Matt Thomas playing with Valencia BC in Spain

[I-stateTheTruth]

COOL STORY: Matt Thomas and Melvin Ejim are facing each other in the Semi-finals of the EuroCup. Matt's Valencia took Game 1 of the Best-of-3). I guess we were busy with other hoops and didn't notice this (I can't believe ISU MBB hasn't tweeted about it). This is the 2nd highest competition in Europe and Melvin is playing for UNICS Kazan of Russia.

Matt and Melvin are both blogging about their season. Matt mentioned Melvin in the then upcoming series (though Melvin didn't mention Matt in his). Matt: "We are set to play UNICS Kazan in the semis. Again I will face off against a former teammate. Melvin Ejim and I played together for one year in college at Iowa State. I don't think I've seen him since school, so I'm looking forward to catching up. It's cool how basketball can bring people back together like this." (He talks about other aspects of his experience playing in Europe): https://www.eurocupbasketball.com/e...tt-thomas-i-m-eager-and-excited-for-the-semis)

Game 1 was in Valencia and Valencia took it 69-65. Melvin's line: 12 PTS, 26 MIN, 5-7 FG, 1-2 3PT and 5 REB.

Matt's line was 13 PTS, 21 MIN, 5-7 3PT, 2-4 3PT, Both ex-Cyclones started.

I couldn't find any pics of the two together; I found this shot of Matt being congratulated:

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Cyclone hoops twitter, getting in on my scoop

 

[Cyrocks]

COOL STORY: Matt Thomas and Melvin Ejim are facing each other in the Semi-finals of the EuroCup. Matt's Valencia took Game 1 of the Best-of-3). I guess we were busy with other hoops and didn't notice this (I can't believe ISU MBB hasn't tweeted about it). This is the 2nd highest competition in Europe and Melvin is playing for UNICS Kazan of Russia.

Matt and Melvin are both blogging about their season. Matt mentioned Melvin in the then upcoming series (though Melvin didn't mention Matt in his). Matt: "We are set to play UNICS Kazan in the semis. Again I will face off against a former teammate. Melvin Ejim and I played together for one year in college at Iowa State. I don't think I've seen him since school, so I'm looking forward to catching up. It's cool how basketball can bring people back together like this." (He talks about other aspects of his experience playing in Europe): https://www.eurocupbasketball.com/e...tt-thomas-i-m-eager-and-excited-for-the-semis)

Game 1 was in Valencia and Valencia took it 69-65. Melvin's line: 12 PTS, 26 MIN, 5-7 FG, 1-2 3PT and 5 REB.

Matt's line was 13 PTS, 21 MIN, 5-7 3PT, 2-4 3PT, Both ex-Cyclones started.

I couldn't find any pics of the two together; I found this shot of Matt being congratulated:

Very cool.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Matt vs. Melvin -- and Matt on to a European championship: Matt's Valencia team took the EuroCup semi-final series (2-0) over Melvin Ejim's UNICS Kazan this evening in Russia, 79-73. Both ex-Cyclones started but Matt had the better game. He tied for the leading scorer in the game; his line: 24 MIN, 15 PTS, 3-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 7-7 FT, 2 REB, 3 AST and an un-Monte like 4 TO. He hit two FT in the last minute to help ice the win.

Melvin only had 2 shots taken until he hit a 3 in the last two minutes. He ended up with 17 MIN played and 5 PTS.



Matt and the boys celebrating:



Short post-game inteview with Matt:

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Chris Williams scooped me on Matt Thomas' brilliant shooting this weekend but I'll post an update anyway. Matt went OFF on Joventut (good club - first time I saw Drazen Petrovic, he was playing for them) in the Spanish league, with 7/9 shooting from 3 and 27 points in 22 minutes of PT. He added 4 rebounds and was +20. His scoring total was the highest in the Spanish league this weekend. Here are his 3's; check out the 2nd one, falling out of bounds on the left side:



(I love the caption -- "Matt Thomas' wrist" in Spanish)

The win against Joventut moved them firmly into 4th place, which is important to qualify for intra-European competition next year.

So Valencia is set to play in the finals of one of the two big Euro championships (the EuroCup), the week of APR 9 to 15, in a best-of-three series against ALBA of Berlin. They knocked out Melvin Ejim's team 2-0 in the semis to advance.

 

[SCNCY]

In European basketball, do they rotate players more often, it seems like the minutes played for the starters seems low.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

In European basketball, do they rotate players more often, it seems like the minutes played for the starters seems low.

