The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

This week produced varying results for Bahamian pro basketball players as their postseason runs continued in their respective leagues throughout Europe and South America.

Zane Knowles and Levski Sofia staved off elimination in Bulgaria’s NBL semifinal against Balkan Botevgrad last night.

The veteran centre nearly posted a double double with nine points and 11 rebounds in a 66-56 win and his club now trails the best of five series 2-1.

In game one, Knowles came off the bench to finish with eight points and four rebounds in an 80-74 loss. Moved into the starting lineup for game two, he finished with 17 points and five rebounds in a 76-72 loss.

Last season while preparing for the season in Hungary with Zalakerámia ZTE KK, Knowles sought treatment for what he described as a minor hamstring injury when doctors discovered a rare Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) that required surgery.

In eight games since he returned to play, he has returned to form with averages of 16.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Aaron Levarity and his Svendborg Rabbits of the Basketligaen, the highest level of basketball in Denmark, are down 0-3 in their best of seven finals series against the Bakken Bears.

After playing sparingly in a 118-73 blowout loss in game one, Levarity had his best performance of the season in game two with 30 points and 13 rebounds in a 95-82 loss. In game three he finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in a 91-74 loss.

Game four is set for tonight as the Rabbits face elimination.

Over the course of the season, Levarity has averaged 14.9 points, 11 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season. In his first season with the Rabbits, Levarity averaged 12 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with the club.

Travis Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have advanced to the semifinal in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

Benfica completed a two game sweep of Povoa in the quarterfinal. In game one, Munnings had five points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 77-59 win. In game two, Munnings had a perfect shooting night from the field (5-5) and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in an 84-67 win.

They will advance to face Munnings’ former club UD Oliveirense.

In 28 games this season, Munnings averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arch.

Last year he averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense. Benfica eliminated UD Oliveirense in the quarterfinals of last season's playoffs.

Tavario Miller and Minas Belo Horizonte were eliminated the semifinal in Brazil's Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) at the hands of Flamengo.

Miller had 14 points and three rebounds in last night’s 91-80 loss at the hands of the defending champions.

He had just three points and three rebounds in the 76-67 game one loss. He followed with seven points and seven rebounds in a 77-63 loss.

Minas advanced with a 3-1 series win over Unifacisa in the quarterfinal series.

His best performance of this years playoff run was 22 points and seven rebounds in a 90-81 game two loss in the quarterfinals.

Minas finished the regular ranked third in the league at 25-7. The team also finished third in the FIBA Basketball Champions League of the Americas with a win over Quisima in the bronze medal game last month.

In his first season with the club, Miller is averaged 11.5 points and seven rebounds per game on 65 percent shooting from the field.