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04-10-2006, 02:31 PM
The best story of the week was clearly Rudy Fernández. The Spanish shooting guard led DKV Joventut to victory in the FIBA Eurocup Final Four while earning MVP honours. Rudy had 22 points (8/10 FG), 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in the semifinal against BC Kiev. He took more responsibilities than usual, scoring 11 points in a fourth quarter that turned around the game, although also committing 7 turnovers as a result. The final was easier: Joventut rolled over Khimki with Fernández scoring 17 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. As he had showed in the 2004 Spanish King’s Cup, Rudy is a player that never hides in the big games.
Another Spanish prospect strongly claims our attention. Sergio Rodríguez is going through the sweetest part of this rather inconsistent season for him. With a 14-point 8-assist performance, he greatly contributed to another victory for Adecco Estudiantes in the ACB League, a victory that precisely places the team from Madrid in a provisional playoff berth that culminates a long comeback after an awful season start. Sergio is averaging 11.8 points in the last 6 games and 5.7 assists in the last 10, while having an important impact for his team.
Not Spanish but playing in Spain too, Tiago Splitter stepped up this week in the dramatic quarterfinal round in the Euroleague. Establishing himself as a greatly consistent force in the middle, the Brazilian has been one of the main reasons why Tau Vitoria is still in the competition waiting for the third decisive game against Panathinaikos. In Tuesday’s loss, Tiago had 12 points and 6 rebounds, while in Thursday’s win, he really shined with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, starring in some crucial plays that ultimately meant the victory for Tau.
Another very solid performer in the quarterfinal round is Panagiotis Vasilopoulos. His team Olympiacos managed to tie the series 1-1, and now wait for the third decisive game. Vasilopoulos was one of the best players for the Greeks in the loss at Tel Aviv, having 13 points and 6 rebounds. Back in the Greek A1, he settled for 10 points and 4 rebounds.
On the Greek domestic front, a former teammate of Vasilopoulos, Costas Vassiliadis, led PAOK to the victory over Apollon. The talented wing had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. He’s looking better in the second part of the season, perhaps having overcome the disappointment of being struck on a very weak team. His team and generation mate Loukas Mavrokefalidis gave a hand with 20 points and 9 rebounds.
This year, the most NBA-ready international prospect is likely Thabo Sefolosha. Not only because of his physical tools that would allow him to get along in the League, but also the consistency he shows game in and game out in the Italian League. He’s contributing significantly to the excellent season that Angelico Biella is enjoying. On the verge of securing a playoff spot, Biella rolled over VidiVici Bologna, partially thanks to the 15 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks that Thabo delivered.
Excellent showings for Oleksyi Pecherov in the French League. He played twice this week, first leading Paris Basket Racing to victory over Rouen with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks, in what has been one of his best games this season. Things were different against Clermont, as Paris lost managing to score only 52 points. 15 of them were netted by Pecherov, to go along with 5 rebounds. He keeps coming off the bench and still hasn’t found his best rhythm, but he’s clearly the most talented player on the team and should take over the offensive leadership sooner or later.
Also in France, Ali Traore of Roanne had 16 points and 9 rebounds in just 22 minutes against Le Mans.
An unusually quiet week in the Balkans. The most interesting stuff came from Croatia, where Hrvoje Kovacevic had 16 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists leading Slavonski Brod over Zagreb. Meanwhile, Franko Kastropil had 13 points and 16 rebounds for Split in the upset victory over Dubrovnik.
Another Spanish prospect strongly claims our attention. Sergio Rodríguez is going through the sweetest part of this rather inconsistent season for him. With a 14-point 8-assist performance, he greatly contributed to another victory for Adecco Estudiantes in the ACB League, a victory that precisely places the team from Madrid in a provisional playoff berth that culminates a long comeback after an awful season start. Sergio is averaging 11.8 points in the last 6 games and 5.7 assists in the last 10, while having an important impact for his team.
Not Spanish but playing in Spain too, Tiago Splitter stepped up this week in the dramatic quarterfinal round in the Euroleague. Establishing himself as a greatly consistent force in the middle, the Brazilian has been one of the main reasons why Tau Vitoria is still in the competition waiting for the third decisive game against Panathinaikos. In Tuesday’s loss, Tiago had 12 points and 6 rebounds, while in Thursday’s win, he really shined with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, starring in some crucial plays that ultimately meant the victory for Tau.
Another very solid performer in the quarterfinal round is Panagiotis Vasilopoulos. His team Olympiacos managed to tie the series 1-1, and now wait for the third decisive game. Vasilopoulos was one of the best players for the Greeks in the loss at Tel Aviv, having 13 points and 6 rebounds. Back in the Greek A1, he settled for 10 points and 4 rebounds.
On the Greek domestic front, a former teammate of Vasilopoulos, Costas Vassiliadis, led PAOK to the victory over Apollon. The talented wing had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. He’s looking better in the second part of the season, perhaps having overcome the disappointment of being struck on a very weak team. His team and generation mate Loukas Mavrokefalidis gave a hand with 20 points and 9 rebounds.
This year, the most NBA-ready international prospect is likely Thabo Sefolosha. Not only because of his physical tools that would allow him to get along in the League, but also the consistency he shows game in and game out in the Italian League. He’s contributing significantly to the excellent season that Angelico Biella is enjoying. On the verge of securing a playoff spot, Biella rolled over VidiVici Bologna, partially thanks to the 15 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks that Thabo delivered.
Excellent showings for Oleksyi Pecherov in the French League. He played twice this week, first leading Paris Basket Racing to victory over Rouen with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks, in what has been one of his best games this season. Things were different against Clermont, as Paris lost managing to score only 52 points. 15 of them were netted by Pecherov, to go along with 5 rebounds. He keeps coming off the bench and still hasn’t found his best rhythm, but he’s clearly the most talented player on the team and should take over the offensive leadership sooner or later.
Also in France, Ali Traore of Roanne had 16 points and 9 rebounds in just 22 minutes against Le Mans.
An unusually quiet week in the Balkans. The most interesting stuff came from Croatia, where Hrvoje Kovacevic had 16 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists leading Slavonski Brod over Zagreb. Meanwhile, Franko Kastropil had 13 points and 16 rebounds for Split in the upset victory over Dubrovnik.