May 24, 2013
Top 16 Game 1 - February 15, 2007 CET: 20:45 Local time: 20:45 - PALACIO DE LOS DEPORTES J.M. MARTIN CARPENA
Unicaja 75 - 61 Benetton Basket

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
0-0 Top 16 0-0
0-0 Regular Season 0-0
7-7 Overall 8-6

Referees

Crew Chief
JUNGEBRAND, CARL, Finland
Referee
PUKL,SASA, Slovenia
Umpire
CHAMBON, DAVID, France

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
71.5 Points 72.9
31.9 Rebounds 32.1
8.4 O. Rebounds 8.8
23.5 D. Rebounds 23.3
12.4 Assists 14.1
10.0 Steals 14.4
2.6 Blocks 2.1
17.6 Turnovers 14.3
52.2 % 2PT 52.8 %
32.3 % 3PT 36.3 %
68.5 % FT 71.7 %
74.5 Index 85.1
Team Stats - Unicaja
Team Stats - Benetton Basket

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
11.7 / RODRIGUEZ, BERNI Points 11.3 / Zisis
5.0 / JIMENEZ, CARLOS Rebounds 7.1 / NELSON, SPENCER
1.4 / Welsch OR 2.4 / NELSON, SPENCER
3.9 / JIMENEZ, CARLOS DR 5.0 / Goree
3.1 / RODRIGUEZ, BERNI Assists 4.9 / Zisis
1.4 / Welsch Steals 2.2 / Lyday
0.9 / SANTIAGO, DANIEL Blocks 0.8 / GIGLI, ANGELO
2.8 / Welsch Turnovers 2.1 / Zisis
69.2 % / Pietrus 2PT 67.4 % / NELSON, SPENCER
40.7 % / Welsch 3PT 59.0 % / MORDENTE, MARCO
82.1 % / RODRIGUEZ, BERNI FT 80.9 % / Zisis
13.4 / SANTIAGO, DANIEL Index 14.2 / Zisis
Team Roster - Unicaja
Team Roster - Benetton Basket

THE TAKE

Two teams considered to be among Europe's modern elite open Group G together on Thursday when Unicaja faces Benetton Treviso in Malaga, Spain. Unicaja had to battle hard in the final two regular season games to advance to the Top 16 for the second consecutive season with a 7-7 record. Meanwhile, Benetton not only finished third in its regular season group with an 8-6 mark, but won the Italian Cup title over the weekend in epic fashion. It will be a special game for Erazem Lorbek (1.6 ppg., 3.9 rpg.), who joined Unicaja last summer and was sent on loan to Benetton Treviso less than 2 months ago and becomes eligible again just in time to play his old team. Lorbek, the 2005 Euroleague Rising Star award winner, joins a Benetton frontcourt that also features Marcus Goree (13 ppg., 6.4 rpg.), Spencer Nelson (9.5 ppg., 67.4% 2FG, 7.1 rpg.) and Angelo Gigli (7.1 ppg.). Lorbek knows Unicaja's frontcourt well, of course, including Florent Pietrus (4 ppg., 69.2% 2FG) and even his own replacement, Marko Tusek (6.8 ppg., 50% 3FG), as they coincided in the Italian League for a few seasons. Meanwhile, Goree and Gigli will have to battle hard against Daniel Santiago (11.6 ppg.), one of the most dominant big men in the competition. Lorbek is not the only player in this game to rejoin the competition in the Top 16. Marcus Faison (15.1 ppg., 57.6% 3FG, 92.1% FT) left RheinEnergie to join Unicaja while Preston Shumpert (11 ppg.) moved from Climamio Bologna to Benetton. Both shooting guards are set to go against each other in one of the game's most unpredictable matchups. Both teams are really deep at the point guard spot, as Benetton features Nikos Zisis (11.3 ppg., 4.9 apg.), Marco Mordente (10.7 ppg., 59% 3FG) and even Terrell Lyday (9.9 ppg.), while Unicaja has two floor generals and reliable clutch players in Pepe Sanchez (7 ppg., 3.2 apg.) and Carlos Cabezas (9.4 ppg.). Sanchez will try to get Faison, slasher Berni Rodriguez (11.7 ppg.) and do-it-all swingmen Jiri Welsch (10.2 ppg.) and Carlos Jimenez (6.8 ppg., 5 rpg.) involved, while Benetton has enough intensity at both wings with Matteo Soragna (7.9 ppg.), Bryant Smith (3.7 ppg.), Lyday and Mordente. Benetton has won three out of seven games this Euroleague season, including a decisive one against Eldo Napoli at the end of the regular season, but Unicaja only lost twice at home and will be backed by 10,000 fans ready to push their team to bigger heights. Both coaches, Sergio Scariolo of Unicaja and David Blatt of Benetton, love versatile players and are able to keep some surprises for this game, so expect a tactically rich game in which the winner will take a crucial first step toward the Quarterfinal Playoffs.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

