By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following national cups all over Europe and an international break, the Basketball Champions League is back, entering the final stretch of games in the Round of 16.
No team is officially in the quarterfinals, but one stands out after four weeks – Unicaja Malaga. Still standing tall and undefeated, the Spanish side, for a reason, received most of the votes in the BCL GM survey to go all the way.
Ibon Navarro’s side proved their claim to the throne with a commanding win over SIG Strasbourg, moving one step closer to the great goal.
Three other teams that entered the fourth week with perfect records fell, as UCAM Murcia lost to Promitheas Patras, Galatasaray Ekmas took down Telekom Baskets Bonn, and in the BCL classic, Lenovo Tenerife defeated Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem.
AEK Bettson is officially out of contention after losing a spectacular three-overtime encounter with Hapoel Holon, falling to 0-4.
Cholet beat Tofas to stay in contention for the quarterfinals and even kept SIG Strasbourg alive, while Peristeri bwin is also hanging by a thread after surviving Pinar Karsiyaka’s late-game push at home.
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg dominated JDA Dijon in the final 10 minutes to join the other German side Bonn at the top of Group J, ahead of the French team and Galatasaray.
Basketball Champions League Round of 16 Week 4
Group I
1. Unicaja 8 (4-0)
2. Tofas 6 (2-2)
3. Cholet 6 (2-2)
4. SIG Strasbourg 4 (0-4)
Unicaja – SIG Strasbourg 91-62
Cholet – Tofas 77-74
Group J
1. Telekom Baskets Bonn 7 (3-1)
2. MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 7 (3-1)
3. JDA Dijon 5 (1-3)
4. Galatasaray Ekmas 5 (1-3)
Galatasaray Ekmas – Telekom Baskets Bonn 98-85
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg – JDA Dijon 71-59
Group K
1. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 7 (3-1)
2. Lenovo Tenerife 7 (3-1)
3. Pinar Karsiyaka 5 (1-3)
4. Peristeri bwin 5 (1-3)
Peristeri bwin – Pinar Karsiyaka 76-73
Lenovo Tenerife – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 95-92
Group L
1. UCAM Murcia 7 (3-1)
2. Promitheas 7 (3-1)
3. Hapoel Holon 6 (2-2)
4. AEK Betsson 4 (0-4)
Promitheas – UCAM Murcia 79-78
AEK Betsson – Hapoel Holon 108-112 OT
– The top two teams from each group advance to the Quarterfinals
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League