Aris celebrated a deserved victory against Zadar, by 73-67 (half-time score: 41-33) and along with it, the qualification to the “Top 16” of the Eurocup. The “yellows” beat the Croatian team at Alexandrio Melathro, for the Game 5 of the regular season and next Tuesday (12/01) will fight in Israel for the 1st place of the group, which they will get if they win Hapoel Jerusalem or even if they lose with less than 4 points.
The “yellows” started well in attack, but lost too many rebounds (they got just 3, while their opponents had 10 in the 1st quarter) and the lead altered seats every minute. Peric’s shot at the buzzer, after the 6th offensive rebound for Zadar, made it 19-20 at the end of the 1st period.
The visitors led with 4 (19-23 and 21-25) in the beginning of the 2nd quarter, but Aris got much better in defense and got ahead (31-26, thanks to a 10-1 partial score). The Serbian Ivan Paunic had important contribution to this comeback and was applauded at his debut, as was his compatriot, Dragan Labovic, who also played his first game for the “Emperor” of Greek basketball. Miles was on a pretty good day (12 points in the first half) and Skordilis scored two crucial baskets in the final moments, helping the “yellows” to gain an 8-point lead (41-33) at half-time.
Fotis Katsikaris’s team started off the third quarter on the wrong foot, as Zadar made it even (41-41, 7:13 before the end). However, the rest of the period belonged to Aris: They were almost perfect in defense and got off to a 11-point lead (53-42 at 27’) thanks to two consecutive three-pointers scored by Richardson. The Croatian side didn’t score any field goals for 6 long minutes and the local team ended the quarter at “+14” (62-48), Chatzivrettas scoring a difficult three-point shot in the final second.
The margin got as wide as 16 points (67-51 and 69-53) in the beginning of the last period, but the “yellows” got stuck in attack and the visitors made a 1-14 run, thus approaching to 3 (70-67 with 1:45 remaining, thanks to a goal - foul by Ruzic). However, in the last minute Rancic missed a three-pointer, Peric committed offensive foul on Dikoudis 22’’4 before the end and Aris reached the victory.
Referees: Juan Carlos Garcia Gonzalez (Spain), Robert Vyklicky (Czech Republic), Nicola Maestre (France).
Periods: 19-20, 41-33 (half-time), 62-48, 73-67.
ARIS (Fotis Katsikaris): Clark 10 (1), Betts 9, Labovic 5, Richardson 11 (3), Chatzivrettas 10 (2), Dikoudis 4, Skordilis 6, Paunic 2, Miles 16 (1).
ZADAR (Zmago Sagadin): Rancic 10 (2), Peric 13, Stipcevic 11 (1), Boisa 10, Ruzic 9, Morovic, Car 7 (1), Plaisted 7.
At the other match of Group C, Hapoel Jerusalem won Siauliai in Lithuania by 81-96 and secured a spot in the “Top16” of the Eurocup, given the fact that the Israeli team would prevail in case of tie with Zadar.
Standings (after 5 games):
TEAM W-L POINTS
1.Aris 4-1 403-371
2. Hapoel Jerusalem 3-2 424-398
3. Zadar 2-3 390-399
4. Siauliai 1-4 407-456