SCARIOLO, SERGIO
Unicaja
"We are perfectly aware that in this moment, our rival is one of the worst we could have run up against due to their great form both technically and mentally, their rich and consistent tactics, and of course their many great individual qualities. We know that we need a great collective effort and that we need to have alot of patience in this game because - whether because of possessions or the game itself - it could be decided very late. And of course, we have to consider it unavoidable to have a very high level of intensity and aggressiveness. We hope to be supported by our fans who in these life or death games have always made themselves felt."
BLATT, DAVID
Benetton Basket
"It's always diffuclt to predict such a great contest like the Top 16. You can only say that you are going to face three competitive teams and all of them will fight hard to step up to the playoffs. We are in different situations right now. Unicaja has more talent to exploit on the court, maybe they want to take revenge after the Spanish Copa del Rey, but they also had some more days to rest and prepare this match. On the other side, we are coming out of three exciting games which brought the Italian Cup to Treviso. We are really happy, but now it's time to reset everything. We will try to be confident and serene, playing with intensity and aggresiveness, with the same spirit we had in the last matches."

Players

RODRIGUEZ, BERNI
Unicaja
"We are entering into the Top 16, a new phase of the competition in which all teams start 0-0. In addition, we have the first two games at home, which means we have to be at our absolute best, above all in this first one against Benetton, a team that is in great shape, as shown by the fact that they won the Italian Cup last weekend. I am sure that they want to begin the Top 16 with a victory also, and in their case it would be a very valuable away win. We have to concentrate and work well because without a doubt we, too, want to start by winning."
LORBEK, ERAZEM
Benetton Basket
"It is a unique time for me, going back to Malaga at the same time that I play my first Euroleague game with a Benetton Basket shirt. I think I will feel a great sensation, but I want to help my team in the best way. Malaga is a special place to play because of the atmosphere. Also, it's not easy to win on the road in the Euroleague, but we will try to make it, which could be really important. The key of this game? Keeping control of the boards and grabbing rebounds will help us to play at our pace."
Carlos Jimenez - Unicaja Unicaja showed it is ready to battle hard to reach the Quarterfinal Playoffs by thrashing Benetton Treviso 75-61 in Malaga, Spain on Thursday, in the opening game for both teams in Top 16 Group G. Unicaja ties atop the Group G standings with a 1-0 record and hosts Aris TT Bank next week, while Benetton dropped to 0-1 and welcomes Dynamo Moscow next week. Carlos Jimenez led the winners with 14 points without missing a shot. Daniel Santiago added 13 while Berni Rodriguez had 12 for Unicaja.  Marcus Goree had 24 points for Benetton while Marco Mordente added 11. Jimenez and Santiago fueled a 16-2 opening run for Unicaja, that extended its lead to 27-10 after 10 minutes and then again to 53-28 midway through the third period, enough to seal the outcome long before the final buzzer.

Jimenez needed just 20 seconds to bury a corner triple and but Goree answered with a six-meter jumper. Jimenez insisted from downtown and soon banked it a short shot in a 13-0 run that Carlos Cabezas highlighted with a stop-and-pop three-pointer. Benetton had already called timeout but Santiago shined with a jump hook for a 16-2 Unicaja lead. The guests missed 8 consecutive shots until Erazem Lorbek stepped up with a reverse layup. Rodriguez scored in penetration while Goree dunked it for a 18-6 Benetton deficit. Unicaja kept looking for Santiago in the paint, as he scored inside and followed Cabezas' free throws with a fast break dunk for a 18-point Unicaja margin, 24-6. Spencer Nelson shined with a driving layup but Welsch did better with a basket-plus-foul before Terrell Lyday fixed the score at 27-10 after 10 minutes.

Marcus Goree - Benetton TrevisoPreston Shumpert scored in the low post early in the second quarter and even when Welsch stroke from downtown, he followed that with a floating layup to get Benetton within 30-14. Unicaja called timeout to fix its offense, as Benetton had improved their intensity in both ends now. Goree banked in a short jumper while Marcus Faison finally beat the guests' zone defense with a third-chance layup. Goree kept pacing Benetton with a put-back basket, as Unicaja kept struggling to score. Marko Tusek found answers with a corner three-pointer and Iñaki De Miguel added a power layup to make it a 19-point game, 37-18. Shumpert made free throws and Zisis added a driving layup to find his first basket. De Miguel and Lorbek traded easy baskets while Angelo Gigli fired in a three-pointer to give Benetton some hope, 39-26, at halftime.

Just like in the opening half, Jimenez was first to score with an easy layup and free throws. Benetton went scoreless for more than 3 minutes, while Santiago took over with a tip-in and Rodriguez capped a 9-0 opening run in this quarter with a corner triple, good for a 48-26 Unicaja lead. Gigli finally got Benetton going with a power layup, but Rodriguez buried another bomb from downtown and Cabezas added a fast break layup to make the guests call timeout at 53-28. Mordente stepped up with a floating jumper that Santiago matched with a dunk. Goree fired in consecutive triples but only brought Benetton within 55-36. Jimenez and Mordente exchanged free throws while Goree nailed another one from downtown to get his team within 57-41. Santiago got the crowd involved with a dunk-plus-foul to give Unicaja a 60-43 margin after three quarters.

