By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Basketball Champions League Gameday 9 action is set to roll on Tuesday and Wednesday. The last game for all 32 teams before 2020 introduces itself. The new year will separate the playoff teams and those with the home-court advantage in the postseason, but the upcoming games can go a long way into deciding positioning in all four groups.
Gameday 8 saw Brandon Brown take home MVP of the Week honors, BAXI Manresa setting a new assists record in a single Champions League affair, Falco Szombathely extending its unexpected undefeated run at home and Mornar Bar powered by Jacob Pullen catching the last train. Also, Vojtech Hruban talked to Eurohoops about ERA Nymburk.
Below the preview of Basketball Champions League Gameday 9.
Group A
1. BAXI Manresa 14 (6-2)
2. Turk Telekom 14 (6-2)
3. Dinamo Sassari 14 (6-2)
4. SIG Strasbourg 12 (4-4)
5. Filou Oostende 11 (3-5)
6. Lietkabelis 11 (3-5)
7. UNET Holon 11 (3-5)
8. Polski Cukier Torun 9 (1-7)
Sitting on top of Group A with a 6-2 record, Dinamo Sassari and Turk Telekom will face each other at the Palasport Roberta Serradimigni. A win from either side will likely go a long way for the home-court advantage in the playoffs. As for domestic competition, the Italian squad is 9-3 in LBA Serie A and the Turkish team is 5-7 in Super Ligi.
Shevon Thompson tops BCL with 89 rebounds as Filou Oostende is set to face slumping UNET Holon at the Holon Toto Arena. Upcoming rivals both sit at 3-5, really need to jump to 4-5. The visitors are 7-2 in EuroMillions Basketball League as well, while the Israeli team moved to 5-4 in Super League on Saturday.
On a three-game winning streak, BAXI Manresa is set to visit Lietkabelis. Pedro Martinez’s squad is currently 6-2 while the hosts are 3-5 including 2-2 at the Cido Arena. The domestic aspect of the two teams’ 2019-20 campaign features the Spanish club at 4-9 in ACB and the Lithuanian outlet at 8-5 in LKL.
Despite Chris Wright averaging 21 points and 7.5 assists, Polski Cukier Torun is at the brink of elimination before the tough road game versus SIG Strasbourg. Currently at 1-7 in the group and 11-1 in PLK, while the team coached by Vincent Collet is 4-4 in the group and 8-6 in Jeep Elite Pro A.
Gameday 9 schedule:
Tuesday
Lietkabelis – BAXI Manresa
UNET Holon – Filou Oostende
SIG Strasbourg – Polski Cukier Torun
Wednesday
Dinamo Sassari – Turk Telekom
Group B
1. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 14 (6-2)
2. AEK 14 (6-2)
3. San Pablo Burgos 13 (5-3)
4. RASTA Vechta 12 (4-4)
5. Anwil Wloclawek 12 (4-4)
6. Teksut Bandirma 11 (3-5)
7. Telenet Giants Antwerp 10 (2-6)
8. EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez 10 (2-6)
The two top Group B clubs will collide in Athens with both AEK and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem wanting to jump to 7-2. The Queen recently improved to 7-4 in Greece’s Basket League, its upcoming rivals to 7-1 in Israel’s Super League.
One point behind after three consecutive victories, San Pablo Burgos is up for a tough test at Anwil Wloclawek’s Hala Mistrzow. The hosts are 4-4, also 8-4 in PLK, while the visiting side will travel to Poland with a 7-6 ACB record.
Not much room left for EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez at 2-6 ahead of the road match against RASTA Vechta that is 4-4. The French club is also 5-9 in Jeep Elite Pro A, while its upcoming rival sits at 6-5 in easyCredit BBL.
Also on the Round 9 board, Teksut Bandirma at 3-5 hosts Telenet Giants Antwerp at 2-6. Domestically, the Turkish team is 8-4 in Super Ligi, the Belgian 6-3 in EuroMillions Basketball League.
Gameday 9 schedule:
Tuesday
RASTA Vechta – EB Pau-Lacq-Orthez
Wednesday
Teksut Bandirma – Telenet Giants Antwerp
Anwil Wloclawek – San Pablo Burgos
AEK – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem