By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Basketball Champions League Gameday 9 action is set to roll on Tuesday and Wednesday. The last game for all 32 teams before 2020 introduces itself. The new year will separate the playoff teams and those with the home-court advantage in the postseason, but the upcoming games can go a long way into deciding positioning in all four groups.
Gameday 8 saw Brandon Brown take home MVP of the Week honors, BAXI Manresa setting a new assists record in a single Champions League affair, Falco Szombathely extending its unexpected undefeated run at home and Mornar Bar powered by Jacob Pullen catching the last train. Also, Vojtech Hruban talked to Eurohoops about ERA Nymburk.
Below the preview of Basketball Champions League Gameday 9.
Group A
1. BAXI Manresa 14 (6-2)
2. Turk Telekom 14 (6-2)
3. Dinamo Sassari 14 (6-2)
4. SIG Strasbourg 12 (4-4)
5. Filou Oostende 11 (3-5)
6. Lietkabelis 11 (3-5)
7. UNET Holon 11 (3-5)
8. Polski Cukier Torun 9 (1-7)
Sitting on top of Group A with a 6-2 record, Dinamo Sassari and Turk Telekom will face each other at the Palasport Roberta Serradimigni. A win from either side will likely go a long way for the home-court advantage in the playoffs. As for domestic competition, the Italian squad is 9-3 in LBA Serie A and the Turkish team is 5-7 in Super Ligi.
Shevon Thompson tops BCL with 89 rebounds as Filou Oostende is set to face slumping UNET Holon at the Holon Toto Arena. Upcoming rivals both sit at 3-5, really need to jump to 4-5. The visitors are 7-2 in EuroMillions Basketball League as well, while the Israeli team moved to 5-4 in Super League on Saturday.
On a three-game winning streak, BAXI Manresa is set to visit Lietkabelis. Pedro Martinez’s squad is currently 6-2 while the hosts are 3-5 including 2-2 at the Cido Arena. The domestic aspect of the two teams’ 2019-20 campaign features the Spanish club at 4-9 in ACB and the Lithuanian outlet at 8-5 in LKL.
Despite Chris Wright averaging 21 points and 7.5 assists, Polski Cukier Torun is at the brink of elimination before the tough road game versus SIG Strasbourg. Currently at 1-7 in the group and 11-1 in PLK, while the team coached by Vincent Collet is 4-4 in the group and 8-6 in Jeep Elite Pro A.
Gameday 9 schedule:
Tuesday
Lietkabelis – BAXI Manresa
UNET Holon – Filou Oostende
SIG Strasbourg – Polski Cukier Torun
Wednesday
Dinamo Sassari – Turk Telekom
Group B
1. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 14 (6-2)
2. AEK 14 (6-2)
3. San Pablo Burgos 13 (5-3)
4. RASTA Vechta 12 (4-4)
5. Anwil Wloclawek 12 (4-4)
6. Teksut Bandirma 11 (3-5)
7. Telenet Giants Antwerp 10 (2-6)
8. EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez 10 (2-6)
The two top Group B clubs will collide in Athens with both AEK and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem wanting to jump to 7-2. The Queen recently improved to 7-4 in Greece’s Basket League, its upcoming rivals to 7-1 in Israel’s Super League.
One point behind after three consecutive victories, San Pablo Burgos is up for a tough test at Anwil Wloclawek’s Hala Mistrzow. The hosts are 4-4, also 8-4 in PLK, while the visiting side will travel to Poland with a 7-6 ACB record.
Not much room left for EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez at 2-6 ahead of the road match against RASTA Vechta that is 4-4. The French club is also 5-9 in Jeep Elite Pro A, while its upcoming rival sits at 6-5 in easyCredit BBL.
Also on the Round 9 board, Teksut Bandirma at 3-5 hosts Telenet Giants Antwerp at 2-6. Domestically, the Turkish team is 8-4 in Super Ligi, the Belgian 6-3 in EuroMillions Basketball League.
