Valencia remains perfect in Group H by beating Cedevita

Valencia Basket bested Cedevita Zagreb 71-58 to remain undefeated in Group H. Valencia, which had already clinched first place, improved to 5-0, while Cedevita fell to 1-4 and will be eliminated from quarterfinals contention if Unicaja Malaga beats ALBA Berlin on Wednesday. Pierre Oriola led Valecnia with 13 points, of which all but 1 came in the last six minutes of the second quarter when he helped the hosts erase an 8-point deficit to lead 35-34 at the break. Fernando San Emeterio added 11 points and Bojan Dubljevic posted 8 points and 10 rebounds for the victors. Valencia overcame a poor three-point shooting night (2 of 23, 8.7%) to secure the win. Miro Bilan led Cedevita with 17 points and 9 rebounds and John Shurna added 14 points in defeat.

Valencia looked to take control early as it Antoine Diot dished a pair of assists and hit a triple in a 9-0 start. Bilan and then Karlo Zganec helped get Cedevita going. Shurna tied the game at 13-13 from the line and then drilled a pair of threes to give the visitors their first lead, 15-19, after 10 minutes. Marko Arapovic extended the difference with a put-back and Shurna later made it 17-25. Oriola scored three baskets in an 8-0 run as Valencia surged ahead 31-30. Cedevita had no answer for Oriola, but managed to match his baskets to make it 35-34 at the break. Valencia took charge to start the second half with a 12-2 charge in which San Emeterio scored 5 points. Guillem Vives nailed a triple to make it 52-38, but Cedevita rebounded as Bilan and Toni Katic led a 0-8 run. Bilan free throws trimmed the gap to 4 before Romain Sato gave Valencia a 57-51 lead through three quarters. Katic free throws made it a 4-point game to start the fourth quarter, but soon a three-point play by Dubljevic and a San Emeterio basket pushed the margin up to double figures. Bilan scored twice for the visitors before a 7-0 Valencia run put the game away.