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Partizan's Nikola Jankovic (C) vies with Alba's Luke Sikma (L) and Landry Nnoko during the Top 16 round 2 Eurocup basketball match between Partizan and Alba in Belgrade, Serbia on Jan. 9, 2019. Partizan won 78-66. (Xinhua/Predrag Milosavljevic)

BELGRADE, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Partizan defeated German Alba 78-66 here on Wednesday in the first game of the Top 16 phase of the basketball Eurocup.

After an even beginning of the match between the Group E rivals in front of some 6,000 fans at the Aleksandar Nikolic hall, Partizan managed to lead at the end of the first quarter with a three-pointer by Marcus Paige, followed by another one scored by Aleksej Nikolic for 19-13.

The home team continued piling up points in the second period, building a 9-point lead by the halftime.

The guest team fought back at the beginning of the second half with a three-pointer of Rokas Giedraitis and free-throws of Luke Sikma, approaching just three points behind Partizan, but the home team regained control with a three pointer of Bandja Sy, and managed to keep their advantage at the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter was marked by consecutive points of Nikola Jankovic and three-pointers of Sy, Vanja Marinkovic, and Jock Landale at 74-63 which sealed Partizan's triumph one minute before the final whistle.

Next week, in the second round of the Eurocup Top 16, Partizan will host French Monaco, while Alba will play in Lithuania against Rytas Vilnius.