Top 16 Game 2 - February 05, 2009 CET: 20:30 Local time: 20:30 - O2 WORLD

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
0-1 Top 16 1-0
4-6 Regular Season 6-4
4-7 Overall 7-4

Referees

Crew Chief
ZAVLANOS, NIKOLAOS, Greece
Referee
RYZHYK, BORYS, Ukraine
Umpire
CHIARI, ROBERTO, Italy

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
68.7 Points 75.0
28.6 Rebounds 31.6
7.7 O. Rebounds 11.3
20.9 D. Rebounds 20.4
10.9 Assists 13.0
7.5 Steals 8.1
1.5 Blocks 1.9
13.7 Turnovers 13.5
51.1 % 2PT 53.5 %
35.5 % 3PT 32.7 %
70.6 % FT 73.9 %
68.0 Index 79.3

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
13.9 / McELROY, IMMANUEL Points 13.2 / Reyes
4.8 / SESAY, ANSU Rebounds 6.1 / Reyes
1.8 / McELROY, IMMANUEL OR 1.8 / Reyes
3.8 / SESAY, ANSU DR 4.3 / Reyes
2.3 / WRIGHT, RASHAD Assists 2.8 / Lopez
1.4 / McELROY, IMMANUEL Steals 1.1 / Reyes
0.6 / SESAY, ANSU Blocks 0.5 / Hosley
2.1 / NADJFEJI, ALEKSANDAR Turnovers 1.9 / Reyes
60.0 % / HAMANN, STEFFEN 2PT 76.0 % / Llull
100.0 % / CHUBB, ADAM 3PT 66.7 % / SANCHEZ, PEPE
84.8 % / McELROY, IMMANUEL FT 95.7 % / BULLOCK, LOUIS
16.7 / McELROY, IMMANUEL Index 15.6 / Reyes

THE TAKE

The o2 World in Berlin, Germany, is ready to host its first Top 16 game ever just three months away from the Final Four in this very same arena, as Alba welcomes Real Madrid on Thursday in a highly anticipated Group F showdown. Alba needs to bounce back from its loss against Maccabi Electra in the Top 16 opener while Madrid looks for its second win after rallying to down archrival Regal FC Barcelona last week. Madrid is facing severe injury problems at point guard, as starting playmaker Raul Lopez is sidelined while Pepe Sanchez did not play against Barcelona last week. As such, Sergio Llull is ready to become Madrid's fulltime point guard, with Sanchez and scoring ace Louis Bullock offering some help. Llull will face a physical point guard in Steffen Hamann, who shares the playmaker duties with Rashad Wright. Alba will be most concerned with stopping Bullock, one of the best shooters in the competition. Bullock shares minutes at the wings with athletic forward Quinton Hosley, three-point threat Alex Mumbru and Marko Tomas, who is set to see extended playing time due to the circumstances. Bullock will test his shooting skills against Julius Jenkins. Hosley has a critical matchup against Immanuel McElroy, which could be one of the keys to this game. Casey Jacobsen, another three-point specialist, must be ready for a shootout against Mumbru. The battle in the paint may be the biggest key to this game. Alba relies on Ansu Sesay and Adam Chubb as its main references, especially since center Patrick Femerling is out. Dragan Dojcin and Aleksandar Nadjfeji will be ready to come off the bench for Alba. Chubb has the tough mission to guard Felipe Reyes, while Sesay is ready for a big matchup against another left-handed power forward, Jeremiah Massey. Axel Hervelle and Tomas Van den Spiegel will play a key role in Madrid's rotation. Madrid must play with high intensity and stop McElroy to add its first road win in this group. Alba must get the crowd involved to generate a strong basketball atmosphere, as well as trying to put pressure on Llull and Sanchez. The pressure will be on the hosts, who will find themselves in a deep hole if they lose to fall to 0-2. But Berlin has risen to the occasion before and could do so again in this special arena.

GAME NOTES

Alba Berlin
  • Guard Immanuel McElroy has scored in double-digits in his last six games.
  • Guard Casey Jacobsen has made at least 1 three-pointer in six straight Euroleague games. He is shooting 43.3% from downtown in that stretch.
  • Head coach Luka Pavicevic has used the same starting five – Steffen Hamann, Immanuel McElroy, Casey Jacobsen, Ansu Sesay and Adam Chubb – in 10 out of 11 Euroleague games this season.
Real Madrid
  • Guard Louis Bullock scored a season-high 18 points last week against Regal FC Barcelona.
  • Big man Felipe Reyes needs 3 more steals to reach 100 for his Euroleague Basketball career.
  • Olympic silver medallists Felipe Reyes, Raul Lopez and Alex Mumbru combined for 19 points in a 59-72 victory over Germany at the Olympic Games in Beijing last summer. Alba Berlin’s Steffen Hamann and Patrick Femerling both played for Germany in that game.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

