Saporta Cup: Final First Round Standings
Saporta Cup: Towers prop up Saporta group despite Lewis blast
Haribo London Towers ended their disappointing Saporta Cup campaign with defeat in Belgium, losing 109-101 to BBC Okapi Aalst. The result leaves Towers in sixth and last place in their group and caps British teams in European competition which followed the exit of capital rivals Leopards in the preliminary round of the Korac Cup.
But at least Danny Lewis once again left his mark on the tournament, notching a terrific 47 points against the Belgians who will join the Towers on the sidelines when this competition resumes in the New Year.
It was not the prettiest of send-offs for either side in a match plagued by technical fouls, not least that awarded to Towers' coach Ron Abegglen with eight minutes remaining. It was his second of the game and the ensuing free throw pt the Belgians into a lead which they would not again relinquish.
It was hard luck on the Londoners who had led 51-55 at half-time, mainly through Lewis' scoring efforts as he engaged in a personal battle with Mike Doyle of Aalst who ended on 29 points.
Topping the group are Darussafaka, who gained their eighth win in ten games with a 88-79 defeat of Plannja Lulea in Istanbul.
Croatia Split jumped into second spot after taking a 72-84 victory in Milan, who earlier in the day had announced that LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant had purchased a 50% share in the Italian club.
The final standings leave British basketball covering its blushes and will make the case harder to earn a valuable Euro League place next season as has been strongly mooted by FIBA. On this evidence however, it would be wasted.
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