Avtodor big man Savovic collects Top Performer honors
MUNICH (Germany) - It has taken Boris Savovic no time at all to become a force for Avtodor Saratov, with the Serbian big man bringing home the Top Performer honors after imposing his will on ZZ Leiden.
MUNICH (Germany) - It has taken Boris Savovic no time at all to become a force for Avtodor Saratov, with the Serbian big man bringing home the Top Performer honors after imposing his will on ZZ Leiden to book a ticket in the Play-Offs.
The 31-year-old power forward thoroughly dominated the opposing frontcourt, racking up 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in a 105-81 victory that kept the Russian side atop Group L with a 4-1 record.
Having established a two-game lead over the third-placed Leiden club with only one week of action left, Avtodor locked in one of the two top spots in the standings, qualifying for the Round of 16 together with the high-flying Bakken Bears.
Savovic wasn't the only Avtodor player to get hot against Leiden, with point guard Trae Golden joining him on the Team of the Week after posting season-highs of 26 points and 12 assists, as the Saratov club outscored the visitors 36-13 in the final quarter to get the win.
The 12 assists tied the FIBA Europe Cup season best, now co-owned by the trio of Golden, Cameron Wells of s.Oliver Wurzburg and Cherkaski Mavpy guard Brandon Young.
Lukoil Levski and Hristo Zahariev had other reasons to celebrate in Group J, ending a five-game losing streak with a tough-minded 84-80 triumph over Alba Fehervar and registering the club's first win in the Second Round in the process. Zahariev was locked in all game long, connecting on 9-of-12 field goals for a game-high 24 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
Dinamo Sassari big man Rashawn Thomas unleashed an unstoppable 24-point, 6-rebound and 3-assist performance in a 79-69 win over the previously undefeated Group K leaders Pallacanestro Varese to put his side on top in the all-Italian matchup that saw the Sardinian side gain an upper hand in the standings, owing to the head-to-head tie-breaker.
Dardan Berisha of Z Mobile Prishtina is the only player to earn a spot on the Team of the Week in a losing effort after exploding for 31 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in an agonizing 89-76 defeat to Szolnoki Olaj that knocked the Kosovar club down to fourth place in Group I.
FIBA