PAVICEVIC, LUKA
Alba Berlin
"The Spanish league has developed into the strongest league in Europe and the strongest teams from this league can dictate the tempo of the game, which is extremely important. So when playing Spanish teams on this level, it is necessary to always keep calm and keep control of the game. Trying to keep up with these teams is never easy, so we will have a very difficult job against one of the strongest teams in Europe, which has a very balanced game in all aspects and plays very aggressive for the full 40 minutes. We need to be highly focused and we need to keep that focus for these full 40 minutes. For us it still is a special privilege to host teams like this in Berlin and I really hope that together with our fans we can sum up the energy and the strength to play competitive and to try to win against this kind of opponent."
PLAZA, JOAN
Real Madrid
"Alba Berlin is a team known for their good control of the game. They like to play long in offense and they have good balance between the fastbreak and static offense. Luka Pavicevic is a young and talented coach who is doing a great job as he has already shown by putting Alba in the Top 16. Alba plays well at home and we cannot forget that they defeated a great team like DKV Joventut twice. The key of the game will be to defend thir fastbreak well and go for all the offensive rebounds we can. It will also be important to try to play with our big men, as they are lacking Femerling and it can be an advantage to us. It is a vital game for us to try to make the playoffs. We have to compete at our maximum level."

Players

CHUBB, ADAM
Alba Berlin
"This is already our third opponent from the ACB this season and it looks like we might become experts on Spanish teams, but every team is different. We have to prepare each game differently, especially against Real Madrid, which is a great team. We have to improve some things, which we did not do well last week against Maccabi, but the biggest thing is to be mentally ready to go out and play the full 40 minutes against such a strong opponent. I will be Alba’s only center, but that does not frighten me at all, because I have confidence in my teammates. We always go out there together and continue to look forward."
HERVELLE, AXEL
Real Madrid
"We are playing against a dangerous team on the road as, among other things, they have the support of a crowd that is always there for them. Their making it to the Top 16 indicates that they are a good team. In theory, Real Madrid is the favorite in this game and that is good for them because it takes some pressure off their shoulders and it will allow them to play good basketball. To get our second win in this Top 16 we will have to play our best defense and try to run the fastbreak as much as we can. I think that is the best way to hurt Alba."
Felipe Reyes - Real MadridReal Madrid came back from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit for a thrilling 87-84 road victory at Alba Berlin to take over first place exclusively in Top 16 Group F on Thursday before 11,000 fans at o2 Arena. Madrid trailed by 17 points in the third quarter but came all the way back to win thanks to a 0-10 fourth-quarter run capped by Axel Hervelle's game-tying three-pointer in the next-to-last minute. Louis Bullock broke the last tie with a long two-pointer and Madrid outshone Alba at the foul line the rest of the way. Madrid improved to 2-0 in the group while the heart-breaking loss dropped Alba to 0-2. Neither team led by more than four points in the first quarter but Berlin used a 10-0 run within a 22-7 surge in the second quarter to take control of the game at the break. Alba pushed the lead to 17 points midway through the third quarter before Madrid chipped away at the advantage thanks to a 2-12 run. Berlin re-established a 12-point lead in the final quarter only to watch Madrid answer with a 6-18 surge to grab the lead and win the game. Bullock led Madrid with 19 points while Felipe Reyes had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Alex Mumbru added 12 points and Sergio Llull chipped in 11 points and 4 assists. Berlin was paced by Julius Jenkins with 21 points, 17 of those in the first half. Aleksandar Nadjfeji had 16 points, Adam Chubb scored 12 and Immanuel McElroy added 11. Wright finished with 10 points but made just 6 of 12 foul shots. As good as Berlin was in the first half - with just one turnover in building a 19-point lead - it could not hold off an inspired Madrid comeback.

Julius Jenkins - Alba BerlinChubb opened the scoring with a basket in the lane and then Mumbru fought in a tough hoop in the paint. Ansu Sesay started the Berlin outside game with a triple to make it 5-2 early. Bullock's jumper from the corner was followed by a three-point shot by Casey Jacobsen for a 8-4 Berlin lead. Axel Hervelle made it a one-point game again with a three-point play. Chubb and Bullock would swap baskets and Madrid would not let Berlin get further than four points ahead. McElroy's two foul shots gave Berlin a 13-9 lead. But JeremiahMassey hit a nice lefty bank off the glass. He then made a foul shot and another inside basket to give Madrid the lead 13-14. But Nadjfeji answered with a lay-in off the glass and then Jenkins came in and hit a soft lefty lay-in and completed the three-point play for an 18-14 Alba advantage. Mumbru scored four points for Madrid and Berlin used some fine passing to get two inside baskets for Nadjfeji - the second of which left Alba ahead 24-20 after one quarter.

