By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With almost all the qualifying spots already secured, and one exception to be decided in a Wednesday matchup, Besiktas and Cedevita got the job done on the road against Panionios and Slask Wroclaw.
Besiktas was impressive in a 114-74 triumph with Anthony Brown scoring 15 points on a balanced effort. If Bourg loses to Buducnost on the road, then the Turkish team will finish on top of the Group B standings.
It has to be noted that there was tension in the game, with Panionios fans presenting a banner accusing Besiktas of fascism because some of them were arrested in Turkey when they traveled for their road game.
The Turkish club made the following official statement on the issue, asking the EuroLeague to take action.
“We most strongly condemn and curse the vile and provocative banner targeting our club, our fans, the Turkish Police Force, and our national and spiritual values.
This ugly attack is not only against Besiktas but an open act of hatred directed at the honor, history, and sanctities of the Turkish nation. No sports organization, no platform can legitimize enmity, racism, and insults against our national values.
We never accept this immoral and outrageous attitude that pollutes the unifying spirit of sports. As Besiktas JK, we have decisively initiated all our legal and administrative efforts with the EuroLeague management to ensure that those responsible for this provocation are punished most harshly and that similar scandals do not happen again.”
Easy night in Poland
Cedevita (photo) had an almost identical score (114-81) on an easy win in Poland and has a chance to finish second in Group A, if there’s a huge upset and Neptunas beats Bahcesehir in a few hours.
Umoja Gibson, with 20 points, was the top scorer of the winners.
Last but not least, already qualified Trento got the 76-68 win over already disqualified Ulm and hopes for the best in the final standings of Group B, with the worst case scenario being the 5th spot. Devante Jones, with 24 points again, made things happen for the winners.
EuroCup Round 18
Group A
Slask Wroclaw – Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 81-114
U-BT Cluj-Napoca – Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (11/2)
Turk Telekom Ankara – NINERS Chemnitz (11/2)
Neptunas Klaipeda – Bahcesehir College Istanbul (11/2)
Veolia Towers Hamburg – BAXI Manresa (11/2)
Umana Reyer Venice – Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (11/2)
Standings
1. Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem 13-4
2. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 12-6
3. Bahcesehir College Istanbul 11-6
4. Umana Reyer Venice 10-7
5. BAXI Manresa 10-7
6. U-BT Cluj-Napoca 8-9
7. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson 8-9
8. Neptunas Klaipeda 7-10
9. Slask Wroclaw 5-13
10. Veolia Towers Hamburg 2-15
Group B
Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens – Besiktas GAIN Istanbul 74-114
Dolomiti Energia Trento – ratiopharm ulm 76-68
Turk Telekom Ankara – NINERS Chemnitz (11/2)
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica – Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (11/2)
London Lions- Lietkabelis Panevezys (11/2)
Standings
1 Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 13-4
2 Besiktas GAIN Istanbul 13-5
3 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 11-6
4 Turk Telekom Ankara 11-6
5 Dolomiti Energia Trento 11-7
6 NINERS Chemnitz 9-8
7 ratiopharm ulm 7-11
8 London Lions 5-12
9 Lietkabelis Panevezys 4-13
10 Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens 3-15