EUROLEAGUE – Avellino achieve first win in Europe; Panionios upset Efes Pilsen
AVELLINO (Euroleague) – Air Avellino surprised Unicaja Malaga 72-70 and Panionios OT won 78-69 at previously unbeaten Efes Pilsen in Euroleague action on Wednesday. Last year’s Coppa Italia winners Avellino won their first-ever game in the competition with Drake Diener hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 70-70 and Eric ...
AVELLINO (Euroleague) – Air Avellino surprised Unicaja Malaga 72-70 and Panionios OT won 78-69 at previously unbeaten Efes Pilsen in Euroleague action on Wednesday.
Last year’s Coppa Italia winners Avellino won their first-ever game in the competition with Drake Diener hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 70-70 and Eric Williams then making a lay-up with 1.9 seconds remaining.
The Italian outfit, led by Chris Warren’s 24 points, improved to 1-2 – the same record as Spanish ACB giants Unicaja.
“For our organization, it is a special night as we got our first victory in the Euroleague,” Avellino coach Zare Markovski said.
Unicaja boss Aito Garcia Reneses, the coach of Spain’s silver-medal winning side at this side at this summer’s Olympics, said: “They believed in getting the victory and won with their heart. They played with maximum concentration.”
Greek outfit Panionios outscored Efes Pilsen 23-9 in the third quarter to lead 59-44 and then held on for a nine-point triumph.
Lonny Baxter poured in 18 points and Ioannis Kalampokis 17 for Panionios, who won for the first time in three games.
In other games, Asseco Prokom defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 65-60, Panathinaikos won 80-70 at SLUC Nancy, Tau Ceramica thrashed visiting Alba Berlin 106-65 and Partizan Belgrade prevailed at home over Armani Jeans Milano 81-76.
Among the big games on Thursday night are CSKA Moscow taking on Real Madrid in the Spain and Montepaschi Siena hosting Regal Barcelona.
FIBA