It took one of the most outstanding comebacks in Eurocup history and a thrilling overtime win for Mire Chatman of Besiktas ColaTurka to earn Week 2 MVP honors with a performance index rating of 42.
Chatman led Besiktas to an incredible 102-98 overtime win over Telekom Baskets Bonn by scoring 20 of his 35 points during the final 4 minutes of regulation time and the five-minute OT. Besiktas rallied from a 13-point deficit to take the game to the extra period and win it down the stretch. Chatman made 10 of 11 two-pointers and added 8 assists and 12 fouls drawn en rout a 42 index. Hasan Rizvic of Azovmash Mariupol ranked second in index ranking this week despite his team's home loss against Alba Berlin. Rizvic tallied 22 points, making 10 of 10 free throws, plus 8 rebounds and 6 blocks for a 38 index. Despite his team's loss in Istanbul, Bryce Taylor of Bonn had 28 points on 8-of-10 two-point shooting and 9 of 9 free throws in addition to 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 7 fouls drawn, good for a 31 index. Arthur Lee of CEZ Nymburk, Mike Wilkinson of Galatasaray Cafe Crown and his teammate Darius Washington, each with a 30 index, completed the top individual performances this week.
Individual highs: Kristaps Valters of DKV Joventut ties all-time assists record
Chatman was also the Week 2 top scorer with 35 points against Bonn. Rado Rancik of Galatasaray Cafe Crown is the competition's best scorer so far at 28 points per game. Chris Ensminger pulled down 16 boards to lead the weekly standings in that category. Ensminger is also atop the rebounding list at 11.5 per night. Kristaps Valters of DKV Joventut Badalona tied a Eurocup record with 14 assists in his team's loss to Unics Kazan. He now shares the record with Christian Dalmau and Roko Ukic. Dalmau had 14 assists to help Besiktas beat Ovarense Aerosoles 100-74 in November 2007. Ukic was the first player to get 14 assists in the competition, playing for Split in a 97-91 road loss against Ionikos in January 2004. Valters now leads the assists table at 10 per game. Lee and Marcus Slaughter of SLUC Nancy each collected 6 steals in Week 2. Lee is the steals leader at 4 per night. Rizvic had 6 blocks to lead the weekly standings and is also first overall at 4 per night. The only Week 2 double-double belongs to Ensminger, who had 22 points 16 rebounds against Besiktas.
