By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Basketball’s all about belief, isn’t it? That’s what Galatasaray needed when they were about to waste a 17-point lead at home in Game 3 of the Play-Ins against Saint-Quentin.
Belief turned into mental strength heading to the final minutes of the encounter, with their backs on the wall and Nolan Traore displaying his efficiency. Will Cummings sealed the deal, and Gala made it.
The Turkish Lions weren’t the only ones believing things would have gone well. Falco-Vulcano Szombathely needed belief, a crazy back-court buzzer beater, and two overtimes to advance.
QFEUKGFWEKUBCEIUVWBUIFEQUIFEBUIFEBUIFFJEKG
PONGO SENDS THE GAME TO DOUBLE OVERTIME!!!!!!#BasketballCL I @falco_kc pic.twitter.com/3P4feZRipK
— Basketball Champions League (@BasketballCL) January 21, 2025
Belief in their shooting abilities was a matter of substance for Aliaga Petkimspor, that concluded with a magnificent shooting night to take care of business against Hapoel Holon.
Only a few minutes after the Turkish team wrote club’s history by making it this far in their first-ever BCL campaign, Nanterre 92 started their Game 3 against Filou Oostende. Going up by even 15 points in the third quarter, they stayed ahead and finished as the last qualified team.
Once the Play-Ins stage is now over, it’s time to enjoy what’s usually and rightly considered the most important part of the season, entering the Basketball Champions League Round of 16.
Basketball Champions League Play-Ins Week 3 Results
| G1 | G2 | G3 (*) | ||
| A | Nanterre 92 – Filou Oostende | 78-88 | 67-76 | 76-71 |
| B | Aliaga Petkimspor – Hapoel Netanel Holon | 82-81 | 65-62 | 93-85 |
| C | Karsiyaka – Promitheas Vikos Cola | 77-81 | 84-68 | |
| D | Galatasaray – Saint-Quentin | 84-63 | 90-79 | 75-73 |
| E | Telekom Baskets Bonn – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia | 91-94 | 73-70 | |
| F | Falco Vulcano Szombathely – Maccabi Ramat Gan | 88-81 | 76-69 | 106-100 |
| G | Bertram Derthona Tortona – Peristeri Domino’s | 69-59 | 65-73 | |
| H | Manisa – Niners Chemnitz | 87-86 | 84-87 |
Basketball Champions League Round of 16
Group I
FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets
AEK Betsson
Promitheas
Bertram Derthona
Group J
Unicaja
Rytas
Galatasaray
Manisa Basket
Group K
La Laguna Tenerife
BAXI Manresa
Aliaga Petkimspor
Reggiana
Group L
ERA Nymburk
UCAM Murcia
Nanterre 92
Falco-Vulcano Szombathely
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League