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FIBA Europe - Mazzarino hailed after Cantu win

/noticias.info/ CANTU (EuroCup) - Vertical Vision Cantu coach Stefano Sacripanti hailed the contribution of guard Nicolas Mazzarino after the Italian team's 97-76 win over Nancy in the opening game of the EuroCup for both sides.

Cantu flashed their championship credentials, with Kebu Stewart pouring in 28 points and pulling down 18 rebounds but Mazzarino was the player who excited Sacripanti most.

With the team short on guards - Nate Johnson can only play in Lega A and Germany international Misan Nikagbatse was injured - Mazzarino ran the point and scored 15 points in 35 minutes.

He was four of eight from three-point range, and Cantu as a team were 16 of 28 from the arc.

"I'm really happy for Mazzarino because he's played as a playmaker throughout the game without having the support of (Misan) Nikagbatse," Sacripanti said.

The sky appears to be the limit for Cantu at the moment, a team which last won an Italian championship in 1981.

They have claimed four straight wins in Italy and now they are 1-0 in Europe.

Nancy, last season's runners-up in France against Strasbourg, should have been tougher opponents.

They did play well in the first quarter, and the game was tied at 19-19 but Cantu then began to pull away.

Sacripanti said: "I am happy my team have faced this team with the right spirit. My players have maintained their concentration throughout the game.

"We've been able to disrupt their play and we steadily got better on defence."

Even Nancy coach Jean-Luc Monschau admitted his team were second best.

"I have to compliment Cantu, who have played very well and have been able to take advantage of their high three-point shooting percentage," he said.

"This has been a good experience for my team, considering we have so many young players."

What took some of the shine off the night's performance for Cantu was that not many people turned out to watch.

Attendance was only 1,100 at the Pala Vertical Vision.

Top flight football was played in Italy on the same night.

"It's been a pity not to have so many people come to the game," Sacripanti said.

"Maybe Serie A has stolen some of our spectators because for us, this was an important game considering we will have to play our next three EuroCup games away from home." notas_de_prensa_archivo