Home EuroLeague Barcelona’s defence shines, Euroleague Top 16 round up

Barcelona’s defence shines, Euroleague Top 16 round up

Barcelona maintained its unbeaten start in the Euroleague Top 16 with a 63-56 win at Panathinaikos in Group E.

The Catalan side held the Greens scoreless for the final six minutes as they proved that defence does win games, as Barca themselves were unable to find a basket in the final two minutes.

Marcelhinho Huertas led Barcelona with 17 points as they win their 17th straight Top 16 encounter. Dimitris Diamantidis and Stephane Lasme led Panathinaikos with 13 points each.

“We are pleased by the victory,” said Barca coach Xavi Pascual. “Defensively and offensively we started very well. We moved the ball, we took control defensively, while in the third period Panathinaikos’s offence changed the rhythm of the game and our plan. We faced some problems, but we are a mature team and figured out ways to take this win.”

The other Group E clash saw Anadolu Efes win back-to-back Top 16 games with a 72-66 win at Laboral Kutxa.

The Turkish side goes to 2-3 in the group while the Liga Endesa team drop to 1-4 following this defeat.  Kostas Vasileiadis and Milko Bjelica each had 15 points to lead Anadolu Efes.

Tibor Pleiss led Vitoria with 14 points.

A solid team performance from Lokomotiv Kuban handed them an 87-81 win at Partizan in Group F.

Croatian Krunoslav Simon led the Russians with 16 points and five rebounds as last season’s Eurocup winners improve to 3-2, while Partizan fall to 1-4 despite a fantastic solo showing of 32 points from Tarence Kinsey.

“I would like to say we prepared well for game against Partizan,” Kuban coach Evgeny Pashutin admitted. “Our aim was to disable Lovergne inside play and to limit Bogdanovic’s outside shooting. And we let other players to do what they know best. Tarence Kinsey took the opportunity and had an incredible evening. But our goal was to stop two main players and we did it. “

Galatasaray were victorious 90-83 in Istanbul over Zalgiris.

The hosts had to come from behind in order to get the win, but 22 points from Carlos Arroyo was enough.

Martynas Pocius hit 26 points to lead all scorers for Zalgiris.

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