By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With two weeks remaining in the Regular Season of the Basketball Champions League, Unicaja and AEK Betsson clinched a berth in the Round of 16 by topping their respective groups.
The Queen emerged as the first team to qualify after blowing out Dinamo Banco Di Sardegna Sassari and securing the first seed of Group D on Tuesday. In dominating fashion as well, King Wilki Morskie Szczecin bested MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg on Wednesday.
AEK went up to 5-0 in ‘Week 8, but the Malaga outfit advanced with a fourth win in five Group A showings. A convincing display opposite Falco Vulcano Szombathely shaped the clinching victory. Le Mans rallying past Peristeri bwin secured a place in the Play-Ins.
In Group C, Cholet matched Lenovo Tenerife on top of the standings ahead of a direct collision in Gameday 6. A tie in third place as well with VEF Riga stunning the Canary Islands outfit to catch Darussafaka Lassa at 2-3.
A similar situation in Group F but with Gameday 6 matchups spread across 3-2 and 2-3 teams. Telekom Baskets Bonn tied Hapoel Holon on top and Bursaspor Info Yatirim matched Rio Breogan in third place.
Basketball Champions League Regular Season Week 8
Group A
Peristeri bwin – Le Mans 78-86
Unicaja – Falco Vulcano Szombathely 88-65
1. y-Unicaja 9 (4-1)
2. x-Le Mans 8 (3-2)
3. x-Peristeri bwin 7 (2-3)
4. e-Falco Vulcano Szombathely 6 (1-4)
Group B
1. JDA Dijon 8 (4-0)
2. Promitheas 6 (2-2)
3. Rytas 6 (2-2)
4. Opava 4 (0-4)
Group C
VEF Riga – Lenovo Tenerife 77-72
Cholet – Darussafaka Lassa 97-86
1. Lenovo Tenerife 8 (3-2)
2. Cholet 8 (3-2)
3. Darussafaka Lassa 7 (2-3)
4. VEF Riga 7 (2-3)
Group D
AEK Betsson – Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 110-79
King Wilki Morskie Szczecin – MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 80-60
1. y-AEK Betsson 10 (5-0)
2. King Wilki Morskie Szczecin 7 (2-3)
3. MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 7 (2-3)
4. Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 6 (1-4)
Group E
1. Pinar Karsiyaka 7 (3-1)
2. SIG Strasbourg 7 (3-1)
3. EWE Baskets Oldenburg 5 (1-3)
4. Filou Oostende 5 (1-3)
Group F
Hapoel Holon – Telekom Baskets Bonn 65-72
Bursaspor Info Yatirim – Rio Breogan 77-65
1. Telekom Baskets Bonn 8 (3-2)
2. Hapoel Holon 8 (3-2)
3. Rio Breogan 7 (2-3)
4. Bursaspor Info Yatirim 5 (2-3)
Group G
1. PAOK mateco 7 (3-1)
2. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 7 (3-1)
3. Galatasaray Ekmas 5 (1-3)
4. Benfica 5 (1-3)
Group H
1. Bertram Derthona Tortona 8 (4-0)
2. UCAM Murcia 7 (3-1)
3. Tofas 5 (1-3)
4. Igokea m:tel 4 (0-4)
– Top team of each group advances directly to the Round of 16
– Teams ranking second and third in each group move to the Play-Ins
y-clinched berth in Round of 16
x-clinched berth in the Play-Ins
e-eliminated
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League