French center Bastien Vautier earned a spot in the Basketball Champions League team of the week on Thursday, November 12, following a standout performance for Bilbao Basket against ALBA Berlin.
Vautier contributed 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, nine rebounds, and one block in just 21 minutes and 15 seconds during Bilbao’s 83-75 victory on Tuesday night, BeBasket reported. The Spanish club secured the win after overcoming a late 75-72 deficit, taking the head-to-head point-average advantage over their German opponents and moving into first place in their group.
The Noisy-le-Grand native has averaged 17.3 points on 64.7 percent shooting and 9.7 rebounds across his first three continental appearances in 24 minutes per game. Those figures previously earned him an eighth-place ranking in the league’s MVP race, a list led by fellow Frenchman Amine Noua.
Against ALBA Berlin, Vautier established a physical presence in the paint as Bilbao built an 11-point lead before holding off the visitors in the closing minutes.
Two other players with experience in the French championship joined Vautier in the weekly lineup. Slovenian international Alen Omic, who played for JL Bourg in 2020-2021 and Metropolitans 92 during the 2023-2024 season, recorded 10 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and two steals for Spartak Subotica in a 75-73 win over Cholet Basket.
American guard Gerry Blakes, a former player for Strasbourg, Cholet, and Limoges, added 17 points, nine assists, and four rebounds off the bench for Azerbaijani side Sabah BC in a 91-72 victory against Trabzonspor.
Jalen Finch of Peristeri and Gytis Radzevicius of Rytas Vilnius completed the five-man selection. Finch posted 23 points, 11 assists, and four interceptions for undefeated Peristeri in a 101-96 win over Varese, recording the highest efficiency rating of the week at 30. Radzevicius contributed 20 points and eight rebounds in Rytas Vilnius’ 102-82 victory against Nanterre 92.
All five players are candidates for the fan vote to determine the player of the week, with the winner scheduled for announcement on the competition’s official social media channels on Friday.
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