Regular Season Game 8 - December 17, 2009 CET: 20:30 Local time: 20:30 - MEDIOLANUM FORUM

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
0-0 Top 16 0-0
2-5 Regular Season 3-4
2-5 Overall 3-4

Referees

Crew Chief
PUKL,SASA, Slovenia
Referee
GARCIA GONZALEZ, JUAN CARLOS, Spain
Umpire
VYKLICKY, ROBERT, Czech Rep.

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
73.3 Points 76.7
31.1 Rebounds 32.3
9.4 O. Rebounds 9.3
21.7 D. Rebounds 23.0
12.6 Assists 13.4
7.1 Steals 8.9
0.9 Blocks 3.7
15.1 Turnovers 15.6
50.0 % 2PT 54.0 %
36.2 % 3PT 29.6 %
75.5 % FT 72.8 %
70.1 Index 72.1

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
13.1 / Maciulis Points 18.3 / WOODS, QYNTEL
5.4 / HALL, MICHAEL Rebounds 6.6 / WOODS, QYNTEL
1.9 / HALL, MICHAEL OR 2.0 / SOW, PAPE
3.6 / HALL, MICHAEL DR 5.6 / WOODS, QYNTEL
2.1 / FINLEY, MORRIS Assists 3.6 / Logan
1.7 / FINLEY, MORRIS Steals 1.7 / WOODS, QYNTEL
0.3 / HALL, MICHAEL Blocks 1.4 / SOW, PAPE
2.3 / Maciulis Turnovers 3.7 / Logan
72.2 % / PETRAVICIUS, MARIUS 2PT 75.0 % / JAGLA, JAN-HENDRICK
100.0 % / VIGGIANO, JEFFREY 3PT 34.8 % / Logan
87.5 % / FINLEY, MORRIS FT 100.0 % / Hrycaniuk
11.6 / FINLEY, MORRIS Index 16.1 / WOODS, QYNTEL

THE TAKE

A direct fight to stay in the Top 16 race in Group D takes place in Milano, Italy, where Armani Jeans hosts Polish champion Asseco Prokom on Thursday night. Prokom is fourth in the group at 3-4 with Armani Jeans right behind at 2-5. In fact, Prokom will qualify with a victory if EWE Baskets Oldenburg loses against BC Khimki Moscow Region, too. Milano is without Alex Acker and reserve center Joey Beard. With Acker sidelined, Marco Mordente and Jonas Maciulis will likely start at the wings. Head coach Piero Bucchi has been using Stefano Mancinelli as Milano's starting power forward to open the court with his quickness, driving skills and shooting range. Jeff Viggiano is ready to offer intensity and instant offense off the bench. Maciulis has the tough mission to face Qyntel Woods, who was been unstoppable lately, averaging 26 points in his team's back-to-back wins against EWE Baskets and Real Madrid. Woods was limited to 5 point in Prokom's win against Milano in November. Mordente and Viggiano will also have a tough matchup against scoring ace David Logan. Lukasz Seweryn and Mateusz Kostrzewski will help off the bench, but are not expected to play a major role. Daniel Ewing and Junior Harrington will share the point guard duties for Prokom. Harrington has given Prokom intensity, on-the-ball defense and penetration skills. Ewing offers court sense and experience. Harrington is ready for a key matchup against Morris Finley, who had 25 points against Prokom last month. Ewing must be ready to guard veteran playmaker Massimo Bulleri, always ready to pull the trigger from downtown or find the open man in transition. Milano counts on star center Marius Petravicius to see extended playing time in this do-or-die game. Petravicius leads a deep frontcourt that also includes Mancinelli, three-point threat Mike Hall and rebounding machine Mason Rocca. Hall is set to test his shooting skills against Jan Jagla. Rocca has a very interesting matchup against Ronnie Burrell, while Petravicius must face former Milano center Pape Sow and Adam Hrycaniuk. Prokom must get Woods and Logan involved and run its offense through them in order to get its third consecutive win and make it to the Top 16. AJ Milano must slow down the game tempo, stop Woods and get good games from Maciulis and Finley. Above all, it is a make-or-break game for both teams, so expect one of the most intense games so far in this Euroleague season.

REFEREES: Sasa Pukl, Juan Carlos Garcia Gonzalez, Robert Vyklicky


GAME NOTES

Armani Jeans Milano

Morris Finley scored a career-high 25 points against Asseco Prokom in Week 3.

Marius Petravicius scored a season-high 20 points against Asseco Prokom in Week 3.

Mike Hall scored a season-high 13 points last week against EWE Baskets Oldenburg.

Armani Jeans is tied for the fewest blocked shots of any team in the Euroleague this season (6).

Asseco Prokom Gdynia

Pape Sow played for Armani Jeans Milano last season under head coach Piero Bucchi and alongside five of its current players.

David Logan has scored in double figures in 18 straight Euroleague games. He has also made at least one three-pointer in 18 straight games.

