Cibona basketball players were better at home than the French Elan Chalon in the first match of the FIBA Eurocup quarterfinal with 87-85 (22-23, 26-25, 20-20, 19-17)
The duel of teams of equal quality saw neither of them holding an advantage larger than six points at any moment, with Cibona managing a minimal advantage in the very finish ahead of the return game in Chalo-sur-Marne in 13 days, Jutarnji List wrote on March 8, 2017.
Excellent defence in the finish gave Cibona the ability to turn a 78-80 score into an 85-80 lead, but Bouteille scored a three-pointer for 85-83 with 13 seconds to go. Until the end Reynolds scored for 87-83, but then Robertson made two free throws to reach 87-85. Cibona had one more attack, but Rozić’s corner three-point attempt was not precise.
Scotty Reynolds led Cibona with 20 points and 15 assists, captain Marin Rozić added 17 points, while at Chalon John Robertson made 39 points.
