By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
The first half of the fifth round of the BCL has ended, while the next eight games will be played next week.
The standings are much clearer now, and after the matches, we have the names of most teams that will finish first in their group, which means direct qualification to the Top 16 phase, and the number of teams progressing is increasing.
The week started in Turkey, where Trieste, after drama and a basket by Markel Brown with six seconds left, handed Galatasaray their first defeat (80-79).
Heidelberg easily handled Promitheas at home (82-62), while Rytas, after another thriller, defeated Legia (79-77), securing first place and complicating the situation in Group A.
To conclude the day, Gran Canaria recorded their fifth win, this time against Le Mans away (90-88), also securing the top position.
As for Wednesday, Wurzburg demolished Igokea away (85-56), knocking them out of the competition, while Cholet scored 109 points against Bursaspor and secured the next phase (109-77).
To end the day, Spartak advanced by defeating Benfica (99-69), and Joventut remained unbeaten—behind closed doors, they broke Hapoel Holon in the match of the week, decided by Cameron Hunt’s last-second points in overtime (97-95).
The situation is now clear in four groups. Rytas, Joventut, Galatasaray, and Gran Canaria have secured first place, while Cholet, Hapoel Holon, Wurzburg, Trieste, and Spartak have secured a place in the play-in. Group A is in chaos, while either Le Mans or Benfica will advance from Group H, depending on the final round results.
Week 7 schedule
Group A
1. q-Rytas 9 (4-1)
2. Promitheas Vikos Cola 7 (2-3)
3. Legia Warszawa 7 (2-3)
4. MLP Academics Heidelberg 7 (2-3)
Gameday 5
MLP Academics Heidelberg – Promitheas Vikos Cola 82-62
Legia Warszawa – Rytas 77-79
Group B
1. Elan Chalon 8 (4-0)
2. ALBA Berlin 7 (3-1)
3. ERA Nymburk 5 (1-3)
4. Sabah 4 (0-4)
Group C
1. q-Joventut Badalona 10 (5-0)
2. Cholet 8 (3-2)
3. Hapoel Netanel Holon 7 (2-3)
4. Bursaspor 5 (0-5)
Gameday 5
Cholet – Bursaspor 109-77
Joventut Badalona – Hapoel Netanel Holon 97-95
Group D
1. La Laguna Tenerife 8 (4-0)
2. Tofas 6 (2-2)
3. Trapani Shark 6 (2-2)
4. Bnei PenLink Herzliya 4 (0-4)
Group E
1. q-Galatasaray MCT Technic 9 (4-1)
2. Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets 8 (3-2)
3. Trieste 7 (2-3)
4. Igokea m:tel 6 (1-4)
Gameday 5
Galatasaray MCT Technic – Trieste 79-80
Igokea m:tel – Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets 56-85
Group F
1. AEK 8 (4-0)
2. NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz 6 (2-2)
3. Patrioti Levice 6 (2-2)
4. VEF Riga 4 (0-4)
Group G
1. Unicaja 8 (4-0)
2. Mersin Spor 6 (2-2)
3. Karditsa Iaponiki 6 (2-2)
4. Filou Oostende 4 (0-4)
Group H
1. q-Dreamland Gran Canaria 10 (5-0)
2. Spartak Office Shoes 8 (3-2)
3. Le Mans 6 (1-4)
4. SL Benfica 6 (1-4)
Gameday 5
Le Mans – Dreamland Gran Canaria 88-90
Spartak Office Shoes – SL Benfica 99-69
-The top seed from each group advances to the Round of 16
-Second and third seeds advance to the Play-Ins
q-qualified for the Round of 16