By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Ricky Rubio in Badalona, last season’s finalist Galatasaray, and former EuroCup winners Gran Canaria are still unbeaten in their first four games of the season, practically securing the top spots in their groups and making things interesting already for the next phase.
Those three teams are setting the tone, and next week the likes of AEK, Elan Chalon, La Laguna Tenerife, and defending champions Unicaja Malaga can follow them.
And while the spoil goes to the victors, there must be at least a mention of Jordan McRae, who scored 37 points but saw his team, Hapoel Holon, lose in overtime to Cholet by two (94-92).
Meanwhile, Rubio is not only winning but inspiring a new generation of players, as was evident when 20-year-old Berk Akin exchanged jerseys with the Spanish legend after Badalona’s 79-68 win in Bursa.
Week 5 schedule
Group A
1. Rytas 7 (3-1)
2. Legia Warszawa 6 (2-2)
3. Promitheas Vikos Cola 6 (2-2)
4. MLP Academics Heidelberg 5 (1-3)
Gameday 4
Rytas – MLP Academics Heidelberg 116-90
Promitheas Vikos Cola – Legia Warszawa 72-85
Group B
1. Elan Chalon 6 (3-0)
2. ALBA Berlin 5 (2-1)
3. ERA Nymburk 4 (1-2)
4. Sabah 3 (0-3)
Group C
1. Joventut Badalona 8 (4-0)
2. Hapoel Netanel Holon 6 (2-2)
3. Cholet 6 (2-2)
4. Bursaspor 4 (0-4)
Gameday 4
Hapoel Netanel Holon – Cholet 92-94 (OT)
Bursaspor – Joventut Badalona 68-79
Group D
1. La Laguna Tenerife 6 (3-0)
2. Tofas 5 (2-1)
3. Trapani Shark 4 (1-2)
4. Bnei PenLink Herzliya 3 (0-3)
Group E
1. Galatasaray MCT Technic 8 (4-0)
2. Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets 6 (2-2)
3. Trieste 3 (1-3)
4. Igokea m:tel 4 (1-3)
Gameday 4
Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets – Galatasaray MCT Technic 74-99
Trieste – Igokea m:tel 115-90
Group F
1. AEK 6 (3-0)
2. NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz 5 (2-1)
3. Patrioti Levice 4 (1-2)
4. VEF Riga 3 (0-3)
Group G
1. Unicaja 6 (3-0)
2. Mersin Spor 5 (2-1)
3. Karditsa Iaponiki 4 (1-2)
4. Filou Oostende 3 (0-3)
Group H
1. Dreamland Gran Canaria 8 (4-0)
2. Spartak Office Shoes 6 (2-2)
3. Le Mans 5 (1-3)
4. SL Benfica 5 (1-3)
Gameday 4
SL Benfica – Le Mans 93-90
Dreamland Gran Canaria – Spartak Office Shoes 77-62
-The top seed from each group advances to the Round of 16
-Second and third seeds advance to the Play-Ins