London Lions heading to EuroCup Semi-Finals

London Lions

London Lions men joined the women’s side with making history this week, as they become the first British team to reach the EuroCup Semi Finals with a 79-91 victory over Cluj Napoca, in EuroCup action at the BT-Arena on Wednesday evening.

Following the success of their female counterparts who have reached the EuroCup Women Finals, Lions rode a masterful performance from Sam Dekker who finished with 21 points, either rebounds, four assists and four steals.

London took command of the game in the first quarter with their incredible defence fuelling their offence as Dekker punctuated his team’s effort with a buzzer beater to end the first quarter.

The Lions stayed in control in the second quarter, pushing their lead to 14 points at the end of the quarter.

https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1767966312033071604?t=6AyNpEmwepw5yEwPxj3Yuw&s=19

The hosts came back in the third quarter with more intensity cutting the deficit to single digits but Lions had an answer for every run, including a last gasp 10-0 effort in the fourth.

✔️ @LondonLions is a Semifinals team!#RoadToGreatness pic.twitter.com/ZzWmVAFEj0

— BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) March 13, 2024

“I am so proud our team, I am so proud of our coaching staff, our whole organisation,” said Player of the Game, Sam Dekker.

“We have been through a lot the last two years. I am really proud to be a part of this and helping to grow it into something special,”

David Nwaba tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and four steals as five London players scored in double digits.

Bryce Jones led Cluj Napoca as he scored a game-high 23 points, with Dennis Seeley and Mareks Mejeris both adding 15.

The Lions will face the winner of the Paris Basketball and Joventut Badalona match up in a Semi Finals best-of-three series.

Box score.

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