By Cesare Milanti and Johnny Askounis / info@eurohoops.net
After months of Regular Season and six weeks of Round of 16, we’re now heading to the most interesting and anticipated moments of the Basketball Champions League with the Quarter-Finals. After last week, when Tenerife, Bonn, Ludwigsburg, and Unicaja booked their ticket, four more teams joined the party.
Starting with the action on Tuesday, the biggest surprise of the season so far arrived early in the day. Hapoel Jerusalem needed to win against the already eliminated Pinar Karsiyaka to secure their spot in the Top 8, but they wasted the opportunity. Peristeri, instead, secured a crazy qualification by beating Tenerife.
Following such an unbelievable beginning of the day, some certainties came in Group I when talking about last year’s Final Four hosts. Unicaja Malaga extended their now-longest winning streak in the Basketball Champions League history, beating Cholet at home; Tofas Bursa, therefore, survived even despite the loss against Strasbourg on the road, qualifying as 2nd with a 2-4 record.
They probably saw all the JJ Redick and LeBron clips and plan to do the same thing 🙃#BasketballCL pic.twitter.com/haKJrjTHnK
— Basketball Champions League (@BasketballCL) March 19, 2024
Tipping off Gameday 6 action on Wednesday, Hapoel Holon outlasted UCAM Murcia but fell short in a three-way tie in Group L, adding to struggles in the finale for Israeli clubs. Promitheas taking down winless fellow Greek side AEK Betsson on the road advanced alongside the team coached by Sito Alonso.
On to Group J, defending champion Telekom Baskets Bonn secured the top seed after edging out MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in a clash of clubs from Germany. In a meeting of eliminated teams, JDA Dijon beat Galatasaray Ekmas.
Basketball Champions League Round of 16 Week 6
Group I
1. Q-Unicaja 12 (6-0)
2. q-Tofas 8 (2-4)
3. Cholet 8 (2-4)
4. SIG Strasbourg 8 (2-4)
SIG Strasbourg – Tofas 78-65
Unicaja – Cholet 85-70
Group J
1. Q-Telekom Baskets Bonn 11 (5-1)
2. q-MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 9 (3-3)
3. JDA Dijon 8 (2-4)
4. Galatasaray Ekmas 8 (2-4)
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg – Telekom Baskets Bonn 81-85
JDA Dijon – Galatasaray Ekmas 85-76
Group K
1. Q-Lenovo Tenerife 10 (4-2)
2. q-Peristeri bwin 9 (3-3)
3. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 9 (3-3)
4. Pinar Karsiyaka 8 (2-4)
Pinar Karsiyaka – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 98-87
Peristeri bwin – Lenovo Tenerife 90-82
Group L
1. Q-UCAM Murcia 10 (4-2)
2. q-Promitheas 10 (4-2)
3. Hapoel Holon 10 (4-2)
4. AEK Betsson 6 (0-6)
Hapoel Holon – UCAM Murcia 64-60
AEK Betsson – Promitheas 67-79
Q- Qualified for the Basketball Champions League Quarter-Finals with home-court advantage
q- Qualified for the Basketball Champions League Quarter-Finals without home-court advantage
Setting up the rest of the path for remaining contenders, a draw will be held on Thursday.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League