Porto open 2024 with OT triumph, Vital stars again for Legia

MUNICH (Germany) - The Second Round action resumed in the FIBA Europe Cup as the first action of 2024 involved an overtime thriller.

FC Porto held their nerve in a dramatic battle on the road in Germany, while there are just three unbeaten teams remaining after BCM Gravelines Dunkerque were handed a first loss.

Key Storylines

- Porto come through OT thriller with Gottingen;

- Vital fires in third 30-point game of the season;

- Niners, Bahcesehir, Bilbao all move to 3-0.

FC Porto took sole ownership of second place in Group K as they overcame BG Gottingen in an overtime thriller to bring in 2024. Dutch veteran Charloon Kloof came up with a crucial score to force overtime and from there they held their hosts scoreless for two minutes while going on a crucial 6-0 run to seal an 87-81 win. 

Anthony Barber led five Porto players in double figures with 21 points, cancelling out Grant Anticevich's 22-point effort for the German side.   

Meanwhile, Legia Warszawa leaned on the competition's leading scorer Christian Vital to secure a 93-84 win over Sporting CP. Vital hit five triples and shot 58.8 percent from the floor in a 31-point haul as the Polish side improved to 2-1 in Group L. Mike Moore had 20 points in defeat for Sporting.

Surne Bilbao Basket stretched their unbeaten run in the competition to nine games with a commanding 94-62 win on the road to Balkan Botevgrad. Adam Smith hit four three-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points as a ruthless Bilbao side shot 52.1 percent from the field to go 3-0 in Group K, leaving Balkan 0-3 and with an uphill climb to reach the next round.

NINERS Chemnitz are also perfect this season as they beat ZZ Leiden 88-58 thanks to 16 points from Jeffery Garrett to go 3-0 in Group N, while Bahcesehir College ushered in the Dejan Radonjic era as their new head coach led the Turkish side to a dominating 91-67 win over Jonava CBet to go to 3-0 in Group L.

Jerry Boutsiele impressed with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Tyler Cavanaugh also amassed 19 points for Bahcesehir.

Casademont Zaragoza secured the first win of 2024 as they triumphed 68-65 against Manisa BBSK to improve to 2-1 in Group M. Emanuel Terry's 17 points and 12 rebounds wasn't enough for Manisa, who fall to 0-3 asTrae Bell-Haynes led the victors with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting along with 7 assists. 

A three-pointer from Miguel Gonzalez with 49.2 seconds left ultimately sealed the win for the Spanish side. Manisa had their opportunities to force overtime, but with the seconds ticking Daron Russell missed his attempt after faking two Zaragoza players to create space.

ERA Nymburk handed BCM Gravelines Dunkerque their first loss in the Second Round as Jaromir Bohacik starred with 19 points and 8 rebounds in their 72-57 win.

There was also a first win for Itelyum Varese in Group N as they cruised towards a 100-81 victory over CSM CSU Oradea with six players in double figures - including recent signing Nico Mannion with 14 points in 18 minutes.

Highs

Efficiency: 32 - Emanuel Terry (Manisa BBSK), Christian Vital (Legia Warszawa)
Points: 31 - Christian Vital (Legia Warszawa)
Rebounds: 12 - Emanuel Terry (Manisa BBSK), Jerry Boutsiele (Bahcesehir College)
Assists: 12 - Marjin Ververs (ZZ Leiden)
Steals: 5 - Duko Bos (ZZ Leiden)
Blocks: 3 - Aric Holman (Legia Warszawa)

Wednesday, January 10

Group K: Balkan Botevgrad 62-94 Surne Bilbao Basket, BG Gottingen 81-87 FC Porto
Group L: Jonava CBet 67-91 Bahcesehir College, Legia Warszawa 93-84 Sporting CP
Group M: Manisa BBSK 65-68 Casademont Zaragoza, ERA Nymburk 72-57 BCM Gravelines Dunkerque 
Group N: ZZ Leiden 58-88 NINERS Chemnitz, Itelyum Varese 100-81 CSM CSU Oradea

FIBA