BC Siauliai hosts Hapoel Jerusalem in a pivotal game for both sides in Group C. Siauliai, which enters the contest with a 1-3 mark in the Eurocup, will see its Last 16 hopes dashed with a loss. Meanwhile Hapoel could already celebrate a Last 16 berth with a win and a loss for Zadar in the week’s other Group C contest. Siauliai suffered its worst loss of the season in the game before the winter break, falling 85-67 at Aris despite another strong effort from Derrick Low. However head coach Antanas Sireika’s men have fared much better at home, where they average 91.5 points per game, led by Arvydas Siksnius with 21 points per game. Jerusalem meanwhile is looking for its first road win after falling 86-69 at Zadar to drop to 2-2. Jerusalem pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Siauliai 89-76 when they met in Week 1 thanks to a Dijon Thompson double-double and an all-around fine performance from Tre Simmons. The play of the guards will have a major impact on the contest. Siauliai is led by Low at point guard, while Deividas Gailius, Siksnius and veteran Mindaugas Zukuaskas are all scoring threats from the wings and the recently signed Frank Tolbert could also play a role. Jerusalem features three point guards, Yuval Naimi, Pooh Jeter – who leads the team in scoring despite coming off the bench – and Yogev Ohayon, in addition to shooting guard Simmons and small forward Thompson. In the paint, the visitors send Kevinn Pinkney, Brandon Hunter, Leo Lyons and Uri Kokia to tangle with Siauliai big men Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Brandon Brown and Raitis Grafs. Only one team has taken fewer defensive rebounds than Siauliai this season and the hosts must work on that to deny Hapoel easy baskets this week. Jerusalem has also committed the fewest turnovers in the competition to date (10 TOpg.), a fact that can serve head coach Guy Goodes’s team well on the road. All signs point to an intense contest with both team gunning for a momentous victory.
REFEREES: Boris Ryzhyk, Luis Lopes, Roberto Chiari