[Sport] AJ Slaughter leads Gran Canaria to the Eurocup semifinals

[#Steeven.™]

The Canarian team surpasses the Metropolitans in an agonizing match

Herbalife Gran Canaria brought out the breed to beat the French Boulogne Metropolitans in an agonizing match this Friday in the second quarter-final match (66-64), allowing them to get into the semi-finals of the Eurocup.

The 16 points of AJ Slaughter, combined with the interior game of Matt Costello (9 points and 6 rebounds), served the island team to deactivate the prominence of Anthony Brown (19 points and 5 rebounds) and reach the next continental round, in the that will be measured to the winner of the tie between Monaco and Buducnost that is tied (1-1).

After an even start (8-8), the French team took advantage with the versatility of Chikoko and Ginat, reaching an income of up to seven points, to close the first quarter with an eloquent 15-21 that made it clear that they were not They were going to make it difficult for Porfirio Fisac's pupils.

Already in the second round, the yellows got centimeters with Balcerowski and muscle with Diop, although the talent was put back by AJ Slaughter, who little by little managed to erode the French potential until reversing the situation in the electronic (29-28).

However, Jure Zdovc's men launched a new ordeal with Anthony Brown capitalizing on offensive operations, until sealing a more than tight 31-34 at halftime that gave life to the visitors.

In the resumption, the Claretian squad asserted its improvement, despite a rebound by Boulogne that seemed to territorially mark its intentions with David Michenau as the main stiletto (36-41).

From there, the yellow shooters jumped to the fore. They began to carbure Shurna and Beirán together with the interior Matt Costello, until leaving the third period with 51-45 in favor of Gran Canaria.

In the last quarter the knives were sharpened even more on both sides. Herbalife continued to dominate, but Boulogne was not willing to give up more ground. It was a true heads up in each play and therefore, the figures suffered in the second half.

Two free throws scored by Albicy in the absence of 1:40 put the situation very in favor of the locals (64-57). However, a basket from Goodwin and a triple from Brown put Gran Canaria on the ropes in less than a minute (64-62), forcing Fisac to time out.

Luckily for the islands, AJ Slaughter gave oxygen to the locals with a new basket in the last moments, promoting the technical stop of the visitors (66-62). Brown managed to put the local team on the ropes again, but there was no time for more.

 

Data sheet:
66. Herbalife Gran Canaria (15 + 16 + 20 + 15): Kilpatrick (-), Okoye (2), Slaughter (16), Shurna (5) and Stevic (2) -titling quintet-; Dimsa (6), Diop (6), Costello (9), Albicy (7), Beirán (7) and Balcerowski (6).

64. Boulogne Metropolitans (21 + 13 + 11 + 19): Michineau (6), Konate (2), Brown (19), Chikoko (16), Ginat (11) -initial quintet-, Pinault (-), Roos ( -), Goodwin (8), Sako (-) and Owens (2).

Referees: Tomislav Hordov (Croatia), Saulius Racys (Sweden) and Kristaps Konstantinovs (Latvia). Without eliminated.

Incidents: Second match of the quarterfinal series of the basketball club Eurocup played at the Gran Canaria Arena.