By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The second leg of the FIBA Champions League playoffs is over after Wednesday’s games.
PAOK Thessaloniki got the most impressive victory by beating Partizan Belgrade on the road behind Thaddus McFadden’s 27 points plus 7 assists and advancing to the Round of 16. The Serbian team couldn’t cope after many absences of players (top scorer Will Hatcher, Vanja Marinkovic and Milos Koprivica) and head coach Aleksandar Dzikic due to food poisoning. PAOK even led by 24 at one moment and despite a comeback by its opponent, it managed to take a four-point victory, more than enough for the qualification.
In the meantime, Aris survived Strasbourg on the road and youngster Frank Ntilikina’s career-high tying performance with great defense down the stretch. The French had manage to be up by 20 in the fourth quarter yet didn’t shoot the ball well down the stretch.
FIBA Champions League playoffs (aggregate score – first game score – second game score):
ARIS v. SIG Strasbourg 141-133 (71-52, 70-81)
Juventus v. AEK ATHENS 131-153 (77-78, 54-75)
PAOK v. Partizan 156-154 (74-76, 82-78)
DINAMO SASSARI v. CEZ Nymburk 157-156 (94-72, 63-84)
Maccabi RAND Media v. MHP RIESEN LUDWIGSBURG 148-167 (66-83, 82-84)
Avtodor Saratov v. EWE BASKETS OLDENBURG 176-182 (87-84, 89-98)
Ventspils v. UMANA REYER VENEZIA 135-137 (74-67, 61-70)
Fraport Skyliners v. PINAR KARSIYAKA 142-152 (90-80, 52-72)
FIBA Champions League Round of 16
Aris v. ASVEL (Mar 1)
AEK v. AS Monaco (Feb 28)
PAOK v. Iberostar Tenerife (Feb 28)
Dinamo Sassari v. Le Mans Sarthe (Mar 1)
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg v. Neptunas (Mar 1)
EWE Baskets Oldenburg v. Banvit (Feb 28)
Umana Reyer Venezia v. Sidigas Avellino (Mar 1)
Pinar Karsiyaka v. Besiktas Sompo Japan (Mar 1)