Matt's team really does. Not sure how typical that is. They have a good, deep roster and games are 40 minutes but hardly anyone seems to play more than 26 for Valencia. They'll even rotate starters for league games vs. European cup games, it seems. Matt has generally started in the European ones but has come off the bench for some Spanish league games.

 

[Cyientist]

Is Thomas taking Dirk off the bounce? I didn't know he was in the Euro league already!

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Is Thomas taking Dirk off the bounce? I didn't know he was in the Euro league already![/QUOTE

Haha. He DOES look Dirk.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Matt Thomas' Valencia team starts their best-of-3 final in the EuroCup against ALBA of Berlin on Tuesday. They're using Matt's image on the promo because Cyclones are good-looking:



Today, Valencia eaked out a 73-72 win in the Spanish league vs. Andorra. Matt had 8 PTS in 20 MIN on 3-9 shooting (2-4 from 3PT). He was a starter (Valencia played 12 guys between 7 and 24 minutes each; they go a bit deeper than CSP).

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Since it was halftime of the Tech-MSU game, I looked up ALBA Berlin's roster to see who Valencia would be facing. Not gonna lie - there are some good players on that team.

In the starting line-up is Luke Sikma (U of Portland - son of newly elected HOFer Jack Sikma) who played for Valencia the last 2 seasons. Also starting are Peyton Siva (Louisville) and Niels Giffey (on the effing 2014 UConn team).

Coming off the bench, guys with ties to the USA are Dennis Clifford (Michigan, G League, cup of coffee in NBA), Derrick Walton (Boston College), and Kenneth Ogbe (Utah Valley State).

They also have a 17-year old named Franz Wagner who I wonder if he's related to Mo Wagner of Michigan / NBA fame). Or possibly to the composer ...

 

[Dandy]

<———-

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Big win for Matt Thomas' squad in the EuroCup final: Matt and the guys from Valencia Basket Club won game 1 of the-best-of-3 series vs. Peyton Siva and ALBA Berlin yesterday in Valencia, 89-75. Matt started and played 20 MIN and had 16 PTS (4-5 from 3 PT). They can clinch this championship with a win on Friday in Berlin.

I checked and they've played 21 games in this competition so it's been a long road (they will play about 30 in the Spanish league itself).

If you're interested in highlights, here's a clip (one of Matt's 3's is in there):

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I also found this 2-minute video of Matt Thomas highlights in the Eurocup prior to the final series vs. ALBA. It's mostly Matt draining 3's if you miss seeing that (although in orange, he looks like he's playing for Oky State). He's such a pure shooter that I've showed kids that I'm coaching images of him shooting to see how he places his hand, aligns his elbow etc.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Matt Thomas' Valencia team plays for the EuroCup final against ALBA Berlin on Friday evening (Berlin time). If they lose, it goes to Game 3.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Nice interview with Matt - and video of his only professional dunk - ahead of today's EuroCup final Game 2:

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Disappointing evening for Matt in Berlin -- Valencia had a chance to clinch the EuroCup final and had a 3-pt lead with 17 seconds to go in regulation but ended up losing 95-92 in Overtime. Reading the play-by-play, ex Louisville Cardinal Peyton Siva scored a 2-pt bucket with 0:02 left in regulation to tie it up. ALBA Berlin had led for the first 3 quarters but Valencia made a push in the 4th to take as much as a 5-pt lead. So the best-of-3 sits at 1 game apiece.

ALBA has a reputation for a good atmosphere and there was a Hilton-like 14k in attendance.

Matt didn't start (I have NO IDEA how their coach decides lineups and playing time) and was not in during crunch time in the 4th. He checked in during the first minute of OT and missed all three of his shots, including a 3 with 17 seconds left (down 1 at the time) and one with a second left that would have tied it.

Matt's final line: 5 PTS, 1-5 3 PT, 2-2 FT, 2 REB and 15 MIN of PT.

I'll have to check when / where Game 3 will be played.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

In the 3rd - and deciding - game in the EuroCup finals, our Ice Man is going OFF. He was 4 for 5 from 3 in the first half. Valencia leads by 10+ early in the 2nd and Matt is the leading scorer so far with 16 points. I'll post more info once the game is finished.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Half-time interview with Matt from Game 3 of the EuroCup:

 

[Cycsk]

Cyclone hoops twitter, getting in on my scoop

"I think our arena and fans give us a great home-court advantage" - Matt Thomas

Euro-Hilton?