By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After 20 games in the Qualification Rounds, 96 games in the Regular Season, 20 games in the Play-Ins, 48 games in the Round of 16, and nine games in the Playoffs, four more games are left to complete the 2024-25 season of the Basketball Champions League.
The ninth installment of the BCL showcased basketball all around Europe, per usual. Incredible winning streaks, record-breaking individual performances, promising upstarts, and more set the pace for the championship-crowning tournament in Athens.
The Basketball Champions League Final Four powered by Sunel will be played in Sunel Arena between May 9 and 11.
The story consists of two ACB teams being labeled as favorites and expected to battle it out in the championship game alongside two underdogs looking to upset their respective opponents in the Semifinal and then look to add more silverware to their rich club history. It will be 40 minutes and then 40 more minutes to crown the next champion, more than enough to reject any initial projections.
Contenders
AEK will host the season-ending tournament for the third time, following a Final Four in 2018 combining with a BCL championship for the Queen and a Final Eight in 2020 with Hereda San Pablo Burgos topping the remaining contenders. Reaching the semifinal stage for a third time, the Greek club, seeks a second title, betting on explosive Hunter Hale and his teammates.
Galatasaray is the only Final Four newcomer, after five campaigns in the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe. It was simply a matter of time. Overcoming several injury setbacks during the season and finally making it count in crunch time leads to an opportunity for a continental title. The recent arrival of Rob Gray added yet another valuable offensive weapon.
La Laguna Tenerife is relentless. After proving superior in 2017 and 2022, the sixth appearance in the Semifinals shapes a chance for a third title. The trend continues with Marcelinho Huertas and Giorgi Shermadini leading the team, guided by the most successful head coach in league history, Txus Vidorreta, to 14 wins in as many games en route to the Final Four.
Unicaja is the defending champion and set a new record with 18 consecutive BCL wins until falling to Galata in Istanbul on March 5. The Malaga-based club recovered and won the next five games, and eventually clinched a berth in the Final Four for a third year in a row. And here is a chance for yet another trophy.
Schedule
Semifinals (9/5)
La Laguna Tenerife – Galatasaray (17:00 CET)
AEK Betsson – Unicaja (20:00 CET)
Third-place game (11/5)
Losers of Semifinals (16:00 CET)
Final (11/5)
Winners of Semifinals (19:00 CET)