Athens club extends dominance over French teams, Istanbul side claims first win
The Athens basketball club convincingly beat a French opponent in EuroLeague for the second straight round, while an Istanbul team finally secured its first win of the season after a string of losses.
In the second round of the EuroLeague, the Athens-based basketball club defeated a Villeurbanne-based French team 102:79 at home, securing its second win in as many games. A week earlier, the same club had beaten another French side 91:72 on the same court. Between the two EuroLeague matches, the team lost in the final second of a Greek Super Cup semifinal to a domestic rival, 82:84.
The Athens club's top scorer was a French-born guard with 19 points. Another French player added 12 points and eight rebounds, while a third contributor posted nine points, five assists and three steals. A Greek forward scored 16 points, making four of seven three-point attempts, and grabbed six rebounds.
First win for the Istanbul club
The Istanbul team, last season's EuroCup runner-up, had started its EuroLeague campaign poorly — losing to both of its city rivals in domestic competitions and falling at home to a Spanish club in the EuroLeague opener. This evening in Belgrade, the team finally celebrated its first win, beating a Tel Aviv side 109:93. Two players scored 20 points apiece for the winners, while the Tel Aviv team's leading scorer had 17 points.
After the second round, the Athens club tops the overall standings with two wins and the best point differential, followed by several other teams still unbeaten.
