Nike ICJT L'Hospitalet report: MMT Estudiantes 75-72 Pau-Orthez
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MMT Estudiantes registered its first win at the Euroleague Basketball Nike International Junior Classification Tournament L’Hospitalet by edging Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez 87-81 in Group B on Thursday. Estudiantes now has a great chance to advance to the semifinals, but it will need to down mighty AXA FC Barcelona tonight at 20:00 CET. Meanwhile, Pau-Orthez needs Barcelona to win that game to keep chances of a three-way tie tomorrow. Sergio Llorente paced the winners with 21 points and 7 assists. Luis Reina added 15 points while Victor Sanchez had 12 for MMT Estudiantes. Jonathan Leira led Pau-Orthez with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Pau used its physical skills to dominate the game in the opening 5 minutes behind Leira and Pierre Bonnelalbay. Llorente stepped up for Estudiantes to give his team a 23-18 lead after 10 minutes. Estudiantes boosted its margin to 48-40 at halftime and managed to keep full control of the game until the final buzzer. Even when Estudiantes led 58-50 after 30 minutes, Pau-orthez managed to get back in the game. Estudiantes stayed focused in the final minutes and took advantage of Pau's mistakes to seal an important win.
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Thursday, January 03, 2008
David Vidal, L'Hospitalet
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