By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
It’s time for the Basketball Champions League Final 8. The 2020-21 season champion will be crowned at Nizhny Novgorod’s CEC Nagorny after surviving the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship game. The tournament will begin May 5 and conclude May 9.
Eurohoops presents the eight participating teams along with your chance to predict the Final 8 winner. Casademont Zaragoza, ERA Nymburk, Hapoel Unet-Credit Holon, Hereda San Pablo Burgos, Lenovo Tenerife, Nizhny Novgorod, Pinar Karsiyaka, and SIG Strasbourg made it this far progressing through the six-game Regular Season and six-game Round of 16.
Final 8 schedule
Quarterfinals
Nizhny Novgorod – Casademont Zaragoza (5/5, 18:00 CET)
ERA Nymburk – Pinar Karsiyaka (5/5, 20:30 CET)
Lenovo Tenerife – SIG Strasbourg (6/5, 16:00 CET)
Hapoel Unet-Credit Holon – Hereda San Pablo Burgos (6/5, 19:00 CET)
Semifinals
Nizhny Novgorod/Casademont Zaragoza – ERA Nymburk/Pinar Karsiyaka (7/5, 18:00 CET)
Hapoel Unet-Credit Holon/Hereda San Pablo Burgos – Lenovo Tenerife/SIG Strasbourg (7/5, 20:30 CET)
Third-place game
Semifinals losers (9/5, 15:00 CET)
Championship game
Semifinals winners (9/5, 18:00 CET)
A closer look at the eight contenders
Eurohoops walks through the eight teams set to duke it out at Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
Hereda San Pablo Burgos
The defending champion, seven months after rising to the top of the Final 8 held in Athens, carries the unique knowledge of participating and winning the BCL Final 8. The Spanish club can become the first two-time champion.
San Pablo Burgos writing yet another story in BCL history books
Experienced guard Thad McFadden immediately pops out of the packed squad led by Joan Penarroya. Most of the players were among those lifting the trophy in Athens and went on to capture the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| T. McFadden | 10.8 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 7.3 |
| J. Sakho | 4.6 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 6.8 |
| D. Kravic | 10.1 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 13.6 |
| A. Renfroe | 11.1 | 2.2 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 14.5 |
| A. Barrera | 3.5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| J. Rivero | 13.0 | 7.0 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 16.8 |
| X. Rabaseda | 4.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 5.9 |
| O. Cook | 4.3 | 1.7 | 7.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 10.9 |
| V. Benite | 14.1 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 12.2 |
| K. Horton | 9.6 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 11.6 |
| M. Salash | 6.4 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 8.3 |
| M. Salvo | 5.7 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
| K. Queeley | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| A. Infante Gutierrez | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Lenovo Tenerife
Basketball Champions League lasting original Lenovo Tenerife is the second team on a quest to become the first two-time champion. The inaugural season, 2016-17, and the season-ending Final Four held at San Cristobal de La Laguna generated the first title.
Marcelinho Huertas and Txus Vidorreta masterminding Tenerife’s return to the BCL throne
Marcelinho Huertas will be running the show and Giorgi Shermadini will be the man to stop in the paint. Expect some fireworks from Finnish sharpshooter Sasu Salin, as well.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| B. Fitipaldo | 9.1 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 11.3 |
| F. Guerra | 8.0 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 10.6 |
| T. Cavanaugh | 9.1 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 11.9 |
| S. Salin | 13.7 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 12.3 |
| S. Rodriguez | 5.7 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 7.5 |
| A. Doornekamp | 6.5 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 8.2 |
| M. Huertas | 8.1 | 1.1 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 9.7 |
| G. Shermadini | 16.6 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| E. Sulejmanovic | 6.4 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 7.6 |
| A. Lopez | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| S. Yusta | 5.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 4.1 |
| S. Butterfield | 7.8 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 9.4 |
| D. Diez | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| D. Brnovic | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| G. Bogris | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| A. Cabrera | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
Nizhny Novgorod
Another strong contender comes in the form of the Final 8 hosts. Nizhny Novgorod at its strongest since joining the Champions League and with the privileges attached to the home-court advantage hopes to keep on building on its success.
The BCL Final 8 promises excitement at Nizhny Novgorod
It’s been a three-point party since the beginning of the 2020-21 season masterfully led by Kasey Shepherd. Andrey Vorontsevich, besides the obvious star power and experience, has really lifted the Russian club to a whole other level since joining in early March.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| K. Shepherd | 18.1 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 17.5 |
| I. Strebkov | 10.4 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 12.6 |
| A. Gankevich | 7.0 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 7.5 |
| A. Komolov | 11.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 11.9 |
| A. Chadov | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.6 |
| T. Gerasimov | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
| L. Petrasek | 6.8 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.6 |
| A. Astapkovich | 9.1 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| S. Toropov | 7.0 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 9.3 |
| E. Baburin | 7.9 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 8.8 |
| A. Gavrilovic | 7.3 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 7.8 |
| A. Vorontsevich | 14.0 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 19.3 |
| S. Gontar | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| I. Platonov | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| M. Belenitskii | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Pinar Karsiyaka
After spending the two previous seasons at FIBA Europe Cup, Pinar Karsiyaka returned to the Champions League on a mission to go all the way. That goal is three wins away for the team coached by Ufuk Sarica.
