By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
The third round of the Round of 16 in the Basketball Champions League has been played, and only three teams remain undefeated – Le Mans, Joventut, and AEK Athens.
Round started with a fantastic match in Turkey, which AEK won in overtime (90-93) against Tofas.
Another thriller was played on the first day, as Joventut broke Wurzburg in Germany (83-85) with points from Cameron Hunt at the buzzer. Otherwise, this was the third match of the season for the American where he decided the outcome with points in the very finish.
For the finale, Unicaja played a great match at home, scoring 111 points and easily defeating Chalon (111-82).
Five dramas on Wednesday
A lot of basketball was seen in the BCL on Wednesday, starting with Galatasaray’s triumph at home against Hapoel Holon (86-81). The hero was James Palmer Jr. with two three-pointers in the closing moments of the match.
Three more matches were played at the same time, all featuring drama. ALBA won in Berlin in drama against AS Karditsa (84-80), Le Mans also won after thriller with 20 points from Johnny Berhanemeskel against Rytas (78-72), and Nymburk got their first win away at Trieste (85-91).
In the last match of the round, Gran Canaria, after yet another tense finish, beat Tenerife in the Spanish derby (72-70).
Round of 16 Week 3
Group I
Galatasaray MCT Technic – Hapoel Netanel Holon 86-81
Le Mans – Rytas 78-72
Standings
1. Le Mans 6 (3-0)
2. Galatasaray MCT Technic 5 (2-1)
3. Rytas 4 (1-2)
4. Hapoel Netanel Holon 3 (0-3)
Group J
Tofas – AEK 90-93
ALBA Berlin – Karditsa Iaponiki 84-80
Standings
1. AEK 6 (3-0)
2. ALBA Berlin 5 (2-1)
3. Tofas 4 (1-2)
4. Karditsa Iaponiki 3 (0-3)
Group K
Fitness First Wurzburg – Joventut Badalona 83-85
Unicaja – Elan Chalon 111-82
Standings
1. Joventut Badalona 6 (3-0)
2. Unicaja 5 (2-1)
3. Elan Chalon 4 (1-2)
4. Fitness First Wurzburg 3 (0-3)
Group L
Trieste – ERA Nymburk 85-91
Dreamland Gran Canaria – La Laguna Tenerife 72-70
Standings
1. Dreamland Gran Canaria 5 (2-1)
2. La Laguna Tenerife 5 (2-1)
3. ERA Nymburk 4 (1-2)
4. Trieste 4 (1-2)
-Top 2 from each group clinch a berth in the Quarterfinals