By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The teams capturing the three remaining open spots of the Basketball Champions League playoffs will be decided this week through the eight fixtures scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, including two direct clashes for a ticket to the next round. Gameday 12 wraps up the Regular Season.
Group F features a massive matchup between Pinar Karsiyaka and RETAbet Bilbao. The hosts can clinch with a win or a loss by a margin of nine points or less. The Spanish club will be searching for a 10-point win at Izmir. Brose Bamberg advanced at 5-0 will take on Fortitudo Bologna eliminated at 0-5 in the other game.
A similar situation in Group E pits VEF Riga versus Peristeri. The Latvian team will progress with a win or a loss up to three points. A win by a margin greater than four points will be the target for the Greek club. SIG Strasbourg having punched in its ticket will bump into eliminated Rytas Vilnius.
In Group G, Igokea can follow Turk Telekom to the next round with an away win over the Turkish club. A loss would open the path for Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem to progress provided the Israeli club gets the job done on the road against down and out Limoges CSP.
Hereda San Pablo Burgos and Happy Casa Brindisi are already in via Group H. Their meeting in Italy will determine the team ranking first. Also, Filou Oostende and Darussafaka Tekfen will finish up their BCL campaign.
The 16 advancing sides will be drawn into four new groups of four teams each on February 2 with action resuming on March 2. The top two teams of each group will advance to the Final Eight planned to start May 5.
Group A
Standings
1. y-Iberostar Tenerife 10 (4-2)
2. y-Dinamo Sassari 10 (4-2)
3. x-Bakken Bears 9 (3-3)
4. x-Galatasaray 7 (1-5)
Group B
Standings
1. y-Tofas Bursa 10 (4-2)
2. y-ERA Nymburk 10 (4-2)
3. x-JDA Dijon 10 (4-2)
4. x-Keravnos 6 (0-6)
Group C
Standings
1. y-Hapoel Unet-Credit Holon 10 (4-2)
2. y-AEK 10 (4-2)
3. x-Cholet 8 (2-4)
4. x-Tsmoki-Minsk 8 (2-4)
Group D
Standings
1. y-Casademont Zaragoza 11 (5-1)
2. y-Nizhny Novgorod 10 (4-2)
3. x-Falco Szombathely 9 (3-3)
4. x-Pszczolka Start Lublin 6 (0-6)
Group E
Tuesday
Rytas Vilnius – SIG Strasbourg (18:30 CET)
VEF Riga – Peristeri (18:30 CET)
Standings
1. y-SIG Strasbourg 9 (4-1)
2. VEF Riga 8 (3-2)
3. Peristeri 7 (2-3)
4. x-Rytas Vilnius 6 (1-4)
Group F
Wednesday
Pinar Karsiyaka – RETAbet Bilbao (18:30 CET)
Brose Bamberg – Fortitudo Bologna (18:30 CET)
Standings
1. y-Brose Bamberg 10 (5-0)
2. Pinar Karsiyaka 8 (3-2)
3. RETAbet Bilbao 7 (2-3)
4. x-Fortitudo Bologna 5 (0-5)
Group G
Tuesday
Turk Telekom – Igokea (18:30 CET)
Limoges CSP – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (18:30 CET)
Standings
1. y-Turk Telekom 9 (4-1)
2. Igokea 8 (3-2)
3. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 7 (2-3)
4. x-Limoges CSP 6 (1-4)
Group H
Wednesday
Happy Casa Brindisi – Hereda San Pablo Burgos (20:30 CET)
Filou Oostende – Darussafaka Tekfen (20:30 CET)
Standings
1. y-Hereda San Pablo Burgos 9 (4-1)
2. y-Happy Casa Brindisi 9 (4-1)
3. x-Darussafaka Tekfen 6 (1-4)
4. x-Filou Oostende 6 (1-4)
y-clinched playoffs berth
x-eliminated
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League