By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
In professional sports, playing at home always makes the difference. It was no exception in the first week of the 2024-25 Basketball Champions League Round of 16, with seven games out of eight ending with the hosts coming out on top against their opponents.
On Tuesday, it was a domestic show, as Wurzburg, Manresa, and Tenerife respectively got over Derthona, Petkimspor, and Reggiana. The first two were close encounters, while the last one finished in a blowout by the Canarians, dragged by the 41-year-old Marcelinho Huertas.
On Wednesday, AEK beat at home Promitheas in the Greek derby; Rytas Vilnius enjoyed in front of a packed crowd the 20-point win over Galatasaray; UCAM Murcia came back and never lost control of the home match against Nanterre 92; and finally, Unicaja stayed unbeaten to win over Manisa at home.
Only one team marked the difference from the other seven winners of this week: ERA Nymburk, who managed to escape late to beat Falco-Vulcano 106-86 in Szombathely, producing a three-point party with 17 shots made from beyond the arc. Exceptions exist, and BCL is the proof to it.
Round of 16 Week 1 – Results and Standings
Group I
FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets – Bertram Derthona Tortona 80-79
AEK Betsson – Promitheas Vikos Cola 97-76
- AEK Betsson 2 (1-0)
- FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets 2 (1-0)
- Bertram Derthona Tortona 1 (0-1)
- Promitheas Vikos Cola 1 (0-1)
Group J
Rytas – Galatasaray 86-66
Unicaja – Manisa 91-73
- Rytas 2 (1-0)
- Unicaja 2 (1-0)
- Manisa 1 (0-1)
- Galatasaray 1 (0-1)
Group K
BAXI Manresa – Aliaga Petkimspor 96-87
La Laguna Tenerife – UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia 91-69
- La Laguna Tenerife 2 (1-0)
- BAXI Manresa 2 (1-0)
- Aliaga Petkimspor 1 (0-1)
- UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia 1 (0-1)
Group L
Falco-Vulcano Szombathely – ERA Nymburk 86-106
UCAM Murcia – Nanterre 92 95-84
- ERA Nymburk 2 (1-0)
- UCAM Murcia 2 (1-0)
- Nanterre 92 1 (0-1)
- Falco-Vulcano Szombathely 1 (0-1)
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League