Top 16 Game 5 - March 05, 2009 CET: 20:45 Local time: 20:45 - PALAESTRA

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
2-2 Top 16 2-2
8-2 Regular Season 5-5
10-4 Overall 7-7

Referees

Crew Chief
MITJANA, JUAN CARLOS, Spain
Referee
CHRISTODOULOU, CHRISTOS, Greece
Umpire
VIATOR, EDDIE, France

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
82.0 Points 75.0
30.3 Rebounds 29.6
8.9 O. Rebounds 8.5
21.4 D. Rebounds 21.1
12.9 Assists 9.5
11.6 Steals 8.3
2.4 Blocks 1.9
13.1 Turnovers 15.1
53.6 % 2PT 51.6 %
38.6 % 3PT 36.3 %
80.3 % FT 79.5 %
88.6 Index 72.1

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
14.3 / MCINTYRE, TERRELL Points 13.7 / Calloway
7.0 / Lavrinovic, K. Rebounds 4.4 / PRKACIN, NIKOLA
1.9 / Lavrinovic, K. OR 1.1 / HOMAN, JARED
5.1 / Lavrinovic, K. DR 3.3 / PRKACIN, NIKOLA
4.6 / MCINTYRE, TERRELL Assists 2.7 / Calloway
2.1 / STONEROOK, SHAUN Steals 1.8 / Calloway
1.1 / Eze Blocks 0.6 / HOMAN, JARED
2.4 / MCINTYRE, TERRELL Turnovers 2.9 / Calloway
64.0 % / MCINTYRE, TERRELL 2PT 72.7 % / TROHA, ROBERT
69.2 % / Carraretto 3PT 43.6 % / MARSHALL, RAWLE
100.0 % / FINLEY, MORRIS FT 87.5 % / Rozic
16.9 / Lavrinovic, K. Index 15.1 / Calloway

THE TAKE

A direct fight to reach the Quarterfinal Playoffs from Top 16 Group H takes place in Siena, Italy, where Montepaschi hosts Cibona on Thursday night. Both teams are tied for second place in Group H at 2-2, with CSKA ranking first at 3-1 and Fenerbahce Ulker fourth at 1-3. Cibona already downed Montepaschi 88-81 in Zagreb, Croatia, in the Top 16 opener in January, which is a critical factor in this game. Cibona will make it to the playoffs if it beats Montepaschi in Siena, as it would have a 2-0 record against the reigning Italian League and Italian Cup champions. Meanwhile, Montepaschi can clinch a playoff berth if it beats Cibona by at least 7 points and CSKA beats FB Ulker. Montepaschi, however, is unbeaten at home in all competitions since December 19, 2007. The key matchup of this game may well take place at point guard. All-Euroleague guard Terrell McIntyre is Montepaschi's floor general, as coach Simone Pianigiani runs his team's offense through him. McIntyre will get some valuable help from backup playmaker Morris Finley and veteran combo guard Arriel McDonald. McIntyre has a tough matchup against Earl Calloway, one of the most pleasant surprises in the Euroleague this season. Calloway is ready to lead his team, but Vedran Princ and combo guard and clutch expert Davor Kus are ready to help him at any time. The battle in the paint will be equally interesting, as Cibona counts on several blue-collar, hard-nosed centers like Jared Homan and Niksa Prkacin. Bruno Sundov, Vedran Vukusic and Luksa Andric are ready to open the court with their shots from downtown and can also help around the baskets. Shaun Stonerook and Ksistof Lavrinovic play a key role for Siena, as they will try to take Prkacin and Homan outside the paint to open the court for the rest of the team. Ben Eze, who has been in great shape this season, is ready for a big matchup against Prkacin down low. Montepaschi is deep at both wings with star guard Rimas Kaukenas, physical small forward Romain Sato and experienced shooter Henry Domercant, plus Marco Carrareto providing defense, intensity and the occasional three-pointer off the bench. Kaukenas will try to use his size and experience against Kus and Alan Anderson. Meanwhile, Marin Rozic faces a big matchup against Sato, while Kus will test his shooting skills against Domercant. Cibona must slow down the game tempo and get Prkacin and Calloway involved to increase its chances. Monteapschi must be its usual self in offense, always looking for the extra pass with outstanding ball circulation. It is do-or-die time for both teams, so expect an action packed thriller with so much on the line.

