Pilepic’s game-winner lifts Cedevita over CAI

Fran Pilepic hit from downtown with 1.5 seconds left to give Cedevita Zagreb a thrilling 83-80 victory over CAI Zaragoza, to start its Last 32 campaign in style. Pilepic led the winners with 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from long distance and a perfect 4 of 4 on two-pointers. Miro Bilan added 12 points, while Roko Ukic delivered 7 assists. Stevan Jelovac had a great night with 28 points and 9 rebounds for a performance index rating of 36, Henk Norel scored 11 and Pedro Llompart added 10 with 7 assists.

After a balanced start in which the teams exchanged leads, Jelovac’s layup gave an 8-14 margin to the visiting team. Nemanja Gordic tried to keep Cedevita close, but Llompart from downtown and Rasko Katic underneath made it 16-21 for CAI Zaragoza at the first break. Bilan capped a 7-0 run to put the hosts ahead 23-21 early in the second quarter. The score was tied four times before Pilepic from three-point range put Cedevita in front again, 37-34. Back-to-back baskets by Jelovac gave CAI a slim 37-38 advantage at halftime.

Six unanswered points of Cedevita 4 – of them from Pilepic – put the hosts ahead 43-40 early in the third quarter. Back-to-Back triples by Landry and Llompart saw the lead change hands again. Luka Babic from long distance completed a 8-0 run for Cedevita for a 55-51 edge. Ivan Ramljak kept his side in front 61-57 at the end of the third quarter. Babic hit another three to make it 67-60, but Chris Goulding capped a 9-0 run for the visiting team to lead 67-69. The game entered in a thrilling finish, with Pilepic scoring from three-point range to make it 77-75. Jelovac tied it at 80-80 from the free throw line with 38 seconds left in the game, but Pilepic came through with the game on the line from downtown to give his side an incredible victory.