Qualifying Round C, first-leg report: Energa Czarni 76-62 Unics Kazan
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 Energa Czarni got a balanced effort in taking a big step towards the Eurocup Regular Season with a surprising 76-62 victory in its home first leg over Unics Kazan in the qualifying round. Demeric Bennett and Jason Straight both poured in 15 points with Straight adding five assists. Jack Ingram and Mantas Cesnauskis both chipped in 12 points while Rolando Howell collected 7 points, 9 rebounds and 8 steals for the victorious team from Poland. Czarni made 10-of-15 three-pointers through three quarters and 10-of-19 overall and overcame making just 6-of-15 (40%) free throws. Kazan's only real weapon proved to be Kresimir Loncar, who scored 26 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Vladimir Veremeenko added 10 points and 9 rebounds for the Russian side but Tariq Kirksay was held to just 9 points and 5 rebounds. And Kazan did itself in by committing 25 turnovers while hitting just 12-of-23 (52%) free throws and 2-of-12 (16%) from long range.
Dmitry Sokolov opened the scoring for the guests before Straight had five points in an 11-2 run for an 11-4 Czarni lead. Howell's dunk made it 16-6 and it was still a nine-point advantage until back-to-back baskets by Loncar trimmed it to 22-17. Czarni was ahead 24-17 after one period. Two more Loncar scores had the deficit down to three points only to see the hosts push back ahead 29-21 on Pawel Malesa's three-ball. Cesnauskis and Ingram also buried long balls in the quarter in keeping Kazan at bay. And the Polish team was ahead 46-34 at the break after two more triples by Bennett and Straight.
Kirksay hit the first basket of the second half but both sides struggled to score in the first five minutes out of the locker-room. Still, another Straight long ball and a Malesa jumper increased the lead to 54-38. Veremeenko and Loncar did all they could for Kazan however Ingram and Cesnauskis both drained long balls as the lead grew to 19 points and was 66-49 going into the fourth. Loncar continued his strong game early in the final period but Energa was just too balanced - with Bennett's basket breaking the 20-point lead barrier at 74-53 with less than six minutes to play. The advantage was 76-55 before Unics scored the final seven points to cut the margin a bit with sights set on the return leg next week in Russia.
Energa Czarni head coach Miroslaw Lisztwan:
"I am very happy after this very first game in history of Slupsk basketball in European Club Competitions. To win this game was clearly the dream. We wanted the players to be focused and disciplined and they have played a great game."
Energa Czarni center Pawel Leonczyk:
"I would like to thank the fans, because they were great today. The coach told us before the game, that we need to be a unit for this game and motivated us. - And we did exactly that."
Unics Kazan head coach Aco Petrovic:
"We have made too many turnovers, 25 of them. Means we gave them 25 more attacks than we had. We have played also very poorly on defense. I was really surprised by the way the host team played today. 14 points is a lot, but we will try to find the way to advance."
Unics Kazan guard Artem Kuzyakin:
"We need to do a good preparation for the second game. Today we have played very badly on defence and also the turnovers were too much. We will fight to advance in the second game."
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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