Marcelinho Huertas delivered another stellar performance, guiding Tenerife to win against Tofas by 83:77 in the first game of the FIBA Champions League quarterfinals.
Tenerife got off to a better start at home, leading by five points after the first quarter, largely due to the stellar play of veteran Marcelinho Huertas. Throughout the game, the home team’s performance revolved around the Brazilian, while the visiting side managed to step up their game, especially on defense. Strong defensive efforts instilled confidence on the offensive end for the guests, allowing them to take a 35:31 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the home team managed to erase the deficit and take a 37:36 lead early on. The game remained neck and neck, with the score tied at 55:55 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Early in the fourth quarter, Tenerife went on a mini-run to take a 65:59 lead. The home team struggled to maintain their hard-earned advantage, heavily relying on Huertas and Shermandini. With five minutes remaining, Tofas closed the gap to 68:67 and then took the lead at 70:67. However, Tenerife responded with a surge, reclaiming the lead at 75:72 and ultimately sealing the game with an 80:74 win.
Marcelinho Huertas is like wine.๐ท
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) April 3, 2024
โก๏ธ 30 PTS
โก๏ธ 8 AST
Tenerife – Tofas 83:77 pic.twitter.com/s3XV6XjG4t
Unicaja secured a home win against Promitheas by 67:54.
Unicaja started the game aggressively against the Greek team, establishing a double-digit lead of 15:5 within the first five minutes. Their lead extended to 14 points at 19:5.
In the second quarter, the home team continued to build on their advantage, leading 28:12 after a minute and a half of play. It became evident which way the game was heading, as they went into halftime with a commanding 20-point lead, 42:22.
In the second half, particularly in the third quarter, the visitors managed to narrow the gap to 12 points at 50:38, as the home team scored only eight points in the quarter. They continued their momentum into the fourth quarter, reducing the deficit to single digits at 53:45. However, the home team remained composed and repelled the opposition’s attack to secure the win.
Kendrick Perry led the home team with 13 points, while Dylan Osetkowski contributed a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Yankuba Sima also added 12 points. On the other side, Hunter Hale was the top scorer with 14 points, followed by Anthony Cowan with 11.
The second leg will take place on April 9th in Greece.