By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Heading into the international break, the fifth week of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season wrapped up the first half of the double-legged round-robin schedule of four groups, following last week’s Gameday 3 across the other four groups. Exciting ction all around Europe.
Among the undefeated teams, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg delivered yet another brilliant showing with Darussafaka on the wrong end of its latest triumph. Elsewhere in Group E, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem spoiled the party for the Bakken Bears with a game-winning dunk.
Close ones in Group D but a different situation on the standings as Surne Bilbao separated by a margin of two points from the rest of the pack. Outlasting Igokea m:tel shaped a 3-0 start. Also, ERA Nymburk edged Bahcesehir Koleji.
Topping Group G with a third win in a row, Unicaja overcame a spirited effort of PAOK mateco. JDA Dijon went up to 2-1 by defeating Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari at home.
Defending champion Lenovo Tenerife made short work of Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya to tie Peristeri bwin on top of Group H. The team coached by Vassilis Spanoulis suffered a defeat to Rytas Vilnius.
Basketball Champions League Regular Season standings and Week 5 results:
Group A
Standings
1. UCAM Murcia 5 (2-1)
2. SIG Strasbourg 4 (2-1)
3. Tofas Bursa 4 (1-2)
4. Falco Vulcano Szombathely 4 (1-2)
Group B
Standings
1. Telekom Baskets Bonn 5 (2-1)
2. Pinar Karsiyaka 5 (2-1)
3. AEK 4 (1-2)
4. UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 4 (1-2)
Group C
Standings
1. Hapoel Atsmon Holon 6 (3-0)
2. Galatasaray Nef 5 (2-1)
3. Filou Oostende 4 (1-2)
4. Legia Warszawa 3 (0-3)
Group D
ERA Nymburk – Bahcesehir Koleji 79-76
Igokea m:tel – Surne Bilbao 80-85
Standings
1. Surne Bilbao 6 (3-0)
2. Igokea m:tel 4 (1-2)
3. Bahcesehir Koleji 4 (1-2)
4. ERA Nymburk 4 (1-2)
Group E
Bakken Bears – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 71-72
Darussafaka – MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 70-90
Standings
1. MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 6 (3-0)
2. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 5 (2-1)
3. Darussafaka 4 (1-2)
4. Bakken Bears 3 (0-3)
Group F
Standings
1. Baxi Manresa 6 (3-0)
2. Benfica 5 (2-1)
3. VEF Riga 4 (1-2)
4. Limoges CSP 3 (0-3)
Group G
JDA Dijon – Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 88-80
Unicaja – PAOK mateco 77-63
Standings
1. Unicaja 6 (3-0)
2. JDA Dijon 5 (2-1)
3. PAOK mateco 4 (1-2)
4. Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 3 (0-3)
Group H
Rytas Vilnius – Peristeri bwin 89-64
Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya – Lenovo Tenerife 57-95
Standings
1. Peristeri bwin 5 (2-1)
2. Lenovo Tenerife 5 (2-1)
3. Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya 4 (1-2)
4. Rytas Vilnius 4 (1-2)
*Top team of each group advances to the Round of 16
*Second- and third-placed teams of each group advance to Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League