The EuroChallenge quarter-finals are already set after the Last-16 round ended yesterday. Eight teams are still alive, some of them with interesting prospects who are making a great season. Let's check each battle, and who is hot there.
Krka Novo Mesto (SLO) - Lukoil Akademic (BUL): Great news coming from the Slovenians, with guard Zoran Dragic ('89) -brother from NBA Goran- nailing 7.6 points and pulling down 4.1 rebounds. In his first season in Novo Mesto after shining with Geoplin Slovan during four years. Beside him forward Edo Muric ('91) is doing a great job (4.9pt+2.8rb in 16'). And for the Bulgarians? With a 20-0 record they are unstoppable in their domestic league. Guard Bozhidar Avramov ('90) is the only prospect there, averaging 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in EuroChallenge. Yesterday he made his best performance in the win against Elitzur Netanya: 18 points with 2/4 threes.
Gravelines Dunkerque (FRA) - Lokomotiv Kuban (RUS): African center Frejus Zerbo ('89) is averaging 13 minutes with the French squad in Europe (4.2 points and 4.5 rebounds), without forgetting the only game Valentin Bigote ('92) played for them. Against Ventspils the 1.97 forward had 13 with 3/7 from downtown. They are fifth in the ProA. With the same victories as CSKA, and with only one less than Unics Kazan, Lokomotiv is making a great season in both competitions. Maxim Grigoryev ('90) is the only prospect with team coached by lithuanian Kestutis Kemzura. The guard averages 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11 minutes.
Oostende (BEL) - Ventspils (LTV): Serbian guard Dusan Katnic ('89) arrived in Belgium during the season from Red Star, and he is currently the best youngster of the team with 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 15 minutes. Belgium guard Quentin Sarron ('90) posts 2.3pt+1.8rb in 13'. Latvians are the youngest team of all of them, with prospects like Janis Strelnieks ('89) with a great stats card (9.8pt+4.7as+4.1rb), or 2.04 center Lauris Blaus ('90), with 6.8 points and 3.9 boards.
