Top 16 Game 6 - March 12, 2009 CET: 20:15 Local time: 20:15 - MEDIOLANUM FORUM

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
2-3 Top 16 0-5
5-5 Regular Season 2-8
7-8 Overall 2-13

Referees

Crew Chief
SPIRIDONOS, LEONIDAS, Greece
Referee
PEREZ PIZARRO, EMILIO, Spain
Umpire
CIULIN, MARIUS, Romania

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
74.5 Points 68.2
28.6 Rebounds 35.3
10.1 O. Rebounds 11.3
18.5 D. Rebounds 23.9
10.1 Assists 10.2
7.7 Steals 8.6
0.9 Blocks 2.4
13.7 Turnovers 15.1
50.2 % 2PT 44.6 %
36.6 % 3PT 35.0 %
77.7 % FT 67.7 %
64.9 Index 60.0

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
14.7 / Hawkins Points 17.1 / Logan
4.1 / HALL, MICHAEL Rebounds 6.3 / BURRELL, RONNIE
1.7 / HALL, MICHAEL OR 2.4 / BURRELL, RONNIE
2.4 / HALL, MICHAEL DR 4.6 / BURKE, PAT
2.8 / Hawkins Assists 2.6 / Logan
1.6 / Hawkins Steals 2.8 / Logan
0.5 / SOW, PAPE Blocks 0.7 / BURRELL, RONNIE
2.8 / VITALI, LUCA Turnovers 3.1 / Logan
57.9 % / BULLERI, MASSIMO 2PT 66.7 % / Szczotka
55.6 % / MORDENTE, MARCO 3PT 46.7 % / Dylewicz
100.0 % / HALL, MICHAEL FT 83.3 % / Hrycaniuk
15.3 / Hawkins Index 13.4 / Logan

THE TAKE

Two teams looking to end their Euroleague seasons in winning fashion will meet in Milano, Italy, on Thursday when Armani Jeans hosts Asseco Prokom. Armani Jeans has dropped three in a row as its Quarterfinal Playoffs hopes disappeared, while Prokom is winless in the Top 16 and mired in a 12-game losing streak going back to Week 3 of the regular season. Prokom’s best game in the Top 16 so far came in Poland against Milano – a 60-62 loss. Hollis Price dominated early in that game with 17 first-period points and David Hawkins led the way late. Those two could again be involved in deciding the game. They team with Luca Vitali and Jobey Thomas to form a deep backcourt for Milano head coach Piero Bucchi. Prokom counters with David Logan, Dan Ewing and Tyrone Brazelton. Injuries keeping Prokom forward Koko Archibong and center Adam Hrycaniuk out could spell trouble for the Polish champs, leaving Pat Burke, Qyntel Woods and Ronnie Burrell to contend with Pape Sow, Mason Rocca and Mike Hall, who is coming off a season-high 27 point performance in last week’s loss at Olympiacos. The small forward matchup could be of particular interest, with the smaller Hawkins and the bigger Woods potentially matching up at times. Milano is the favored team, but both teams will surely have their own motivations. If the game gets out of hand, however, it would not be a surprise to see either or both coaches clear their bench and give their youngsters and reserves some extra minutes in this season finale.

GAME NOTES

Armani Jeans Milano
  • Guard David Hawkins has scored in double figures and made at least 1 three-pointer in eight straight Euroleague appearances. His 14.7 points, 82.4% free-throw shooting and 2.8 assists per game all represent Euroleague career highs for a season.
  • Point guard Hollis Price has made a three-pointer in each of his 25 career Euroleague appearances.
  • Price scored 17 points in the first period of the game against Asseco Prokom earlier this season.
  • Guard Jobey Thomas failed to make a three-pointer in a game last week for the first time this season.
  • Big man Pape Sow played for Asseco Prokom last season, helping the team win the Polish League championship. He played under Prokom’s head coach Tomas Pacesas and alongside current players Filip Dylewicz, Adam Lapeta and Przemyslaw Zamojski.
Asseco Prokom
  • Guard David Logan is second in the Euroleague in scoring this season with 17.1 points per game. He has scored in double figures and drilled at least 1 three-pointer in 10 straight games.
  • Logan has recorded at least 1 steal in 14 straight games and leads the Euroleague with 2.8 steals per game this season.
  • Asseco Prokom has lost 12 straight Euroleague games going back to Week 3 of the season.
  • Asseco Prokom has lost 12 consecutive Euroleague road games dating back to November 2007 when it beat Virtus Bologna 75-87 in Italy. Not a single player that scored in that game is on Prokom’s current roster.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

BUCCHI, PIERO
AJ Milano
"Regardless of the standings, this is still a Euroleague game and we want to honor it, as we have all season. After having fought for a place in the playoffs last week at Olympiacos, we will put again all our energy on the floor to play another big game with heart and intensity in front of our fans, who deserve it. We are happy with our record of 7-8, especially after the first 4 defeats to begin our European season, and we really want to even our record to end this experience."
PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
"It is difficult to be optimistic after five consecutive losses but I still believe in my team. Our first game against Armani Jeans was not lucky for us but today we are stronger than five weeks ago. We have learned a lot and Qyntel Woods plays beter and better; he has become an important player of Asseco Prokom. On Thursday we will bid Euroleague farewell this season and I hope that a victory will be our last word."

