Spartak outplay Steaua Turabo in extra-time

       Spartak defeated Steaua Turabo with 103-96 after OT for their second victory in Eurohold Balkan League this season. This succes remained team`s chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals, while the Romanian side have a 0-5 record and is the only team which has not achieved a victory yet. The host started the game very good and took an early lead after 7 minutes on the field 26-16. After a time-out from Steaua, guests made a 5-0 record, and after some successful attacks from both teams the first period finished 29-23 to Spartak. The only unfortunate thing about the local side was the injury of Rob Preston in the first minutes, which took him out from the game. In the beginning of the second quarter Iliya Stankov scored 4 consecutive points and made again a 10 point difference. But Steaua  not believe to be transmitted, and in the middle of the period they took the gap to only 2 points - 37-35, which forced Darin Velikov to use his first time-out. Spartak managed to increase their lead to 6 points - 50-44 mainly thanks to the excellent play of their captain Dimitrov, who finished the half with 22 points and the striking hand of Iliya Stankov, scored 4 three-pointers.          Steaua started the second half very strong and in the middle of third quarter they equaled the result 57-57. There followed a series of errors for both teams, but Hrisimir Dimitrov made two fouls to put Spartak ahead again - 59-57. In the next attack, however Papic made a three pointer and Romanian team led for the first time in a meeting with 59-60. Thanks to Hristo Dimitrov, who made a lay-up and Iliya Stankov scored another three, Spartak scored the last 5 points for the third quarter and again led by two points - 66-64. The match continues to be very interesting, but the lead was changing repeatedly and naturally led to a dramatic final. In the last three minutes, Romanian side missed a lot of chances to score, while Josef Kennerly III made 6 consecutive free-throws and give his team a 87-84 advantage 3.4 seconds before the end, when Monty Mack scored an amazing three pointer from 8 metres and send the game in overtime. In the extra five minutes, the local Spartak took an early lead early, but the Romanians are not transmitted and were still close to the hosts. Minute before the end of Pleven led by only 2 points and their next attack was not going well when in the final seconds Tsvetoslav Ostrev made the most important three in the game, a meter behind the line and actually decide the match. By the end both teams exchanged few points, but only to fic the final 103-96.     For the winners, team captain Hrisimir Dimitrov was unstoppable with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Other two Spartak players finished with double-double - Iliya Stankov nailed 27 points and 10 boards, while American Josef Kennerly added 21 points and 11 rebounds. Monty Mack scored 27 points, while the ex-player of Rilski Sportist Dragoslav Papic ended with 17 in the losing case.