By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Reaching the midway point of the Round of 16 surely increases competitiveness in Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL. Get ready for Gameday 3 of this stage with eight contests across all four groups, scattered all around Europe, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some crazy streaks hold, a brand new derby, and more coming up this week.
In Group K, both games are on Tuesday, including the first team with eight wins in as many outings to start its maiden BCL journey and this season’s Final Four host, Joventut Badalona, visiting winless Fitness First Wurzburg. Also, back-to-back champion Unicaja welcomes Elan Chalon, carrying an 18-game streak in Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.
Le Mans is packing a league-high 11.3 three-pointers per game and a five-game winning streak to a home fixture opposite Rytas in one of the Wednesday Group I affairs. The second is between Galatasaray MCT Technic and Hapoel Netanel Holon in Samokov.
Among the two Wednesday contests in Group L, Dreamland Gran Canaria and La Laguna Tenerife bring the first-ever continental edition of Derbi Canario. From Gran Canaria Arena to PalaTrieste, the other fixture features host Trieste and visiting ERA Nymburk.
Only Group J spreads from Tuesday to Wednesday this week, from Tofas versus AEK in Tofas Arena to ALBA Berlin versus Karditsa Iaponiki in Uber Arena.
Round of 16 Week 3
Group I
Galatasaray MCT Technic – Hapoel Netanel Holon (4/2, 18:00 CET)
Le Mans – Rytas (4/2, 20:00 CET)
Standings
1. Le Mans 4 (2-0)
2. Galatasaray MCT Technic 3 (1-1)
3. Rytas 3 (1-1)
4. Hapoel Netanel Holon 2 (0-2)
Group J
Tofas – AEK (3/2, 18:00 CET)
ALBA Berlin – Karditsa Iaponiki (4/2, 20:00 CET)
Standings
1. AEK 4 (2-0)
2. ALBA Berlin 3 (1-1)
3. Tofas 3 (1-1)
4. Karditsa Iaponiki 2 (0-2)
Group K
Fitness First Wurzburg – Joventut Badalona (3/2, 19:00 CET)
Unicaja – Elan Chalon (3/2, 20:30 CET)
Standings
1. Joventut Badalona 4 (2-0)
2. Unicaja 3 (1-1)
3. Elan Chalon 3 (1-1)
4. Fitness First Wurzburg 2 (0-2)
Group L
Trieste – ERA Nymburk (4/2, 20:00 CET)
Dreamland Gran Canaria – La Laguna Tenerife (4/2, 21:00 CET)
Standings
1. La Laguna Tenerife 4 (2-0)
2. Trieste 3 (1-1)
3. Dreamland Gran Canaria 3 (1-1)
4. ERA Nymburk 2 (0-2)
-Top 2 from each group clinch a berth in the Quarterfinals