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EBA Season Tips Off
The European Basketball Association's first game was a low scoring affair, as the Berlin Lions defeated the Barcelona Conquistadors at home, 69-68. Emanual Davis, recently signed by the Detroit Pistons, led the Lions with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while LaPhonso Ellis led the way for Barcelona, with 28 points and 10 rebounds. After a closely fought battle, the Lions emerged as the first team ever to win an EBA game.
"It feels good to put my team in the record books," said Emanual Davis after the game. "Hopefully, we'll keep winning and I'll get a chance to show my skills with the Pistons."
Davis has played in the UEBA in the past with such teams as the Hawks, Sonics, and Rockets. He has averages of 4.9ppg and 1.8apg throughout his 6-year UEBA career.
Although Davis was the best player on the winning team, there is no doubt that the best player in the game was LaPhonso Ellis. In Ellis' opinion, he was past up by many UEBA teams this off-season, who ended up signing lesser players.
"The team that most upset me was the Hornets," said Ellis. "I thought they were really interested in me, and I really believed that they were going to sign me. But then they went and signed Steve Smith. He's as slow as molasses and all he does is sit outside and shoot jumpers. Hopefully I won't be ignored by teams much longer."
LaPhonso Ellis has averaged 11.9ppg and 6.5rpg during his 11-year UEBA career.
The second game of the EBA season was between the Stockholm Knights and the Rome Dragons. It was another very close game, but the Knights ended up winning, 83-81, spoiling Rome's home-opener. The stars for the Knights were veterans Dell Curry and Popeye Jones, and rookie Tommy Smith. The three players combined for 46 points and 20 rebounds, while Steven Hunter had 12 points, and guard Dana Barros added 11.
The shining star of this game, however, was second-year guard, Jiri Welsch. Welsch was taken 16th overall in the 2002 Draft by the Golden State Warriors, then was traded twice this off-season. He finally ended up with the Celtics, who just recently announced sending him to Rome to play with the Dragons. Welsch had 25 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in the loss. Also contributing for the Dragons were Free Agent forwards Michael Bradley, with 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Walt Williams, who had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
The EBA's inaugural season is definitely off to a fantastic start, and the Lions will try to improve their record to 2-0, as they face the Madrid Explorers in the league's next game.
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Points Per Game LaPhonso Ellis - 28.0
Rebounds Per Game Popeye Jones - 13.0
Assists Per Game Rusty LaRue - 6.0
Blocks Per Game Szymon Szewczyk - 3.0 Mario Austin - 3.0
Steals Per Game Xue Yuyang - 3.0
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