By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
FIBA is set to announce a significant adjustment to the Basketball Champions League qualifiers sending participating teams to single-site tournaments with semifinals and finals rather than home-and-away games.
The clubs aiming to advance to the BCL regular season will compete in groups of four teams in a format similar to the season-ending Final Four. The official announcement will be made next week.
Four teams will still complete the regular season field but heading to only one city rather than visiting their opponent in the first qualifying round and one more trip for the eight teams advancing to the second qualifying round.
Qualifiers split into the four teams in direct competition for a regular-season berth:
Balkan Botevgrad vs. Tsmoki Minsk
London Lions vs. Neptunas Klaipeda
Igokea vs. U-Banca Transilvania Cluj-Napoca
Sporting CP vs. Fribourg Olympic
Iraklis vs. Keravnos
Dnipro vs. Donar Groningen
Hapoel Tel Aviv vs. Bakken Bears
Belfius Mons-Hainaut vs. Anwil Wloclawek
According to the initial schedule, the home-and-away games of the first qualifying round would take place on 15 and 18 September. The second qualifying round was scheduled for 22 and 25 September. The regular season is scheduled to tip-off October 13.
The latest change in the Champions League format due to restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic follows the decision regarding the ending of the 2019-20 season. The plan is a single-site tournament for all remaining teams to determine the 2020 champion in early October. The Final Eight venue will be announced next week.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League