Karsiyaka cutting in looking for BCL Final 8 success
Raymar Morgan and Amath M’Baye are the big stars of the Turkish club highlighting an experienced squad. Tony Taylor is another player to keep an eye on at Nizhny Novgorod.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| A. M’Baye | 15.6 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.3 |
| T. Taylor | 13.2 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 13.4 |
| R. Morgan | 18.3 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 20.6 |
| S. Henry | 9.8 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 8.9 |
| D. Kennedy | 7.2 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 12.6 |
| Y. Sonsirma | 3.6 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
| M. Birsen | 5.6 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 7.1 |
| N. Yildirim | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.1 |
| S. Erden | 3.6 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 4.0 |
| O. Bitim | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3.1 |
| M. Agva | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 5.4 |
SIG Strasbourg
SIG Strasbourg is among the three lasting originals making it to the Final 8. Unlike Lenovo Tenerife and ERA Nymburk, this is its first season-ending tournament berth. Big-time opportunity to shine coming up.
Strasbourg counting on its backcourt duo to lead the charge in BCL Final Eight
Bonzie Colson has been making things happen all season. Brandon Jefferson and DeAndre Lansdowne are other key parts of the well-oiled machine ran by Lassi Tuovi.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| B. Jefferson | 14.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 12.2 |
| D. Lansdowne | 10.8 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 9.3 |
| J. Bohacik | 9.9 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 9.4 |
| J. Maille | 5.7 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 8.3 |
| B. Colson | 19.1 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| I. Wainright | 9.6 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 12.2 |
| L. Cavalière | 6.1 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 9.2 |
| Y. Morin | 6.0 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 10.7 |
| I. Udanoh | 5.4 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 9.3 |
| J. Tchicamboud | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | -0.4 |
| E. Izundu | 1.3 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| C. Frisch | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| E. Miyem | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| L. Beaufort | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Hapoel Unet-Credit Holon
It has certainly been an exciting run for Hapoel Unet-Credit Holon. Very few expected the Israeli outlet to make it out of the Regular Season, but here it is one step even further in the Final 8. A just reward for the solid showings throughout the season by Stefanos Dedas’ players.
Hapoel Holon embracing the difficult path toward the BCL trophy
C.J. Harris carried most of the offensive responsibilities in a generally balanced effort so far. Isaiah Miles and Chris Johnson also contributed heavily in the games leading to Russia.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| C. Johnson | 11.8 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 13.6 |
| T. McGee | 12.7 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
| G. Pnini | 7.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 6.5 |
| F. Bourdillon | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 4.2 |
| C. Harris | 18.3 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 15.7 |
| I. Miles | 14.4 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 15.7 |
| W. Workman | 5.0 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 9.6 |
| M. De Zeeuw | 8.0 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 8.3 |
| N. Misgav | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| O. Brandwein | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| U. Trocki | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| R. Howell | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5.5 |
| T. Zach | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Y. Ohayon | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
ERA Nymburk
ERA Nymburk deprived of its home-court advantage in last season-quarterfinals turned to the opening round of the Final 8, returns for a second attempt in the expanded tournament to crown a champion. The Czech club will certainly be motivated and has all the tools necessary to win it all.
Nymburk, the inheritance of traits
Omar Prewitt and Hayden Dalton have the highest efficiency rating entering the Final 8. But it is impossible to look past BCL all-time top scorer Vojtech Hruban. Oren Amiel will get the most out of all his players, as usual.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| O. Prewitt | 15.9 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 16.3 |
| H. Dalton | 11.5 | 7.2 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 17.0 |
| M. Kriz | 6.4 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 9.4 |
| J. Tuma | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.2 |
| S. Zimmerman | 6.3 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 9.5 |
| P. Benda | 6.8 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 9.6 |
| V. Hruban | 13.4 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 12.5 |
| L. Kovar | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| L. Palyza | 11.4 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 10.8 |
| R. Obasohan | 14.4 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 14.9 |
| J. Harding | 12.4 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 8.4 |
| F. Rylich | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| P. Safarcik | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
Casademont Zaragoza
Casademont Zaragoza recently going through a head-coaching change will be looking to surpass last season’s fourth place. The second Final 8 in a row will be a big challenge and certainly extremely important for the players.
Zaragoza right back in the BCL Final 8
Canadian Dylan Ennis is among the leading stars. German Robin Benzing and Argentine Nicolas Brussino are other main elements of the international flavor presented by the team based in Aragon, Spain.
Roster:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | TRN | STL | BLK | EFF |
| D. Ennis | 14.8 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 12.9 |
| N. Brussino | 9.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 12.8 |
| J. Barreiro | 8.2 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 8.1 |
| R. Benzing | 11.5 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 9.7 |
| T. Hlinason | 4.8 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 8.7 |
| R. Sulaimon | 10.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 10.5 |
| J. Garcia | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| R. San Miguel | 2.4 | 1.6 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 6.9 |
| J. Wiley | 12.7 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 16.5 |
| E. Harris | 13.8 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 14.8 |
| J. Fernandez | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 |
| A. Font | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 |
| J. Justiz | 6.0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 4.7 |
| L. Rupnik | 9.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 10.0 |
| P. Stosic | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -1.0 |
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