EuroView: Majok Majok shines this week in Europe
After a slow start to the season in Slovenia, Ball State alumni Majok Majok has led the way for Australians in European domestic league action over the weekend by notching a monster double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.
While shooting a highly efficient 7/8 from the field and by far leading his team with an effiency rating of 25, Majok's stellar play was unfortunately not enough to get Helios Domzale the win as they went down to Tajfun Sentjur 74-68. The performance was significant for the 21-year-old as he previously had managed just 10 points across the first two matches of the Slovenian domestic league.
Majok in action - Courtesy Ball State Athletics
Another player to find his feet this week after a slow start to the season was Nathan Jawai who logged twice as many minutes this week in the Turkish league than he has in any game (including the Euroleague) so far this season. The big centre played 22 minutes in Galatasaray's 86-69 victory over Olin Edirne who remain winless through the first three rounds of play while Galatasaray move to a 2-1 record. Jawai posted 12 points and 4 rebounds and will look to capitalise on this form later in the week in the Euroleague when his team travels to Spain to take on Laboral Kutxa Vitoria.
http://youtu.be/LitGQ7OHc1I
Also in Turkey, Ryan Broekhoff continued his high consistent play by scoring his season-high in the Turkish Basketball League with 17 points while leading his team Besiktas with an efficiency rating of 21 as they overcome Gaziantep 88-81. On shooting 3/4 from long range Broekhoff also maintained the sharp shooting form he displayed with the Boomers and is currently shooting 50% from that distance this season in the TBL. Besiktas currently sit in 4th place and will look to improve on that in their next Turkish league match as they come up against the winless Trabzonspor, but first have a big game against top placed BC Khimki in the Eurocup.
In France, David Andersen and ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne secured a much needed win after falling behind with a 1-3 start to the French Pro A National League. ASVEL this week defeated Bourg 86-64 with Andersen contributing a solid 12 points and 8 rebounds after being held scoreless the week before. While ASVEL remain in the middle of the table in ninth position, Andersen's former team Strasbourg remain undefeated at 5-0 and sit alone at the top of the domestic ladder. Andersen and ASVEL now turn their attention to hosting Italian side FoxTown Cantu in the Eurocup before travelling to Paris to take on Paris-Levallois shortly thereafter.
In the Spanish ACB, CAI Zaragoza escaped with a narrow 69-67 road win over Baloncesto Fuenlabrada after the home side had a clear 3-point shot to win the game on the buzzer only for it to rim out. Guard Chris Goulding only managed 9 minutes of court time while not troubling the scorers in the victory. Zaragoza now travel to Germany for their Eurocup encounter with Telekom Bonn before returning home to host UCAM Murcia.
Brad Newley - Courtesy Herbalife Gran Canaria
Elsewhere in Spain, Brad Newley picked up 10 points on 3/3 shooting from the floor however it was not enough for Herbalife Gran Canaria to overcome the might of strong Euroleague side Unicaja Malaga as they lost 74-67. Newley's side now sits precariously in 15th spot in the tough league with a 1-3 record. After travelling to France for Eurocup action against JDA Dijon, Herbalife Gran Canaria will look to add to the win column in the ACB as they come up against MoraBanc Andorra who also sit at 1-3 for the season.
It was against MoraBanc Andorra this week that AJ Ogilvy's La Bruixa d’Or Manresa picked up their first win of the season 88-80 . Ogilvy unfortunately was not part of the victory as he continues to look to overcome a recent foot injury. His team will have a big challenge ahead of them this week as they take on Laboral Kutxa Vitoria who have also started the season slowly at 1-3 and will be looking to keep in touch with their Euroleague counterparts in the ACB.
In Poland, Daniel Johnson returned to form with 15 points on 5/7 shooting to go along with 5 rebounds as his team Stelmet Zielona Gora were victorious 91-79 against AZS Koszalin. Currently sitting in 4th position on the Polish League ladder, next week's match-up against Polish league stalwarts Asseco Gdynia who are also sitting on a 3-1 record promises to be a pivotal game as the standings start to take further shape. Johnson and his team-mates will be spared any travel prior to that game as their Eurocup commitments see them host Buducnost VOLI Podgorica this week. This game also has great significance for the team's aspirations this season as both teams sit at 0-2 in the Eurocup with a third loss in a row making it very difficult to progress to the next round of the continental competition.
In the Israeli Winner League, Maccabi Tel Aviv moved to a 4-0 record after not being troubled at home by Ironi Nahariya 87-61. Aleks Maric sat the game out as Maccabi rotated their imports, and now look to their Euroleague contest in Germany against ALBA Berlin before a much anticipated match-up on the road against the also undefeated Hapoel Jerusalem next week.
You can watch the Eurocup and Euroleague action this week on Eurosport Australia (via Foxtel) or via euroleague.tv this week (check your local guides).