In the second round of the EuroLeague, Baskonia defeated Alba Berlin 91:86, securing their first win of the new season in the elite competition.
Codi Miller-McIntyre had an impressive start to the game with eight points, giving Baskonia an early lead of 10:6. With strong contributions from Matt Thomas and Matteo Spagnolo, Alba Berlin closed the gap to just half a point. However, Baskonia extended their lead to four points with a three-pointer from Nico Mannion just before halftime, making it 25:21.
The second quarter was played at a fast pace, and the team from Vitoria took advantage to regain an eight-point lead (33:25). The home team, Alba Berlin, capitalized on their opponents’ relaxation, with Tim Schneider cutting their deficit to just four points (35:31), prompting a timeout from Joan Penarroyo. Alba Berlin, led by Louis Olinde, managed to make an 8-2 run and take the lead. However, the visiting team responded in kind and went into halftime with a four-point lead (51:47).
The Spanish team made a significant move towards victory in the third quarter when they embarked on a 13-0 run, giving them a 15-point lead (64:49). Schneider briefly stopped their opponent’s momentum and reduced his team’s deficit, but the hope didn’t last long. Chima Moneke and Vanja Marinkovic calmly restored their team’s familiar rhythm and secured a 15-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes (76:61).
Gabriele Procida initiated an 11-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter, giving the home team a new lease on life (79:72). Spagnolo and Olinde brought Alba within a single possession of catching up, but Marinkovic and Moneke ensured their team’s victory with precise free-throw shooting (91:86).
Tim Schneider was the top scorer for Gonzalez’s team with 17 points, while Codi Miller-McIntyre stood out for Baskonia with 17 points.
In the next round, Alba will visit Virtus in Bologna, while Baskonia will host Bayern.
The Berlin giants have started the new EuroLeague season with two losses, and Baskonia has a record of 1-1 after two rounds.