Classy Levski knocked out Rilski Sportist

Levski became the last team to reach the EUROHOLD Balkan League Final Four. Titi Papazov`s side knocked out the champions from last year - Rilski Sportist, despite losing the first game in Samokov. Tonight in Universiada Hall in Sofia, the "blues" crushed their opposition by 25 points of difference - 109:84.

The game started with a basket by Stanislav Slaveykov to give Levski the 2:0 lead. Zlatin Georgiev made it 4:0, before Aleksandar Gruev scoring the first basket for Rilski for 4:2. Levski was controlling the game in the opening minutes, and after two successful free-throws by Bobby Frasor the score was 9:3, and Donald Cole scored for 11:3 with 6.18 remaining in the first. Rilski made a 5:0 run, to cut Levski`s lead to just three points (11:8). A three by Slaveykov, and another two free-throws by Frasor gave Levski a 17:10 lead with 3.38 remaining in the first. Sasho Gruev scored four consecutive points, and Rob Preston made a jumper to make the differnce just 1 point - 17:16. A three by Gruev gave Rilski their first lead of the game - 17:19. Rob Preston scored a free-throw to make Rileco`s lead 19:20, but Aaron Harper scored 2 points to bring the lead back to his team, and after Bogdan Boev missed from the three-point line, Harper scored another three to make it 24:20 after the first 10 minutes.

Rilski tied the game at 25:25 after a successful shot by Burgess, and in the next offense another basket by Burgess gave his team a 25:27 lead 2.12 into the second quarter. It was Rilski`s time now, as Rob Preston made a three to give his team a 27:30 lead, and after that Gruev once again gave his team the lead for 30:32. After that, Levski made a 10:2 run to turn things around, and to have a 40:34 lead with 3 minutes left in the quarter. With 2.50 remaining, Travis Peterson made his third personal foul, and from there it was easy for Levski to break ahead. Donald Cole scored a three to fix the score at halftime at 53:37 for Levski.

2.17 after halftime, Levski`s biggest lead so far was a fact - 57:39, after Stefan Georgiev scored a jumpshot. Rilski answered with an 10:0 run, to cut their deficit to just  points -57:49. Meanwhile, Gjorgji Cekovski made his fourth personal foul and had to sit on the bench. Rilski continued to maintain close to Levski - 62:51 with 4.22 remaining in the third quarter, Donald Cole made a jumpshot to make the difference 16 - 69:53 with 2.33 remaining. Slaveykov scored a three with 33 seconds left in the third to give his team a 74:55 lead. David Burgess made one free-throw to settle the score at 74:56 after 30 minutes.

The closing period turned into a complete disaster for the current BIBL champions Rilski Sportist. Aaron Harper and Donald Cole scored in a row to make it 80:56 for Levski, Donald Cole made the lead 25, after scoring a three with 8.11 remaining for 83:58. Rilski managed to cut their deficit to 17 points - 89:72, after Aleksandar Gruev completed an and one play. Travis Peterson made a lay-up with 2.39 remaining to make the difference 14 points - 93:79. Donald Cole immediately hit back with a three-pointer, and after Sasho Gruev turned the ball over, it looked like it was the end for Rilski. Cole made another three-pointer with 1.28 on the clock to make it 100:81. It was already clear who was going to be the winner, and once again Donald Cole settled things at 109:84 after dunking the ball.

Levski will play Euroins Cherno More in the semifinal of the EUROHOLD Balkan League Final Four, while Rilski Sportist won`t be able to defend their title.

Aaron Harper showed how important he is for his team, after scoring 31 points, showing good range from three points - 5 out of 7. He also added 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Donald Cole added 29 points along with 5 rebounds and a block, while Stefan Georgiev scored 14 points and grabbed 7 boards. Stanislav Slaveykov was the last player to reach double digits in scoring, finishing with 10.

For Rilski Sportist, Aleksandar Gruev was the top scorer, with 27 points, as he also added 6 assists, but he also made 4 turnovers and fouled out. David Burgess and Jane Petrovski finished with 12 points each, while Rob Preston came off the bench scoring 13 in 35 minutes of action.