Karlie Samuelson lands EuroCup Finals MVP award

Image credit: FIBA

Karlie Samuelson was crowned EuroCup Finals MVP after helping London Lions deliver a special title.

The sharpshooter contributed 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the second leg 81-70 triumph over Besiktas as the British side overturned a seven-point deficit.

Samuelson overcame a tough start to the Finals to finish with 16 points in the first leg defeat – with all of those points coming in the second half, including during a pivotal 12-0 run after London had trailed by 18 points.

Despite winning the MVP, she said it the trophy is what mattered.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said in the post game press conference.

“It’s exciting, but this is just a dogfight. Temi and I spoke a little bit in between these games, and (said) we just had to go, you know, balls to the wall, basically. And so, MVP, that’s great, but to me, (what means something) it’s the trophy.”

Her teammate Holly Winterburn didn’t hesitate to give her, her flowers.

“I mean, she got MVP on the court and you all see what a phenomenal player she is, but there’s no one in this earth that I would rather have a teammate than Karlie.

“She has been phenomenal from day one. On the court, off the court, we wouldn’t be where we are without Carly. She brings joy every single practice. She will dance, she will scream, she will shout. She’s brought us together like no on else and we’re not here without her. So MVP on the court, MVP in my heart.”

Big shots, big drives to the basket and big defensive stands, Samuelson has brought the energy all season for the Lions with 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game across the 16 appearances.

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