By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 action returns this week for its last, crucial games with many scenarios for making it through to the quarterfinals still open.
With just two rounds remaining in the Top 16, Virtus Segafredo Bologna and UNICS Kazan are the only teams going through to the playoffs, leaving six tickets up for grabs. Two tickets are pending claimers in both Group E and Group F, while only one remains available in Group G and Group H. And while traditional forces in the competition are still waiting to shine – and one, former champion Unicaja Malaga, is eliminated already – new powers like Boulogne Metropolitans 92, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Nanterre 92 have taken over in the chase for the qualification.
Group E
It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that anything can happen in the first half of March. With former champions Unicaja Malaga (0-4) out of the playoffs race, AS Monaco and Joventut Badalona currently lead the race in Group E, holding onto a 3-1 record each. Fellow French competitor Nanterre has won its last two games, both against Unicaja. Although Nanterre also lost to the group leaders in the first leg of the Top 16, it retains chances to make it through to the other side provided that certain results fall into place.
The take: Monaco, having defeated Nanterre 65-93 on the road in Round 1, has the advantage in their rematch on Tuesday. Monaco also had a 14-point win over Joventut in Round 4. It wouldn’t be a wild guess to assume that the Monegasques can punch their quarterfinals ticket on Tuesday.
Joventut has lost only to Monaco and returns to action by hosting Unicaja on Tuesday. With Unicaja out of the race, a win for the hosts would mean that Nanterre will need to have won its earlier game in Monaco to survive. If that happens, Joventut and Nanterre will meet in Paris in Round 6 with a playoffs spot hanging in the balance.
Group F
Group F is undoubtedly the true nail-bitter in the speculation about quarterfinals scenarios. Two of EuroCup’s traditional powers, Partizan NIS Belgrade (2-2) and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (1-3), entered as the favorites, but the course of the season has debunked this. Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (3-1) has emerged as the current group leaders and though the picture might seem clear, one cannot simply rule out a change of guard after a nearly one-month break.
The take: Having beaten Lokomotiv 83-79 in their Round 1 duel in Russia, Metropolitans can seal a quarterfinals ticket if they repeat the deed on Tuesday at home. A loss won’t be the end of the world, either, provided Metropolitans keeps it under a four-point margin.
Lokomotiv added strength in January by signing Nigel Williams-Goss and Drew Gordon, but needs to win both remaining games and get on top of the tiebreakers to reach the next round. It remains to be seen if Lokomotiv’s depth can overpower the French side on Wednesday.
Partizan enjoyed a stunning 71-43 win over Dolomiti Energia Trento to open the Top 16. They meet again on Wednesday before ending this phase on the road against Metropolitans. The Serbian side will be put to the test against two greedy quarterfinals suitors, but may only need one win to survive. Trento can almost say the same, but that one win should be a very big on over Partizan.
Group G
Virtus Bologna won its first four Top 16 duels in Group G to advance to the quarterfinals before the February break, leaving behind Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (3-1) in second place. JL Bourg en Bresse has yet to register a win into the Top 16 and Buducnost Voli Podgorica has slipped its last three games.
The take: Olimpija will be put to the test on Tuesday against Virtus. A win is all it takes for Olimpija to advance, despite losing 90-76 in Bologna in Round 1.
Buducnost (1-3) is the only threat for Olimpija, as their Round 2 clash ended with a three-point win for the Slovenian side. If Olimpija loses this week and Buducnost wins, they’ll meet for the qualification in Round 6.
Group H
Group H leader UNICS Kazan is the second quarterfinalist confirmed. Though no quarterfinals ticket can be decided in this group in Round 5, it will be interesting to see the reactions of the two Spanish rivals, MoraBanc Andorra (2-2) and Herbalife Gran Canaria (1-3) upon their return to action. Both have had ups and downs throughout the season and there only one can outlast the race.
The take: Andorra faces group leaders UNICS on the road this Tuesday and hopes for a win to take a step forward in the race. If that doesn’t happen, they will have to wait for Round 6.
Gran Canaria is one of the few teams whose expectations haven’t matched their progress in the Top 16. With their back to the wall, two wins against Mornar and UNICS can put them back in the quarterfinals picture, keeping in mind that their narrow losses to both allow for such a comeback.
Mornar won its Round 1 duel over Gran Canaria 102-100 and hosts the Spanish side in Round 6 with hopes for a sweep. A win puts them in a favorable position, though Mornar’s qualification will heavily depend on other results.
Photo: EuroCup