FIBA Basketball Champions League: Monaco and Karsiyaka claim wins

The first leg of the FIBA Basketball Champions League Quarter-Finals were completed on Wednesday with two games to set us up perfectly for the deciding leg next week. Yesterday we saw Ludwigsburg come away from Banvit with a win, while ASVEL Lyon and Iberostar Tenerife played out a draw. On Wednesday, it was the turn of the remaining four clubs.

After leg one of the FIBA Basketball Champions League Quarter-Finals, all games a well poised. Today, Monaco took a step towards the final four with a win over Banco di Sardegna Sassari, while Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir edged Umana Venezia.

Monaco vs. Banco di Sardegna Sassari, 73-62

Monaco is holding an 11-point advantage rolling into the next leg, but will have to face Sassari on its own floor. The French club may need all of those points to make the next stage. The hosts started slow bug narrowly took the first quarter 16-15. Monaco built on the advantage with a 23-15 second for 39-30 at halftime. The French contingent held firm in the second half, despite losing the fourth to a late Sassari rally.

Brandon Davis led the win with 16 points, while Rok Stipcevic took a game-high 17 points for the Italian visitors.

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Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir vs. Umana Venezia, 74-71

Pinar Karsiyaka takes a narrow lead to Italy next week after seeing off Venezia late on. However, the Venice club will know the three-point difference is just a single bucket and with home advantage the tie is wide open. The Turkish hosts built the win on a 25-15 first quarter, but Venezia spent the game clawing back into contention. Mission impossible was almost achieved in the fourth act, but the visitors slipped in the final seconds. The Italians were arguably the better team here.

Mateusz Ponitka dropped 25 points to lead the hosts.