By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Thirty-two teams started the Basketball Champions League Regular Season, only nine remain undefeated following the first couple of Gamedays. Even more will fall in the third round set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Adrian Banks, Gameday 2 MVP, told Eurohoops that the game is slowing down for him, Keith Hornsby plans to keep on knocking down threes, Peristeri winmasters is among the undefeated teams and Shevon Thompson set a season-high in rebounds, while four youngsters are making strong efforts.
The third week promises even more excitement. Here is the preview of Gameday 3.
Group A
Standings:
1. Turk Telekom 4 (2-0)
2. BAXI Manresa 4 (2-0)
3. SIG Strasbourg 3 (1-1)
4. Polski Cukier Torun 3 (1-1)
5. Filou Oostende 3 (1-1)
6. Dinamo Sassari 3 (1-1)
7. Lietkabelis 2 (0-2)
8. UNET Holon 2 (0-2)
Ryan Toolson with 33 points led BAXI Manresa to its 2-0 start. Up next is SIG Strasbourg that is 1-1 in Group A. Both teams are 1-5 in their domestic leagues, ACB and Jeep Elite Pro A respectively, so a win here would be greatly appreciated.
Turk Telekom is the other untouched team of the group and is preparing for the road game against Lietkabelis. The win over Darussafaka Tekfen is an added bonus ahead of the matchup opposite to Nenad Canak’s team that is 0-2 in the group, 4-2 in the LKL.
Chris Wright leads the Basketball Champions League with 21 assists ahead of Polski Cukier Torun home match versus UNET Holon. The hosts are 1-1 so far and 5-0 in the PLK. Its upcoming opponents are 0-2 in the group and 2-2 in Israel’s Super League.
A couple of 1-1 teams round up this week’s schedule with Dinamo Sassari going against Filou Oostende. The other common W-L tally is the 4-1 in LBA Serie A and EuroMillions Basketball League respectively.
Gameday 2 schedule:
Tuesday
Polski Cukier Torun – UNET Holon
SIG Strasbourg – BAXI Manresa
Wednesday
Lietkabelis – Turk Telekom
Dinamo Sassari – Filou Oostende
Group B
Standings:
1. San Pablo Burgos 4 (2-0)
2. RASTA Vechta 4 (2-0)
3. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 4 (2-0)
4. AEK 3 (1-1)
5. Telenet Giants Antwerp 3 (1-1)
6. Teksut Bandirma 2 (0-2)
7. EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez 2 (0-2)
8. Anwil Wloclawek 2 (0-2)
The only team with 200 points scored so far, San Pablo Burgos is standing tall in Group B and is set for a challenge in Turkey versus Teksut Bandirma. The 4-2 ACB team will face a desperate 0-2 BCL side that is coming off a Super Ligi win.
RASTA Vechta’s point of reference is the 50 assists in its first two games. Up 2-0 in the group and 2-3 in easyCredit BBL, the German club will collide with another undefeated BCL side Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Israel. The home team is coming off its first 2019-20 Super League loss to Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv.
AEK is second overall with 180 points in its first two games, but carries a 1-1 W-L tally into the home game versus Telenet Giants Antwerp. Down 1-4 in the Greek Basket League, the Queen really needs the “W” against Christophe Beghin’s team that also has a 1-1 BCL record and is 3-0 in the EuroMillions Basketball League.
The other game of the week features a couple of 0-2 sides Anwil Wloclawek hosting EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez. Dropping to 0-3 will be an issue for either team. Additionally, the hosts want to rebound after their first PLK loss of the season. Last weekend was not kinder to the French team that was defeated in overtime and fell to 2-4 in Jeep Elite Pro A.
Gameday 2 schedule:
Tuesday
Anwil Wloclawek – EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez
Teksut Bandirma – San Pablo Burgos
Wednesday
AEK – Telenet Giants Antwerp
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – RASTA Vechta
Group C
Standings:
1. ERA Nymburk 4 (2-0)
2. Iberostar Tenerife 4 (2-0)
3. Peristeri winmasters 4 (2-0)
4. Nizhny Novgorod 3 (1-1)
5. VEF Riga 3 (1-1)
6. Gaziantep 2 (0-2)
7. Mornar Bar 2 (0-2)
8. Brose Bamberg 2 (0-2)
Top rebounding team in the Champions League, ERA Nymburk, is one board shy from 100 ahead of its visit to VEF Riga after its 2-0 start in Group C. Oren Amiel’s team is undefeated in the NBL as well with six wins in as many games. The Latvian team is also 6-0 but in the Latvian-Estonian League, 1-1 in the BCL.
Giorgi Shermadini is the fourth top scorer of the season with 43 points and Iberostar Tenerife is 2-0 in the Champions League ahead of the home game with Peristeri winmasters. Coming off a tough ACB loss and its domestic league drop to 3-3, the Spanish team will attempt to overcome the Greek visitors that also sit at 2-0 in the group, are 5-0 in the Basket League as well.
A disappointing 0-2 start will be slightly improved for Gaziantep or Brose Bamberg. The Turkish team also carries four straight Super Ligi defeats and a 1-4 overall record, while Roel Moors’ side is 4-1 in the easyCredit BBL.
Nizhny Novgorod at 1-1 will host Mornar Bar that dropped its first two Champions League matches. The hosts are 3-1 in the VTB United League. The Montenegrin team is 2-2 in the ABA League.
Gameday 2 schedule:
Tuesday
Nizhny Novgorod – Mornar Bar
Iberostar Tenerife – Peristeri winmasters
Wednesday
Gaziantep – Brose Bamberg
VEF Riga – ERA Nymburk