By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The fourth annual mash-up of the Basketball Champions League Final Four versus Eurovision is here.
But do we really need an introduction?
Between Friday and next Sunday, the ninth Champions League season will conclude with a champion in Athens, and the 69th edition of Eurovision will crown the next champion in Basel. The best part of the year combines top-tier basketball and music.
The storylines are similar from love stories across lyrics and team efforts for wins on the court to inevitable breakups during the offseason. The goal is the same: to entertain and unite fans, or even a nod to Laika.
Grab your popcorn and get ready to have fun, enjoying rock, ballads, and more, and also Basketball Champions League Final Four powered by Sunel action on the floor in Sunel Arena.
The fourth crossover aims to finally snap a losing streak and combine a BCL champion with an Eurovision winner. Losing streak being the key words for potential combined bets.
Rewind
The logistics, behind 37 songs compared to four teams, shaped yet another complicated task. Heading to a season-ending tournament, AEK Betsson, Galatasaray, La Laguna Tenerife, and Unicaja will be assigned with one Eurovision entry each, but we will squeeze some more here and there.
For example, Espresso Macchiato represents Estonia in the Eurovision. A sure-hit display featuring Tommy Cash sets the pace for our journey.
Teams and Songs
La Laguna Tenerife – Denmark (Hallucination)
Hallucination is the entry for Denmark and describes the experience of encountering someone with a great connection. It really is not such a stretch to link the inspiration of singer-songwriter Sissal to Marcelinho Huertas and Giorgi Shermadini making things happen together on the court and leading Tenerife to a sixth berth in the Semifinals.
The bid to become the first three-time champion carries a 14-0 season streak into the Final Four.
Galatasaray – Azerbaijan (Run with U)
If combining Tenerife and Denmark was an easy decision, placing Run with U alongside Galatasaray was even simpler. Mamagama will be ‘Giving it all tonight’ and the same goes for the Lions of Yakup Sekizkok looking to beat the odds in the Greek capital. With Turkiye sidelined since 2012, the next best thing was the entry of neighboring Azerbaijan.
Running with Galata stars to the Final Four.
Unicaja – Sweden (Bara bada bastu)
Between our two options, Sweden outlasted Australia to become our pick for defending champion Unicaja. The Malaga-based outfit has been constantly lifting trophies over recent years, and Sweden has enjoyed plenty of Eurovision success. To the point, KAJ will be performing Bara bada bastu to win, and so will Unicaja in Athens.
The team coached by Ibon Navarro has certainly excited supporters this season as well.
AEK Betsson – Austria (Wasted Love)
The Final Four host in AEK went from keeping it Greek with Asteromata to keeping it Queen with Montenegro, but ended up paired with the entry of Austria. Besides the obvious, Wasted Love and JJ try to let go of the past and move to an exciting future, and are ultimately unsuccessful. AEK is proud of past achievements but is surely hungry for more, especially playing at home.
The best AEK plays en route to the Final Four.
Schedule
9/5: Basketball Champions League semifinals
11/5: Basketball Champions League final and third-place game
13/5: Eurovision first semifinal
15/5: Eurovision second semifinal
17/5: Eurovision final
Germany, a member of the Eurovision Big Five, is stepping up and going German with Baller. Abor and Tynna are not directly referring to basketball – kind of are – but are surely more than enough for a fitting finale.