Berni Rodriguez - UnicajaBenetton needed a quick comeback to keep its chance alive, but Florent Pietrus had a big block on Zisis and Unicaja kept dominating the game now with a very effective zone defense. Goree flew high for a tip-in but Faison answered from downtown for a 63-45 Unicaja margin. Mordente hit a mid-range jumper but Pepe Sanzchez took over with a huge turnaround shot in the low post. The outcome was now clear and Benetton tried to reduce its deficit to avoid troubles in any tie-break situations with both teams involved. Free throws by Lyday and a triple by Mordente got Benetton within 67-53 with 5 minutes to go. Goree and Zisis brought the guests even closer, 70-59. Sanchez followed free throws with a big triple that allowed Unicaja to seal a big win in style.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Euroleague.net
Referees: JUNGEBRAND, CARL (FIN), PUKL,SASA (SLO), CHAMBON, DAVID (FRA)
Attendance: 9450
By Quarter1234
Unicaja27122115
Benetton Basket10161718
End of Quarter1234
Unicaja27396075
Benetton Basket10264361
Head coach: SCARIOLO, SERGIO
Unicaja
# 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 SANCHEZ, PEPE 19:15 7 1/2 1/1 2/2   4 4 2   2     3 1 8
5 RODRIGUEZ, BERNI 25:15 12 2/7 2/3 2/4   6 6 3   6 1 2 2 2 6
7 VASILEIADIS, KOSTAS 4:15           1 1             2 3
9 WELSCH, JIRI 30:30 8 1/3 1/2 3/3 2 6 8 3 3 3     1 3 18
10 CABEZAS, CARLOS 24:00 7 1/1 1/4 2/2       2 1 1     1 2 7
11 PIETRUS, FLORENT 13:00 2 0/2   2/2 3   3   1 1 3   3 1 4
15 DE MIGUEL, IGNACIO 5:00 4 2/3     2 1 3         1 1   4
17 TUSEK, MARKO 10:00 3 0/1 1/1         2       1     3
20 JIMENEZ, CARLOS 29:00 14 2/2 2/2 4/4   3 3 3   2 1   3 5 21
22 SANCHEZ, ALFONSO DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
24 FAISON, MARCUS 17:00 5 1/5 1/4   1   1     3   1 2 1 -6
25 SANTIAGO, DANIEL 22:45 13 6/10   1/1 2 5 7 4 2 1 2   3 3 23
Team           3   3   1 2         2
Totals 200:00 75 16/36 9/17 16/18 13 26 39 19 8 21 7 5 19 20 93
44.4% 52.9% 88.9%
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: BLATT, DAVID
Benetton Basket
# 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 LYDAY, TERRELL 29:00 5 1/7 0/4 3/4 2 3 5 1 1 2   1 4 3 -3
5 SMITH, BRYANT 9:15               1   1          
6 ZISIS, NIKOS 28:45 4 2/8 0/1   1   1 3 3 4   3 3   -6
7 SORAGNA, MATTEO 6:00   0/1 0/1                 1 1   -4
9 MORDENTE, MARCO 26:15 11 2/6 1/5 4/4 2 2 4 2   1   1 2 5 10
10 LORBEK, ERAZEM 17:00 4 2/4       2 2 1 3 1 2   2 2 9
15 GIGLI, ANGELO 11:00 5 1/4 1/2 0/1 2   2   1     1 1 2 3
16 SHUMPERT, PRESTON 20:45 5 2/2 0/3 1/2 1 2 3 1 1 2     3 3 4
17 NELSON, SPENCER 21:00 3 1/6   1/2 4 1 5 3   1     1 1 4
18 GOREE, MARCUS 31:00 24 6/8 4/6   3 4 7 1 4   3   3 3 35
20 CUCCAROLO, GINO DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Team           3 1 4   2           6
Totals 200:00 61 17/46 6/22 9/13 18 15 33 13 15 12 5 7 20 19 58
37% 27.3% 69.2%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

SCARIOLO, SERGIO
Unicaja
"I thinked that overall we attacked well against a very difficult team, because this team is strategically atypical. We managed to play well inside with Jimenez and Santiago. The point-difference is good for us because it can be really important at the end. I was worried of how we woukd react after the disappointment in the cup, but we did OK."
BLATT, DAVID
Benetton Basket
"Congratulations to Unicaja and coach Scariolo. They played a good game with a great start that marked the outsome of the duel. We trailed for forty minutes but we never gave up as we tried to catch them. I think we were a little tired after a few games this weekend in the cup, but there are no excuses."

Players

SANTIAGO, DANIEL
Unicaja
"The game was vitally important for us. Benetton is a strong team with talent. This win was crucial for us after the disappointment of the cup. Now we are ready to face Aris, I think if we beat them we will be on our good way to the quarterfinals."
RODRIGUEZ, BERNI
Unicaja
"It was a good game for us. It was important because we played against a direct rival to make the playoffs. The point-difference can be crucial in a balanced group like ours."
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