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