Regular Season Game 2 - October 29, 2009 CET: 20:30 Local time: 20:30 - FERNANDO BUESA ARENA

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
0-0 Top 16 0-0
0-1 Regular Season 1-0
0-1 Overall 1-0

Referees

Crew Chief
BRAZAUSKAS, ROMUALDAS, Lithuania
Referee
ZAMOJSKI, JAKUB, Poland
Umpire
VYKLICKY, ROBERT, Czech Rep.

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
65.0 Points 85.0
36.0 Rebounds 29.0
6.0 O. Rebounds 6.0
30.0 D. Rebounds 23.0
16.0 Assists 17.0
4.0 Steals 14.0
3.0 Blocks 9.0
16.0 Turnovers 15.0
59.1 % 2PT 66.7 %
32.3 % 3PT 50.0 %
64.3 % FT 66.7 %
79.0 Index 115.0

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
17.0 / SPLITTER, TIAGO Points 25.0 / ANDERSON, ALAN
10.0 / San Emeterio Rebounds 7.0 / Fischer
3.0 / San Emeterio OR 3.0 / Fischer
7.0 / San Emeterio DR 5.0 / Lasme
4.0 / SPLITTER, TIAGO Assists 4.0 / WISNIEWSKI, ANDREW
1.0 / ENGLISH, CARL Steals 4.0 / WISNIEWSKI, ANDREW
1.0 / SPLITTER, TIAGO Blocks 5.0 / Fischer
4.0 / ENGLISH, CARL Turnovers 4.0 / Lampe
100.0 % / Huertas 2PT 100.0 % / Perkins
66.7 % / San Emeterio 3PT 100.0 % / Limonad
66.7 % / TELETOVIC, MIRZA FT 100.0 % / Fischer
27.0 / SPLITTER, TIAGO Index 24.0 / ANDERSON, ALAN

THE TAKE

Caja Laboral targets its first win of the new season when it hosts Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv in Vitoria, Spain, in a rematch of the 2005 Euroleague title game. Maccabi was the winner that time, but with only a handful of players remaining from that contest – or the 2006 Euroleague semifinal in Prague, which Maccabi also won – the past will have little influence on this contest. One reason for that is that Caja Laboral will debut one of Maccabi’s best players in recent seasons, forward Lior Eliyahu, who missed last week’s opener with illness. Without several of Laboral’s summer signings, including forward Walter Herrmann, who is out several months, and scorer Brad Olseon, head coach Dusko Ivanovic’s men fell in their opener 77-65 at Lottomatica Roma. The bright spots came in the play of their big men as All-Euroleague center Tiago Splitter had 17 points and 9 rebounds, power forward Mirza Teletovic also scored 17 and small forward Fernando San Emeterio grabbed a career-best 10 boards. With Eliyahu fit to play, Caja Laboral boasts a promising frontline. However they won’t have it easy against Maccabi, who rolled to an 85-65 win over Union Olimpija in the traditional opening game two weeks ago. D’Or Fischer swatted 5 shots while the backcourt of Alan Anderson, Andrew Wisniewski and Doron Perkins paced the attack. Fischer joins Maciej Lampe, Stephane Lasme and Yaniv Green in giving Maccabi a formidable rotation to counter Laboral’s. A key matchup will be at small forward, with Chuck Eidson pitting his skills against San Emeterio. Eidson is more technically talented, while San Emeterio is more physically gifted. The outcome of their duel will have major implications on the direction of the game. At guard, Laboral features playmakers Pau Ribas and Marcelinho Huertas and scorers Carl English and Chris Lofton, who’ll go against Maccabi’s playmaking duo of Wisniewski and Perkins and scorer Anderson. If Splitter can put up big numbers on Fischer, Laboral should be able to post a big win. However if the Maccabi guards are able to get out and run, the Israeli champs could score an important road win. The smart money on this game is to expect 40 minutes of action, with the game coming down to the closing minutes.

