By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League Regular Season Gameday 8 schedule supplemented with previously postponed affairs and stretching across Europe through 11 games this week produced the first team clinching a playoffs berth, to be exact the next group stage instead of the usual knockout format. Brose Bamberg got the job done.
The German outlet defeated Pinar Karsiyaka in Turkey to improve to 4-0 and guarantee to progress past Group F into the next round. RETAbet Bilbao destroyed Fortitudo Bologna gaining a slim advantage for the second advancing spot of the group.
In Group D, the well-documented Arena Savaria effect pushed Falco Szombathely to the win over Casademont Zaragoza. Nizhny Novgorod overpowering and eliminating Pszczołka Start Lublin made it a three-team race for the two playoff tickets.
Group G had three matches this week as Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and Igokea split their two-game series at Bosnia and Herzegovina. Turk Telekom beat Limoges CSP to remain in first place packing a one-win advantage.
Also in action, defending champion Hereda San Pablo Burgos handing Darussafaka Tekfen a home loss. The Spanish outlet jumped to 3-1 in Group H, so did Happy Casa Brindisi after prevailing over Filou Oostende.
Group E is also split between 3-1 and 1-3 teams. A late three by Brandon Jefferson lifting SIG Strasbourg over Peristeri and VEF Riga controlling the Baltic encounter opposite Rytas Vilnius formed the two-win cushions.
Group A
Standings
1. Dinamo Sassari 7 (3-1)
2. Iberostar Tenerife 7 (3-1)
3. Galatasaray 5 (1-3)
4. Bakken Bears 5 (1-3)
Group B
Standings
1. ERA Nymburk 7 (3-1)
2. JDA Dijon 6 (3-0)
3. Tofas Bursa 4 (1-2)
4. x-Keravnos 4 (0-4)
Group C
Standings
1. AEK 7 (3-1)
2. Tsmoki-Minsk 6 (2-2)
3. Hapoel Holon 6 (2-2)
4. Cholet 5 (1-3)
Group D
Falco Szombathely – Casademont Zaragoza 94-86
Nizhny Novgorod – Pszczołka Start Lublin 78-65
Standings
1. Casademont Zaragoza 7 (3-1)
2. Nizhny Novgorod 7 (3-1)
3. Falco Szombathely 6 (2-2)
4. x-Pszczołka Start Lublin 3 (0-4)
Group E
Peristeri – SIG Strasbourg 76-79
VEF Riga – Rytas Vilnius 84-60
Standings
1. SIG Strasbourg 7 (3-1)
2. VEF Riga 7 (3-1)
3. Peristeri 5 (1-3)
4. Rytas Vilnius 5 (1-3)
Group F
Pinar Karsiyaka – Brose Bamberg 70-76
RETAbet Bilbao – Fortitudo Bologna 82-54
Standings
1. y-Brose Bamberg 8 (4-0)
2. RETAbet Bilbao 6 (2-2)
3. Pinar Karsiyaka 4 (1-2)
4. Fortitudo Bologna 3 (0-3)
Group G
Igokea – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 75-73
Limoges CSP – Turk Telekom 70-75
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – Igokea 84-68
Standings
1. Turk Telekom 7 (3-1)
2. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 6 (2-2)
3. Igokea 6 (2-2)
4. Limoges CSP 5 (1-3)
Group H
Darussafaka Tekfen – Hereda San Pablo Burgos 71-74
Happy Casa Brindisi – Filou Oostende 93-81
Standings
1. Hereda San Pablo Burgos 7 (3-1)
2. Happy Casa Brindisi 7 (3-1)
3. Darussafaka Tekfen 5 (1-3)
4. Filou Oostende 5 (1-3)
y-advanced to the playoffs
x-eliminated from playoff contention
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League