Eurocup Last 16, Game 2 MVP – Loukas Mavrokefalides, Spartak SPB

For the second straight week, the hero of Spartak St. Petersburg’s Group K game also goes home with the honor of being the Eurocup player of the week. First it was Patrick Beverley and after a brilliant performance in Tuesday’s 80-71 victory over Banvit BK, Loukas Mavrokefalides is the Eurocup Last 16, Game 2 MVP. The center dominated the paint – and the perimeter too when he went there – to the tune of a career high 29 points plus 8 rebounds.  Mavrokefalides made 10 of 18 two-point shots, both of his attempts from downtown and 3 of 5 free throws. Additionally he recorded 1 assists and 1 block for a performance index rating of 29, which was the most among Eurocup players this week. Beyond the stats, Mavrokefalides was a pillar for the Spartak attack with healthy doses of scoring throughout the game, including the go-ahead points on a three-point play after Banvit had tied the score at 69-69 with 1:18 remaining. CEZ Nymburk swingman Tre Simmons trailed only Mavrokefalides among Week 2 stars after tallying 25 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists as the Czech champs knocked off BCM Gravelines 79-62. Simmons knocked down 5 of his 10 three-point attempts en route to an index rating of 28. Both the point and index totals were new highs for Simmons in his Eurocup career. Lokomotiv Kuban’s Maxim Grigoryev produced 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists for a 26 index in a 79-84 road win at Alba Berlin. Rounding out the week’s top performers were Jonas Valanciunas of Lietuvos Rytas and Thomas Kelati of BC Khimki. Valanciunas posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in amassing a 24 index in a win over Benetton. Kelati went for 18 points, 5 boards and 3 assists for a 23 index as his team topped Asvel Basket