Chubb opened the second quarter with two foul shots and then Massey made two of his own to bring Madrid to within 26-22. But the Berlin defense went to work and Alba pushed the ball in transition offensively. Jenkins hit a long two-point jumper before McElroy drove the floor for a layup. Two Jenkins foul shots made it a 10-point game - 32-22 - and then Jenkins converted on a three-on-one break before Wright's two foul shots completed the 10-0 Alba run for a 36-24 advantage. Tomas van den Spiegel stopped a five possession drought for Madrid with a tip-in and Madrid went to a zone defense. But Jenkins nailed a three-pointer and Steffen Hamann hit a long ball from the right corner as the lead grew to 45-27. Llull managed a layup for Madrid but Alba remained hot with Jacobsen knocking down a three-point shot for a 19 point lead - 48-29. Madrid tried to work the ball inside and Reyes made two foul shots and then a basket in the paint to make it 48-33. But Chubb beat Reyes back down the court for a dunk and a 17 point advantage. Madrid brought the game to within 13 points with two Mumbru foul shots and a Marko Tomas layup for 50-37. But Alba continued its fine passing game with a nice pick-and-roll between Jenkins and Nadjfeji, who got an easy basket for a 52-37 Alba lead at the break.

Louis Bullock - Real MadridSesay opened the second half with a foul shot and Bullock gave Madrid the start it wanted with a three-point shot to make it 53-40. Wright hit a layup and Nadjfeji got down the court quickly on the break for a 57-40 lead. Reyes and Nadjfeji swapped layups before Llull hit a triple to make it 59-45. But McElroy answered right back for Berlin with a triple and a 62-45 Alba lead. Foul trouble started mounting up for the hosts, whose interior players all had three fouls allowing for Bullock to score an easy layup. A Bullock triple cut the deficit to 12 but two Wright free throws made it 64-50. Dragan Dojcin picked up his fourth foul and Reyes had easy pickings inside. Llull hit a tough layup and was fouled. Llull was short on the foul shot but Berlin allowed van den Spiegel to grab the offensive rebound and Bullock ended up nailing the three and the lead was just 64-57. McElroy and Llull swapped layups and Wright's layup made it 68-59. Berlin turned the ball over twice trying to get the ball past half-court and Quinton Hosley was sent to the line and made two free throws to make it 68-63. And it was 70-65 after a van den Spiegel tip in. But Wright's foul shot gave Berlin a 71-65 lead after three quarters.

