Tsmoki Minsk cruise to victory over Szolnoki Olaj KK in Eurochallenge

The Belarusian basketball club Tsmoki Minsk have finished the first round of the 2013 Eurochallenge group round with a victory over Hungary’s Szolnoki Olaj KK on 20 November.

The hosts won the game at Minsk Arena against their Group H opponents Szolnoki Olaj KK with a score of 76:68 (22:24, 20:16, 6:19, 28:9). During the match the hosts were over ten points behind but the final quarter turned out to be a decisive one, the Belarusian club mounting an U-turn. Tsmoki Minsk’s U.S. internationals helped the team win that night as Perry Petty and Keith Benson scored 15 and 14 points respectively. Their compatriot Demonte Harper earned nine points.

This is the second victory for head coach Donaldas Kairys’ side in the 2103 edition of the Eurochallenge. In the previous away game in Bulgaria Tsmoki Minsk defeated Rilski Sportist Samokov 78:73. 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.

The Group H standings after two tours are as follows: Tsmoki Minsk 5 points, Szolnoki Olaj KK 5 points, BC Mures 4 points, and Rilski Sportist Samokov 4 points.

Tsmoki Minsk are to play three more games in the first group round of the Eurochallenge:

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 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.