By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the international break, the Basketball Champions League Regular Season resumes with nine games all around Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The participating teams are seeking a way into the Round of 16, either directly as the top seed or through the Play-Ins by settling second or third in their respective groups. Entering Gameday 5 of a six-game double-legged round-robin schedule, some sides clinching berths are likely to make headlines over the next few days.
Defending champion Unicaja hopes to go up to 5-0 and clinch the top seed of Group B. The Malaga outfit welcomes lasting BCL original Filou Oostende in Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena. In Enka Arena, Aliaga Petkimspor meets King Wilki Morskie Szczecin.
Two blocks from sitting alone on top of the all-time list of players with the most blocks in the BCL, Michale Kyser is gearing up to help Hapoel Netanel Holon against FIT/ONE Wurzburg Baskets in Szombathely. More Group A action pits Nanterre 92 against Igokea m:tel.
After scoring 79 points in two outings, Saben Lee is back in the Champions League with Manisa. In a battle of the Group H leaders, his side hosts UCAM Murcia in Muradiye Sports Hall. At 1-3, Peristeri Domino’s and FMP Soccerbet clash in Greece.
At 4-0 in Group D, ERA Nymburk welcomes Galatasaray in Kralovka Arena, looking for yet another win and a direct ticket to the Round of 16. From Czechia to Greece, Promitheas Vikos Cola faces Rasta Vechta in Dimitris Tofalos Arena.
Opening the Gameday 5 schedule of Group F, Rytas and UnaHotels Reggio Emilia collide in Twinsbet Arena.
Week 8 schedule
Group A
Hapoel Netanel Holon – FIT/ONE Wurzburg Baskets (3/12, 17:30 CET)
Nanterre 92 – Igokea m:tel (4/12, 20:00 CET)
Standings
1. FIT/ONE Wurzburg Baskets 7 (3-1)
2. Nanterre 92 6 (2-2)
3. Hapoel Netanel Holon 6 (2-2)
4. Igokea m:tel 5 (1-3)
Group B
Aliaga Petkimspor – King Wilki Morskie Szczecin (3/12, 17:00 CET)
Unicaja – Filou Oostende (3/12, 20:30 CET)
Standings
1. Unicaja 8 (4-0)
2. Aliaga Petkimspor 6 (2-2)
3. Filou Oostende 6 (2-2)
4. King Wilki Morskie Szczecin 4 (0-4)
Group C
Standings
1. La Laguna Tenerife 8 (4-0)
2. Karsiyaka 7 (3-1)
3. Saint-Quentin 5 (1-3)
4. Kolossos H Hotels 4 (0-4)
Group D
ERA Nymburk – Galatasaray (3/12, 18:30 CET)
Promitheas Vikos Cola – Rasta Vechta (4/12, 18:30 CET)
Standings
1. ERA Nymburk 8 (4-0)
2. Galatasaray 7 (3-1)
3. Promitheas Vikos Cola 5 (1-3)
4. Rasta Vechta 4 (0-4)
Group E
Standings
1. Telekom Baskets Bonn 7 (3-1)
2. AEK Betsson 7 (3-1)
3. Maccabi Ramat Gan 5 (1-3)
4. VEF Riga 5 (1-3)
Group F
Rytas – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia (4/12, 18:30 CET)
Standings
1. UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 7 (3-1)
2. Rytas 7 (3-1)
3. Falco Vulcano Szombathely 6 (2-2)
4. WKS SlaskWroclaw 4 (0-4)
Group G
Standings
1. Bertram Derthona Tortona 8 (4-0)
2. BAXI Manresa 7 (3-1)
3. Niners Chemnitz 5 (1-3)
4. SL Benfica 4 (0-4)
Group H
Peristeri Domino’s – FMP Soccerbet (3/12, 18:30 CET)
Manisa – UCAM Murcia (4/12, 18:00 CET)
Standings
1. Manisa 7 (3-1)
2. UCAM Murcia 7 (3-1)
3. FMP Soccerbet 5 (1-3)
4. Peristeri Domino’s 5 (1-3)
-The top seed from each group advances to the Round of 16
-Second and third seeds advance to the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: FIBA