Basketball Champions League: Round of 16 Game 1 roundup
There are only 16 clubs remaining in this, the first-ever FIBA Basketball Champions League. We are at the stage of knockout hoops, with two legs set to determine which clubs will populate the Quarterfinals pot. Leg one of the Round of 16 tipped off on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday. With eight games across the two days, there was plenty of action. This is how the Basketball Champions League week played out.
Tuesday
It is game on in the tie between EWE Baskets Oldenburg and Banvit after the teams drew 82-82 in Germany. Turkish club Banvit will now feel confident about claiming an aggregate win with home advantage next week. Iberostar Tenerife could not repeat its weekend histrionics in the Liga Endesa, where the club surged to the top of Spanish Basketball. The team travelled to PAOK and was undone by a 66-63 defeat. There is a caveat, however. Namely, with home advantage next week, Tenerife only has a three points deficit to make up. This tie is far from over. Undoubtedly, Monaco has been one of the teams of the Basketball Champions League season. The French club picked up a rare loss on Tuesday, though. AEK Athens picked up a slender 69-68 win, a one point advantage to protect as the clubs head to France next week.
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Wednesday
Banco Di Sardegna Sassari collected the biggest leg one advantage of the week with a 79-63 home cruise over Le Mans Sarthe Basket. The Italian hosts looked in control for long periods and now has a healthy 16 point cushion for the second leg. Even with home advantage next week, Le Mans has a lot to do. In another locked tie, Aris Thessaloniki and ASVEL Lyon could not be separated in Greece and played out a 67-67 contest. The hosts of Aris will now face the French crowd in Lyon next week, and without any lead to protect. Again, this is game on. In an all-Italian clash, Umana Venezia downed Scandone Avellino 53-49 to draw first blood in this tie. A low scoring encounter suggests next week’s contest will be cagey, with both teams well poised to play for qualification.
Ludwigsburg used its home floor to open a solid 12-point advantage over Neptunas Klaipeda, thanks to a 73-61 victory. The German team trailed at halftime, but went big in the second half to claim the win. Klaipeda needs a big effort in Lithuania next week. A Turkish derby saw Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir defeat Besiktas 75-70 to take a first leg advantage. However, Besiktas will look to its passionate fans to spur a comeback next week. There is certainly plenty to play for.