By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Checking in down the stretch of group play can be complicated. That is the case with Gameday 5 of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16. Eight crucial games scattered all around Europe will be held from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Lenovo Tenerife and Telekom Baskets Bonn both clinched a Quarterfinals berth last week and now seek respective top seeds and home-court advantage in the best-of-three series of the Quarterfinals. All six remaining tickets to the next stage can potentially be punched in this week.
UCAM Murcia has prevailed in 15 consecutive Champions League games at home with the last loss dating back to 2018 and Tenerife being responsible for the setback. The defending champions will be in Palacio de Deportes looking to secure first place in Group L. Murcia will progress with a win if Darussafaka Lassa previously defeats slumping Surne Bilbao.
In Group J, Bonn can become the third team to extend a BCL winning streak to double-digits. Defeating BAXI Manresa would also clinch the top seed. Manresa would go through with a win in Germany or if eliminated Bahcesehir Koleji overpowers Rytas which is coming off a domestic win against rival Zalgiris.
Both Unicaja and AEK can clinch a berth in the Quarterfinals via Group K with a win at home this week. The Malaga outfit hosts knocked-out Limoges CSP and the team based in Athens will welcome Galatasaray Nef with the Lions seeking a way to stay in the hunt.
Carrying a league-high 57.5% from two-point range, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem potentially prevailing against JDA Dijon would get the job done with SIG Strasbourg advancing as well at the expense of La Jeanne. Elsewhere in Group I, Strasbourg will travel to Hapoel Atsmon Holon.
Basketball Champions League Round of 16 standings and Gameday 5 schedule
Group I
Standings
1. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusaelm 7 (3-1)
2. SIG Strasbourg 7 (3-1)
3. JDA Dijon 6 (2-2)
4. x-Hapoel Atsmon Holon 4 (0-4)
Gameday 5
JDA Dijon – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (14/3, 20:00 CET)
Hapoel Atsmon Holon – SIG Strasbourg (15/3, 18:00 CET)
Group J
Standings
1. y-Telekom Baskets Bonn 8 (4-0)
2. BAXI Manresa 7 (3-1)
3. Rytas 5 (1-3)
4. x-Bahcesehir Koleji 4 (0-4)
Gameday 5
Telekom Baskets Bonn – BAXI Manresa (14/3, 20:00 CET)
Bahcesehir Koleji – Rytas (15/3, 18:00 CET)
Group K
Standings
1. Unicaja 7 (3-1)
2. AEK 7 (3-1)
3. Galatasaray Nef 6 (2-2)
4. x-Limoges CSP 4 (0-4)
Gameday 5
AEK – Galatasaray Nef (15/3, 18:30 CET)
Unicaja – Limoges CSP (15/3, 20:30 CET)
Group L
Standings
1. y-Lenovo Tenerife 8 (4-0)
2. UCAM Murcia 6 (2-2)
3. Surne Bilbao 5 (1-3)
4. Darussafaka Lassa 5 (1-3)
Gameday 5
Darussafaka Lassa – Surne Bilbao (14/3, 18:00 CET)
UCAM Murcia – Lenovo Tenerife (15/3, 20:30 CET)
-Top two teams of each group advance to the Quarterfinals
y-clinched a berth in Quarterfinals
x-eliminated
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League