REFEREES: Romualdas Brazauskas, Jakub Zamojski, Robert Vyklicky


GAME NOTES

Caja Laboral

Forward Lior Eliyahu has spent the past three seasons playing with this week’s opponent, Maccabi Tel Aviv. Among the current Maccabi players Eliyahu has played with are Derrick Sharp, Yaniv Green, D’Or Fischer and Raviv Limonad.

Forward Fernando San Emeterio grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in the season-opener against Lottomatica Roma last week.

Brad Oleson is due to make his Euroleague debut this week.

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv

Maccabi defeated Caja Laboral in the Euroleague championship game in Moscow in 2005. Head coaches Pini Gershon and Dusko Ivanovic coached in that game and are back with their teams now. Only Derrick Sharp and Yaniv Green of Maccabi and Tiago Splitter of Caja Laboral are still with the teams.

Maccabi also beat Caja Laboral in the 2006 Euroleague semifinal in Prague. Gershon, Green and Sharp were also on that Maccabi team, as was Splitter for Laboral.

Gal Mekel is due to make his Euroleague debut this week.

Point guard Andrew Wisniewski has made at least one three-pointer in each of his last seven Euroleague games.

Alan Anderson has scored in double figures in each of his last 11 Euroleague appearances dating back to December 2007. He also has at least 1 steal in 11 straight games.

Big man D’Or Fischer matched a career-high with 5 blocked shots on opening night.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

GERSHON, PINI
Maccabi Electra
"Four years ago these two teams played the Euroleague final game, so this game can't be just any game. From that game I think only three players are still playing on the teams, but Coach Ivanovic and I both left and came back, so maybe it means something. They lost already in the Euroleague and losing another one, at home, will put them under pressure. I hope we can take advantage of that. We won two games in a row, but we still have a long way and a lot of hard work before we play as a team with such roster as ours should play."

Players

ELIYAHU, LIOR
Caja Laboral
"This game is more important to us because we need to win than because it's against Maccabi. After the loss in Rome, this game is fundamental for us. We cannot start with two defeats in the first two games. It's not about the rival, it's about ourselves. For sure, it's going to be a little different for me, especially in the first minutes. I guess it will be very emotional because I will face my former team. Anyway, we are professional basketball players, so I will do whatever it takes to win. I don't like to talk about the other team, I prefer to talk about my team. We must take care of own business, try to play good deffense, run the court, play well and grab the win. I feel alright now, I hope that injuries are already forgotten so I can focus only on the game and get wins."
LAMPE, MACIEJ
Maccabi Electra
"We're going there to win, because we want to win every game and win our group. Our chances to win are great. They are a good team, but we're a good team too. They lost in Roma and we saw that game, so we're looking forward to playing them. We're ready to go now."
Tiago Splitter - Caja LaboralCaja Laboral survived a stern test from Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv for an 86-81 win behind All-Euroleague center Tiago Splitter’s career-high 26 points and 7 rebounds. All eyes were on former Maccabi player Lior Eliyahu, who did not disappoint with 12 points and 7 rebounds off the bench for the winners, but it was the play of Splitter and Marcelinho Huertas that led Laboral to its first win in Group C. Next week head coach Dusko Ivanovic's men travel to face Union Olimpija. Maccabi, now also 1-1, hosts CSKA Moscow next. Splitter dominated early and had 19 first-half points in taking his team to a 55-44 halftime lead with plenty of help from Eliyahu. Laboral still led by double digits late in the third quarter when David Bluthenthal showed up. He buried 3 three-pointers in a 0-14 Maccabi charge that gave the visitors a 69-73 lead early in the fourth quarter. The game would remain close after that, but 2 Maccabi missed free throws and a pair of clutch plays by Fernando San Emeterio saw Laboral reclaim control and Maccabi was unable to answer with big plays in the final two minutes. Huertas finished with 16 points – 10 in the last six minutes – and San Emeterio added 12 for the winners. Maciej Lampe led Maccabi with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Chuck Eidson scored 16 and Andrew Wisniewski and Bluthenthal netted 12 apiece. Although Maccabi shot 50% from downtown in making 14 triples – led by Bluthenthal's 4 for 4 – its 14 turnovers compared to the hosts' 8 proved meaningful in the end.

