By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
All the matches of the fifth round of the FIBA Basketball Champions League have been completed, revealing the names of the new teams that advanced, those that secured a play-in spot, and those that were eliminated from the competition.
Last week, there were no BCL games due to national team matches in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, and this week, the second half of the fifth round was completed with eight remaining games played.
AEK, Tenerife and Unicaja in Top 16
Everything started in Azerbaijan, where Sabah defeated Nymburk (105-87), securing their first win in this competition and extending their hopes of advancing further.
Bnei Herzliya defeated Tofas (82-81) with an Elijah Stewart buzzer-beater, but this did not help as they were already eliminated from the competition after five rounds.
On the same day, Mersin defeated AS Karditsa away (80-72), in a match between two teams heading to the Play-in, while ALBA also won, defeating Chalon in France (100-91), and a victory in the final round would advance them to the Top 16 phase. To end the day, in a result-wise unimportant match, Unicaja easily handled Oostende in Belgium (89-73).
First loss for the Spaniards
Wednesday’s program opened in Latvia, where VEF Riga defeated Szolnoki (76-62), earning their first victory, and the decision about who will advance or be eliminated will be made in the sixth round.
AEK then defeated Levice after overtime, securing the top spot in Group F (99-88), while the round concluded in Spain.
Trapani shocked Tenerife (83-80) and handed the Spanish teams their first loss in the BCL this season (now at 19-1). Despite the setback, Tenerife secured a spot in the Round of 16, while Trapani and Tofas are in the Play-In from Group D.
Week 8 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)
Group B
1. p-ALBA Berlin 9 (4-1)
2. p-Elan Chalon 9 (4-1)
3. ERA Nymburk 6 (1-4)
4. Sabah 6 (1-4)
Gameday 5
Sabah – ERA Nymburk 105-87
Elan Chalon – ALBA Berlin 91-100
Group C
1. q-Joventut Badalona 10 (5-0)
2. p-Cholet 8 (3-2)
3. p-Hapoel Netanel Holon 7 (2-3)
4. e-Bursaspor 5 (0-5)
Group D
1. q-La Laguna Tenerife 10 (5-0)
2. p-Trapani Shark 8 (3-2)
3. p-Tofas 7 (2-3)
4. e-Bnei PenLink Herzliya 6 (1-4)
Gameday 5
Bnei PenLink Herzliya – Tofas 82-81
La Laguna Tenerife – Trapani Shark 80-83
Group E
1. q-Galatasaray MCT Technic 9 (4-1)
2. p-Fitness First Wurzburg 8 (3-2)
3. p-Trieste 7 (2-3)
4. e-Igokea m:tel 6 (1-4)
Group F
1. q-AEK 10 (5-0)
2. NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz 7 (2-3)
3. Patrioti Levice 7 (2-3)
4. VEF Riga 6 (1-4)
Gameday 5
VEF Riga – NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz 76-62
AEK – Patrioti Levice 99-88
Group G
1. q-Unicaja 10 (5-0)
2. p-Mersin Spor 8 (3-2)
3. p-Karditsa Iaponiki 7 (2-3)
4. e-Filou Oostende 5 (0-5)
Gameday 5
Karditsa Iaponiki – Mersin Spor 72-80
Filou Oostende – Unicaja 73-89
Group H
1. q-Dreamland Gran Canaria 10 (5-0)
2. p-Spartak Office Shoes 7 (3-2)
3. Le Mans 6 (1-4)
4. SL Benfica 6 (1-4)
-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
p-advancing to Play-Ins
e-eliminated