Round 12 MVP: Kenan Kamenjas, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
A career night saw Buducnost VOLI Podgorica forward Kenan Kamenjas earn Round 12 MVP honors with a PIR of 34, the highest of any winning player this week.
Kamenjas was dominant throughout as Buducnost beat Dolomiti Energia Trento 110-108 in overtime, with the 24-year-old posting an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double – the fourth double-double in his 33-game BKT EuroCup career. His 18 points came on 6-of-8 shooting on two-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws, while 3 of his 11 rebounds came on the offensive end. Kamenjas also had 4 assists and 1 steal for a combined PIR of 34, which is a new career high. This is the first time that Kamenjas has earned MVP of the Round honors. This is the 10th time that a Buducnost player has secured this accolade.
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul guard Kyle Allman had the highest index rating in Round 12 with a 36 PIR, but it came in defeat as his team fell 109-101 on the road at Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. Allman amassed 26 points on 6-of-9 two-pointers, 3-of-5 three-pointers and 5-of-11 free throws, as well as 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
Hapoel’s Antonio Blakeney and Umana Reyer Venice’s Mfiondu Kabengele both shared a 31 PIR, the third-best mark in this round. Blakeney netted 27 points on 4-of-7 two-pointers, 5-of-6 three-pointers and 4-of-5 free throws, in addition to grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing 2 assists. Kabengele had a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double, as well as 1 steal and 1 block in Reyer’s 99-102 win at Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki’s Trey Woodbury and Turk Telekom Ankara’s Kyle Alexander round out the list of top performers in Round 12, each with a 29 PIR.
Individual highs: Kyle Alexander, Turk Telekom, 6 blocks
Antonio Blakeney of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv scored a round-high 27 points. Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem is the leading scorer this season with 22.8 points per game.
Derek Ogbeide of Jerusalem grabbed 14 rebounds, the most of any player in Round 12. Reyer’s Mfiondu Kabengele leads the way in rebounds with 10.1 boards per night.
Hugo Benitez of Bourg dished 9 assists, more than anyone else in this round. U-BT Cluj-Napoca’s Zavier Simpson is the top assist provider with 7.2 per contest.
Three players recorded 5 steals in Round 12: Kyle Alexander of Turk Telekom, Dustin Sleva of Besiktas, and DJ Stewart of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Jerusalem’s Tarik Phillip is first in steals with 2.1 per night.
Kyle Alexander blocked 6 shots, the most of any player this season. Alexander tops the charts in blocks with 1.9 per game.
Buducnost’s Kenan Kamenjas (18 points, 11 rebounds), Mfiondu Kabengele (26 points, 10 rebounds), Kyle Alexander (11 points, 10 rebounds), Veolia Towers Hamburg’s Kur Kuath (14 points, 11 rebounds), DJ Stewart (13 points, 11 rebounds), Reyer’s Jordan Parks (13 points, 10 rebounds), Bahcesehir College Istanbul’s Tyler Cavanaugh (10 points, 10 rebounds), Cluj’s De’Shawn Stephens (12 points, 10 rebounds), and Jerusalem’s Derek Ogbeide (10 points, 14 rebounds) all posted a double-double in Round 12.