Pamesa Valencia confirmed its status as the team to beat in Group G by downing FMP 83-58 at home on Tuesday. Pamesa ties with Artland Dragons for first place in this group, with Fortitudo Bologna and FMP right behind at 0-1. Pamesa visits Fortitudo in an already a pivotal game in Group G while FMP hosts Artland in Belgrade, Serbia. Kosta Perovic led the winners with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ermal Kuqo added 13 points on 6-for-8 two-pointers, Shammond Williams had 11 while Rafa Martinez got 10 for Pamesa. Dragan Labovic led FMP with 20 points while Predrag Samardziski added 11 for the guests, that committed 27 turnovers in their regular season opener. Pamesa overcame a slow start to get a 14-12 edge at the end of the first quarter. FMP found a go-to guy in Labovic, who joined forces with Dejan Musli to get a 25-27 edge. Victor Claver and Williams fueled an 11-0 run that put Pamesa back ahead, 36-27, at halftime. Pamesa improved its defense after the break, while Kuqo and a big triple by Williams made it a 17-point game, 54-37. FMP did not recover and Pamesa cruised to a well-deserved win.
Pamesa had a slow start, while free throws by Filip Covic and Musli gave FMP a 0-4 edge. The hosts found a go-to guy in Perovic, who had 4 points in a 8-0 run that Williams capped with foul shots, good for a 8-4 Pamesa edge. Labovic made free throws that Claver matched with a layup. FMP managed to get its froncourt involved, as Labovic and Samardziski combined for all points in a 0-6 run that put the guests back ahead, 11-12. Perovic scored inside and soon added a free throw to restore a 14-12 Pamesa edge after 10 minutes. Kuqo took over with consecutive baskets right at the start of the second quarter but Labovic answered from downtown to keep FMP within 18-15. A three-point play by an unstoppable Labovic and a put-back layup by Covic provided another lead change, 20-22. Kuqo followed a layup with a jumper but Nikola Ilic and Musli still kept FMP ahead, 25-27, late in the first half. It didn't long, however, as layup by Claver ignited an 11-0 run in which Ruben Douglas buried a three-pointer and Williams dunked it off a steal to give Pamesa a 36-27 halftime margin.
The third quarter started with a double technical foul on Williams and Branko Lazic. Samardziski took over with a put-back dunk but FMP entered the foul bonus very early. Williams made free throws that Albert Oliver followed with a layup to make it an 11-point game, 40-29. FMP committed four turnovers in as many minutes while Perovic and Oliver made it a 14-point game, 43-29. Mladen Jeremic tried to change things with a layup but Perovic and Martinez kept Pamesa way ahead, 47-33. FMP only managed to trade baskets now, while Kuqo scored inside and Williams to buried a big triple for a 54-37 Pamesa margin. Free throws by Labovic and an incredible triple by Guy Pnini brought FMP within 54-43 after 30 minutes. Samardziski tried to ignit the guests' comeback early in the fourth quarter but Kuqo and Oliver kept Pamesa way ahead, 62-47. FMP called timeout but Vule Avdalovic capped a 14-0 run with a three-pointer to seal the outcome, 70-47, midway through the fourth quarter. Pamesa sent a message that echoed all around the competition, while FMP needs to improve right away to reach the Last 16.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com