By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The first phase of the Basketball Champions League regular season is nearing an end, with the play-ins and Top 16 starting to emerge on the horizon.
Week 6 provided more great action and excitement, with some brilliant team and individual performances. We also saw a few of the undefeated sides falling, but one is still standing and throwing punches.
AEK Athens remained one of the four teams that are still to taste the bitterness of defeat. However, they are one step ahead of Dijon, Strasbourg, and Tortona, which are still to play their Round 4 games, being the first team to reach four victories in the group stage.
Joan Plaza’s side cruised past King Szczecin at Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, making a statement: “We are the team to beat.”
Hapoel Holon and Unicaja suffered their first defeats of the season, with the Israeli side falling to Breogan and Le Mans handing the loss to the Spanish team.
Interestingly, Lenovo Tenerife lost the chance for a perfect record in the second round but checked the winning column in the last two games, defeating Darussafaka in Week 6 and tying the home-court BCL record of 17 consecutive victories.
VEF Riga recorded its first win of the season against Cholet, while Bursaspor also finally won, taking down none other than the defending champions Bonn on the road. Szombathely remained at one victory after losing to Peristeri at home.
And last but not least, Ludwigsburg took revenge on Dinamo Sassari after losing at home, convincingly defeating the Italian side as the guest.
Regular Season Week 6 schedule
Group A
Falco Vulcano Szombathely – Peristeri 87-90
Le Mans – Unicaja 85-78
1. Unicaja 7 (3-1)
2. Le Mans 6 (2-2)
3. Peristeri bwin 6 (2-2)
4. Falco Vulcano Szombathely 5 (1-3)
Group B
1. JDA Dijon 6 (3-0)
2. Promitheas 5 (2-1)
3. Rytas 4 (1-2)
4. Opava 3 (0-3)
Group C
VEF Riga – Cholet 70-63
Lenovo Tenerife – Darussafaka Lassa 72-63
1. Lenovo Tenerife 7 (3-1)
2. Cholet 6 (2-2)
3. Darussafaka Lassa 6 (2-1)
4. VEF Riga 5 (1-3)
Group D
AEK Betsson – King Wilki Morskie Szczecin 86-64
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari – MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 80-97
1. AEK Betsson 8 (4-0)
2. MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 6 (2-2)
3. King Wilki Morskie Szczecin 5 (1-3)
4. Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 5 (1-3)
Group E
1. SIG Strasbourg 6 (3-0)
2. Pinar Karsiyaka 5 (2-1)
3. Filou Oostende 4 (1-2)
4. EWE Baskets Oldenburg 3 (0-3)
Group F
Telekom Baskets Bonn – Bursaspor Info Yatirim 82-92
Rio Breogan – Hapoel Holon 82-72
1. Telekom Baskets Bonn 6 (2-2)
2. Rio Breogan 6 (2-2)
3. Hapoel Holon 5 (2-1)
4. Bursaspor Info Yatirim 4 (1-2)
Group G
1. PAOK mateco 5 (2-1)
2. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 5 (2-1)
3. Galatasaray Ekmas 4 (1-2)
4. Benfica 4 (1-2)
Group H
1. Bertram Derthona Tortona 6 (3-0)
2. UCAM Murcia 5 (2-1)
3. Tofas 4 (1-2)
4. Igokea m:tel 3 (0-3)
– Top team of each group advances directly to the Round of 16
– Teams ranking second and third in each group move to the Play-Ins