By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The top four teams from all four Basketball Champions League Regular Season groups advanced to the Round of 16. The best-of-three series format is set to be formally introduced with the top two teams of each group holding the home-court advantage. It’s time for the playoffs with eight openers on Tuesday and Wednesday
Eleven countries are represented with Turkey sending three clubs into the playoffs, two of which were drawn together. Spain has three teams as well. Greece comes in with two, while the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Belgium, Germany, France, Russia, Israel, and Italy round up the field with one apiece.
Breaking down Round of 16 Game 1 affairs:
Iberostar Tenerife – Filou Oostende
Without Regular Season star Shevon Thompson following his knee surgery, Filou Oostende faces a tough challenge in the form of Iberostar Tenerife. The 2017 champions have been here before and succeeded, have also gained the home-court advantage for the best-of-three series versus the Round of 16 newcomers. At the domestic league level, Txus Vidorreta has guided his team to 14-7 in ACB, while Dario Gjergja’s Belgian outlet is 12-4 in the EuroMillions Basketball League.
JDA Dijon – Nizhny Novgorod
JDA Dijon and Nizhny Novgorod know that making it to the quarterfinals means a trip to Turkey for Turk Telekom or Besiktas Sompo Sigorta. First off their own best-of-three series with the French outlet sporting the home-court advantage. First place in the Jeep Elite Pro A standings with a 21-3 run to display adds confidence on Laurent Legname’s side. The Russian club is seventh in the VTB United League with a 7-10 W-L record.
AEK – Telekom Baskets Bonn
Greece versus Germany with the collision between AEK and Telekom Baskets Bonn. Ilias Papatheodorou is steadily getting injured players back, now focuses on leading the Queen past this best-of-three series into the next one against ERA Nymburk or Teksut Bandirma. The Greek club upped its Basket League record to 15-4 with an overtime win opposite to Panionios over the weekend. In full contrast, Will Voigt’s side fell to 4-16 in easyCredit BBL on Sunday.