GTK Gliwice made a perfect start to their first Alpe Adria Cup season. The rallied past KK Sencur, got the easy 98:80-victory.
GTK Gliwice vs. KK Sencur GGD
98:80 (32:19, 57:41, 75:58)
Referees: Robert Mordal, Michal Kuzia, Krzysztof Krajewski (all POL).
Audience: 300.
Venue: Arena Gliwice.
Scorers GTK Gliwice: Dodd 18, LaChance 15, Mack 15, Radwanski 12, Dawkins 11, Piechowicz 9, Slupinski 9, Robak 4, Dawdo 2, Kiwilsza 2, Szlachetka 1.
Scorers KK Sencur GGD: Popadic 14, Rizvic 14, Morina 10, Muric 10, Seific 10, Martincic 8, Pavic 6, Novak 4, Gorjanc 2, Zadnik 2.
GALLERY & STATISTICS
The beginning of the game was really suprising. The newcomer, GTK started really good. Home team played very fast and aggresive defense which allowed them to stopp KK Sencur time and time again. The guests had a lot of problems with scoring and Gliwice take the opportunity to get points from easy fast breaks. After 5 minutes of play they led 17:8. It was really good time for Damonte Dodd, who used his power in the paint and scored easy buckets. After Riley LaChance’s buzzer beater GTK ended the first quarter with a 32:19-lead.
In the second quarter the game was much more equal. The guests tried to reduce their deficite, mostly thanks to Marko Popovic. On the other side of court the most active players were Riley LaChance and Marek Piechowicz. After Damonte Dodd’s tip in GTK led by 20 points (54:34), but KK Sencur were able to reduce to 16 points before the break.
The long break was better for the home team. They started the third quarter with a 7:0-tun. KK Sencur tried to down the tempo of GTKs game, which helped the Slovenians toplay better. The guests achieved a 12:2.run and reduced the deficite to 11 points (66:55). But the last moments of the third part GTK was more efficient. Due to good shape of Riley LaChance, who scored six points, the home team increased tis led up to 17 points (75:58).
The game was decided but GTK had not enough: They still wanted to score more points. They dominated Sencur and already led by as many as 31 points (90:59). But the guests didn’t want to give up. With GTKs young guys on the court, Sencur started to reduced the deficite in the last five minutes. In the end hte home team won 98:80.
Paweł Turkiewicz, head coach of Gliwice: “We are really satsfied from this game. Even though it is a pity that in final minutes we lost huge advantage and opponents reduced our led up to 18 points. I gave a chance to young players in the end of the game and it allowed KK Sencur improved result. My players showed big desire and determination and it allowed us to play really well in offense. It was good chance for us to prepare to play in the domestic league.”
Dawid Słupinski, player of Gliwice: “We was little afraid before the game. We are quite new team, it was our first appearance in european cup. Finally, we knew that it was not so difficult game for us. We managed to play good basketball and we deserve the quite big win. It was good opportunity to play one more game before the very important match for us in domestic league.”
Rade Mijanović, head coach of Sencur: “First of all congratulations to Gliwice, they definitly deserved the win. Our defense in the first quarter was not on a good level and we had a lot of problems to come back into the game. But still I am satisfied from our offense in this game.”
Marko Popadic, player of Sencur: “We open the game very badly.We lost many points from transition, so after that we could not came back. We did not have enough power to play at a better level today. But we still have chance to revenge on our home court. We need to prepare our defense to be more efficience.”
