ULEB CUP - DKV Joventut, Besiktas and Khimki remain unbeaten

• Regular Season standings

BARCELONA (ULEB Cup) - Despite only being five match-days old, Wednesday night’s ULEB Cup games started with a couple of teams looking to book early places in the next round.

DKV Joventut, Besiktas Cola Turka and Khimki were looking to stay perfect, and all managed to do so with wins over last week’s overtime heroes Alba Berlin, BK Ventspils and SLUC Nancy respectively.

In the 4-1 category 12 teams went looking for that vital fifth win, with only five of them finding it.

One of them was Akasvayu Girona, who obtained victory at the expense of fellow 4-1 side Galatasaray Café Crown with an 89-78 win in Group C.

Frustrated by faltering form in the league, the Spanish side showed that they’re an altogether different kettle of fish in European competition as they kept up their run of five straight wins in the competition.

By contrast their Turkish rivals will be disappointed to have let slip a game they were winning at half time, and a great chance to take the top spot.

"This was a massive game for us because a couple of teams in this group have the chance to qualify, and now our goal has to be to take that second place," conceded coach Murat Ozyer after the game.

"We played well in the second quarter but by the end of the third it was really all over."

The fact that Galatasaray stayed in the game until then is a credit to them, as every side which has come to Fontajau in this year’s tournament has been dead and buried by half time.

Today Girona had to work from start to finish to pull out a win against the only team to beat them in the competition so far, back on Match-day One in Istanbul.

After Akasvayu had taken charge in the opening quarter, Ozyer’s men drained three straight unanswered treys at the start of the second to take the lead, and some passionate play led by former DKV Joventut de Badalona man Charles Gaines put the visitors 40-44 ahead at the break.

But Girona hit back with an impressive run of their own at the start of the third. After levelling matters within a minute, Pedro Martínez’s charges went 11-0 to lead 51-44 two and a half minutes in to the period.

Galatasary fought back to tie it up again, but Girona responded with some magnificent play.

First Jarod Stevenson then Arriel McDonald hit shots from downtown to force the lead, then a period of play capped by a McDonald steal setting up Fernando San Emetario for the dunk put Girona clear at 65-55 going into the final quarter and this time there was no way back.

"We beat one of the best teams in the group" said Stevenson, who finished among Girona top scorers with 14 points.

"This was a game for the first place and we won it. But we’ve got to bear in mind that they’re still right there behind us in second".

Elsewhere two more 4-1 sides met as Triumph Lyubertsy saw off KK Buducnost 75-65, while the other 5-1 records went to Turk Telecom, who beat Siauliai 102-99 in the highest score of the night, and Pamesa Valencia and PGE Turow, who picked up wins on the road against D. Bank Skyliners and EiffelTowers respectively.

In other games Guildford Heat stay 0-6 in Group A after losing 98-85 at home to KK Bosna.

In Group B Köln 99ers beat Elan Chalon 87-81 and FMP overcame Ovarense Aerosoles 80-70, while Group C’s other matches saw Hanzevast Capitals lose 95-81 to CSU Asesoft, while Hemofarm Stada join Galatasaray on 4-2 after beating Spirou Basket 78-64.

In Group D Azovmash beat Anwil 89-83, whilst in Group E Swans Gmunden beat Hapoel Galil Elyon 90-83 and Antwerp Giants overcame Benetton Fribourg 58-50.

In Group F CEZ Nymburk won 96-74 against Red Star, Telindus Oostender beat Panellinios GS 83-71, and Beghelli Bologna beat group leaders Dynamo Moscow 81-62.

In Group G Panionios On Telecoms spanked BC Kalev 90-66, group leaders Gran Canaria Grupo Dunas won 82-71 against Asco Slask, while Asvel Basket beat Ludwigsburg 81-74.

In Group H BC Kyiv remain top despite losing 89-73 against Benetton Tamoil, while Lukoil Academic join the Ukrainian side on 4-2 after they beat ASK Riga 93-77, and Artland Dragons kept it a three way race at the top after winning 79-61 against Pau-Orthez.

Finally the last two games in the Group I saw Zadar keep their qualification hopes alive with a 76-64 win over Unics Kazan, and Strasbourg joined Zadar and Hapoel Jerusalem on 3-3 after beating the latter 81-72.

FIBA