By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a short break, the Basketball Champions League is back this week. Better fasten your seatbelts as Day 11 is ahead of us as the first games start on Tuesday. It’s a new year and all the teams want to start their obligations with wins. As usual, the games will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Group A
The first two games in the Group A are on the program for Tuesday. In the first match of the day, Pinar Karsiyaka is hosting EWE Baskets Oldenburg. That should be a great game as both teams are standing on a 6-3 record and sharing the second position the group. After that Juventus Utena will be playing against Unet Holon in Israel. Both teams will try to bounce back this week since Holon has two straight losses and Juventus lost last four games.
Both teams stand on a 2-7 record.
On Wednesday, the program starts in Russia where Enisey Krasnoyarsk will have a guest from France. The guest is the most dominated team in the competition – AS Monaco. The team coached by Zvezda Mitrovic has a perfect 9-0 record and will try to keep that pace.
A game between Dinamo Sassari and UCAM Murcia in Italy will conclude the Day 10 in this Group.
Group B
The games in this Group are equally divided as there are two matches on Tuesday and two on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Neptunas Klaipeda will be hosting MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. The Germans are standing on a strong 7-2 record and the Lithuanians will have to be very careful if they want to take them down. On the same day, PAOK and Capo D’Orlando will play their game in Greece.
On Wednesday the reigning champion Iberostar Tenerife will play in the front of their fans. They are hosting Gaziantep a team they beat easily in Turkey, in the first leg.
The last game in this group will be played between Elan Chalon and Ventspils in France. The French team is one victory ahead so far as they stand on a 5-4 record and Ventspils stand on 4-5.
Group C
Umana Reyer Venezia wants to end their losing streak as soon as possible. They lost the last three games and this week they are playing in their arena where they are hosting Rosa Radom. When these teams met the first time the Italians won 81-71.
In France, Tuesday, SIG Strasbourg and Movistar Estudiantes are facing each other. Both teams are currently standing on a 5-4 record and will give their best to improve their position in the standings.
On Wednesday night AEK is traveling to Turkey to meet Banvit. This is a clash of two teams that are in pretty form as they both won the last two games in the competition. This week we will see who will continue their winning streak and who won’t.
Medi Bayreuth is one of the hottest team in the competition at moment with three straight victories. To continue their winning streak they need to prevail over Petrol Olimpija this week. The game will be held in Germany with Slovenians are the visitors.
Group D
After a slow start of the season, CEZ Nymburk is a very good position now. They won the four constructive games and they are standing on a 6-3 record, sharing the second position in the Group along with Nanterre 92. The team from the Czech Republic will be hosting Telekom Baskets Bonn on Tuesday night.
Almost at the same time, Group leaders, Besiktas Sompo Japan will travel to Poland to meet Stelmet Zielona Gora. The Polish team is in a very sensitive situation as they are on the 2-7 record after losing their last five games.
The third game on Tuesday night in group D will be between Nanterre 92 and Aris which will be held in France.
The match that will conclude Day 11 of the Basketball Champions League is a clash between Oostende and Sigidas Avellino. The Italians are going to Belgium and will try to move up on the standings after this week as both teams have five wons and four losses so far.