Istanbul Galatasaray, represented by Latvian basketball players Aija Jurjāne and Ieva Pulvere, as well as Cadi La Seu, represented by Paula Strautmanes, and Laseva Duržeļa’s Cadi La Seu, celebrated their victories in the first games of the second round of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Eurocup elimination tournament, or the round of 16, on Wednesday.
Elina Babkin’s Ramla “Elitzur” and Laura Melder’s “Umana Reyer” from Venice will also play their first games on Thursday. The winners of the sum of two matches will enter the quarter-finals. “Galatasaray” defeated Latas BLMA at home with a score of 88:75 (26:14, 22:22, 20:22, 20:17).
Jurjane played eight minutes and 31 seconds and scored four points with four accurate free throws, but her only long shot was not accurate. The Latvian also won three rebounds, gave one assist, violated the rules once, committed one foul, had a positive +/- indicator (+1) and six efficiency coefficient points.
In ten minutes and 13 seconds, Pulvere made one inaccurate long shot, won one ball under the basket, gave an assist, twice fouled the rules, made one mistake and also had a positive +/- indicator (+2). Teaira Makowan had 29 points and 12 rebounds for Istanbul, while Azura Stevens had 21 points, 12 steals and nine assists.
On the other hand, “Cadi La Seu” represented by Strautmanes won at home with 72:54 (12:14, 12:17, 27:8, 21:15) over “Flammes Carolo” from Charleville-Mezières. Strautmane scored two points, making two of four free throws in 21 minutes, but all five shots from the three-point game were not accurate. She also had four rebounds, one assist, one turnover, one steal and a positive +/- (+11). Laia Raventos scored 21 points for the winners.
The main Eurocup competition took place in two regional conferences, each of which had six groups with four teams. The two best teams from each group and the four best third-place teams from each conference advanced to the playoffs.
The FIBA EuroCup is the second level tournament behind the FIBA EuroLeague.