Players

VITALI, LUCA
AJ Milano
"The game versus Prokom will be a valueless one regarding to standings and the qualification for the playoffs, but it will be tough because it’s still important to show a good performance in the Euroleague and also to not disappoint our fans. But the main reason is to close in the best way as possible our season in the Euroleague, which was a positive one even if we will not advance to the next step."
DYLEWICZ, FILIP
Asseco Prokom
"We were disappointed and angry after the first game against Armani Jeans. It was only our fault that we lost it. I am sure that we will play much better in Milan but it doesn't guarantee a victory of course. Armani Jeans is a very dangerous team, especially at home, but we are not afraid of them. I would be happy with a win and me and my teammmates will do our best to defeat our opponents."
Tyrone Brazelton - Asseco ProkomAsseco Prokom captured its first victory in the Euroleague Top 16 and ended a 12-game losing streak by cruising past Armani Jeans Milano 72-96. Both teams had already been eliminated from contention for the Quarterfinal Playoffs coming into the game. Prokom finished its Group E campaign with a 1-5 record while Milano was 2-4. The guests used a 4-16 run at the end of the first quarter to take control of the game. And the surge was 6-23 spanning the first two periods. Prokom then went on a 0-13 spurt in the second quarter before a 14-6 Milano answer before the break. The hosts would come within 8 points midway through the third period, but Prokom pulled away again and ended all doubts with a 0-11 run in the fourth quarter. Qyntel Woods paced Prokom with 23 points while Pat Burke had 15 points and 9 rebounds. Ronnie Burrell added 14 points, Daniel Ewing and David Logan both had 13 points and Tyrone Brazelton chipped in 10 points, 5 assists and 2 steals. Milano was led by 22 points from Jobey Thomas and Pape Sow added 18 points.

Pape Sow - AJ MilanoBurrell started the game with a free throw for the guests. Mike Hall hit the first basket of the game – a long three-pointer to make it 3-1. Burrell then knotted the game with a layup in the lane after a fine pass and Prokom jumped ahead on Ewing’s steal and fast break dunk. Sow’s bank shot off the glass evened things again before Ewing drained a three-ball. Ewing would then convert a layup off the window and Burke’s mid-range jumper gave the guests a 7-12 advantage. Luca Vitali cut that to 2 points with a long ball and 2 Sow foul shots had the hosts trailing 12-14. That’s when Prokom began pulling away. Burke threw down a dunk and Burrell followed with a follow dunk to push the lead to 6 points. Sow was the only thing working for Milano, but he was not enough as Logan drained a triple from the left wing. Burrell then hit a layup and was followed by Burke’s jumper and layup before Logan slashed into the lane to make it 16-30 after one period.

Burke continued his fine game at the start of the second quarter with a lay-in down low and Woods’s turn-around jumper pushed the gap to 16-34. Yohann Sangare’s 2 free throws got the hosts on the scoreboard before Woods knocked down a triple from the left wing for an 18-37 lead. Sangare responded with a three-ball and then Thomas hit a triple from the left corner following a steal as Milano pulled within 24-37. Prokom boss Tomas Pacesas immediately called a timeout to stop the hosts’ surge. Woods and Brazelton however responded with back-to-back three-balls before Burrell hit a tough layup and converted the three-point play. Prokom continued its push with Brazelton going coast to coast with a steal and dunk and then Brazelton fed Burrell with a no-look pass for a Burrell dunk to make it 24-50 to complete the 0-13 run. Thomas stopped the push with a three-ball from the right wing to start a Milano answer. Thomas also hit a tough layup and another three-pointer before Mindaugas Katelynas and Thomas finished fast breaks with layups to bring the margin to 34-56. After a Prokom timeout, Sow’s 2 foul shots made it 38-54 and complete the 14-6 run. And Filip Dylewicz’s offensive rebound put-back sent the teams to the intermission with the guests leading 38-56.

David Logan - Asseco ProkomBurrell opened the second half with a mid-range jumper to reestablish a 20-point lead, 38-58. Hollis Price and Thomas answered with back-to-back triples to trim the gap to 44-58, forcing Pacesas to call another timeout. Both teams struggled with turnovers and offensive execution through Sow threw down a dunk to make it a 12-point game, 46-58. Logan made 2 free throws after an unsportsmanlike foul by Thomas and then Dylewicz made it a 4-point possession with a hook shot for a 46-62 cushion. The hosts, however, continued to chip away with Sow sandwiching 2 foul shots and a mid-range jumper around a Katelynas triple from the top of the key. Sow then found Thomas for a reverse layup to get the game into single digits at 55-64. The Milano big man had to go to the bench with his fourth foul and Burke’s long two-pointer made it a double-digit lead again. But another Katelynas triple had Milano within 58-66. Logan answered with a drive and layup and Woods made 2 free throws and the lead was 58-70. Milano hit the final basket of the third quarter with Vitali giving a fine no-look pass in the paint to Maurice Taylor for a dunk to make it 60-70 going into the fourth.

