic leads Alba in scoring and rebounding in this year's Last 16. Jurica Golemac offers mid-range shots, experience and determination. Dragan Dojcin can open the court with his shots from downtown while Cemal Nalga provides Alba with size, fighting spirit and defense off the bench. Joventut is really deep around the baskets, as it can play with an experience lineup with Edu Hernandez-Sonseca and Antonio Bueno together on court, open the floor with Luka Bogdanovic at power forward or use more intensity either with Alain Koffi or Henk Norel. Hernandez-Sonseca knows Sekulic well, as both teams helped Madrid to win the ULEB Cup in 2007. Joventut must use its athleticism, stop McElroy and expect a good game from Tucker and Valters to have the most chances to advance. Alba has to slow down the game tempo and run its offense through Jenkins, Sekulic and McElroy. Expect nothing but an incredibly intense game at Palau Olimpic on Tuesday.
REFEREES: Grzegorz Ziemblicki, David Chambon, Olegs Latisevs
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Monday, March 08, 2010
Eurocupbasketball.com
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Stats Comparisions: Teams and players
| 75.5 |
Pts. |
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TUCKER, CLAY |
13.0 |
Pts. |
15.8 |
JENKINS, JULIUS |
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Pts. |
74.0 |
| 48.85 % |
2FG% |
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FERNANDEZ, MARIO |
81.82 % |
2FG% |
64.94 % |
SEKULIC, BLAGOTA |
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2FG% |
56.36 % |
| 36.52 % |
3FG% |
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BUENO, ANTONIO |
50.00 % |
3FG% |
42.11 % |
DOJCIN, DRAGAN |
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3FG% |
37.78 % |
| 32.5 |
Rebounds |
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KOFFI, ALAIN |
4.5 |
Rebounds |
4.9 |
SEKULIC, BLAGOTA |
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Rebounds |
30.0 |
| 16.7 |
Assist. |
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VALTERS, KRISTAPS |
4.5 |
Assist. |
3.2 |
McELROY, IMMANUEL |
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Assist. |
13.9 |
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