Top 16 Week 4 MVP: Tiago Splitter, Tau Ceramica

A triumphant return from personal misfortune and family tragedy saw a signature Euroleague superstar earn MVP honors for Top 16, Week 4. All-Euroleague center Tiago Splitter put on a near-perfect performance as Tau Ceramica moved nearer to Quarterfinal Playoffs qualification by dominating Armani Jeans Milano 74-107 on the road Wednesday in Group D. It was Splitter's first Top 16 game after an injury and the tragic passing of his teenage sister earlier in February as she lost a long battle with leukemia. In his first games after returning, Splitter helped Tau win the Spanish King's Cup last weekend. And on Wednesday, he put on an impressive show of force and skill as Tau blew out Milano to break their part of a tie for first place in Group D. Despite playing less than 21 minutes, Splitter had 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. He made all 7 of his two-point shots and 5 of 7 free throws to finish with a performance index rating of 28. Most importantly, Splitter and Tau are one step closer to the Quarterfinal Playoffs and the chance to try for their fifth consecutive Final Four together. Following in second place for the week was another superstar center, Nikola Vujcic, who led Olympiacos to an 84-71 home win against Asseco Prokom with 20 points on 10-for-13 two-point shooting, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, good for a 27 index rating. In the same game, David Logan of Prokom had 24 points, 3 assists and 6 steals for a 25 index rating, which tied him for third place this week with Erazem Lorbek of CSKA Moscow, who posted also posted 14 points and 12 rebounds in his team's big home win against Montepaschi Siena. Lorbek's CSKA teammate, J.R Holden, was fifth with a 24 index rating based on 5 three-pointers, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to complete the top individual performances for Top 16 Week 4.

Individual highs: Omar Cook of Unicaja, 8 assists

Carlos Arroyo of Maccabi Electra was the best scorer of Top 16 Week 4 with 26 points in a losing effort against Real Madrid. Three players - Louis Bullock of Real Madrid, Igor Rakocevic of Tau Ceramica and Mirsad Turkcan of Fenerbahce Ulker - tie as the Top 16's overall scoring leaders with 19 points per game each. Lorbek's 12 rebounds led the weekly standings in that category while Turkcan, the Euroleague's all-time top rebounder, heads the Top 16 list, too, with 9 per game. Omar Cook of Unicaja dished 8 assists, more than anyone this week, in his team's overtime home loss against Partizan. Former Euroleague MVP Theo Papaloukas of Olympiacos leads the Top 16 assists table at 5.5 per game. Logan and his Prokom teammate Qyntel Woods each collected 6 steals against Olympiacos. Logan also leads the Top 16 standings with 4.3 steals per night. Six players - Splitter, Alan Anderson of Cibona, Nikola Pekovic of Panathinaikos, Panos Vasilopoulos of Olympiacos, Stephane Lasme of Partizan and Ben Eze of Montepaschi Siena - each had 2 blocks this week. Fran Vazquez (2.5 bpg.) is the Top 16's best shot blocker so far. Only Lorbek and Giannis Bourousis of Olympiacos were able registered double-doubles in Top 16 Week 4, both in points and rebounds.