By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
As Gameday 6 concludes the Round of 16 in Season X of the Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, three Quarterfinal berths and three top seeds are available.
Securing a top seed, beyond simply advancing to the penultimate stage of the 2025-26 BCL season, earns home-court advantage in the upcoming best-of-three series. These top seeds will be drawn against a second-place team, excluding the opponent they already faced in the Round of 16, to compete for a spot in the Final Four.
Heading to the finale of the Round of 16, Eurohoops breaks down the qualification paths for the remaining quarterfinal spots and the battle for the top seeds.
Group I
Standings
1. Galatasaray MCT Technic 9 (4-1)
2. Rytas 8 (3-2)
3. Le Mans 8 (3-2)
4. Hapoel Netanel Holon 5 (0-5)
Gameday 6 (18/3, 18:00 CET)
Galatasaray MCT Technic – Rytas
Le Mans – Hapoel Netanel Holon
Range
Galatasaray: 1st-2nd-3rd
Rytas: 1st-2nd-3rd
Le Mans: 2nd-3rd
Hapoel Holon: 4th
While both Quarterfinal spots are still available, only Galatasaray MCT Technic and Rytas are in contention for the group’s top seed ahead of their head-to-head showdown at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center.
The Lions will clinch the first seed with a win. They can also take the top spot with a loss of 3 points or fewer, provided Hapoel Netanel Holon upsets Le Mans. They will finish second if they lose by four or more points and Le Mans also loses, or if they lose by 20 points or fewer and Le Mans wins. However, a loss of 21 or more points combined with a Le Mans victory would result in elimination.
The Lithuanian side will finish first if they win and Le Mans also wins, or if they win by four or more points and Le Mans loses. They will secure the second seed with a win of between one and three points, or if they lose while Le Mans also loses. However, a loss paired with a Le Mans victory would knock them out of the tournament.
The French side is mathematically eliminated from finishing first. However, MSB can still snatch second place with a win if Galata also wins, or if Rytas wins by a margin of 21 points or more.
Having not yet recorded a win, the Israeli club has already been eliminated from contention.
Group J
Standings
1. AEK 10 (5-0)
2. ALBA Berlin 9 (4-1)
3. Tofas 6 (1-4)
4. Karditsa Iaponiki 5 (0-5)
Gameday 6 (18/3)
Tofas – Karditsa Iaponiki (18:00 CET)
ALBA Berlin – AEK (19:00 CET)
Range
AEK: 1st-2nd
ALBA: 1st-2nd
Tofas: 3rd-4th
Karditsa: 3rd-4th
The race between AEK and ALBA Berlin for the top seed in Group J has come down to a winner-takes-all showdown at the Uber Arena on Gameday 6.
While both teams clinched their quarterfinal berths back on Gameday 4, their continued winning streaks have set the stage for this final decider. If the Queen wins or loses by a margin of eight points or less, they will secure first place. However, a victory by nine points or more would allow the German capital side to snatch the top spot via the tiebreaker.
Meanwhile, Tofas and Karditsa Iaponiki have both been eliminated from contention.
Group K
Standings
1. Asisa Joventut 9 (4-1)
2. Unicaja 8 (3-2)
3. Elan Chalon 7 (2-3)
4. Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets 6 (1-4)
Gameday 6 (17/3, 20:00 CET)
Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets – Elan Chalon
Unicaja – Asisa Joventut
Range
Joventut: 1st-2nd
Unicaja: 1st-2nd
Chalon: 3rd-4th
Wurzburg: 3rd-4th
While both quarterfinal berths were secured on Gameday 5, the Gameday 6 clash between Unicaja and Asisa Joventut will determine the winner of Group K.
Following Joventut’s five-point victory in their previous meeting, the Malaga-based outfit must win by at least five points to claim the top spot. Conversely, the visitors at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena will secure first place with any win or even a loss by a margin of four points or fewer.
Meanwhile, both Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets and Elan Chalon have been eliminated.
Group L
Standings
1. La Laguna Tenerife 9 (4-1)
2. Dreamland Gran Canaria 8 (3-2)
3. ERA Nymburk 7 (2-3)
4. Trieste 6 (1-4)
Gameday 6 (17/3, 20:30 CET)
Trieste – La Laguna Tenerife
Dreamland Gran Canaria – ERA Nymburk
Range
Tenerife: 1st
Gran Canaria: 2nd-3rd
Nymburk: 2nd-3rd
Trieste: 4th
La Laguna Tenerife secured both a quarterfinal berth and first place on Gameday 5, and Trieste was eliminated. This leaves Dreamland Gran Canaria and ERA Nymburk to face off in a winner-takes-all decider for the second seed in Group L.
Gran Canaria will progress as the second seed with a win or even a loss by a margin of three points or less. Conversely, the Czech champions must win by four points or more to move on.
Whichever team loses this direct tiebreaker in Gran Canaria Arena will join Trieste in the elimination zone.
Quarterfinals and Final Four
The eight remaining contenders will compete in a best-of-three series for a spot in the Final Four, with pairings decided by a draw on Friday, March 20. Game 1 fixtures are scheduled for March 31 and April 1, followed by Game 2 on April 7–8. If necessary, a deciding Game 3 will take place on April 14–15. The season will then culminate with the Final Four in Badalona, held from May 8 to 10.