Defeats for Cedevita and Zvezda at Top 16 opening

Both ABA League representatives in the Euroleague Top 16 were defeated in the opening games of the second phase of Euroleague. Zvezda lost by a point to Anadolu Efes in Istanbul, while Cedevita were without a chance at home in Zagreb against Lokomotiv Kuban.

Cedevita were just not good enough to beat the obstacle named Lokomotiv Kuban this time at their first Euroleague Top 16 appearance at home in Dražen Petrović Arena in Zagreb. The home side resisted well in the opening quarter, which they even won by five points, while Lokomotiv took control of the game in the second quarter, went to the big break with a lead of 9 points and did not let go of it until the very end. Cedevita"s top scorer this time was James White with 14 points. Miro Bilan and Luka Žorić added 12 each.

Crvena zvezda Telekom have shown a brave performance in Istanbul against Anadolu Efes. Dejan Radonjić"s squad were up by a double digit number of points by half time (54:44), but did not manage to hold on to the lead until the end of the contest. Dušan Ivković"s team turned the game around in the last quarter, which they have won by 12 and won by only a point in the end. For Crvena zvezda Telekom, Maik Zirbes had 22 points, while Quincy Miller added 12.

Euroleague Top 16, Group E, Round 1, Wednesday, 29.12.2015:

Dunston 21, Granger and Diebler 13; Zirbes 22, Miller 12.