GAME NOTES

Montepaschi Siena
  • Montepaschi Siena has won 13 straight and 17 of its last 18 Euroleague home games dating back to the start of last season.
  • All-Euroleague playmaker Terrell McIntyre has made at least 1 three-pointer in 11 straight appearances.
  • Forward Shaun Stonerook recorded a Euroleague career-high 18 points in his team’s Top 16 opener at Cibona in January.
Cibona
  • Swingman Alan Anderson has scored in double figures and grabbed a steal in eight straight Euroleague games going back to last season.
  • Guard Earl Calloway scored a season-high 23 points in his team’s win over Montepaschi Siena in the Top 16 opener in January.
  • Big man Jared Homan scored a season-high 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench last week at Fenerbahce Ulker.
  • Center Niksa Prkacin needs 2 more baskets to reach 500 for his Euroleague Basketball career. All but 2 of those baskets have been two-pointers.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

PIANIGIANI, SIMONE
Montepaschi Siena
"Cibona is in a great moment of shape coming off their win the Croatian Cup and in Istanbul with Fenerbahce, and they have the kind of play to give us some difficulties. We forgot our key to call their big men out of the paint, and we did not practice too much in the last fifteen days because of the many games away. When this crucial games come you need a big push from your passion and emotion, and the motivations must give us the way to take the success. We know it will be important also the pint differential in the head-to-head but we have to think to it during the match, just in the final minutes if we'll need. I'm sure that my players will be able to play a great game."
PERASOVIC, VELIMIR
Cibona
"Our victory in this game would be a big surprise, but we have our chance and we will not let it go just like that. No one knows when we will have such a chance again. In the past, there were 4 or 5 teams that were fighting for the top, nowdays there are at least 12 of them, so I am very proud. Siena is a huge favorite, they haven’t lost a single game on their home court this year so there is not much more to add it is not really realistic to expect that they will not use their chance in front of their fans. Our chance is to stay in the game as long as possible, and if we manage to be equal in the last few minutes of the game, anything can happen."

Players

KAUKENAS, RIMANTAS
Montepaschi Siena
"This match against Cibona is the most important of our season. We'll have to do our best on court to win it; there aren't any alternatives. We have to get back on track after two straight defeats. Cibona is in the same situation, and it will be a very tough game because they will be very aggressive as in the game played in Zagreb. They will have big motivation and concentration and for these reasons we need to play the best game of the season to beat them. Our fans will be crucial to push and help us to a pivotal success."
KUS, DAVOR
Cibona
"I think we have a model to play in away games this season and we showed it last week in Istanbul. We have to start strong, use every single chance we get and then hope for the best. Montepaschi is a great team, you can hardly remember when they have lost the game on their home court, but I firmly believe if we repeat our game from Istanbul, we have a chance to go through. I think that just the fact that we are still hanging on there although we are in the group with CSKA and Siena says a lot. Our fans have recognized this year that we are doing a good work, and this game we play for them."
Terell McIntyre - Montepaschi SienaMontepaschi Siena clinched a Quarterfinal Playoff spot by thrashing Cibona 86-70 at home in Group H on Thursday. Montepaschi improved to 3-2 and overcame a seven-point loss in Zagreb to advance to the playoffs as the second-ranked team in Group H, right behind Euroleague reigning champion CSKA Moscow. Meanwhile, Cibona dropped to 2-3 and is mathematically out of the playoff race, as it will finish third in Group H. Terrell McIntyre paced the winners with 29 points on 8-for-9 free throws. Henry Domercant added 14, Rimantas Kaukenas had 10 while Shaun Stonerook pulled down 11 rebounds for Montepaschi. Marin Rozic led Cibona with 13 points. Davor Kus added 12, Alan Anderson and Vedran Vukusic each had 11 while Niksa Prkacin got 10 for Cibona. An outstanding McIntyre had 15 points in the first quarter to make Montepaschi get a 27-18 lead after 10 minutes. He got some help from Kaukenas and Romain Sato to boost the hosts' lead to 46-32 at halftime. Prkacin and Rozic fueled a 0-10 run that broke Cibona back in the game, 57-49, early in the fourth quarter. McIntyre was ice cold from the foul line in the final 2 minutes while a big dunk by Stonerook sent the crowd to their feet to celebrate that Montepaschi will keep fighting for Euroleague glory.

