An anticlimactic game took place in Fuenlabrada, Spain on Tuesday night, as host Jabones Pardo beat visiting Telekom Baskets Bonn by 94-77 as both Group A teams knew before the game that they wouldn't make it to the second round. Telekom was especially not motivated as the team had learnt only two hours before that their only option to advance had been gutted by the win of Ural Great over Udine in Perm. That dejection was taken advantage of by the hosts to deliver a win to their fans as Walter Herrmann led the way with 18 points, Francesc Solana added 17, Pedro Fernandez 14 and Richard Scott 13. For the team of Bonn, Tilo Klette and Brad Traina posted 14 points apiece and Terrence Rencher contributed 13. The win improves Fuenlabrada's record to 3-7 for last place in Group A, while Telekom Bonn dropped to 4-6 and fifth place.
The guests started the game without motivation after knowing that Ural Great had won against Udine, and that was taken advantage of by the hosts, who forged a six-point lead after 10 minutes, 23-17, a clear sign of what was about to happen. In the second quarter, Solana and Herrmann finished the work they had started in the first period and, with scoring help from Scott, Fuenlabrada rallied to a 21-point edge, 45-24, in minute 17. The game seemed broken open, but Telekom Bonn actually took a six-point bit from the deficit to make it 48-33 at halftime.
The reaction of the guests arrived after resumption, as Klette and Rencher scored easily to pull Telekom within 69-61 after 30 minutes. The guests also improved their numbers and forced Fuenlabrada to commit 19 turnovers, but that was only a mirage. In the last quarter, the hosts took control of the game once again, and thanks to their scoring trio managed to win the game without any problems.
Friday, January 17, 2003
Eurocupbasketball.com