TwitterChatman sets a new EuroCup record, „Ventspils“ loses to „Lokomotiv“
photo: bkventspils.lv
On Wednesday after playing its fourth EuroCup home game „Ventspils“ lost to „Lokomotiv-Kuban“ from Krasnodar with 60:69. Ventspils guard Mire Chatman set a new EuroCup tournament record, thus becoming the ULEB EuroCup all-time leading scorer.
Starting fives
"Ventspils": Chatman, Vairogs, Barnies, Butjankovs, Grant.
"Lokomotiv-Kuban": Grigoryev, Brown, Miles, Zhukanenko, Kurbanov.
Both teams started the game quite carefully, even though Ventspils were really aggressive fighting for the offensive rebounds. Both head coaches greatly used their bench (Krasnodar played with 10 players only on the roster for tonight’s game), after first quarter guests lead by five – 15:10 on the scoreboard. Four of ten Ventspils points fell into the Chatman’s account who thus became the EuroCup all-time leading scorer.
During the third quarter the offences of both teams improved greatly, they became bolder and more aggressive, thus making the score grow rapidly. At the beginning of the second quarter hosts were trailing by nine points but by the end of the half time they were able to score and even out the game. After the first 20 minutes guests were up by a minimum – 35:34.
During the third quarter the rhythm of the game was similar – “Lokomotiv-Kuban” still lead but all Ventspils efforts to score, to tie the game and then to lead were unsuccessful. At the end of the quarter Nikita Kurbanov’s three-pointer extended Loko’s lead to seven points with 52:45 on the scoreboard before the last game quarter.
During the decisive quarter Stelmahers’ team had the chance to change the pace of the game but it remained unused. When trailing by 5 (49:54) Andrey Zubkov got a technical foul and Ventspils got the chance to throw go to the line but from the two free throws and then the offence it barely got one point into the basket. After multiple unsuccessful offences the Loko’s lead extended to 11 points (63:52), but there were still more than three minutes to play.
Akselis Vairogs made a three when it was most needed, and then Ventspils played well on the defensive end. After a short while Barnies got the chance to shot three free throws but the American could not make none of them, and then Vairogs reacted with an unsportsmanlike foul in the defence. In the remaining time Ventspils did not find an answer to Krasnodar’s game and los with 60:69.
Mire Chatman scored twelve points, meaning, in total during his EuroCup tournament he scored 1150 points that is the ULEB EuroCup all-time scoring result right now. Until this game Mire shared the first place with Todor Stojkov.
Kristaps Janicenoks made his debut during this game. The experienced Latvian was on the court for only 2 minutes and 13 seconds, got one foul and missed his only three point shot (3p – 0/1).
EuroCup, November 26
"Ventspils" - "Lokomotiv-Kuban" 60:69 (10:15, 24:20, 11:17, 15:17)
"Ventspils": Grant 17 (7r), Chatman 12, Peiners 11, Vairogs 5 (5r), Ate 4, Barnies 4, Meiers 4, Grazulis 2, Gulbis 1, Lejasmeiers, Butjankovs, Janicenoks.
"Lokomotiv-Kuban": Kurbanov 10, Zhukaņenko 8 (5r), Miles 8, Voronov 8, Zubkov 7, Grigorjev 3, Kolushkin 2, Balashov 2.