Gameday 9 schedule:
Tuesday
RASTA Vechta – EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez
Wednesday
Teksut Bandirma – Telenet Giants Antwerp
Anwil Wloclawek – San Pablo Burgos
AEK – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem
Group C
1. Iberostar Tenerife 15 (7-1)
2. ERA Nymburk 14 (6-2)
3. Nizhny Novgorod 13 (5-3)
4. Peristeri winmasters 13 (5-3)
5. Brose Bamberg 12 (4-4)
6. Mornar Bar 10 (2-6)
7. Gaziantep 10 (2-6)
8. VEF Riga 9 (1-7)
Iberostar Tenerife is no longer undefeated, but retains an unscratched record at San Cristobal de La Laguna. With Giorgos Bogris on board, the Spanish team will host Mornar Bar aiming for an 8-1 W-L tally after improving to 8-5 in ACB. Following a four-game winning streak in all competitions, the visitors are 2-6 in Group C and 6-5 in ABA League.
After improving to 16-0 in NBL, ERA Nymburk is hoping to turn its Basketball Champions League record to 7-2. The challenge ahead is Gaziantep in southern Turkey. Different situation for the home side at 2-6 in the group, 5-7 in Super Ligi as well.
Big game in Russia with Nizhny Novgorod hosting Brose Bamberg. The home side is 5-3 and the German club 4-4. In weekend domestic action, Zoran Lukic’s team fell to 4-6 in VTB United League and Roel Moors’ squad dropped to 7-4 in easyCredit BBL.
VEF Riga down 1-7 will take on Peristeri winmasters in Latvia after extending its undefeated run in the Latvia-Estonian League to 14 games. The visitors are 5-3 in the group and with a win over Panathinaikos OPAP jumped to 8-3 in Basket League.
Gameday 9 schedule:
Tuesday
Nizhny Novgorod – Brose Bamberg
Gaziantep – ERA Nymburk
Iberostar Tenerife – Mornar Bar
Wednesday
VEF Riga – Peristeri winmasters
Group D
1. Telekom Baskets Bonn 13 (5-3)
2. JDA Dijon 13 (5-3)
3. Happy Casa Brindisi 12 (4-4)
4. Neptunas Klaipeda 12 (4-4)
5. Casademont Zaragoza 12 (4-4)
6. Falco Szombathely 12 (4-4)
7. Besiktas Sompo Sigorta 11 (3-5)
8. PAOK 11 (3-5)
Juvonte Reddic leads BCL with 67.5% from the field, but Falco Szombathely has yet to prevail on the road. Next chance at Thessaloniki against PAOK. Tight Group D lays the visitors at 4-4 and the Greek club at 3-5. The Hungarian champions fell to 10-1 in NB I/A over the weekend, while the Greek side dropped to 3-8 in Basket League.
Telekom Baskets Bonn will try to stay ahead of opposition with a win at home against Happy Casa Brindisi. Shares the top of the group with JDA Dijon at 5-3, but down 2-7 in easyCredit BBL. The Italian club is 4-4 without a Champions League win on the road and 7-5 in LBA Serie A following three losses in a row.
Home assignment for JDA Dijon as well with Neptunas Klaipeda coming to visit the Palais des Sport Jean-Michel Geoffroy. Despite dropping its last three road contests, the Lithuanian team is 4-4 in the group, carries an 8-6 W-L tally in LKL as well. The hosts recently jumped to 11-3 in Jeep Elite Pro A.
The other game of the week features Casademont Zaragoza at home opposite to Besiktas Sompo Sigorta with the Spanish team at 4-4 and the Turkish side 3-5. Porfirio Fisac’s side is also 10-3 in ACB and Dusko Ivanovic’s squad is 5-7 in Super Ligi.
Gameday 9 schedule:
Tuesday
PAOK – Falco Szombathely
Wednesday
Telekom Baskets Bonn – Happy Casa Brindisi
JDA Dijon – Neptunas Klaipeda
Casademont Zaragoza – Besiktas Sompo Sigorta
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League