By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Seven games down, seven to go in Basketball Champions League’s group stage. All 32 teams are set for the second half of their round-robin schedules and the opportunity to face their seven group opponents for the second time but in opposite venues. The conclusion will separate the playoffs field, teams with the postseason home-court advantage as well.
Round 7 featured a couple of double-overtime affairs. Also, Zoltan Perl became the first MVP from Hungary. Even more excitement is coming our way with Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s Round 8 collisions all around Europe.
Below Basketball Champions League Gameday 8 preview:
Group A
1. BAXI Manresa 12 (5-2)
2. Turk Telekom 12 (5-2)
3. Dinamo Sassari 12 (5-2)
4. Filou Oostende 10 (3-4)
5. Lietkabelis 10 (3-4)
6. SIG Strasbourg 10 (3-4)
7. UNET Holon 10 (3-4)
8. Polski Cukier Torun 8 (1-6)
Only one club can say it is shooting over 50% from the field, that is UNET Holon. Two straight losses dropped the Israeli club to 3-4 and led Sharon Drucker to the exit ahead of the road game versus Turk Telekom that sits at 5-2. Domestically, the Turkish team is 4-7 in Super Ligi while its upcoming opponent is 4-4 in Super League.
Polski Cukier Torun now leads BCL in points scored, but is only 1-6 in Group A. No room for error with BAXI Manresa coming to visit Arena Torun on a 5-2 W-L tally. PLK is much kinder to the hosts that are off to a 10-1 start, while Pedro Martinez’s side is underperforming in ACB with a 3-9 record to display.
The 173 fouls called on Filou Oostende in the first round of the group stage are an unwanted record held by the Belgian club. Up next is SIG Strasbourg at home with both teams carrying a 3-4 record. The hosts are also 7-2 in the EuroMillions Basketball League and the French club 7-6 in Jeep Elite Pro A.
Dinamo Sassari will visit Lietkabelis in the other match of the week. The Italian team finished the first round at 5-2, is 8-3 in LBA Serie A as well. Upcoming opposition features a 3-4 W-L tally in the group and a 7-5 record in LKL.
Gameday 8 schedule:
Tuesday
Lietkabelis – Dinamo Sassari
Wednesday
Polski Cukier Torun – BAXI Manresa
Turk Telekom – UNET Holon
Filou Oostende – SIG Strasbourg
Group B
1. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 12 (5-2)
2. AEK 12 (5-2)
3. San Pablo Burgos 11 (4-3)
4. RASTA Vechta 11 (4-3)
5. Anwil Wloclawek 10 (3-4)
6. Teksut Bandirma 10 (3-4)
7. Telenet Giants Antwerp 9 (2-5)
8. EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez 9 (2-5)
RASTA Vechta’s Trevis Simpson leads Basketball Champions League with 24 made threes prior to the German team’s away game opposite to Anwil Wloclawek. Up 4-3 in Group B and a first-round 13-point win in the luggage, Hala Mistrzow is the next challenge for the road-efficient team. Pedro Calles’ club is also 6-5 in easyCredit BBL. The hosts are 3-4 in BCL, 7-4 in PLK.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem at 5-2 in the group will tip off the second half of the regular season with Teksut Bandirma visiting the Pais Arena. The hosts are also 6-1 in Israel’s Super League. Coming in at 3-4, the Turkish team aims for a third straight road victory, is 8-3 in Super Ligi as well.
The other 5-2 side of the group, AEK will be on the road against EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez that has been held to a 2-5 record so far. The Queen also carries a 6-4 Basket League W-L tally, while the French club is 4-9 in Jeep Elite Pro A.
The other game features Telenet Giants Antwerp and San Pablo Burgos at the Lotto Arena. The hosts are 2-5 in the group and 6-2 in EuroMillions Basketball League. Their next rivals are 4-3 in the group and 7-5 in ACB.
Gameday 8 schedule:
Tuesday
Anwil Wloclawek – RASTA Vechta
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – Teksut Bandirma
Telenet Giants Antwerp – San Pablo Burgos
EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez – AEK