Eurocup Round 5 co-MVPs: Marko Pecarski and Axel Bouteille

Pecarski helped Lietkabelis record its first win of the campaign, having dominated in an 84-80 win over the previously unbeaten Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse. Pecarski had a career-high 34 PIR and scored a career-best 22 points on perfect shooting after going 8 for 8 on two-pointers, 1 for 1 from three-point range and 3 for 3 on free throws. His 22 points without missing a shot are the eighth most in EuroCup history and a record for a Lietkabelis player. Pecarski also posted 8 rebounds, his second-highest tally this season, and tied his career high with 2 blocks. He drew 3 fouls, too. Bouteille led Bahcesehir to a 75-92 road win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. He had a season-high 21 points on 5-of-6 two-pointers, 3-of-7 three-pointers and 2-of-3 free throws, adding a career-high 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 fouls drawn for a PIR of 34, his highest mark in 78 EuroCup career games.

The third-best PIR in Round 5 belonged to Dreamland Gran Canaria’s Miquel Salvo, who had a career-best 32 PIR in his team’s 125-78 win over ratiopharm Ulm. Salvo netted a career-high 20 points, going 2 for 3 on two-pointers, 2 for 2 on three-pointers and 10 for 11 on free throws, while he also recorded 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 6 drawn fouls. His +36 in the plus-minus column is the second-highest mark of any player this season. Jaka Blazic of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana posted a PIR of 29 after amassing 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in his team’s 75-82 win at Aris Midea Thessaloniki. Rounding out the list of top performers is Umana Reyer Venice’s Rodney McGruder, who had a PIR of 28 on his club and EuroCup debut, as the guard finished with 28 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 4 steals in an 80-68 win against Veolia Towers Hamburg.