With Anthony Cowan making three big 3-pointers in the final period and Hunter Hale making the game-winning basket with 13.3 seconds left, Prometheus edged Murcia 79-78 and is now within touching distance of advancing to the ‘8 » of BCL.
In the crucial finale, Rodions Kuruks failed to score at 39’55”, Hale stole the ball from Howard-Sand Ross who grabbed the offensive rebound, but lost it once more to Kuruks who attempted a desperation three-pointer well behind the center of the field, to no avail.
Ilias Papatheodorou’s team may not have managed – thanks to the refereeing – to cover the gap from the first match (Murtia won 90-81 in Spain), but it ended the three-game winning streak of Sito’s team Alonso and strengthened her position for the qualification to the quarterfinals. That is, if in the next matchday they beat Hapoel Holon (13/3, 19:00) in Patras, they will check their ticket for the rest of the competition.
It should be noted that Elias Papatheodorou and the players and managers of Prometheus made a special mention following the end of the match to the native fans who were the 6th player of the team in this huge victory. Basketball fans created a “hot” atmosphere – always in secular contexts – and showed that they are of a very high standard. In fact, even when the referees went to blow up the game with their false whistles, the crowd was there!
Elias Papatheodorou had at his disposal Koniari, Bazina, Cowan, Hale, Plota, Reynolds, Jones, Chrysikopoulos, Lagio, Coffey, Stevens and Etsenike. Pappas (counted as a foreigner) and Karagiannidis were left out of the mission.
Prometheus’ coach stated the following immediately following the game: “Congratulations to the boys for their performance and this huge victory. We are very proud of our performance today once morest one of the top teams in the Basketball Champions League and the way we managed the game. We showed character, defended very well and made some huge shots. We thank our fans for their support today, we will need them in the next match once morest Hapoel Holon, which will be the most crucial of the season.” The experienced coach did not want to make any comment regarding the arbitration at the press conference, although the people of Prometheus did not make the best comments regarding the “greys”.
The press conference here:
Promitheas Patras v UCAM Murcia – Press Conference | BCL 2023-24 (youtube.com)
The score so far in the 12th Group of the BCL is as follows: Murcia 7, Prometheus 7, Hapoel Holon 6, AEK 4. It should be noted that “Dikephalos” was defeated tonight in Ano Liosia by Hapoel Holon, in a game that was the last “Doubleheader” card for qualification. In fact, AEK lost in the 3rd overtime and now has 4 losses in as many matches, so they will simply play for prestige in the final of the 12th Group.
Referees: Litska (Poland)-Vulic (Croatia)-Gendvilas (Lithuania). The 10 minutes: 13-16, 39-36 (d.), 59-55,
PROMETHEUS: Cowan 22 (4), Hale 14, Reynolds 7 (1), Chrysikopoulos 5 (1), Stevens 6 (starting 5), Jones 6 (2), Coffey, Etsenike 17, Bazinas 2.
Murthy: Todorovic 6, Sant-Ros 10 (2), Ennis 3, Sleva 19 (3), Radebault 9 (1) (starting 5), Cowpain 9 (2), Arturs Kuruks, Rodions Kuruks 15 (1), Diagne 5, Radovic 2.
Prometheus’ team stats: 22/41 2-pointers, 8/19 3-pointers, 11/13 shots, 34 rebounds (22 defensive – 12 offensive), 15 assists, 9 steals, 15 turnovers.
The main score variations:
First period: Prometheus started with 0/4 shots, 0-0 in the 1′, 2-2 in the 2′, 4-4 in the 3′, 7-6 in the 4′ with a three-pointer by Chrysikopoulos, 7-6 in the 5′, 9- 6 in 5′ with Stevens’ basket, 9-9 in 6′, 9-11 in 7′, 11-14 in 8′, Sleva creates many problems for the home team, 11-16 in 9′ with Prometheus being has low accuracy rates from medium and long range, 13-16 per 10′.
Second period: Prometheus started with Bazine, Cowan, Jones, Coffey and Etzenike. 15-18 at 11′ with Bazina, 20-18 at 12′ with Etsenike scoring 5 consecutive points, technical penalty, with the “hot” Etsenike 22-24 at 13′ and 24-27 at 14′, 26- 29 at 15′, 29-29 at 16′ with a three-pointer by Cowan, 29-29 at 17′, 33-31 at 18′ with a basket by Hale, 35-34 at 19′, 39-36 at 20′.
Third period: Prometheus started with Cowan, Hale, Reynolds, Jones and Stevens. 42-38 at 21′ with a three-pointer by Jones, 46-38 at 22′ with a follow-up by Stevens, 48-41 at 23′, 48-43 at 24′, 53-45 at 25′ with a three-pointer by Jones and Prometheus closes at +9, 53-48 at 26′, 53-50 at 27′, 55-50 at 28′, 59-52 at 29′, 59-55 at 30′.
Fourth period: Prometheus started with Bazina, Hale, Reynolds, Chrysikopoulos and Etsenike. 61-55 in the 31st minute with Chrysikopoulos, the referees called the game, a basket-foul by Kaupain, a technical penalty to Prometheus, a three-pointer by Saint-Ross on the layup and the score became 61-63 in the 32nd minute, 63-65 in the 33′, with a three-pointer by Reynolds 66-65 at 34′, a long three-pointer by Cowan and 69-69 at 35′, the crowd at “Tofalos” justifiably boos the referees, 69-72 at 36′, another three-pointer by Cowan and 72-72 in the 37th minute, 75-72 in the 38th minute with the “three-pointer” Cowan trying from everywhere (!), but the referees were stupid, they turned the ball over in a contested phase, 77-78 in the 39th minute. Hale scores from mid-range at 13.3 (79-78), Murcia loses, Prometheus wins!
MICR-MICRA FROM “TOFALOS”
Many people came to “Tofalos” to support Prometheus, creating a “hot” atmosphere in “Tofalos”. The game was attended by, among others, the president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation Vangelis Liolios, the Deputy Regional Governor for Sports Takis Antonopoulos, the former coach of Prometheus Makis Giatras, the head of the main opposition of the PDE Spyros Skiadaresis, the children from the infrastructure of Prophet Ilias, etc.
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