Redding stars as ALBA beats Zalgiris to climb in Group E

Reggie Redding shined with a career-high 27 points plus 7 rebounds and 5 assists as ALBA Berlin held off a late Zalgiris Kaunas charge for an 80-72 victory at o2 World in the German capital on Wednesday. The result left ALBA in sole possession of fifth place in Group E with a 4-5 record, while Zalgiris fell to 3-6. After a big first quarter from Jonas Wohlfarth and a dominat second-quarter from Redding, ALBA led 42-37 at halftime. The hosts seemed to take control with a strong defensive third quarter to establish a double-digit lead, which reached 16 early in the fourth. Zalgiris rallied late behind Paulius Jankunas and drew within 5 on an Arturas Milaknis triple with two minutes to go, however second-chance baskets by Leon Radosevic and Alex Renfroe helped seal the win. Marko Banic added 13 points for ALBA, Radosevivc scored 12 and Renfroe tallied 10 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. The hosts outrebounded Zalgiris 35-17. Milaknis paced Zalgiris with 18 points, Darius Songaila and Siim-Sander Vene each scored 12 and James Anderson had 10 in defeat.

First quarter: Wohlfarth stars in the paint for the hosts

Redding fed Banic inside for the game’s first basket. Songaila spun for the visitors first score and Edgaras Ulanovas gave Zalgiris its first lead with a three-pointer, 2-5. Radosevic and Anderson traded layups. After a Redding jumper, the same player found Radosevic for a slam as the hosts went ahead 8-7. Wohlfarth battled for 2 offensive rebounds and suffered a block from Jankunas before drawing a foul and sinking 2 free throws. After the TV timeout, another offensive rebound and score from Wohlfarth put ALBA up 5. Vene and Milaknis scored back-to-back buckets for Zalgiris to cut the difference. The red-hot Wohlfarth added a pair of hook shots in the paint to the delight of the crowd. Wohlfarth continued to shine with a blocked shot before ALBA teenager Ismet Akpinar made it 18-11. Milaknis sank free throws to keep Zalgiris close. Songaila finished a pick-and-roll with Milaknis with a jumper. Milaknis added a runner off the glass to make it a 1-point game. Renfroe’s steal and layup in the closing seconds of the quarter made it 20-17.

Second quarter: Redding’s 13 points keep ALBA ahead

Redding drained a long baseline jumper and Anderson scored a layup on the break. Radosevic placed a perfect assist to Renfore for a layup before Vene scored for the visitors. After Redding drove for a pretty basket, Ulanovas banked in a shot to keep the difference at 3. Redding’s tough basket-and-foul gave the hosts a 29-23 lead midway through the quarter. Redding added 2 free throws for an 8-point lead. Zalgiris refused to fold as Anderson and then Milaknis connected from downtown to make it 31-29. Radosevic sank a jumper only to see Milaknis sink another three. Redding scored on the offensive glass and drew a foul at the other end to get back to the line and make 2 more. Songaila found Vene for a layup as Zalgiris remained close. Alex King made ALBA’s first three of the night to push the difference to 6. Milaknis countered with his third triple of the quarter. Banic’s dunk left ALBA leading 42-37 at the break.

Third quarter: ALBA runs lead up to 15

Banic sank free throws and Songaila made a layup to start the second half. Renfroe gave the crowd plenty to cheer about with a three-pointer. Ulanovas spun his way to a layup. Wohlfarth protected ALBA with a block of Anderson and Akeem Vargas found Radosevic in the paint for a layup. A Redding triple made it 52-41 midway through the quarter. After Vene’s free throws, Redding was fouled shooting a desperation three at the end of the shot clock and made 2 free throws to give him 20 individual points. Vene and Niels Giffey traded baskets before another Redding three brought the house down at 59-45. Will Cherry scored his first points with free throws for Zalgiris. Banic’s jumper made it a 15-point game. Songaila tacked on 2 more Zalgiris points from the line and then with a long jumper to trim the deficit to 62-51.

Fourth quarter: Jankunas rallies Zalgiris to make it close

Vargas connected from deep and Redding reached 25 individual points as the ALBA advantage swelled to 16. Sonagaila made a tough layup and Vene added a foul shot. Anderson drilled a three to cut the gap to 10 with five minutes remaining. After a timeout, Radosevic scored inside for ALBA. Vene split free throws for Zalgiris. Banic scored inside and Jankunas countered with a jumper for his first points. Jankunas’s three-point play made it 71-63 with two-and-a-half-minutes remaining. Zalgiris’s defense kept it in the game. Milaknis buried a three at the two-minute mark to bring the visitors within 5. After a timeout, Redding missed, but Radosevic was there for the follow-basket. After Lukas Lekavicius scored quickly for Zalgiris, ALBA turned to Redding again. He missed, but Renfroe soared in for the offensive rebound and slam to all but seal the win at 75-68 with 1:07 to play. Jankunas scored immediately after a timeout. Zalgiris fouled Redding, who made the resulting free throws. Jankunas free throws again established a 5-point game with 38.8 seconds remaining. Vene fouled out as he sent Renfroe to the line. The ALBA playmaker split the shots, but Lekavicius missed a long jumper and ALBA sealed the win for the hosts.