BuckeyeBallersTV - Rookie Justice Sueing's European Debut In The Basketball Champions League

 (Screencap: Justice Sueing & Antwerp in a late game timeout against Cholet in the Basketball Champions League Qualifying Tournament in Turkey - 9.27.2023)

Rookie Watch - BuckeyeBallersTV: Justice Sueing's Rookie Debut in the Basketball Champions League Qualifying Tournament.

Basketball Champions League Qualifiers - Cholet (France) 76 - Antwerp 72

(Justice Sueing: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) 

Ohio State Buckeye Pro Justice Sueing is currently in the final leg of his Rookie Season. Sueing has experienced his first campaign of professional ball in Europe with the Antwerp Giants of the Belgian League. Antwerp is the same club that Houston Rocket Jea'Sean Tate played with in his rookie season before playing in Australia & ultimately making his way back to the States for an NBA opportunity.  In Europe, Basketball is set up much like Soccer where several select teams may find themselves concurrently competing in multiple competitions throughout the season. These competitions include the domestic league regular season, the National Cup Tournament along with intracontinental leagues like the famed Euroleague where elite teams from various countries play against each other to crown a continental champion. 

Prior to starting the 2023/2024 Belgian Regular Season, Justice Sueing & Antwerp had business in Turkey as one of 24 clubs competing in the Basketball Champions League Qualifying Tournament. Three eight team tournaments taking place from September 24th to October 1st would book entry to the Basketball Champions League Regular Season.

This is another unique aspect of overseas basketball where an American Rookie like Justice Sueing is immediately thrusted into a very important European Competition game after just playing a few friendlies with his new club. The overall feel & team chemistry just isn't there for a team in the initial games of a season. So it's always interesting to see which teams & players step up to win games in a do or die, neutral court setting.  

On September 27, 2023 - Antwerp  matched up with French Club Cholet in round one of the Qualifiers in Antalya, Turkey. Antwerp featured American Rookie imports Rasir Bolton (Gonzaga), Justice Sueing (Ohio State) along with Belgians Jean-Marc Mwema & Yoeri Schoepen. Cholet brought some talented guys to this contest in Americans Gerry Blakes (Arizona State), TJ Campbell (Portland) with native French Neal Sako, Gerald Ayayi, & international NBA prospect Tidjane Sulaun. 

This looked like an evenly matched contest for stretches of the game. But Cholet ultimately had the x-factor & answer in Tidgane Saluan, a skilled 6'9 Forward who turned in a dominating 25 point performance, scoring inside & out against Antwerp's defense. After trailing for much of the game with their largest deficit being 12 points, Antwerp had their best quarter of the game in the 3rd period to regain the lead going into the 4th (58-54). Cholet would take the lead again at the 8:14 mark and would not surrender it again en route to a narrow 76-72 victory over Antwerp. Cholet would go on to win the tournament to participate in the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. 

Justice Sueing acquitted himself well in his European Rookie Debut. The proud native of Hawaii was Antwerp's second leading scorer with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists & 1 steal. Sueing was able to display some of his repertoire with a pair of tough dribble drive finishes where he demonstrated good strength & body control. He proved to be a capable long range shooter as well by connected on three 3-point shots. (Check out Justice Sueing's highlights vs Cholet below!)