Batista stars as Pinar Karsiyaka keeps eighthfinals hopes alive

Pinar Karsiyaka fueled its chances to advance to the eighthfinals by downing ratiopharm Ulm 90-78 and raising its record to 2-3 along with FoxTown Cantu. Karsiyaka will visit French champion JSF Nanterre next week needing a win to have a chance at advancing. Ulm, which held on to the head-to-head point difference tiebreaker and shares first place in Group I with Nanterre, faces Cantu in the final game. Karsiyaka seemed to be in control early in the third quarter, leading 48-33, but the guests came back to within 66-65 before the trio of Esteban Batista, Bobby Dixon and Baris Hersek completed an amazing performance for the home team to get the win. Batista led the way for the winners with 29 points on 11-of-13 on two-point shooting, 9 rebounds and 3 assist for an index rating of 43, Hersek netted 16, Dixon amassed 14 points with 11 assists and Inan Koc netted 12 points. Per Guenther posted 17 points for Ulm, Cam Long chipped in 14, Edgar Sosa 12 and Adam Hess 11.

The recent Turkish Cup winners got an 11-4 advantage with free throws of Hersek, and after Will Clyburn fueled Ulm, Batista posted 5 points in a row for an 18-10 margin. Trent Plaisted and Sosa bagged back-to-back layups to finish the first quarter down 18-14. The home team raised its confidence early in the second by going on a 12-4 run capped by Batista to earn a double digit cushion, 30-18. Long brought Ulm within 37-30 before Hersek hit a three and a free throw for a 41-30 cushion and Guenther fixed the final 42-33 at halftime.

Batista and Dixon fueled the home team to 48-33. Jonathan Maier and Hess layups cut the cushion to 50-41. Jon Diebler’s steal and easy basket made it 55-41, but Ulm did not give up and Long highlighted a run of 10 unanswered points to for a 55-51 lead. Batista remained unstoppable in the paint and scored to go ahead 62-53. The visiting team found points from Daniel Theis, whose dunk made it 64-61. Long carried Ulm within 66-65, but the hosts - pushed by their fans’ noise - played a perfect minute to make it a double digit game, 75-65. Guenther from beyond the arc brought his side closer, 75-71, but Batista and Dixon took charge and extended the margin to 85-73 en route to the win.