Top 16 Week 5 co-MVPs: Charles Gaines, Maccabi Electra and Mike Hall, AJ Milano
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In a decisive week of Euroleague drama in which the last five Quarterfinal Playoff qualifiers were decided, some players whose teams didn't make it to the next round left their mark on the competition with outstanding individual performances. A pair of forwards, Mike Hall of Armani Jeans Milano and Charles Gaines of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, shared Top 16 Week 5 co-MVP honors with performance index ratings of 33 each. Hall did everything he could, but could not finally keep Milano in the playoff race during an 84-81 road loss against Olympiacos. Hall finished with 27 points by making 7 of 8 two-point shots and 4 of 8 three-pointers. He also picked up 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 fouls drawn for his 33 index rating. Gaines, a mid-season pickup by Maccabi, helped his new team grab a 70-76 road win against Alba Berlin. Gaines stepped in for injured big man D'or Fischer to post 22 points based on solid 8-for-11 two-point shooting. He added 12 rebounds, a steal and 7 fouls drawn to show the way to victory despite it being the first time since 2003 that Maccabi played a Top 16 game knowing that it could not advance in the competition. Following them was Thomas Kelati of Unicaja, who won't be in the playoffs, either, but tied the Euroleague's three-point record by burying 9 shots from downtown during in his team's blowout home win against Lottomatica Roma. Kelati finished with a career-high 33 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals for a 30 index rating. Three playoff-bound stars - Nikola Vujcic of Olympiacos, Terrell McIntyre of Montepaschi Siena and Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos - followed with ratings of 29 each to complete the best individual performances in Top 16 Week 5.
Individual highs: Ioannis Bourousis of Olympiacos, 14 rebounds.
Kelati was Week 5's best scorer with 33 points against Roma. McIntyre, however, is now the Top 16 best scorer at 20.2 points per game. Ioannis Bourousis of Olympiacos led all rebounders by pulling down 14 in his team's playoff-clinching home win against AJ Milano. Mirsad Turkcan of Fenerbahce Ulker continues to lead all rebounders in the Top 16 with 9.3 on average, showing why he is the Euroleague's all-time best rebounder. His teammate Emir Preldzic led Top 16 Week 5 in assists by dishing 7 against CSKA Moscow. Omar Cook of Unicaja ranks first in assists (5.4 apg.) in the Top 16 so far. Vujcic, Diamantidis and Shaun Stonerook each collected 4 steals this week. David Logan of Asseco Prokom stays atop the Top 16 steals standings at 4 per game. Stephane Lasme of Partizan and Fran Vazquez of Regal FC Barcelona each had 3 blocks this week. Vazquez also leads the Top 16 blocks table at 2.6 per night. Four players - Bourousis, Turkcan, Gaines and Adam Chubb of Alba Berlin - registered double-doubles this week. Turkcan had his 47th Euroleague career double-double - 14 points, 10 rebounds - against CSKA.
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Euroleague.net
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