Marin Rozic - CibonaCibona tried a small opening lineup with Rozic at power forward. Benjamin Eze got Montepaschi going with a jump hook while McIntyre added his trademark triple for a 5-0 lead. Rozic answered from downtown but Domercant soon answered with a fast break layup. Anderson scored in penetration but another three-pointer by McIntyre gave the hosts a 10-5 margin. Kus nailed a running jumper while Earl Calloway added an acrobatic basket to keep Cibona within 10-9. McIntyre rescued Montepaschi with a coast-to-coast layup that Eze followed with a power basket for a 14-9 score. Vukusic struck from downtown but another fast break layup by McIntyre boosted the hosts' lead to 17-12. Vukusic stayed on fire with a second-chance basket that Kaukenas erased with a layup in transition. McIntyre provided a highlight with an incredible driving basket and nailed a triple off a Cibona timeout to make it a double-digit game, 24-14. Prkacin stepped up with a put-back layup that Marco Carrareto bettered with a three-pointer. A layup by Vukusic fixed the score at 27-18 after 10 minutes.

Kaukenas scored in penetration early in the second quarter while Carrareto struck again from downtown to make it a 14-point game, 32-18. Cibona could not find the way to the basket while a layup by Tomas Ress broke the game open, 34-18. Cibona has been scoreless for more than 3 minutes until Anderson took over with a huge dunk. Kaukenas kept pacing Montepaschi with a coast-to-coast layup but Jared Homan scored down low while Vukusic added a driving basket to bring Cibona within 36-24. Montepaschi called timeout and Eze stepped up with a tip-in that Morris Finley followed with a driving layup to keep the hosts out of trouble, 40-24. Rozic nailed a seven-meter bomb but Domercant quickly answered from downtown. Kus scored again, as Montepaschi now struggled to beat Cibona's zone defense without McIntyre on court. Calloway took over with a fast break layup but Sato beat the buzzer with a corner three-pointer that gave Montepaschi some fresh air, 46-32, at halftime.

Shaun Stonerook - Montepaschi SienaCibona tried to play more aggressive after the break, committing too many fouls early in the third quarter. Both teams went scoreless for almost 2 minutes until McIntyre took over with a driving layup. Vukusic sank free throws but Domercant buried back-to-back jumpers for a 52-34 Montepaschi margin. Vukusic nailed a baseline jumper while Kus fired in one from downtown to give Cibona some hope, 52-39. Sato joined the three-point shootout while McIntyre fed Eze for an easy layup that made Cibona call timeout at 57-39. Prkacin tried to ignite the guests' comeback with a close basket, as Cibona improved its defense late in this period. Montepaschi had started to miss shots, especially from downtown. Meanwhile, Rozic shined with a fast break layup to get Cibona as close as 57-43. Vedran Princ also scored in transition, as Montepaschi committed consecutive 24-second violations. A layup by Prkacin brought the guests within 57-47 after 30 minutes.

