Everything you need to know for the final week of the Regular Season
MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) – The last week of the Regular Season is upon us with six more spots remaining in the Second Round. There are still places up for grabs in Groups A, B, C and D, while the top two clubs have already been decided elsewhere.
Group A
Although there were two teams that could have clinched Second Round berths in Group A last week, only ZZ Leiden (4-1) managed to get the job done, while s.Oliver Wurzburg (3-2) failed in Turkey. The Denis Wucherer-coached side are still in control of their own situation, but Sakarya BSB (2-3) could overtake them if both results go their way, as they hold the tie-breaker over the rivals from Wurzburg.
In action
s.Oliver Wurzburg v ZZ Leiden (H2H: Wurzburg +10)
Sakarya BSB v CSM CSU Oradea (H2H: Oradea +2)
Permutations
- ZZ Leiden have already qualified for the Second Round;
- ZZ Leiden would clinch first place in the group with a win;
- s.Oliver Wurzburg would qualify for the Second Round with a win or if CSM CSU Oradea beat Sakarya BSB;
- s.Oliver Wurzburg would clinch first place in the group with a win;
- Sakarya BSB would qualify for the Second Round if they win and ZZ Leiden beat s.Oliver Wurzburg;
- CSM CSU Oradea have already been eliminated.
Group B
Although there are three teams with 3-2 records in Group B, their situation is not identical. Holding head-to-head advantages over both Tsmoki-Minsk and Petrolina AEK, Balkan Botevgrad are already through to the Second Round. The other two will be involved in an exciting winner-takes-all clash for the second qualification spot.
In action
Belfius Mons-Hainaut v Balkan BC (H2H: Balkan +12)
Petrolina AEK v Tsmoki-Minsk (H2H: Tsmoki +12)
Permutations
- Balkan BC have already qualified for the Second Round;
- Balkan BC would clinch first place with a win;
- The winner of Petrolina AEK v Tsmoki-Minsk will qualify for the Second Round;
- Belfius Mons-Hainaut have already been eliminated.
Group C
It's still a three-horse race in Group C, with Donar Groningen (4-1), Pinar Karsiyaka and Spirou Basket (both 3-2) all in control of their own destiny. A win would take each of the teams through to the Second Round, although Donar and Karsiyaka could technically advance even in the case of defeat.
In action
Donar Groningen v Spirou Basket (H2H: Spirou +28)
Pinar Karsiyaka v Istanbul BBSK (H2H: Karsiyaka +26)
Permutations
- Donar Groningen would qualify for the Second Round with a win or if Istanbul BBSK beat Pinar Karsiyaka;
- Pinar Karsiyaka would qualify for the Second Round with a win or if Donar Groningen beat Spirou Basket;
- Spirou Basket would qualify for the Second Round with a win;
- Istanbul BBSK have already been eliminated.
Group D
New Heroes Den Bosch (3-2) beating Ironi Ness Ziona (3-2) in the Netherlands kept the intrigue alive in Group D. Avtodor Saratov (4-1) may be at the top of the standings, but their situation isn't as secure as it might seem and a defeat against the red-hot Den Bosch side could drop them outside the top two spots. A three-way tie is a real possibility in the table.
In action
BK JIP Pardubice v Ironi Ness Ziona (H2H: Ironi Ness Ziona +34)
Avtodor Saratov v New Heroes Den Bosch (H2H: Avtodor +4)
Permutations
- Avtodor Saratov would qualify for the Second Round with a win or if BK JIP Pardubice beat Ironi Ness Ziona;
- New Heroes Den Bosch would qualify for the Second Round with a win or if BK JIP Pardubice beat Ironi Ness Ziona;
- Ironi Ness Ziona would qualify for the Second Round with a win;
- BK JIP Pardubice have been eliminated.
Group E
Bakken Bears (5-0) and Z Mobile Prishtina (4-1) booked their Second Round spots already a couple of weeks ago, but the winner of Group E is not yet known. The undefeated Danish side will be massive favorites to capture the laurels, having won the first game against their Kosovar rivals by 24 points, but a mathematical possibility is still open for the Prishtina side.
In action
Steaua Bucuresti v Cherkaski Mavpy (H2H: Mavpy +26)
Z Mobile Prishtina v Bakken Bears (H2H: Bears +24)
Permutations
- Bakken Bears and Z Mobile Prishtina have already qualified for the Second Round;
- Bakken Bears will finish the Regular Season in first place unless Z Mobile Prishtina surpass them with a win of 25 points or more;
- Cherkaski Mavpy and Steaua Bucuresti have already been eliminated.
Group F
The first place is up for grabs in Group F, with the already-qualified Alba Fehervar (5-0) and Pallcanestro Varese (4-1) headed for an exciting head-to-head clash in Italy to decide the outcome.
In action
Pallacanestro Varese v Alba Fehervar (H2H: Alba +8)
FC Porto v Rilski Sportist (H2H: Porto +7)
Permutations
- Alba Fehervar and Pallacanestro Varese have both already qualified for the Second Round;
- Alba Fehervar will finish the Regular Season in first place unless Pallacanestro Varese surpass them with a win of 8 points or more;
- FC Porto and Rilski Sportist have already been eliminated.
Group G
Everything has already been decided in Group G, with Lukoil Levski (5-0) clinching the top spot with a win against Kataja Basket (3-2) last week, with Kataja Basket (3-2), Aris (2-3) and Dnipro (0-5) lining up next, in that order.
In action
Dnipro v Kataja Basket (H2H: Kataja +7)
Aris v Levski Lukoil (H2H: Levski +11)
Permutations
- Lukoil Levski and Kataja Basket have already qualified for the Second Round;
- Lukoil Levski have already clinched first place, with Kataja Basket set to finish second;
- Aris and Dnipro have already been eliminated.
Group H
Szolnoki Olaj (4-1) overtook Dinamo Sassari (4-1) in the race for the top spot in Group H and could put a bow on it by defeating Leicester Riders (0-5) on the final week of the Regular Season. If they do slip up, Sassari could regain pole position with a win.
In action
Falco Vulcano v Dinamo Sassari (H2H: Dinamo +35)
Leicester Riders v Szolnoki Olaj (H2H: Szolnok +3)
Permutations
- Szolnoki Olaj and Dinamo Sassari have already qualified for the Second Round;
- Szolnoki Olaj would clinch first place with a win;
- Dinamo Sassari would finish first with a win if Leicester Riders beat Szolnoki Olaj;
- Falco Vulcano and Leicester Riders have already been eliminated.
FIBA