Logan has picked up at least 1 steal in all 22 Euroleague games in which he has played.

Logan scored a season-high 23 points in Week 3 against Armani Jeans.

Qyntel Woods scored a career-high 27 points last week against Real Madrid.

Adam Hrycaniuk scored a career-high 12 points last week against Real Madrid.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

BUCCHI, PIERO
Armani Jeans Milano
"Prokom is a good team. Last week they won at home against Real Madrid, playing a really good game with one of the best team in Europe. It'll be a tough game for us, but we absolutely need a win. We have to play really well, like we're doing in Italy, where we won six games in a row, and as we've done in the Euroleague against Real Madrid, Panathinaikos and Oldenburg. Good defense and rebounding I think could be the keys against Prokom. We're ready to do our best in front of our fans."
PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
"We have many difficult and very important games in December and this is one of those. We beat Armani in our gym, but I'm sure that our opponent is waiting for revenge and we have to be ready for that. We have to be focused and try to win this tough battle, which is so important for us on the road to the Top 16."

Players

MANCINELLI, STEFANO
Armani Jeans Milano
"It's an important game for us and also for Prokom. We lost in Poland last month, and we are behind them in the standings, so we absolutely need a win on Thursday in order to try to get fourth place in Group D and the pass for the Top 16. We're playing well in the last weeks; we won six in a row in the Italian League and last Wednesday we won at home in the Euroleague against Oldenburg. For the game on Thursday, we need our fans, we need them to support us to try for this important win."
KOSTRZEWSKI, MATEUSZ
Asseco Prokom
"I think that rebounding and good aggressive defense for the entire 40 minutes will be the keys to success. If we will play smart and minimalize our turnovers, the finale score is open. Armani Jeans is a great and talented team, but I believe in our team and the fact that we can win and be very close to the next round."
Morris Finley - AJ MilanoArmani Jeans Milano stormed back to the Top 16 race with an 82-69 win over Asseco Prokom at MediolanumForum on Thursday night. Morris Finley scored 20 and Marius Petravicus added 18 points and 7 rebounds as Milano won back-to-back games for the first time this season, improving its record to 3-5, while dropping the Polish champs to the same record. More importantly, it cancelled the out Prokom's 5-point win from earlier this season in Poland, giving Milano the potential head-to-head tiebreak advantage if they finish the season on even terms. Milano visits Khimki Moscow Region in a tough Week 9 test after the winter break. Prokom visits Panathinaikos for its next contest. The hosts pulled away in the second quarter as Petravicus scored 7 during a 13-0 run that helped Milano to a 42-28 halftime lead. The lead reached 20 in the third quarter, but Prokom never quit. Dan Ewing helped Prokom fight back and Junior Harrington made it a 5-point game early in the fourth quarter. However Massimo Bulleri stepped up with a clutch three, one of a few key scores he had in the fourth quarter to ensure the victory. Stefano Mancinelli added 14 points and Bulleri had 10 for the winners. Ewing finished with a season-high 21 points for Prokom and Qyntel Woods added 15 in defeat.

David Logan got things started in an ideal way for the visitors with a three-pointer on the first possession. Mancinelli scored Milano’s first points from the line before Logan made it 2-5. Mason Rocca converted a three-point play to knot the score before Finley gave the hosts their first lead with a three-pointer. Marco Mordente pulled up for a mid-range jumper and Jonas Maciulis increased the hosts’ lead to 12-5. Logan and Ronnie Burrell started to spark the Prokom attack, though Mancinelli answered from the other side. Ewing went through the Armani Jeans defense without problem for a layup, but Mancinelli also scored with ease and Finley’s steal and layup increased the lead to 7. Ewing went through Finley for a three-point play to bring his team with 20-16 after 10 minutes.

Qyntel Woods - Asseco ProkomWoods started the second quarter with a pair of baskets to bring his team within 2 points. Finley and Logan traded baskets to make it 24-22. Petravicius’s first basket was cancelled out by a pair of Ewing free throws. Logan brought Prokom within 1 point midway through the quarter. Petravicius helped Milano pull away with back-to-back baskets in the paint. Maciulis took the hosts’ lead to double figures with a one-handed shot for a three-point play in the paint. Another Maciulis basket coming on the break off an assist from Finley led to a Prokom timeout. The momentum remained with the hosts though as Maciulis found Mordente for a fast break layup. Adam Hrycaniuk ended a four-minute Prokom drought with a pair of free throws, but Rocca made 2 from the line to give Armani Jeans a 42-28 lead at the break.

Armani Jeans looked to put the game on ice as three-pointers by Mancinelli and Finley helped the hosts take the lead to 48-30 just one minute into the second half. Rocca scored on the offensive glass as the lead reached 20. Adam Lapeta scored a basket-plus-foul and Woods added a basket as the visitors clawed their way back within 13. Maciulis answered for Milano, but Woods was heating up. He scored on Prokom's next three possessions – including once from downtown – but Mancinelli and Finley always had an answer. Ewing drilled a triple to get the visitors within 10 and soon after sank 2 free throws as Prokom started to believe. A pair of Mancinelli free throws made it 59-49 at the end of the quarter.

