Unics sets three-point record in season opener

The 2009-10 Eurocup has opened with history-making fireworks! In the very first regular season game, longtime competition participant Unics broke the record for three-pointers made by a team while blasting Group D rival Besiktas Cola Turka 101-76 on Tuesday evening in Kazan, Russia. Led by point guard Marko Popovic, who blasted 9 triples by himself, Unics made a total of 20 three-pointers, two more than any other team in the seven-year history of the competiton. The previous record of 18 three-pointers made was shared by three teams: Pamesa Valencia, Cantu and Azovmash Mariupol. The 9 three-pointers made by Popovic in 14 tries tied the individual record in the competition, now shared with Ruben Douglas of Valencia, who made 9 of 12. Oddly enough, their record also ties the most in European competition this decade, the Euroleague standard for which was set by another Unics player, Saulius Stombergas, when he made 9 for 9 triples while playing for Tau Ceramica in 2001. Stombergas made 5 of 9 triples for Unics on Tuesday, while Victor Zvarykin was 3 for 5 from downtown, Igor Zamanskiy 2 for 7 and Vladimir Veremeenko 1 for 2. The 43 attempts by Unics tied the competition record for shots tried from the arc in a 40-minute game, although the absolute record of 46 was set in an overtime game. Unics had 18 of its three-pointers made and Popovic 8 of his before the third quarter ended on Tuesday. Popovic scored his and the team's last three-pointer in the final minute.