Levski eliminated Yambol, qualified for the semifinal playoffs

Levski eliminated Yambol

29-04-2008 21:28

Levski beat Yambol for second time in three days and qualified for the Semifinals in Playoffs 2008. This time the team of coach Julian Aladjov won away by the score 89-80. Despite the great support of the home crowd in Yambol they couldn’t manage to win and push the series to third decisive game in the series. With the loss Yambol ended the season at the seventh place. They led in the score for 36 minutes but that fact didn’t help.

The host team started the game very well and few fast breaks took the early lead. Great in those minutes was their point guard Stanislav Govedarov who managed 11 points in the first quarter plus organized the attack of his team very well.

In the beginning of second quarter though he received very doubtful fourth foul and right after that and technical fifth as well. Yambol left without their leading scorer and best guard. Despite that they were very motivated, played well in defense and kept the score in their favor. At the break Yambol were up by seven points, 46-39 but everybody was expecting tough 20 second half minutes.

In the third quarter Yambol even led by 14 points. Both ukrainian players Kirylo Skumatov and Vadim Reka played well and had control under the basket. Good minutes for his team had Ivan Marchev as well. At the end of third quarter after several mistakes of the home team Levski took advantage of it and cut the distance to only 6.

In the beginning of the last 10 minutes Stoyo Cholakov was fouled out and that put in real trouble the home team. Without him and Govedarov Yambol had big problems getting the ball in the opposite court. Levski turn the tempo little, started to play zone defense and after 13-0 run tied the score up at 75 apiece. Skumatov left the floor for 5 personal fouls and that really decided the outcome of the game in the visitors way.

Reka was the best scorer for Yambol with 17 points and he also grabbed 13 rebounds. Skumatov ended with 16.

Stanislav Slaveykov played great for the visiting team with double double performance – 20 points and 13 rebounds. Youngsters Hristo Zahariev and Asen Velikov scored 12 points apiece.

This coming Monday Levski will play versus Balkan in the first semifinal game of this year playoffs.

FULL STATS FROM THE GAME YAMBOL - LEVSKI