Harrington fed Jan Jagla inside and then attacked the basket himself for a three-point play that dropped the deficit to 5. Bulleri came to Armani Jeans’ rescue with a three-point bomb and Petravicius added a tip-in to restore a double-digit lead. Ewing hit a foul line jumper, but Petravicus had a basket-plus-foul as the hosts regained control. Ewing continued to lead the Prokom charge and drilled another triple. Bulleri pushed the hosts up to 12 ahead, only for Burrell and Woods to get back within 8. But that was as close as it would get. Petravicius scored inside, Mancinelli from the line and then baskets from Rocca and Bullerii made it a 15-point game and sealed the outcome with time to spare.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Euroleague.net
Referees: PUKL,SASA (SLO), GARCIA GONZALEZ, JUAN CARLOS (ESP), VYKLICKY, ROBERT (CZE)
Attendance: 2711
By Quarter1234
Armani Jeans Milano20221723
Asseco Prokom16122120
End of Quarter1234
Armani Jeans Milano20425982
Asseco Prokom16284969
Head coach: BUCCHI, PIERO
Armani Jeans Milano
# 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
6 MANCINELLI, STEFANO 23:15 14 3/4 1/2 5/6 1 1 2 1 1   1   3 4 17
7 HALL, MIKE 23:58 2 1/2 0/4     5 5 2         1   3
8 MACIULIS, JONAS 29:27 7 3/8 0/1 1/1 2 2 4 2 4 4   1 2 2 6
9 MORDENTE, MARCO 21:19 4 2/4           3         3   2
10 FINLEY, MORRIS 35:47 20 4/10 3/4 3/4   3 3 2 2 1     3 2 17
11 BULLERI, MASSIMO 21:07 10 3/3 1/2 1/2   1 1 1   2     3 4 9
12 ROCCA, MASON 17:20 7 2/5   3/5 2 5 7   2     2 1 4 12
14 CACACE, GIACOMO 0:07                              
15 PETRAVICIUS, MARIUS 22:40 18 7/9   4/7 3 4 7   2 1   1 3 5 22
20 VIGGIANO, JEFFREY 5:00                   1         -1
Team           1 2 3               3
Totals 200:00 82 25/45 5/13 17/25 9 23 32 11 11 9 1 4 19 21 90
55.6% 38.5% 68%
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: PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
# 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
7 SEWERYN, LUKASZ DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
11 HARRINGTON, JUNIOR 18:21 3 1/2 0/1 1/1   1 1 1 1 2     1 2 3
12 LOGAN, DAVID 33:41 9 3/6 1/4   1   1   1 2     3 3 3
13 KOSTRZEWSKI, MATEUSZ 1:35                         1   -1
14 JAGLA, JAN-HENDRICK 10:29 2 1/1 0/3     1 1           2   -2
16 LAPETA, ADAM 19:46 8 3/3   2/2 5 3 8   2 2 2   2 3 19
17 ZAMOJSKI, PRZEMYSLAW DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
20 SZCZOTKA, PIOTR 7:07   0/1     1   1           1 1  
24 WOODS, QYNTEL 32:53 15 6/11 1/7   1 7 8     3     2 1 8
30 BURRELL, RONNIE 29:31 9 3/8 1/1   2 5 7 1   2 1   3 1 9
32 EWING, DANIEL 26:23 21 4/4 2/7 7/7   1 1 3 1 3     4 6 20
34 HRYCANIUK, ADAM 20:14 2 0/2 0/1 2/2 1 2 3     1 1   3 2 1
Team           1 1 2               2
Totals 200:00 69 21/38 5/24 12/12 12 21 33 5 5 15 4 0 22 19 62
55.3% 20.8% 100%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

BUCCHI, PIERO
Armani Jeans Milano
"It was a good game for us. We are improving our game week by week, the guys played with toughness and we deserved this success. We are confident after three victories in one week, including the game at Avellino in the Italian League. Playing with Bulleri and Finley together? We are trying this kind of solution for a few games, and they are doing a pretty good job."
PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
"We didn't played our game in the first half. We made too many bad choices and forced too many three-point shots. We had to play more aggressive tonight. But I’m still confident we can reach the Top 16, I think we'll qualify in the end."

Players

MORDENTE, MARCO
Armani Jeans Milano
"I think it was our best game of the season in the Euroleague. We made some mistakes in the second half when they came back in the game, but Bulleri helped us with two great plays and finally we managed to win the game. I hope that now everybody will give us some credit from the fans and the press, because we deserve our victories in the Italian League too. Now we have to continue this way, game after game."
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