By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Game 1 across the Basketball Champions League Quarterfinals delivered everything expected from a playoff series. Opponents garnering a better understanding of each other makes Game 2 of the best-of-three series even more interesting, apart from one side’s opportunity to clinch a Final Four berth. Expect adjustments and maybe clutch players taking over in crucial moments.
The only visiting team prevailing last week, SIG Strasbourg will try to get the job done against Telekom Baskets Bonn. On the opposite end, Tuomas Iisalo’s side dominating the season and T.J. Shorts II emerging as the frontrunner to win the MVP award has been reduced to a must-win situation in Rhenus Sport Tuesday.
Similar to Bonn, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem has yet to be defeated on the road in the 2022-23 edition of the Champions League. A potential seventh straight win would be enough to eliminate AEK and progress to the Final Four on Wednesday.
Defending champion Lenovo Tenerife dealing with multiple injuries will visit BAXI Manresa aiming for a two-game sweep. The same goes for Unicaja at UCAM Murcia in the other late-season BCL battle of ACB rivals. Both games are set for Wednesday night.
Any Game 3 potentially becoming necessary this week will be played next week. The Final Four of BCL’s seventh season will be held 12-14 May in a venue to be announced.
Basketball Champions League Playoffs
Quarterfinals Game 1
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – AEK 64-55
Unicaja – UCAM Murcia 83-67
Telekom Baskets Bonn – SIG Strasbourg 76-77
Lenovo Tenerife – BAXI Manresa 91-84
Quarterfinals Game 2
SIG Strasbourg – Telekom Baskets Bonn (11/4, 20:00 CET)
AEK – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (12/4, 16:30 CET)
UCAM Murcia – Unicaja (12/4, 20:30 CET)
BAXI Manresa – Lenovo Tenerife (12/4, 20:45 CET)
Quarterfinals Game 3 (if necessary)
Telekom Baskets Bonn – SIG Strasbourg (18/4, 20:00 CET)
Unicaja – UCAM Murcia (18/4, 20:30 CET)
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – AEK (19/4, 18:00 CET)
Lenovo Tenerife – BAXI Manresa (19/4, 20:30 CET)
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League