Brazelton started the fourth with a driving layup and converted the three-point play for a 60-73 advantage. Vitali brought the margin back to 10 points with a triple, 63-73. But Woods took over. He was the beneficiary of a fine pass by Brazelton for a layup and then Woods knocked down a triple and the lead was back to 63-78. Woods hit 2 more free throws and an inside baskets as the lead grew back to 63-84 – completing a 0-11 run. Thomas’s jumper in the lane stopped the run and Sangare’s triple made it 68-86. But Woods hit a baseline jumper to make it a 20-point game again. And Logan, Przemyslaw Zamojski and Ewing finished the game with foul shots down the stretch.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Euroleague.net
Referees: SPIRIDONOS, LEONIDAS (GRE), PEREZ PIZARRO, EMILIO (ESP), CIULIN, MARIUS (ROM)
Attendance: 2042
By Quarter1234
AJ Milano16222212
Asseco Prokom30261426
End of Quarter1234
AJ Milano16386072
Asseco Prokom30567096
Head coach: BUCCHI, PIERO
AJ 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 FILLOY, ARIEL 7:49 2 1/3 0/1         1 1       1 1 1
7 HALL, MIKE 27:12 3 0/1 1/3     4 4     1     1 2 4
8 SOW, PAPE 18:34 18 5/8   8/8 2 1 3 1     1   4 6 22
10 VITALI, LUCA 21:56 6   2/4     2 2 4   2     3   5
11 THOMAS, JOBEY 34:03 22 5/7 4/8         2 1 4   1 4 2 12
13 PRICE, HOLLIS 23:40 3 0/2 1/3     1 1 3   2     2   -1
15 KATELYNAS, MINDAUGAS 20:12 8 1/3 2/4   2   2 1 1 1     2 1 6
19 BEARD, JOEY 3:41           2 2           1   1
20 SANGARE, YOHANN 22:02 8 0/3 2/6 2/2 1 1 2 1 1 2   1 2 1 1
23 TAYLOR, MAURICE 17:46 2 1/4 0/1   1   1     1         -2
34 HAWKINS, DAVID 3:05                              
Team           3 3 6               6
Totals 200:00 72 13/31 12/30 10/10 9 14 23 13 4 13 1 2 20 13 55
41.9% 40% 100%
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
6 BRAZELTON, TYRONE 16:34 10 2/2 1/2 3/3 1 2 3 5 2 1 1     3 22
8 DYLEWICZ, FILIP 18:01 4 2/2 0/1 0/2 2   2 2   2       1 4
12 LOGAN, DAVID 32:26 13 2/8 1/4 6/6 1 2 3 3 1   1   1 4 15
16 LAPETA, ADAM 12:54   0/1 0/1   2 1 3           4   -3
17 ZAMOJSKI, PRZEMYSLAW 7:34 2   0/1 2/2           3     1 1 -2
20 SZCZOTKA, PIOTR 14:26 2 1/1     1 2 3           2 1 4
24 WOODS, QYNTEL 25:34 23 5/7 3/4 4/4 2 3 5     2     2 2 23
30 BURRELL, RONNIE 24:15 14 6/6 0/1 2/3 1 3 4 1   1     2 2 16
31 BURKE, PAT 24:50 15 7/11   1/2 2 7 9 1   2   1 1 3 19
32 EWING, DANIEL 23:26 13 3/5 1/3 4/4 1 1 2 4 2         3 20
Team           1 5 6               6
Totals 200:00 96 28/43 6/17 22/26 14 26 40 16 5 11 2 1 13 20 124
65.1% 35.3% 84.6%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

BUCCHI, PIERO
AJ Milano
"Sopot put more energy into this game tonight, they really wanted to catch their first victory in the Top 16. We didn't take any risks with our players. I chose to give some rest to the injured guys, thinking about the next games in the Italian League. I'm very happy about Jobey Thomas's performance: he had a chance to prove his skills tonight, and he did a very nice job."
PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
"It's a little revenge after our first confrontation against Milan. We are a better team than that game, and we showed it tonight. We controlled the turnovers, and we played very good basketball here. We are getting better as a team, we have played a lot of tough teams and we needed time to build a chemistry with our new players, but we did a pretty good job in the regular season, we are happy with the team we are building. Woods is a very good player and a nice guy, he help us a lot because we need this kind of player in our team. He came to us out of shape, but he's getting better game after game."

Players

THOMAS, JOBEY
AJ Milano
"Anytime you play it's important, even if it's not important for the standings. Honestly, we didn't do anything to play a good game tonight. We started strong in this Top 16, we had a chance to qualify for the playoffs. Overall we can say that we had a good Euroleague run, especially after starting 0-4 in the competition."
WOODS, QYNTEL
Asseco Prokom
"We just came out to play hard tonight. Playing again in Italy was not such a special motivation for me after being cut from Bologna. I just look forward and try not to think about the past. I think we are working good and getting better as a team. That will help us for the end of the Polish League."
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