By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
From winning four-team groups in both the Regular Season and the Round of 16, Telekom Baskets Bonn, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, Lenovo Tenerife, and Unicaja also survived the Playoffs to clinch a berth in the Basketball Champions League Final Four.
The season-ending tournament will be held Friday through Sunday in Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes Jose María Martin Carpena.
Hosting Unicaja enters the Final Four with a 14-2 season record, including two wins way back in September to secure a place in the Regular season via the Qualifiers. Germany’s Bonn achieved 13 wins in 15 outings, Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem went for 12-3, and defending champion Tenerife settled at 11-4.
Among the finalists, the team coached by two-time champion Txus Vidorreta is the lone team with previous runs to the Final Four or Final Eight editions of the Champions League. However, the Israeli club actually participated in the 2020 Final Eight. The remaining contenders will instead debut in a championship-crowning tournament of FIBA’s top-tier European club continental competition.
Unicaja making it through to the Final would mark the fourth Spanish team in a BCL championship game, following Tenerife, San Pablo Burgos, and BAXI Manresa. On a similar triumph, Hapoel Jerusalem and Bonn would be the first team of their country in the championship game.
Much more on the Final Four was shared by Finnish tactician Lassi Tuovi in an interview with Eurohoops.
Basketball Champions League Final Four (Malaga)
Semifinals (12/5)
Lenovo Tenerife – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (17:30 CET)
Unicaja – Telekom Baskets Bonn (20:30 CET)
Third-place game (14/5)
Semifinals losers (17:00 CET)
Championship game (14/5)
Semifinals winners (20:00 CET)
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League