The Frankfurt Skyliners and the Rostock Seawolves have celebrated their first wins of the new EuroCup season. Frankfurt came from 13 points down to beat Siauliai 79–71, whilst Rostock edged out Riga Zelli 87–86 in a dramatic finish.
Klepeisz scores at the right moment: Skyliners turn a wild game around
The Frankfurt Skyliners have celebrated their first victory of the new EuroCup season. Coach Klaus Perwas’s side overcame a 13-point deficit at one stage against Siauliai Basketball and secured a 79–71 victory in their home opener. Judah Mintz led the Hessians with 16 points.
After an evenly matched start, the visitors took control in the second quarter and went into half-time with a 35–28 lead. By the middle of the third quarter, Frankfurt were already trailing 34–47, but fought their way back to 49–52 by the end of the third. In the final quarter, the Skyliners stepped up their defensive pressure and regained the lead after several steals.
With the score at 69–69, Thomas Klepeisz hit a crucial three-pointer, after which Radii Caisin also scored from distance. Frankfurt finished the match with a 10–2 run. Alongside Mintz, Nahiem Alleyne impressed with twelve points, whilst Caisin and Roman Bedime each scored eleven. Bedime also grabbed eleven rebounds. Turnovers proved decisive: Frankfurt committed just six, whilst Siauliai gave away 16.
Copeland keeps his cool: Seawolves scrape their first win
The Rostock Seawolves have celebrated their first win of the new EuroCup season. Coach Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz’s side secured an 87–86 victory over Riga Zelli in a dramatic clash during their home debut. Martynas Varnas’s three-pointer as the final buzzer sounded did nothing to alter the hosts’ narrow victory.
Rostock trailed 20–26 after the first quarter but went into half-time with a narrow 42–41 lead. The match then became a closely fought affair with the lead changing hands frequently. Riga went into the final quarter leading 66–64, driven primarily by Tony Perkins, who scored 35 points. For the Seawolves, Owen Klassen impressed under the basket, recording a double-double with 14 points and twelve rebounds.
In the closing stages, Tyler Wahl levelled the score for Riga at 83–83. Artur Konontsuk then put Rostock back in front with two free throws, before a steal by Dominic Lockhart paved the way for the decisive moment. Zach Copeland scored both free throws with one second remaining to make it 87–83; Varnas could only reduce the deficit to the final score. Konontsuk and Klassen each scored 14 points, whilst Copeland finished with 13.