In group J, both Spanish teams advanced while in Group L Kazan took homecourt advantage for the Quarter Finals.
With wins against CEZ Nymburk and VEF Riga respectively, both Valencia Basket and Uxue Bilbao advanced to the quarter finals of the Eurocup 2012-13, in group J.
In Valencia the home team absolutely killed Nymburk by almost 50 points (104-55) to get a Quarter Final ticket for the 7th time in clubs history.
The game started with 12-2 for the Spaniards but the key to this huge gap was the 0-15 run in the second quarter led by Rafa Martinez.
Pau Ribas with 20 points and 5 rebounds and Victor Faverani with 16 and 7 were essential for the hosts in this game.
Staying in Spain we go to Bilbao where Riga was eliminated after a 76-65 loss against a hot team with 4 consecutive wins (after a 0-2 start record).
Both teams exchanged leads during most of the game, but in the final minutes experienced players like Raul Lopez and Nikos Zisis took the game to finish in great style this Last 16 round.
Alex Mumbru and Raul Lopez both scored 15 points while Adrien Moerman added 14 points and 9 boards for the winning side.
On the Riga squad, Antanas Kavaliauskas effort with 12 points and 8 rebounds wasn’t enough to complete a great campaign by the Latvian champions.
In a group L already decided of whom would get the spots for the quarter finals; the home court advantage was the mission for Ratiopharm Ulm and Unics Kazan.
Playing away from Russia, Unics had all the pressure on their shoulders but with a tremendous 77-79 win they achieved what was proposed before the game by the coach.
It was a thriller in Germany and this game was only decided with two crucial free throws with the time almost expiring by veteran Chuck Eidson.
The ex Regal Barcelona player was again amazing finishing with 24 points and 5 boards for an index rating of 28, well seconded by Terrell Lyday that added 20 points. On the Ulm’s side, Lance Jeter with 18 and Allan Ray with 16 and 6 boards were the key players.
To finish their campaigns on this year’s competition, Galatasaray Medical Park and Crvena Zvzeda played an extremely fun watch game where the Turkish squad took the win 85-84.
Zvzeda had the opportunity to win at the buzzer but with a missed shot by Radivojevic couldn’t clinch one last victory.
Ender Arslan and Manuchar Markoishvili both had 17 points but Sertac Sanli was the MVP of the game with a double double of 16 points and 10 points for Galatasaray.
With both groups already solved here are the matches in the Quarter Finals:
- Unics Kazan – Valencia Basket
- Uxue Bilbao – Ratiopharm Ulm