Two McElroy foul shots opened the fourth quarter and a nice pass from Jenkins to Nadjfeji for an inside layup was followed by a Jenkins basket inside for a 77-65 lead. A Reyes free throw got Madrid on the scoreboard for the fourth quarter and Hosley nailed a three-point shot to make it 77-69. It was 79-71 after a Reyes dunk but Chubb hit inside after a nice pass from Nadjfeji only to miss the free throw. Mumbru hit back-to-back baskets and then Reyes used his big body inside for a basket and three-point play, fouling out Chubb in the process as the lead was down to 81-78. Berlin could not hit on its side but Hervelle nailed a triple to knot the game 81-81. Nadjfeji and Reyes each hit inside hoops and then Bullock drained a long two-point jumper from the left wing with 19 seconds left to give Madrid the lead 83-85. With 12 seconds left, Madrid sent Wright to the line and he missed both free throws. Hervelle then made his two foul shots with 10 seconds left to make it an 83-87 ball game. With it being a two-possession game, Wright made the first foul shot with 8 seconds left but missed the second on purpose. Madrid however grabbed the rebound and avoided Berlin's attempts to foul and snatched the road victory.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Euroleague.net
Referees: ZAVLANOS, NIKOLAOS (GRE), RYZHYK, BORYS (UKR), CHIARI, ROBERTO (ITA)
Attendance: 11045
By Quarter1234
Alba Berlin24281913
Real Madrid20172822
End of Quarter1234
Alba Berlin24527184
Real Madrid20376587
Head coach: PAVICEVIC, LUKA
Alba Berlin
# 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 JACOBSEN, CASEY 18:56 6 0/1 2/4           1 1     1 1 3
5 HERBER, JOHANNES DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 HAMANN, STEFFEN 21:03 4 0/1 1/2 1/2   3 3 4 1       1 1 9
7 ZWIENER, PHILLIP 0:10                              
8 DOJCIN, DRAGAN 17:55         2   2 1 1 2     5 1 -2
9 SESAY, ANSU 24:51 4 0/1 1/2 1/2 1   1 3   2     4 1  
11 JENKINS, JULIUS 26:46 21 5/9 2/3 5/5 1 3 4 4 1 2     2 5 26
12 WRIGHT, RASHAD 18:57 10 2/2 0/1 6/12 1   1 2 1       2 7 12
14 CHUBB, ADAM 18:01 12 4/4   4/5   2 2     1     5 5 12
23 McELROY, IMMANUEL 34:18 11 2/6 1/6 4/4 1 2 3 4 3 1   1 1 3 12
32 NADJFEJI, ALEKSANDAR 19:03 16 8/9     1 5 6 1 1   1   5   19
Team             3 3               3
Totals 200:00 84 21/33 7/18 21/30 7 18 25 19 9 9 1 1 26 24 94
63.6% 38.9% 70%
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: PLAZA, JOAN
Real Madrid
# 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 SANTANA, JORGE DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 SANCHEZ, PEPE 6:09                   1     2   -3
9 REYES, FELIPE 30:47 18 6/13   6/7 6 5 11 2   2   1 5 7 22
12 VAN DEN SPIEGEL, TOMAS 14:45 5 2/3   1/2 4   4     1 1   1 1 7
14 HOSLEY, QUINTON 10:08 5 0/1 1/2 2/2   2 2     1     1 1 4
15 MUMBRU, ALEX 29:52 12 4/4 0/3 4/4 3 1 4 2 1 1     3 2 14
17 HERVELLE, AXEL 15:28 8 1/1 1/3 3/3   6 6           2 3 13
21 MASSEY, JEREMIAH 19:00 7 2/3 0/1 3/4 1   1     1     2 3 5
22 BULLOCK, LOUIS 33:25 19 4/8 3/6 2/2   5 5 1   2     3 2 15
23 LLULL, SERGIO 33:23 11 3/4 1/4 2/3 1 1 2 4 1 2     4 6 13
33 TOMAS, MARKO 7:03 2 1/4 0/1   1   1           1 1 -1
43 HAMILTON, VENSON DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Team                                
Totals 200:00 87 23/41 6/20 23/27 16 20 36 9 2 11 1 1 24 26 89
56.1% 30% 85.2%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

PAVICEVIC, LUKA
Alba Berlin
"Congratulations to the coach and the players of Real Madrid. They showed today why they are one of the best teams in Spain. Especially in the second half, it came down to the many qualities they have. We lost a game that we should have been ready to bring home as a win. We worked the whole game in a good way and we earned the right to be in a position to win this game. Of course, it is much harder to grab a win against a team like Real Madrid, but once a team like Alba prepares the game and comes to the point to grabbing it, it has to do so. That's a very difficult point of the game to bring Real Madrid as the better team to that position. It depends then a lot on you and a little less on them, whether you win or not. At that point, there is a need for a team to grab the victory. In a few games we did that, today we did not, and that leaves a sense of disappointment that we must get out of our system and use as a guideline for our future games."
PLAZA, JOAN
Real Madrid
"I understand now why only two teams won here in the first round. Most of the merit for that goes to the coach of Alba, and I congratulate him for that. He has done really good work giving a lot of seriousness to this team and it is really difficult to play them. On the other side, I am disappointed about our beginning to the game. We were not working enough on defense. If we allowed Alba, which on average scores about 70 point per game, to score 52 points in the first half, it is easy to understand that we were not defending and were not working enough to win a game like this. After halftime, we became more involved in the game, worked a little more at rebounding and defense. We also scored more from the three-point line, where we had started the game 0 for 5."

Players

JENKINS, JULIUS
Alba Berlin
"Of course, it is very dissapointin when you are leading the whole game, but in the end you don't get your job done. Down the stretch we had a couple mistakes, which hurt us so badly. I don't think that being undersized cost us the victory, but rather mistakes in the end, when we threw away the ball and gave them a new offense. We just did not execute down the stretch. We did it all game, but in the end we did not do it."
BULLOCK, LOUIS
Real Madrid
We knew, that it was going to be a tough game here, because Alba wanted to play better than they did last week against Maccabi and they showed that in the first half, when they came out very strong. But we kept fighting and fighting, hoping to get back into the game. We had confidence that when it was a close game at the end, we could make the right plays to win. We just had to play as physical as we could and hope that they finally would miss some shots, because they did not miss that many shots in the first half. In the end we were lucky, but we really can't allow teams to get such a lead on us, because one day we won't be that lucky in the end."
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