Breogán needed a win and delivered much more. The Spanish club dominated Rilski Sportist in Samokov (126-80) with the highest scoring output in club history in European competition and 22 three-pointers, another club record. First step of four needed to reach the Basketball Champions League group stage.
Brankovic Led the Way
The first standout performer was the Croatian center. Danko Brankovic dominated the opening with ease unusual for a continental debut: 13 points in the first quarter alone and 19 total, with perfect shooting. With him as the focal point, Breogán quickly built a 15-4 lead.
Some relaxation allowed Rilski to creep closer, with veteran Kostov finding space in penetration and mid-range, but a basket from Sergi Quintela left the first quarter at 25-16 and three-pointers from Aranitovic and a basket from Kasibabu early in the second quarter reopened the gap.
Ball Movement Found the Open Man Repeatedly
This is what Casimiro has been working on all summer. The defense showed minutes of communication and intensity, and the offense found the open player time and again: Aranitovic from beyond the arc, Mavra taking over as scorer, and Tevin Brown providing points and individual impact. A three-pointer from Brown at the buzzer made it 57-38 at halftime.
The third quarter started with a Bulgarian three-pointer that proved to be a mirage. Mavra's accuracy maintained the distance and a three-pointer with a foul from Brown made it 70-47, effectively putting the game away. From there it was a shooting exhibition: Kasibabu, Vicedo, Aranitovic, and Francis Alonso joined the three-point festival, with the latter chaining two three-pointers to extend the lead to 36 points before the end of the quarter (94-56).
The Numbers of the Night
The fourth quarter served to pad the statistics. A three-pointer from Andric pushed the team to 120 points, a club record in European competition, and the final score was 126-80.
The three-point shooting was otherworldly: 22 three-pointers on 36 attempts, 63 percent, another club record. But the victory was much more than marksmanship. Six players surpassed 10 points, Francis Alonso and Brankovic finished with 19, Tevin Brown and Dominik Mavra with 16, and the Croatian also distributed 13 assists.
What's Next
Thursday at 3:30 p.m. comes the second hurdle, presumably much more demanding: the quarterfinals against German side Würzburg Baskets or Manchester. After that would come the semifinal on Saturday and the final on Sunday, two games in just over twenty-four hours.
One of the four finals is complete. Three remain.