Anderson capped a 0-10 Cibona run with a put-back layup but Kaukenas stepped up with a baseline jumper for a 59-49 Montepaschi lead. Kus provided a highlight with a wild three-pointer but Finley immediately answered from downtown. Rozic joined the three-point shootout to get Cibona within 62-55. Montepaschi called timeout and Kaukenas took over with a fast break layup. Princ fed Prkacin for an easy basket but McIntyre answered with a driving layup to give the hosts a 66-57 lead with under 6 minutes to go. Montepaschi had improved its defense while Sato - now playing power forward - sealed the outcome with a layup-plus-foul. Montepaschi, however, needed an eight-point win to clinch a playoff spot. Domercant buried a big triple in transition to make Cibona call timeout at 72-57. Anderson silenced silenced the crowd with a three-pointer while Prkacin added a jump hook for a 74-62 score with 3 minutes remaining. Princ shined with a driving layup but free throws by McIntyre kept the hosts way ahead, 78-66. More foul shots by McIntyre and a big dunk by Stonerook allowed all Montepaschi fans to celebrate that their team had clinched a playoff spot!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Euroleague.net
Referees: MITJANA, JUAN CARLOS (ESP), CHRISTODOULOU, CHRISTOS (GRE), VIATOR, EDDIE (FRA)
Attendance: 4620
By Quarter1234
Montepaschi Siena27191129
Cibona18141523
End of Quarter1234
Montepaschi Siena27465786
Cibona18324770
Head coach: PIANIGIANI, SIMONE
Montepaschi Siena
# 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 DOMERCANT, HENRY 27:06 14 3/3 2/7 2/2   4 4 1 2       1 4 19
5 MCINTYRE, TERRELL 26:06 29 6/10 3/5 8/9 1 2 3 4   1     3 4 29
7 FINLEY, MORRIS 13:54 5 1/2 1/3         2 3       1   6
8 EZE, BENJAMIN 30:15 9 4/5   1/2 2 3 5     4 1   3 2 8
9 CARRARETTO, MARCO 10:54 6   2/3         1 1       2   5
10 SATO, ROMAIN 22:34 9 1/2 2/3 1/1 1 3 4   1     1 3 2 10
13 KAUKENAS, RIMANTAS 25:45 10 5/9 0/2   2 1 3 1   2     1 5 10
14 RESS, TOMAS 3:37 2 1/2               1          
15 METREVELI, NIKA DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
18 LECHTHALER, LUCA 7:30   0/1       1 1   2 1     1    
19 MCDONALD, ARRIEL DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
20 STONEROOK, SHAUN 32:19 2 1/2     2 9 11 1 4 2     4 3 14
Team                     2         -2
Totals 200:00 86 22/36 10/23 12/14 8 23 31 10 13 13 1 1 19 20 99
61.1% 43.5% 85.7%
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: PERASOVIC, VELIMIR
Cibona
# 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 HOMAN, JARED 16:37 4 2/5     2 1 3   1 1 1   2   3
5 KUS, DAVOR 35:35 12 2/2 2/4 2/2       1 1 4     2 1 7
8 PRKACIN, NIKOLA 18:34 10 5/7     1 1 2 2 1 2     2 4 13
9 TROHA, ROBERT DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
11 VUKUSIC, VEDRAN 23:05 11 3/5 1/3 2/2 2 3 5 1   1     3 1 10
12 ANDRIC, LUKSA 2:28   0/1                         -1
13 CALLOWAY, EARL 20:08 5 2/4 0/1 1/2 1 1 2 5 1 2     2 3 8
15 ZUBCIC, TOMISLAV DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
19 PRINC, VEDRAN 19:52 4 2/2 0/2   2 1 3 2 2 1     1   7
20 ROZIC, MARIN 26:05 13 2/6 3/6   1 4 5 1 2 1   1 4 4 12
32 ANDERSON, ALAN 37:36 11 3/7 1/5 2/4 2 7 9 1 3 4     4 6 12
Team                     1         -1
Totals 200:00 70 21/39 7/21 7/10 11 18 29 13 11 17 1 1 20 19 70
53.8% 33.3% 70%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

PIANIGIANI, SIMONE
Montepaschi Siena
"I'm very happy for our success,because we're back among the top eight European teams. We are in a very tough group and to be qualified with still a game to play is a great result for us. We played a great game against a very strong team that never gave up. I'm glad because my players did something special, also considering that we lost Lavrinovic on the eve of the match. It was a tactical match that we led for all 40 minutes and it was the most important thing because we want to win first of all, and we were able also to take on our side the point differential and it was an incredible satisfaction."
PERASOVIC, VELIMIR
Cibona
"First of all, congratulations to Siena for their win and qualification. The start of the game has been decisive, McIntyre was great early in the match and we chased them since that beginning. In the last quarter, we recovered to just seven points down and we had two shots to get closer, but then Siena found lethal baskets on the break to close the game."

Players

MCINTYRE, TERRELL
Montepaschi Siena
"We knew it was a difficult game, but our secret was to play an aggressive defense since the beginning, and also to have a well-balanced offense. We played a great game to win and put the point differential on our side. Their zone defense gave us some trouble, but we worked well despite missing open shots. We had a bad moment during these weeks, but we came out from it like a team. The last rebound of Stonerook and his basket were decisive in the crucial moment of the match."
KUS, DAVOR
Cibona
"Congratulations to Siena. They deserved to win the game and to advance to the playoffs. Their start was great and we were in trouble having to chase them. We never gave up and got back in it, but at the end they were amazing in the last possessions. We hope to cheer our fans next week with a great game against the reigning champs."
No pictures yet
There is no video yet
Italy: SKY SPORT 3
Macedonia, F.Y.R. Of: A1
Croatia: HRT
Turkey: DIGITURK
Spain: TVE TDP
Greece: NOVASPORTS 4
Poland: CANAL+ SPORT HD
Hungary: SPORTKLUB (Delayed)
Bosnia - Herzegovina: BHT 1
Romania: SPORTKLUB (Delayed)
Internet: EUROLEAGUE.TV
Croatia: SPORTKLUB (Delayed)