Maccabi won the opening tip and got on the scoreboard first as Yaniv Green drove home an Alan Anderson miss. Green went through Mirza Teletovic for a basket-plus-foul and denied Splitter at the other end for a brilliant individual start to the contest. Eidson drilled a triple to make it 0-8 after 88 seconds as Ivanovic called timeout. Splitter dunked feeds from Carl English and Pau Ribas for the hosts’ first points Another Splitter score inside and a San Emeterio layup and foul on the break competed Laboral’s 9-0 comeback. Wisniewski stepped up with a pair of triples and Laboral scored through Ribas and Splitter as the pace picked up. Lampe buried a three for the visitors to make it 17-19. Laboral switched things up, bringing in Eliyahu, Huertas and Brad Oleson – the latter making his Euroleague debut – however before they had time to adjust, Anderson darted through the Laboral defense for a three-point play. Lampe fed Eidson for a triple to make it 18-25 before Laboral went back to its sure thing, Splitter, who scored his 13th points of the quarter without a miss! Huertas beat the buzzer with a running triple to knot the game at 25-25 after 10 minutes.

Back-to-back Oleson threes – his first Euroleague points – kept the momentum with the hosts early in the second period before Eidson flushed a jumper. After Doron Perkins stole the ball, Huertas was called for an unsportsmanlike foul and following a pair of fre throws and a Wisniewski three, the visitors were ahead again. Stanko Barac reversed that when he took a pass from Olseson for a basket-plus-foul. Vladimir Micov and Bluthenthal traded triples. Eliyahu cut through the Maccabi defense for his first Laboral basket. Eliyahu heated up with two more baskets – the second a slam over D’Or Fischer – to give his team a 43-37 edge. Anderson sank a pair of free throws only to see Eliyahu unveil another move inside for a basket. Splitter free throws and an Eliyahu scoop gave the hosts their first double-digit lead. Splitter capped an 8-0 spurt with 2 more free throws before Lampe answered for Maccabi. Splitter threw in a hook and Eliyahu came up with a steal and slam for a 14-point gap. Lampe fired in a triple to reduce the deficit to 55-44 by halftime.

Andrew Wisniewski - Maccabi ElectraLampe opened the second half with a three-pointer and then forced Splitter into his first miss, but the Laboral center grabbed the rebound, scored and drew a foul. The pace was considerably slower in the third quarter than the first two. Maccabi suffered a blow when Anderson was called for his fourth foul less than three minutes into the half. His sub, Raviv Limonad, came in and drove to the basket to cut the gap to 7. Teletovic attacked the offensive glass for a basket, however Lampe further narrowed the Maccabi deficit with his fourth triple and Eidson soared for a pair of layups – the second a pretty finish plus a foul – to make it 63-59 midway through the quarter. Laboral found its footing as San Emeterio got points on a goaltending call and Huertas scored from the line. Splitter restored the hosts’ double-digit lead at the end of a long second-chance attack, though Wisniewski quickly countered from downtown. Stephane Lasme added a free throw and Bluthenthal hit a long three for a 0-7 charge that made it 69-66 at the end of the quarter.

