By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the Regular Season and the Play-Ins, the Basketball Champions League field has been reduced to 16 teams. The remaining contenders are split into four groups with plenty of domestic rivalries building up. Gameday 1 of the six-game double-legged round-robin schedule is coming up in venues spread across multiple European countries Tuesday and Wednesday.
In Group I, SIG Strasbourg will become the third team to reach the milestone of 100 games in the Champions League by playing host to Hapoel Atsmon Holon. However, out of the 99 games played four were against the Israeli outfit and all concluded with a loss for the SIGmen. Adding to the battles of France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A with Israel’s Winner League, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem versus JDA Dijon at Pais Arena.
Group L features Lenovo Tenerife and Marcelinho Huertas needing four assists to become the first player with 400 dimes in FIBA’s club continental competition. The defending champions are set to face ACB rival UCAM Murcia. Another team representing Spain’s Liga Endesa, Surne Bilbao will be dealing with Darussafaka.
Carrying a five-game winning streak from the Regular Season to Group J, Telekom Baskets Bonn will attempt to stop the momentum of Play-In triumphant Bahcesehir Koleji Wednesday. One day earlier, Baxi Manresa and Rytas open the group at Pavello Nou Congost.
In the first round of Group K, Galatasaray Nef and Limoges CSP shape the Tuesday fixture. Unicaja and AEK will be seeking a 1-0 start Wednesday.
Basketball Champions League Round of 16 Gameday 1
Group I
Tuesday
SIG Strasbourg – Hapoel Atsmon Holon (20:00 CET)
Wednesday
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – JDA Dijon (20:00 CET)
Group J
Tuesday
Baxi Manresa – Rytas (21:00 CET)
Wednesday
Telekom Baskets Bonn – Bahcesehir Koleji (20:00 CET)
Group K
Tuesday
Galatasaray Nef – Limoges CSP (18:00 CET)
Wednesday
Unicaja – AEK (20:30 CET)
Group L
Tuesday
Lenovo Tenerife – UCAM Murcia (20:30 CET)
Wednesday
Surne Bilbao – Darussafaka (20:00 CET)
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League