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Roger Grimau - Regal Barcelona
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Week 9 provided some of the biggest thrills of the season so far as 12 games produced three group winners and two more Top 16 qualifying teams. Five games were won by visitors, the highest-scoring quarter ever was tied, two teams topped the 100-point mark and the league's top scorer reached a new career-high. In Group A,
Unicaja outlasted Cibona 76-77 on the road to move into first place with a 7-2 mark as Boniface Ndong posted a double-double.
Maccabi Electra defeated Olympiacos 96-83 to join the Reds in second at 6-3. Carlos Arroyo led five Maccabi scorers in double figures with 20 points. Also, no winless teams are left in the competition after
Le Mans topped Air Avellino 92-88. In Group B,
Regal FC Barcelona bested Asseco Prokom 64-76 to clinch first place behind Ersan Ilyasova's double-double. Then Terrell McIntrye peppered the nets for 21 points as
Montepaschi overcame Panathinaikos 82-77 to move into second place. The Italian champs will be second in the group if they win or if the Greens lose next week. With a record-tying 41-point fourth quarter,
Zalgiris downed SLUC Nancy 105-94 to keep its Top 16 options alive. Jonas Maciulis hit 5 three-pointers en route to a career-best 29 points for Zalgiris. In Group C,
Tau Ceramica beat Lottomatica Roma 96-103 in overtime to clinch first place as Igor Rakocevic made 12 for 12 free throws among a career-high 31 points.
Fenerbahce Ulker routed Union Olimpija 70-90 to punch its ticket to the Top 16 as Omer Onan scored a season-high 20 points, one short of his career high. The group's last Top 16 berth titled toward
Alba Berlin, which edged DKV Joventut 75-79 in a thriller as Immanuel McElroy shined with 26 points. Defending champ
CSKA Moscow burned Efes Pilsen 55-74 on the road behind a magnificent shooting effort from Trajan Langdon and later wrapped up first place in Group D after
Armani Jeans Milano defeated Real Madrid 70-61 behind Marco Mordente's 23 points. Madrid nevertheless, climbed into the Top 16 thanks to Efes's loss. In the same group,
Partizan blasted Panionios on Telecoms 80-57 to help its Top 16 hopes thanks to a double-double from teenager Jan Vesely. With one week left in the regular season, three groups have four Top 16 berths to settle, while the only full one Group A, still has to decide first place...
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