By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Battling for a spot in the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League Regular Season, 24 teams were recently drawn into four Qualifying groups. Respective venues for the single-elimination affairs were announced Thursday.
TFT Skopje, Unicaja, SL Benfica and FMP Meridian will be the hosts of the Qualifying Rounds scheduled to be held between 21 and 25 September. In a quick turnaround, the Regular Season will tip off on 3 October.
Per the press release: “Following a high number of qualitative applications, the Basketball Champions League is pleased to announce TFT Skopje (MKD), Unicaja (ESP), SL Benfica (POR) and FMP Meridian (SRB) as hosts for the Qualification Round Tournaments, taking place in September. These four tournaments will determine the last four spots in the Regular Season of BCL’s seventh season.
The group hosts will be as follows:
Qualification Round Tournament 1 (Group A) – Skopje, MKD – Boris Trajkovski Sports Center
Game days: 21, 23 & 25 September 2022
Participating Clubs: Fribourg Olympic (SUI), Tofas Bursa (TUR), CSO Voluntari (ROU), Leicester Riders (GBR), NINERS Chemnitz (GER), TFT Skopje (MKD)
Quarter-Final 1: Leicester Riders vs CSO Voluntari
Quarter-Final 2: TFT Skopje vs NINERS Chemnitz
Semi-Final 1: Tofas Bursa vs Winner of Leicester Riders/CSO Voluntari
Semi-Final 2: Fribourg Olympic vs Winner of TFT Skopje/NINERS Chemnitz
Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2
Qualification Round Tournament 2 (Group G) – Malaga, ESP – Palacio De Deportes José María Martín Carpena
Game days: 21, 23 & 25 September 2022
Participating Clubs: Karhu Kauhajoki (FIN), Unicaja (ESP), Egis Kormend (HUN), Heroes Den Bosch (NED), Patrioti Levice (SVK), Siauliai (LTU)
Quarter-Final 1: Heroes Den Bosch vs Siauliai
Quarter-Final 2: Patrioti Levice vs Egis Kormend
Semi-Final 1: Unicaja vs Winner of Heroes Den Bosch/Siauliai
Semi-Final 2: Karhu Kauhajoki vs Winner of Patrioti Levice/Egis Kormend
Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2
Qualification Round Tournament 3 (Group F) – Lisbon, POR – Pavilhão Fidelidade
Game days: 21, 23 & 25 September 2022
Participating Clubs: Brose Bamberg (GER), Keravnos (CYP), Budivelnyk (UKR), Golden Eagle Ylli (KOS), Norrköping Dolphins (SWE), SL Benfica (POR)
Quarter-Final 1: Norrköping Dolphins vs Budivelnyk
Quarter-Final 2: Golden Eagle Ylli vs SL Benfica
Semi-Final 1: Brose Bamberg vs Winner of Norrköping Dolphins/Budivelnyk
Semi-Final 2: Keravnos vs Winner of Golden Eagle Ylli/SL Benfica
Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2
Qualification Round Tournament 4 (Group E) – Belgrade, SRB – Aleksandar Nikolić Hall
Game days: 21, 23 & 25 September 2022
Participating Clubs: Bakken Bears (DEN), Opava (CZE), FMP Meridian (SRB), Parnu Sadam (EST), Rio Breogan (ESP), Swans Gmunden (AUT)
Quarter-Final 1: Swans Gmunden vs Parnu Sadam
Quarter-Final 2: FMP Meridian vs Rio Breogan
Semi-Final 1: Bakken Bears vs Winner of Swans Gmunden/Parnu Sadam
Semi-Final 2: Opava vs Winner of FMP Meridian/Rio Breogan
Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2
The four winners of the Qualification Round tournaments will qualify for the Regular Season, joining the 28 directly qualified teams.
Tip-off times will be determined at a later stage.”
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL