Euroins Cherno More ousted CSU Cuadripol

A lay-up by Julian Radionov in the closing seconds gave Euroins Cherno More the win in Brasov and the ticket for the quarters. The CSU Cuadripol - Cherno More encounter was a quarterfinal qualification decider in Group A and it lived up to the expectations of one - it was close and thrilling and the visiting Bulgarian team won it 80-82. With this Euroins Cherno More made sure they would finish the regular season in front of their Romanian opponents - the team from Varna had its third victory, while CSU Cuadripol have only two wins and no more games to play. That meant the Romanians were now out of the competition, sharing the fate of their compatriots Dinamo in the other group.
 
The whole game tonight was a mad chase, in which Cherno More led for most of the time, but CSU Cuadripol never let them out of their sights and could have won it all at the very end.
 
The Bulgarians made a great start, despite the fact they were playing in front of a 1000 strong crowd in Brasov. They took an early 5-point lead and even made it a 11-point one at 6-17 with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. The period ended at 17-26 and Cherno More seemed in control. That was the case during much of the second 10-minute frame too, as the visitors held on to a lead of several points. It was 6 points with less than 2 minutes to go to the break, but CSU Cuadripol`s Enes Hadjibulic hit a pair of free throws (his only 2 points of the game) to cut it down to just 1 at half-time - 40-41.
 
Suddenly it looked like anybody`s game. The Romanian team had a surge of newly found self-confidence, which they carried into the second half, where they even managed to peep in front at 42-41, then 44-43 and then 47-45. But Cherno More soon took the lead again and the scores were at 56-60, when the third quarter expired. In the fourth the Bulgarians initially kept their slender advantage, but it was too close for comfort.
 
The home team`s grit and determination payed off, when they tied the scores at 69-69 with 5`40`` to go and especially when they led 76-74 with just over 2 minutes remaining. A lay-up by quick-footed guard Rashaun Broadus gave the hosts their biggest lead of the game - 3 points (78-75) and it seeemed to come just at the right time - with just 38 seconds left until the final buzzer. McIntosh hit 2 free throws to make it 78-77 with half a minute to go, but Zoran Milovic was impeccable from the line as well and made it 80-77. But then a three-point play by McIntosh with 22 sec to go tied the game at 80-80 and it was decided by Radionov`s basket.
 
Five of Cherno More`s players contributed double digit scoring for the victory - with Corey McIntosh leading the way there (16 pts), while also dishing out 9 assists. Magnificent performances by American guards LeRoy Dawson (20 pts and 9 rbs) and Rashaun Broadus (17 pts) and big Romanian center Ionut Dragusin (17 pts and 18 rbs) turned out not enough for a win and a quarterfinal slot for their team.
 
Now Euroins Cherno More, CSU Cuadripol and Serbian team Radnicki 034 Group are temporarily tied for 3-5 place in Group A with 10 points apiece, but the team from Brasov has already finished its regular season and is destined to end up at the bottom of the standings and out of the quarters. Cherno More has a home fixture versus Macedonians Feni Industries, while Radnicki 034 Group host group leaders (and certain winners) Swisslion Takovo in Kragujevac. The outcome of those two games will decide the placings of 2nd to 4th among Cherno More, Radnicki 034 Group and Feni Industries, which will determine their opponents for next round.