By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The fourth season of the Basketball Champions League is upon us. Tuesday and Wednesday will feature the Regular Season Round 1 games with plenty of strong sides scattered across Europe making the 32-team field.
Following the qualifying rounds, the four groups of eight clubs each were set. The top four teams after 14 weeks of action will advance to the playoffs and will need to overcome two more obstacles for a spot in the Final Four. Playoffs will be contested in best-of-three series for the first time, but that discussion can wait until March.
The Regular Season, which will conclude in the first week of February, is previewed by Eurohoops. We will keep you informed on all Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D results, potential additions for all participants and other interesting developments throughout the season up to the Final Four set to take place between May 1st and May 3rd.
Group A
BAXI Manresa
Dinamo Sassari
Filou Oostende
Lietkabelis
Polski Cukier Torun
SIG Strasbourg
Turk Telekom
UNET Holon
Three BCL Regular Season newcomers in this group with BAXI Manresa set for European club competition action for the first time in a couple of decades. Turk Telekom will debut in FIBA’s premier club competition while Polski Cukier Torun made it past the qualifiers into the Regular Season for the first time.
In full contrast, Dinamo Sassari, Filou Oostende, Lietkabelis, SIG Strasbourg and UNET Holon have been around, but only Sassari and Strasbourg have previously advanced through to the playoffs. New opportunities emerge.
An open group with a variety of stars in each team will keep us company in the upcoming months starting off with interesting matchups across the field.
Basketball Champions League’s take on Group A.
Round 1
Tuesday
UNET Holon – Turk Telekom
SIG Strasbourg – Filou Oostende
Wednesday
BAXI Manresa – Polski Cukier Torun
Dinamo Sassari – Lietkabelis