Lasting originals reunion in the BCL Quarterfinals

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

Since the formation of the Basketball Champions League, plenty of changes have been made, improving the product, from formats to clubs and players growing in a competitive field. A long journey getting even more exciting every single season. This season continues the upward trend as the Final Four inches closer.

Among the constants, six teams have been present in all seven editions of FIBA’s continental competition. Three of the lasting BCL originals, defending champion Lenovo Tenerife plus AEK and SIG Strasbourg made it to the Quarterfinals of the 2022-23 season. A reunion bringing back memories and also the next checkpoint in the hunt for European glory.

Eurohoops surveys all six lasting originals, ups and downs, and overall progress through the Champions League.

AEK

The Queen’s rich history at the continental and domestic levels has been a huge boost to the BCL since the first season. Supporters combined with the club’s know-how have been instrumental in successfully hosting the 2018 Final Four and 2020 Final Eight, possibly extending to the next Final Four as well.

Looking specifically at club growth, not necessarily unattached to organizing perks, AEK working through the seven Champions League seasons has enjoyed better finishes in the Greek league and added two Cups to the long list of titles in team history.

The Athens outfit reached the BCL Quarterfinals for the fourth time, after falling short in the last two seasons. The biggest highlight was going all the way to the top in 2018 and from there winning the 2019 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

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SIG Strasbourg

Coming in from Alsace, Strasbourg is yet another driving force of the Champions League. Maybe not as successful as AEK but an equally important example of the standards of the competition, from developing youngsters to building a stronger team, and more by now expected for all BCL participants.

In 2018, SIG won the French Cup for the second time in team history. One year later also captured the Leaders Cup. Far from a stranger to success domestically and beyond French competitions, the BCL stage helped in sustaining the momentum.

Punching in a ticket to the Quarterfinals of the Champions League for the fourth time and third straight season is great. The next step and repeating 2020-21 by breaking into the top four teams of the season would be brilliant.

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Iberostar/Lenovo Tenerife

The team based in the Canary Islands has become a synonym for the Basketball Champions League. From hosting the inaugural Final Four to reaching the Quarterfinals in six of the seven seasons and winning it all twice. Can’t really look past Tenerife.

Compared to AEK and Strasbourg in Gameday 5 of the Round of 16, the team guided by longtime play-caller Txus Vidorreta rushed to clinch a berth in the Quarterfinals in Gameday 4 and took the extra time to secure homecourt advantage in the approaching Playoffs. Once more one step ahead.

Apart from becoming a two-time champion in Bilbao last season, Tenerife was the runner-up in 2019. Just recently won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup for the third time. Domestically, it got as close as it gets to finally lifting a trophy but fell to Unicaja in the 2023 Copa del Rey championship game.

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CEZ/ERA Nymburk

Moving to the Czech Republic’s NBL champion in every season since 2004, Nymburk has been a regular in the Champions League. The Quarterfinals were the case twice, in 2020 and 2021, but not this time around.

From narrow eliminations preventing longer runs early in the history of the competition to finally breaking the glass ceiling to some extent, Czech Republic’s powerhouse struggled to get things going in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Numerous players making things happen for Nymburk over the years now play all around Europe and the rest of the world, but most meet in reunions of their own at the Czech Republic national team. In Nymburk’s latest rebuild, the next generation of strong bigs and sharpshooters is steadily emerging with the key assistance of the BCL.

Basketball Champions League campaigns