Levski got the bronze in a drama

21-05-2008 21:57

Levski managed to get to the bronze medals after a real drama and overtime in the third decisive game against Spartak Pleven in Triadica Hall - 76-75. The home side was leading almost all the game, but in the last period Spartak managed to turn things around, and the regular time finished with a score of 70-70.

Levski lead it 38-36 at halftime, and after the break their lead went up to 5 points, but Hrisi Dimitrov was keeping Pleven in the game. Spartak fell in foul trouble, after Todor Todorov and Sasa Topchov both had 4 personal fouls, as Topchov had 4 even before halftime. He managed to keep himself from sitting on the bench for 5 fouls for quite a long period, before fouling out in the fourth period. Levski had a 7-point lead at the end of the third, thanks to Vesko Veselinov, but Hrisimir Dimitrov made Pleven's losing only 4 points - 58-54 after 30 minutes.

In the fourth period Spartak tied it for 58-58, and the game was close again, but after Levski went ahead with 2, and Spartak tied it again, the team from Pleven ahd the lead, as they made a turnaround - 64-70. Levski made a final run, as Yuli Radionov scored a three-pointer for 64-70, and after a lay-up he made it 69-70. Levski had the last possesion, and Radionov was fouled, but he only scored one of the free-throws and the game went into overtime.

In the decisive 5 minutes both teams made too much turnovers, and after 3 minutes of play they have scored a total of 3 points. Slaveikov woke up with a three-pointer for 74-72, but Hrisi Dimitrov made it 74-75. Slaveikov scored 2 points with 8 seconds to go for 76-75, and Abrams missed a hard shot with the buzzer.

Hrisimir Dimitrov had 37 points and 13 rebounds for 45 minutes of play, and his ranking was 45. Sasa Topchov was the only other player from Pleven to score in double digits (14), and only him and Todorov had a double-digit rating.

For Levski all of the starters scored 11 points or more. Stefan Georgiev had 20 for just 28 minutes in play. Toro also had 7 rebounds. Stanislav Slaveikov had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

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