The 23-years-old center scored 13 of his team-high 15 points in the third quarter
Kevin Kokila’s career night boosted Bourg in Venice
Article
3 Mins read
“Everyone must understand that this is not our real face,” said Umana Reyer Venice head coach Neven Spahija at the post-game press conference after his team lost at home to Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse by 22 points, 66-88, on Tuesday night. That loud and clear statement came as a result of missing four players in the game, including his best scorers Tyler Ennis (17.5 ppg.), Jordan Parks (11.0) and Xavier Munford (10.0).
Despite those absences, Reyer played well in the first 10 minutes against Bourg, which arrived in Italy with a 2-0 record and a deep and balanced roster. At the end of the first period, the teams were all square, 17-17, and Reyer could have been ahead if some good looks on offense had fallen in. On the other side, Bourg had a very bad start from the perimeter, being held scoreless from behind the arc.
The turnaround moment came in the second quarter as Bourg finally opened the door when Brando Paul hit his first three with just 15 seconds played. Then Adrian Nelson, Maxime Courby, Jordan Usher and Xavier Castaneda joined to combine for 6 more, leading the team to 7-of-14 shooting from deep for the team by halftime. As such, the visitors led 36-44 at the break, a prelude of what was to come after the intermission.
Kevin Kokila, who finished the first half with an index rating of -1 after going 1-of-3 from two, took over for Bourg and exploded with 13 points in less than 6 minutes. He was almost perfect from the field in that time, converting 4-of-5 two-pointers and hitting all 5 of his free-throw attempts in the third quarter. That awesome offensive run turned a 36-46 advantage right after the break into a 46-64 lead with 4 minutes left in the period. And when he finished producing, the game was already over.
Overall, Kokila finished with 15 points and 4 boards in 17:41, breaking his previous scoring record (11 points) that took place not this season, but in 2023, against another Italian team: Dolomiti Energia Trento.
Game Videos
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Pansa buries it! Magic Moment
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Kabengele with the circus shot! Magic Moment
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Magic Moment: Pansa swats Mokoka!
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Magic Moment: Kabengele finishes tough alley-oop!
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Magic Moment: Simms puts it back!
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![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/449befd0-a2a1-47e9-a7df-86c170244f6a.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A79]()
Magic Moment: Parks's alley-oop dunk!
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Magic Moment: Morgan blasts off!
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c62e85a0-5eba-4bf9-9413-bfae8d1f7ea7.jpg?crop=783%3A440%3Anowe%3A270%3A0]()
Magic Moment: Bourg's Benitez beats the buzzer!
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/77d0c994-0303-4a92-a411-f186442aa987.jpg?crop=1558%3A877%3Anowe%3A637%3A299]()
Magic Moment: Kokila with the swat!
- 03:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/09/5fAiwflOoamhHQO9FxWTAoSX4YDaVTTj-1712696388703.jpg]()
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- 00:29
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Magic Moment of the Night: Risacher dunks in traffic!
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/63c81299-081b-49fd-a4ca-3b96ffacd7e9.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A112%3A79]()
Magic Moment: Kokila's big block!
- 03:50
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/04/03/Gu0ttstNnkZflO73xDGIishOn1R5aeCb-1712175047744.jpg]()
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- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d3632d1a-8234-4045-90a5-6f46285e0274.jpg?crop=2400%3A1350%3Anowe%3A93%3A123]()
Magic Moment: Courby sends the home fans wild!
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b8e2abc8-8396-4438-bb3f-3c8dff88adf9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A144%3A44]()
Magic Moment: Mike pins Needham's layup attempt!
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4e05c677-c3c2-4815-927c-41c7000491b8.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Magic Moment: Risacher with the dunk!
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/371e4041-02a8-4f62-a45a-fe5641a0613d.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A173%3A80]()
Magic Moment: Morgan gets the block on Mathews!
- 03:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/29/wFzMjBaYmufyWvA8eIAnmIq62ihQp2ad-1711743836483.jpg]()
Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Semifinals Game 2 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/63c81299-081b-49fd-a4ca-3b96ffacd7e9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A123%3A72]()
Magic Moment: Kokilia pins it!
“I feel great,” he recognized after the game. “We played a good game, collectively, especially in the third quarter. That's what gave us the win. It's real great to start three-zero in this competition.”
But Kokila didn’t look at the offense as an asset to keep and develop in the future. Among the things Bourg showed in this game Kokila considers important, one is required on the other side of the court: “The intensity in defense,” he stressed. “We cut the passes, we stole the ball out and that let us run on the full court and that’s why we won tonight.”