Prokom Trefl Sopot beating Virtus VidiVici Bologna 79-59

Prokom Trefl Sopot broke its six-game losing streak in Group A and registering its first Euroleague game this season by beating Virtus VidiVici Bologna 79-59 in Poland on Thursday. Both teams are tied for the seventh place in Group A with a 2-9 record, with virtually no chance to advance to the Top 16. Milan Gurovic led the winners with 25 points on 4-for-6 triples and 7-for-7 free throws. Donatas Slanina added 18 on 4-for-6 three-pointers while Filip Dylewicz had 17 and 9 rebounds for Prokom. Donnie McGrath had 14 points for Virtus but nobody else scored in double digits for the guests, who led 5-10 early. Christos Harissis, Slanina and Gurovic stroke from downtown in an 11-0 run that allowed Prokom to get a 20-16 lead after 10 minutes. Federico Lestini and McGrath allowed Virtus to stay in the game, 39-36, at halftime. Slanina and Dylewicz stepped up after the break for a 58-51 Prokom edge after 30 minutes. Prokom found a go-to guy in Gurovic, who took over in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Gurovic and Dylewicz fueled a 13-0 run that broke the game open, 76-55, and sealed the outcome.

McGrath opened the scoring with a step-back jumper that Tomas Van den Spiegel erased with a layup. McGrath stayed on fire, as his corner triple gave Virtus a 2-5 edge. Prokom struggled to find his scoring rhythm in the early going. Slanina and Luca Garri traded three-pointers, as Virtus tried to get its big men involved. Roberto Chiacig stepped up with a tip-in but Gurovic bettered that with a layup-plus-foul to get Prokom within 8-10. Slanina buried his trademark jumper coming off a screen, as Prokom finally adjusted its defense, making it much more aggressive. Meanwhile, Harissis and Gurovic joined the three-point shootout to cap a 11-0 Prokom run and make the guests call timeout at 16-10. Garri worked well in the low post to hit a jump hook while McGrath had a big block on Van den Spiegel. Gurovic made free throws while Jovo Stanojevic scored off a pick-and-roll in the high post for a 20-12 Prokom lead. A quick basket by Fabio Di Bella and free throws by Andrea Michelori brought Virtus within 20-16 after 10 minutes.

Gurovic took over with a wild six-meter jumper right at the start of the second quarter that Roberto Chiacig matched with an acrobatic basket. Lestini stepped up with a mid-range jumper but Dylewicz copied him in the other end and soon added a running shot for a 26-20 Prokom lead. Lestini provided a highlight with a dunk coming off the baseline while Michelori got Virtus within 26-23. Harissis found space for a driving basket but Michelori answered from downtown to keep Virtus in the game, 28-26. Harissis fed Slanina for a driving layup but Lestini bettered that with a huge three-pointer, as both teams kept trading baskets at full speed. Dylewicz scored inside that McGrath answered with a five-meter jumper for a 32-31 score. Krzysztof Roszyk buried a baseline shot while Van den Spiegel added free throws, but Andrea Crosariol's tip-in kept Virtus as close as 36-33. Jean Carlos Canelo made a foul shot while Garri had a put-back basket for a 36-36 tie. A corner triple by Slanina put Prokom back ahead, 39-36, at halftime.

Gurovic sank a three-pointer immediately after the break but McGrath shined again with another step-back jumper. Virtus kept giving quality playing time to youngster such as Canelo or Riccardo Moraschini. Meanwhile, Slanina scored in penetration while Gurovic finished a four-chance Prokom offense with free throws to give the hosts a 46-38 margin. Garri shined with a put-back layup but a red hot Slanina answered from downtown for a 49-40 Prokom edge. Di Bella buried a five-meter shot while Crosariol scored inside to bring Virtus within 49-44. Prokom called timeout and immediately improved its defense but kept struggling to score until Slanina nailed another three-pointer. Canelo made free throws but a turnaround jumper by Dylewicz kept Prokom ahead, 54-46. Harissis fed Roszyk for an easy basket but McGrath answered from downtown to keep Virtus in the game, 56-49. Roszyk scored in transition while Crosariol provided a highlight with a two-handed dunk to fix the score at 58-51 after 30 minutes.

Dylewicz drew a foul and calmly made free throws early in the fourth quarter. Canelo scored again but Prokom stayed focused now, trying to attack the basket to go to the line often. Gurovic buried another three-pointer and even when Canelo fed Crosariol for a power layup, Gurovic stroke again from downtown to make Virtus call timeout at 66-65. Gurovic kept pacing Prokom with free throws that made it a 13-point game, 68-55, with 7 minutes to go. Virtus kept struggling to score while Dylewicz dunked it to break the game open, 70-55. Gurovic provided a highlight with a huge fast break dunk while Harissis added a close jumper. By the time Dylewicz slammed it again, Prokom had sealed the outcome, 76-55, after a 13-0 run. Everything was said and donw already, as Prokom pleased its fans with a big home win.