MINSK, 6 November (BelTA) - The Belarusian basketball club Tsmoki Minsk did not have the best of matches as they have lost in the first game of the 2013 Eurochallenge, BelTA has learnt.
In the first match of qualifying Group H Tsmoki Minsk, coached by Lithuanian Donaldas Kairys, were narrowly defeated by Romania’s BC Mures 79:83 (24:17, 18:27, 19:15, 18:24). The game began with Tsmoki Minsk’s attacks and the Belarusian side were in control of the match and sometimes were 10 points ahead. However, in the second quarter the guests mounted a comeback and were ahead. The see-saw game continued until the end of the fourth quarter when the Romanian side managed to score more points than their opponents and finally won the tie.
Tsmoki Minsk’s U.S. international Keith Benson top-scored for the Belarusian side with 17 points, while his compatriot Perry Petty scored 15 points. BC Mures’ Goran Martinic of Montenegro led the way with 31 points.
Tsmoki Minsk, who are in Group H together with Bulgaria’s Rilski Sportist Samokov and Hungary’s Szolnoki Olaj KK, will play five more games in the Eurochallenge:
13 November: Rilski Sportist Samokov vs. Tsmoki Minsk
20 November: Tsmoki Minsk vs. Szolnoki Olaj KK
3 December: BC Mures vs. Tsmoki Minsk
10 December: Tsmoki Minsk vs. Rilski Sportist Samokov
17 December: Szolnoki Olaj KK vs. Tsmoki Minsk
Two best-placed teams from each of the eight qualifying groups will enter the second group round where they will be drawn into four groups. These matches are scheduled for January-February 2014. The winners of the four groups enter the playoff of the Eurochallenge.
Last season Tsmoki Minsk managed to get out of the first group round for the first time in their history but later they failed to advance to the playoff round. The Eurochallenge is the third most important European basketball club tournament.
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