Varese triumphs over FMP with a 73-71 score in a thrilling finish, as part of FIBA Champions League Qualifiers.
Varese started off on fire, hitting their first four three-point attempts, which prompted Nenad Stefanovic to call a timeout. FMP managed to stabilize themselves with a 5-0 run following the timeout. The players from Varese continued their shooting exhibition, sinking their sixth three-pointer in just eight minutes of play. Varese went on an 8-0 run. The game was characterized by alternating momentum, and the ‘Panthers’ were very much in the contest after the first 10 minutes, with Bojan Subotic having an outstanding first quarter. The score was 23-21 in favor of the Italian giants.
Nikola Saranovic made a phenomenal shot from downtown along with a foul at the beginning of the second quarter, and Lamonte Turner assisted captain Aleksa Stepanovic for more points for FMP. While the American occasionally missed some layups, he made up for it with his assists, setting up his teammates effectively. Varese went scoreless for a full 5 minutes in this period, which FMP capitalized on. Vincent Shahid scored the first points for the Italian club from the free-throw line, followed by a brilliant dunk from Sean McDermott. FMP then built a double-digit lead with an excellent sequence. However, Varese managed to narrow the gap, and the halftime score was 39-35.
Varese got off to a better start in the series. Willie Cauley-Stein scored, and Varese hit a three-pointer after a long time, but Nenad Stefanovic’s team maintained their lead. Points were coming consistently for FMP. Varese was clearly going through a rough patch, while the team from Zeleznik played steadily throughout most of the match. Ultimately, the ‘Panthers’ won this quarter 21-14, with Aleksa Stepanovic scoring the last points, a three-pointer at the buzzer. FMP entered the final quarter with a commanding 11-point lead, and the score was 60-49.
At the start of the final quarter, both teams exchanged three-pointers, and then Cauley-Stein finished nicely at the rim. Varese narrowed the gap to just four points with a furious run, and Olivier Hanlan made some very tough shots. Stepanovic then hit a crucial three-pointer, followed by a period of stagnation broken by Nate Watson’s dunk. Varese took the lead after a 9-0 run, and Jordan Walker tied the game with a crazy three-pointer with about twenty seconds left. Oliver Hanlan hit a shot with just two seconds remaining and became the hero for Varese. Varese will face Cholet in the next round.
Top Performers
The standout players for the Italian representative were Sean McDermott with 17 points, while Cauley-Stein and Hanlan contributed 13 each. The American center also had ten rebounds and an impressive six blocks. On the other side, Stepanovic shone with 15 points, and Bojan Subotic added 13. FMP failed to reach the group stage of the third-strongest European competition for the second consecutive year. Their first match of the new ABA League season will be against Krka in Železnik
![Cholter vs. Antwerp](https://basketballsphere.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cholter-vs.-Antwerp.png)
Cholet triumphs over Antwerp Giants with a score of 76-72 in the FIBA Champions League Qualifiers, held in Antalya.
The first quarter was marked by a low-scoring affair and a closely contested battle. Neither team managed to establish control, and at the end of the first period, the score was 16-15. However, both teams improved significantly as the game progressed.
Cholet was the team that managed to gain some control in the following quarters. The Belgian representatives had a slightly better start, but Laurent Vila‘s team played better as the second quarter continued, going into halftime with an impressive eight-point lead.
The next period saw a furious comeback from the Antwerp team. Initially, the French representatives led by as much as 12 points, but Antwerp made a strong comeback and took the lead. They won this quarter with a score of 25-13, holding a four-point lead heading into the final quarter.
As good as the previous quarter was for Antwerp, it was equally challenging for the Belgians in the final quarter. Cholet quickly regained a double-digit lead, but the ‘Giants’ refused to give up. They closed the gap to just two points but couldn’t do enough to defeat the French representatives. Their next match will be against Varese, who defeated FMP.
The standout performer of the game was Tidjane Salaun, who scored 24 points, closely followed by Gerry Blakes with 15 points. On the losing side, Rasir Bolton was the top scorer with 20 points.