Union Olimpija routs VEF Riga in Group D finale

Union Olimpija Ljubljana blasted VEF Riga 90-61 in the final game in Group D. Olimpija completed the Eurocup Regular Season with a 6-4 record and in third place in the group. VEF Riga bid farewell to the competition for the season with a 1-9 record. Olimpija outscored VEF in each of the quarters in a convincing victory. Blaz Mahkovic paced the winners with 15 points, Vasilije Vucetic netted 13, Dino Muric 12 and Hristo Nikolov 11. Ronalds Zakis led VEF with 19 points, Gerald Robinson scored 12 and Ingus Jakovics had 10 in defeat.

Paolo Marinelli scored and assisted as Olimpija started 4-0. After a Janis Berzins triple, Olimpija got a pair of buckets from Muric before a Marinelli triple made it 11-3. Arturs Berzins sank VEF’s second three, however the hoists continued to roll as Nikolov scored twice in raising the difference to double figures, 17-6. Zakis and Robinson narrowed the gap. Klemen Prepelic scored from downtown for the hosts before Zakis ended the first quarter at 22-14. Mahkovic put Olimpija up by a dozen before VEF started to score. The teams traded baskets with Vucetic carrying the scoring torch for the hosts, while Jakovics answered for the visitors. Gregor Hrovat put Olimpija up 38-24 from the line. A Zakis triple made it 41-29 at halftime.

Jakovics scored the first basket of the second half, but Marko Marinovic answered with a three and Vujetic boosted the different to 15. Zakis and Robinson teamed up for the next 6 points, however Nikolov and Vujetic kept Olimpija in control. A Marinovic triple and Muric free throws kept Olimpija rolling. Halil Kanacevic’s three-point play took the lead into the 20s. Robinson and Nikolov traded threes before Mahkovic put the hosts up 69-46 through three quarters. There would be no VEF rally as a Luka Rupnik three gave Olimpija an insurmountable 79-50 lead with six minutes to go. The lead peaked at 86-55 on Jaka Brodnik free throws as Olimpija rounded out the big win.