Bluthenthal opened the fourth like he ended the third, with a deep three, to tie the score for the first time since the second quarter. Again Bluthenthal – with his fourth three – and a Perkins free throw finished a run of 14 unanswered points that gave the visitors a 69-73 lead. Huertas sank a triple to end a four-plus minute Laboral scoring drought going back to the pervious period and fire up the home crowd. Splitter tied the game from the line, but Eidson's short jumper put Maccabi ahead again. Both defenses toughened up as the teams each went two trips up and down the court without points before Huertas restored Laboral's edge, 76-75, from downtown. After Lasme tied it from the line, Ribas it a pair of free throws to put Laboral back on top. Huertas stretched the lead to 80-77 with a layup. Lampe answered with a pair of free throws, however San Emeterio stood tall with a put-back basket and drawing an offensive foul from Bluthenthal. A Splitter tip-in with 1:40 remaining not only gave him a career high 26 points, but practically sank Maccabi’s chances. Lampe missed an open three with 35 seconds left and Huertas iced the game from the line, allowing the fans to celebrate Caja Laboral's first win of the season.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Euroleague.net
Referees: BRAZAUSKAS, ROMUALDAS (LTU), ZAMOJSKI, JAKUB (POL), VYKLICKY, ROBERT (CZE)
Attendance: 9600
By Quarter1234
Caja Laboral25301417
Maccabi Electra25192215
End of Quarter1234
Caja Laboral25556986
Maccabi Electra25446681
Head coach: IVANOVIC, DUSKO
Caja Laboral
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
3FG
M-A
FT
M-A
Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
4 RIBAS, PAU 27:55 6 1/1 0/4 4/4       3         2 4 7
5 MICOV, VLADIMIR 10:20 3 0/1 1/1     1 1               3
6 LOFTON, CHRIS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
7 URIARTE, JON IRKUS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9 HUERTAS, MARCELINHO 19:54 16 1/5 3/3 5/6   2 2 3   4   1 2 4 13
11 ELIYAHU, LIOR 18:31 12 6/9   0/3 1 6 7   2         3 18
12 TELETOVIC, MIRZA 21:29 2 1/5 0/3 0/1 2 3 5 1         1 1  
19 SAN EMETERIO, FERNANDO 23:17 12 5/6 0/2 2/4 2 1 3     1       4 13
21 SPLITTER, TIAGO 31:35 26 10/14   6/8 4 3 7 2 2 2 1 1 2 9 36
23 ENGLISH, CARL 15:21   0/2       2 2 1 1     2 4 1 -3
24 OLESON, BRAD 23:13 6   2/5   1 1 2 2         2   5
42 BARAC, STANKO 8:25 3 1/3 0/1 1/1 1 2 3 1     1 1 3 2 3
Team           1 1 2     1         1
Totals 200:00 86 25/46 6/19 18/27 12 22 34 13 5 8 2 5 16 28 96
54.3% 31.6% 66.7%
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Head coach: GERSHON, PINI
Maccabi Electra
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
3FG
M-A
FT
M-A
Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
5 LIMONAD, RAVIV 7:09 2 1/1           1 1 1     1   2
6 SHARP, DERRICK 0:06     0/1                       -1
7 WISNIEWSKI, ANDREW 37:13 12 0/2 4/6   2 2 4 3   2     2 1 12
8 PERKINS, DORON 17:25 6 1/2 0/1 4/6 1   1 2 1       3 3 6
9 GREEN, YANIV 8:28 7 3/3   1/1                 3 1 5
10 PNINI, GUY 3:04                              
11 ANDERSON, ALAN 20:47 5 1/3 0/2 3/3 1   1 1   3   1 5 3 -3
12 LASME, STEPHANE 21:24 2 0/1   2/4 2 5 7     3 3   4 2 4
13 EIDSON, CHUCK 34:32 16 4/8 2/5 2/3   2 2 4 2 2     2 2 14
14 LAMPE, MACIEJ 26:43 18 1/6 4/9 4/4 1 6 7 1         2 2 16
15 BLU, DAVID 15:12 12   4/4     2 2     2     4 1 9
21 FISCHER, D'OR 7:57 1 0/1   1/2   1 1     1 2   2 1  
Team           2 4 6               6
Totals 200:00 81 11/27 14/28 17/23 9 22 31 12 4 14 5 1 28 16 70
40.7% 50% 73.9%
This game is not yet played

Players

HUERTAS, MARCELINHO
Caja Laboral
We won a complicated game against a traditionally tough rival. Contrary to the game against Roma, this time we knew how to react and get the win. After a very good first half we lost our focus in the third quarter, and they took advantage of the opportunity, above all by hitting their threes, to tie up the game. But the last quarter was ours. We moved the ball well, and we deserve this victory that will give us a lot of confidence heading forward.
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