He Surne Bilbao Basket has defeated the BC CSU Sibiu Romanian on the fifth day of the FIBA ​​Europe Cup for 68-73 led by the performance of Adam Smith and Melwin Pantzar.

This result, combined with the victory of the Polish Anwill Wloclawek against the Caledonia Gladiators Scottish (93-72), makes the Bilbao team, which has won its five games, two wins ahead of the Glasgow team with one day left in the first phase and is already mathematically champion of group B.

However, the ‘men in black’ have not had it easy in Romania against a rival that has already been eliminated and that does not know the victory in its competition, but that wanted to finish well in front of its audience.

In a crash almost to forget it has been Smith (25 points) the one who has decided in the important moments. He has helped him Pantzar (16), which has also had less than brilliant moments, and has ended with good numbers, but not with a good game, Tryggvi Hlinason (8, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 20 PIR).

The start of Bilbao Basket, a 0-5 with a basket of Rabaseda and a triple Pantzarseemed to indicate that the meeting would be a simple procedure, but that was not the case.

Sibiu reacted with an inside game that prevailed in the areas with Mud and Utawho led a 9-0 who already gave the first advantage to his team (9-7). In this way, the locals finished ahead (18-14).

The Romanian team stayed ahead for a while in the second quarter, gaining seven points ahead again (28-21), but Ponsarnau He managed to wake up his pupils, who came back from the clash with a 0-8 score driven by Hlinason (28-29) and already kept the match in a dynamic of equality until the break. Although with Sibiu ahead thanks to a triple almost on the horn Gavriloaia (39-38).

Upon returning from the locker room the clash remained even, with Pantzar and Smith pulling the visitors, who twice threatened to leave at the end of the third quarter, placing themselves six points ahead (53-59, 55-91). But a three-pointer from Ivanov at the buzzer (58-61) and a 5-0 start in the last quarter once again gave the locals an advantage (63-61).

The visitors responded with another 0-5 and took the lead again (63-66) before the crash entered a few error-filled minutes that broke Pantzar to put his team six points ahead with 3:46 left (63-68).

It was the beginning of the end for the locals, as Smth combusted and with another five points in a row left the match with 2:35 left. (63-73) before Sibiu shortened the score to leave it definitively in 68-73.

Data sheet

68 – BC CSU Sibiu (18+21+19+10): Pratt (16), Dragoste (4), Ivanov (9), Barro (14) and Uta (12) -starting five-; Gavriloaia (3), Kuti (7) and Banciu (3).

73 – Surne Bilbao Basket (14+24+23+12): Pantzar (16), Adam Smith (25), Rabaseda (6), Andersson (5) and Hlinason (8) -starting five-; Kullamae (5), Rigo, Alex Reyes, De Ridder (6), Tsalmpuoris (2), Barandalla and Asier Fernández.

Partials: 18-14, 39-38 (break); 58-61 and 68-73 (final).

Referees: Mehmet Karabilecen (Turkey), Tolga Edis (Turkey) and Mladen Lucic (Montenegro). No eliminated.

Source: Eitb

Kingston

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