EuroCup Top 16: Gran Canaria qualifies

We are into the penultimate round of the EuroCup Top 16 and plenty could be decided this week. Only two games happened on Tuesday as the round got underway, but the week will conclude with six contests tomorrow. Three teams have already qualified from the EuroCup Top 16 and were joined by Gran Canaria on Tuesday. The Spanish club downed ALBA Berlin on its way to qualification. Elsewhere, Limoges collected its first win of the Top 16 with a good home win over Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia.

Group E

ALBA Berlin vs. Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas, 72-75

Cran Canaria took a narrow road win over ALBA Berlin to book its berth in the next round. The Spanish club delivered a huge EuroCup Top 16 win and moves to second in Group E with a 3-2 record. On this loss, ALBA Berlin is eliminated at 1-3 at the bottom of the standings. The hosts needed a win to stay alive until next week, and looked good at 35-27 through the long break. Gran Canaria wrestled the momentum in the third act with a 21-31 run that made it 56-58 through thirty minutes. The game stayed tight in the fourth quarter, but Gran Canaria edged it.

Group H

Limoges CSP vs. Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia, 80-71

Down in Group H, French champ Limoges swept aside Emilia. This was the club’s first Top 16 win of the season and moves them to 1-3 at the bottom of the standings. As for Emilia, the Italian club is at 3-2 and can qualify if ASVEL Lyon beats Unics Kazan on Wednesday. The visitors were ahead through halftime, taking a solid 39-43 lead. Limoges started to click with a massive 24-12 third quarter run that brought a 63-55 lead after three quarters. The hosts stayed firm in the fourth act to secure the win.