February 08, 2012
Top 16 Week 1 tri-MVPs: Pekovic, Fischer, Eliyahu
Fischer - Maccabi Electra, Pekovic - Panathinaikos, Eliyahu - Maccabi ElectraThe Top 16 started with a rare occurrence in the weekly race for the best individual performance rating - tri-MVPs! For just the fourth time all decade, three players tied for the weekly MVP honor, each with a performance index rating of 28, just a point above two more players. Most importantly, Maccabi Electra teammates Lior Eliyahu and D'or Fischer, as well as Panathinaikos big man Nikola Pekovic, all led their teams to huge Week 1 victories. Eliyahu and Fischer teamed up big-time in a 96-65 home win against Alba Berlin in Group F. The 31-point margin was Maccabi's biggest in Euroleague play since November of 2004. Eliyahu worked the baseline for an array of dunks against Alba, finishing with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a block while making 8 of his 11 two-point tries. When Eliyahu wasn't doing so, Fischer ruled inside against Alba to the tune of 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots while making 9 of his 11 two-pointers. Pekovic, meanwhile, paced Panathinaikos to an 81-63 victory over his old team, Partizan Belgrade, at home in Athens. The tireless young center piled up 26 points while hitting 14 of his 15 free throws as Panathinaikos came from behind to avenge elimination in last season's Top 16 at the hands of Partizan - and Pekovic. Right behind those three each with an index rating of 27, were Earl Calloway of Cibona, author of 23 points, 4 assists and 3 steals in a big win over Montepaschi, and Juan Carlos Navarro of Regal FC Barcelona, who had 21 points, 4 assists and 4 steals in a losing effort at Real Madrid.

Individual highs: Carlos Arroyo, Maccabi Electra, 10 assists

Pekovic was also the Top 16 Week 1 best scorer with 26 points against Partizan. Pat Burke of Asseco Prokom and Semih Erden of Fenerbahce Ulker each pulled down 11 rebounds, the top total of the week, in their teams’ respective losses against Tau Ceramica and CSKA Moscow. Carlos Arroyo of Maccabi was the only player to record double-figure assists, dishing 10 against Alba. In fact, no other player recorded more than 5 assists this week. David Logan of Prokom collected 5 steals to lead the weekly standings in that category. In the same game, Will McDonald of Tau had 6 blocks, just one short of tying the Top 16 record of seven, which Darjus Lavrinovic has held since 2005. Terence Morris of CSKA Moscow - 12 points, 10 rebounds - and Burke - 12 points, 11 rebounds - were the only players to register double-doubles this week.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Euroleague.net
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