Qualifying Round H, Game 1 preview: ASK Riga vs. Cholet Basket
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Cholet Basket's road to the Eurocup regular season will have to lead through three-time Euroleague champion ASK Riga. Head coach Erman Kunter's Cholet has been up and down in its first two French League games. One of the players who will try to bring more consistency to the squad is 21-year-old point guard talent Nando de Colo, who has been his team’s leader thus far. Kunter has handed the playmaking reigns to small guard Michael Mokoyngo, who has the added advantage of having played alongside another of the team’s new additions, swingman Vincent Grier, last season at Gravelines. Kunter knows his team will have to play much better defense to advance against ASK. Rookie Randal Falker could also prove to be a key piece of the defense. ASK Riga meanwhile is looking to bounce back from a disappointing season in the ULEB Cup last year, when it did not get past the group stage. Head coach Ramunas Butautas is back and reformed his Latvian team, which has opened its Baltic League season at 2-0 with wins at home over Zalgiris and Nevezis. One of the main acquisitions was Corey Brewer and the veteran guard has been impressive thus far. New forward Ricardo Marsh has multiple skills and looks to tandem well with Milutin Aleksic. Veteran forward Uvis Helmanis is a strong inside-outside option and new center Bruno Sundov can handle the blocks. Butautas still has veteran, efficient center Raitis Grafs and guard Sandis Valters returns to help with playmaking duties, while 21-year-old forward Ernests is still looking to finally break out. The balance of Butautas's lineup should be important in getting past Cholet.
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Eurocupbasketball.com
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