Last 16, Week 4 MVP - Hilton Armstrong, Asvel Basket

With his team facing a must-win game to remain in the fight for the Eurocup Quarterfinals, Hilton Armstrong rose to the occasion with one of his biggest games yet to lead Asvel Basket to a huge win over Aris BSA 2003. And when the dust settled, Armstrong’s 18-point, 8-rebound effort was also enough to give him the title of Eurocup Last 16, Game 4 MVP. Armstrong made 8 of 10 shots, went 2 for 2 from the line and blocked a shot in producing a performance index rating of 26, which was the best in the Eurocup this week. Beyond the numbers, the 8 straight points Armstrong scored to open the second quarter gave Asvel a practically insurmountable 31-9 lead en route to a 79-52 victory. KK Buducnost Voli’s promising young center Bojan Dubljevic was second to Armstrong on the list of the week’s top performers. Dubljevic recorded 24 points and 10 rebounds in amassing a 25 index as the Montenegrin champs beat Banvit BK 83-73. Pavel Pumprla was an integral part in CEZ Nymburk’s furious comeback against Valencia Basket, although in the end Valencia registered a 73-72 win. However Pumprla’s 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals resulted in a 24 index, which was third in the Eurocup this week. Rounding out the list of the week’s best were Lokomotiv-Kuban big man Ali Traore, Benetton Basket guard Sani Becirovic and Lietuvos Rytas swingman Ronnie Seibutis. Traore posted 26 points and 9 rebounds for a 23 index, but it wasn’t enough as Becirovic and Benetton won 87-76. Becirovic led Benetton with 13 points, 5 assists and 2 steals for a 22 index. And Seibutis starred in Rytas’s 62-79 win over Alba Berlin with 24 points and 3 assists. 

Individual highs: Nando De Colo, Valencia Basket – 10 assists & 4 steals 

Traore’s season-high 26 points were also the most by any player in Last 16, Week 4. Traore is averaging 18 points per game in the Last 16, which is second to only Nando De Colo’s 19.5 per game. Dubljevic was not only the only player to record a double-double this week, but his 10 rebounds were also the most boards gathered by any player. Dubljevic is tied for sixth in the Last 16 with 6 rebounds per game. Jonas Valanciunas of Rytas leads all Last 16 players with 9.8 rebounds per game. De Colo dished 10 assists for Valencia, which is the most in a Last 16 game this season and tied for the most in any game this season. De Colo also tied BCM Gravelines guard Yannick Bokolo for most steals in the week with 4. De Colo is the Last 16 leader in both assists, with 6.5 per game, and steals, with 2.8 per game. Valencia big man Florent Pietrus rejected 3 shots to lead all players. He is fourth in the Last 16 with 1.5 blocks per game. Valanciunas is the Last 16 leader with 2 per game.