By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
An exciting opening week will be followed by the Basketball Champions League Regular Season Gameday 2. It is certainly still early for all 32 participating team, no outcome can be devastating, but a win is a win and can ultimately be important in the final standings.
Four teams from each group will advance to the playoffs following the 14-week regular season. At the moment, half the sides are looking between a 2-0 and 1-1 start, the other half can only hope for a 1-1 BCL W-L record in midweek action on Tuesday (22/10) and Wednesday (23/10).
Day 2 Preview
Group A
Standings
1. SIG Strasbourg 2 (1-0)
2. BAXI Manresa 2 (1-0)
3. Turk Telekom 2 (1-0)
4. Dinamo Sassari 2 (1-0)
5. Lietkabelis 1 (0-1)
6. UNET Holon 1 (0-1)
7. Polski Cukier Torun 1 (0-1)
8. Filou Oostende 1 (0-1)
Turk Telekom was the big winner of Gameday 1 and this week will look to double its positive tally in a match against Dinamo Saassari at the Ankara Arena. Still a long way to go, but a pair of early victories will firmly insert the Turkish club into the playoffs conversation.
In full contrast, UNET Holon will seek to recover following its home defeat to Turk Telekom and the overtime loss in Israel’s Super League making its way to the Versluys Dome to face Filou Oostende. Dario Gjergja’s new-look side is at 0-1 as well, but 4-0 in the EuroMillions Basketball League.
SIG Strasbourg will be in Poland for a tilt with Polski Cukier Torun at the ArenaTorun. Down 1-4 in Jeep Elite Pro A, Vincent Collet hopes to get his team back on track with a second BCL victory. The hosts are 0-1 in the group, but off to a hot 4-0 start in the PLK.
BAXI Manresa will host Lietkabelis at the Pavello Nou Congost in the other Group A affair. Its 1-4 ACB W-L tally coming off four straight defeats is certainly not the best possible, but will have the opportunity to improve to 2-0 in the Champions League and drop the Lithuanian team to 0-2.
Gameday 2 schedule:
Tuesday
Filou Oostende – UNET Holon
Polski Cukier Torun – SIG Strasbourg
Wednesday
Turk Telekom – Dinamo Sassari
BAXI Manresa – Lietkabelis