Showtime in Riga! 9 february 2015
VTB United League
VEF (Latvia) defeated Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus) in Riga, 86-61. The home team led by seven points at halftime before pulling away for a big 25-point win while entertaining the fans with a bit of razzle-dazzle in the second half. VEF improves to 8-10 with the win, half a game ahead of Krasny Oktyabr and Krasnye Krylia for the final playoff spot.
Intro
The playoff hunt is heating up and VEF knew that a loss would drop it to 10th place. While Tsmoki-Minsk entered the game in last place with a 3-13 record, VEF barely escaped Minsk with a win in the fall and knew it would have to be ready for a Belarusian club seeking payback.
Neither team got off to a very quick start and the 1st quarter ended in a 18-18 tie. VEF's Janis Timma and Tsmoki's Ivan Maras also ended the period tied at nine points apiece.
Maras and Mirkovic helped the visitors pull ahead early in the 2nd quarter, but as soon as Gerald Robinson returned to the court for VEF, the home team reeled off a 14-0 run led by the American point guard. Nikolai Mazur's club held a 41-34 lead at halftime.
Turning Point
Robinson and VEF center Bamba Fall couldn't be stopped in the 3rd quarter. The Latvian duo scored in style, combining for four dunks, fast breaks and clutch 3-point shooting. VEF led by as much as 22 points in the period, leaving Tsmoki little to no hope for a comeback.
The home team continued to entertain the crowd in the final period. Rob Lowery looked like a mini-Allen Iverson, while Fall and Mareks Mejeris connected several times on alley-oops from the American guard. VEF picks up a pretty 86-61 win and returns to 8th in the league.
Star of the Game
Gerald Robinson. Everyone played well for VEF today. This was truly a team win. But Robinson was still the one running the show. He helped the Latvians take the lead in the first half by involving his teammates and playing tough defense. Robinson ended the game with 16 points, five rebounds and nine assists.
Stat of the Game
9 — number of VEF dunks. The home team could not be stopped at the rim!
Top Performers
VEF: Janis Timma — 18 points; Gerald Robinson — 16 points, five rebounds, nine assists; Bamba Ball — 13 points, six rebounds; Rob Lowery — 11 points, six rebounds, nine assists; Andzejs Pasecniks — eight points, 10 rebounds; Mareks Mejeris — six points, eight rebounds.
Tsmoki-Minsk: Ivan Maras — 27 points, 15 rebounds; Branko Mirkovic — 13 points, five rebounds; Stanley Burrell — 11 points.
The playoff hunt is heating up and VEF knew that a loss would drop it to 10th place. While Tsmoki-Minsk entered the game in last place with a 3-13 record, VEF barely escaped Minsk with a win in the fall and knew it would have to be ready for a Belarusian club seeking payback.
Neither team got off to a very quick start and the 1st quarter ended in a 18-18 tie. VEF's Janis Timma and Tsmoki's Ivan Maras also ended the period tied at nine points apiece.
Maras and Mirkovic helped the visitors pull ahead early in the 2nd quarter, but as soon as Gerald Robinson returned to the court for VEF, the home team reeled off a 14-0 run led by the American point guard. Nikolai Mazur's club held a 41-34 lead at halftime.
Turning Point
Robinson and VEF center Bamba Fall couldn't be stopped in the 3rd quarter. The Latvian duo scored in style, combining for four dunks, fast breaks and clutch 3-point shooting. VEF led by as much as 22 points in the period, leaving Tsmoki little to no hope for a comeback.
The home team continued to entertain the crowd in the final period. Rob Lowery looked like a mini-Allen Iverson, while Fall and Mareks Mejeris connected several times on alley-oops from the American guard. VEF picks up a pretty 86-61 win and returns to 8th in the league.
Star of the Game
Gerald Robinson. Everyone played well for VEF today. This was truly a team win. But Robinson was still the one running the show. He helped the Latvians take the lead in the first half by involving his teammates and playing tough defense. Robinson ended the game with 16 points, five rebounds and nine assists.
Stat of the Game
9 — number of VEF dunks. The home team could not be stopped at the rim!
Top Performers
VEF: Janis Timma — 18 points; Gerald Robinson — 16 points, five rebounds, nine assists; Bamba Ball — 13 points, six rebounds; Rob Lowery — 11 points, six rebounds, nine assists; Andzejs Pasecniks — eight points, 10 rebounds; Mareks Mejeris — six points, eight rebounds.
Tsmoki-Minsk: Ivan Maras — 27 points, 15 rebounds; Branko Mirkovic — 13 points, five rebounds; Stanley Burrell — 11 points.
Source
http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/riga-showtime.htm
