By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming out of the midseason break, Gameday 3 of the Basketball Champions League Round of 16 spreads action all around Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday. The remaining contenders are looking to add to the win column before the bottom end of the six-game double-legged round-robin schedule.
In Group J, Rytas aims for a fifth win in as many home games of the ongoing continental campaign. The next challenge is Manisa visiting Vilnius on Wednesday, one week after parting ways with 27-year-old Jamorko Pickett, besides 25-year-old explosive guard Saben Lee joining Olympiacos. From the Lithuanian capital to Istanbul, Galatasaray and Unicaja also meet each other on Wednesday.
Greek teams in Group I hope to build on BCL road success with AEK Betsson taking on FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets and Promitheas Vikos Cola at Bertram Derthona Tortona on Wednesday. The Queen prevailed in six out of the last seven away games, while the success rate of the Patras outfit amounted to seven wins in 11 contests.
Last Friday, Wurzburg added 26-year-old Davion Mintz for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Starting the year, the former Kentucky and Creighton standout introduced himself to the Champions League with 12.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game over nine appearances with Filou Oostende.
From Czechia and Hungary to Spain and Italy
Off six wins over the previous nine BCL games on the road, Nanterre 92 clashes with ERA Nymburk in Kralovka Arena on Tuesday. The Group L schedule extends to Wednesday with Falco Vulcano Szombathely against UCAM Murcia in Schaeffler Arena Savaria.
The most accurate teams of the season from beyond the arc, La Laguna Tenerife and Aliaga Petkimspor, resume Group K action on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it will be UnaHotels Reggio Emilia and BAXI Manresa in PalaBigi.
Last Wednesday, 23-year-old Mustafa Kurtuldum, who is on the injury list from the top of the campaign, extended his contract with Petkimspor until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Round of 16 Week 3
Group I
FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets – AEK Betsson (4/3, 18:30 CET)
Bertram Derthona Tortona – Promitheas Vikos Cola (4/3, 20:30 CET)
Standings
1. AEK Betsson 4 (2-0)
2. FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets 4 (2-0)
3. Bertram Derthona Tortona 2 (0-2)
4. Promitheas Vikos Cola 2 (0-2)
Group J
Galatasaray – Unicaja (5/3, 18:00 CET)
Rytas – Manisa (5/3, 18:30 CET)
Standings
1. Unicaja 4 (2-0)
2. Rytas 3 (1-1)
3. Galatasaray 3 (1-1)
4. Manisa 2 (0-2)
Group K
La Laguna Tenerife – Aliaga Petkimspor (4/3, 21:00 CET)
UnaHotels Reggio Emilia – BAXI Manresa (5/3, 20:00 CET)
Standings
1. La Laguna Tenerife 4 (2-0)
2. BAXI Manresa 3 (1-1)
3. UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 3 (1-1)
4. Aliaga Petkimspor 2 (0-2)
Group L
ERA Nymburk – Nanterre 92 (4/3, 18:30 CET)
Falco Vulcano Szombathely – UCAM Murcia (5/3, 18:00 CET)
Standings
1. ERA Nymburk 4 (2-0)
2. UCAM Murcia 3 (1-1)
3. Nanterre 92 3 (1-1)
4. Falco Vulcano Szombathely 2 (0-2)
-The top two teams from each group qualify for the Quarterfinals
Photo Credit: FIBA