MUNICH (Germany) - The 2021-22 FIBA Europe Cup season is almost here with next week's Qualifiers determining the final six spots in the Regular Season.

19 teams - including the defending champions Ironi Ness Ziona -  battle it out across four qualification groups in Groningen (NED), Sofia (BUL), Krasnoyarsk (RUS) and Parnu (EST) from September 28 - October 1.

Here's a closer look at the four groups and who is in contention to advance:

Qualification Group A (Groningen)

European regulars Donar Groningen will fancy their chances of grabbing a ticket to the Regular Season on home soil with the top seeds awaiting the Quarter-Final winner in the last four. Austrian champions Gmunden Swans make their competition bow against KK Kumanovo with the North Macedonian side competing for the first time since the inaugural FIBA Europe Cup edition.

Another side making their competition debut are Romanian Cup holders CSO Voluntari and they will take on Benfica in the Semi-Finals with the Portuguese side reaching the Second Round in the 2019-20 season.

Familiar faces: Marquis Addison bolsters the Donar Groningen lineup this season having previously impressed in the competition with BC CSU Sibiu - averaging 16.6 points per game in the 2020-21 season, while Aaron Broussard has joined Benfica after two seasons in FIBA Europe Cup with Romanian side CSM CSU Oradea.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - KK Kumanovo v Gmunden Swans - Sep 28
Semi-Final - QF winner v Donar Groningen - Sep 29
Semi-Final - Benfica v CSO Voluntari - Sep 29
Final - SF winner 1 v SF winner 2 - Oct 1

The winner of this group will be placed into Group C of the Regular Season alongside BC Parma, Heroes Den Bosch and Opava.

Qualification Group B (Sofia)

Straight into the Semi-Finals in Sofia as two FIBA Europe Cup debutants look to cause upsets with Trefl Sopot and Akademik Plovdiv looking to announce themselves on this stage.

Iraklis BC had made a strong start in last season's competition before being blown away by the eventual winners Ironi Ness Ziona in the Quarter-Finals. The Greek side have come back refreshed with a completely new-look roster for 2021-22 ready to take on hosts, Akademik Plovdiv.

Meanwhile, BC Dnipro have kept hold of their core for this season as they will take on newcomers Trefl Sopot from Poland in the hope of living up to their billing amongst the number 1 seeds for a return to the Regular Season.

Familiar faces: Former NBA player Rashad Vaughn has made the switch from fellow Ukrainian side Prometey to join BC Dnipro, while American big Josh Sharma is back in the competition with newcomers Trefl Sopot after previously representing Spirou Basket and Dutch teammate Yannick Franke is back having played for Donar Groningen in the 2015-16 season.

Schedule:
Semi-Finals - BC Dnipro v Trefl Sopot - Sep 29
Semi-Finals - Iraklis BC v Akademik Plovdiv - Sep 29
Final - SF winner 1 v SF winner 2 - Oct 1

The winner of this group will be place into Group E of the Regular Season alongside Bahcesehir College, ZZ Leiden and Mornar Bar.

Qualification Group C (Krasnoyarsk)

German side medi Bayreuth are on a 16-month unbeaten streak in the competition having reached the Semi-Finals of the curtailed 2019-20 season. They make their return this season with a last four encounter against a European debutant in TFT or Naturtex-SZTE-Szeged.

Group hosts Enisey Krasnoyarsk played in the Final Four in the first-ever FIBA Europe Cup season in 2015-16 and they will face Hapoel Haifa in the second Semi-Final with the aim of embarking on another Regular Season campaign.

Familiar faces: Tayler Persons was second in assists in the 2019-20 FIBA Europe Cup season with 8.1 per game with ZZ Leiden and returns to the competition  with first-time participants Naturtex-SZTE-Szeged. Meanwhile, Brynton Lemar is back for a second season; joining Hapoel Haifa after a two-game spell in the competition with UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - TFT v Naturtex-SZTE-Szeged - Sep 28
Semi-Final - medi Bayreuth v QF winner - Sep 29
Semi-Final - Enisey Krasnoyarsk v Hapoel Haifa - Sep 29
Final - SF winner 1 v SF winner 2 - Oct 1

The winner of this group will be placed into Group A of the Regular Season alongside Kapfenberg Bulls, London Lions and one of the lucky losers.

Qualification Group D (Parnu)

The reigning champions Ironi Ness Ziona need to come through two games in Parnu to continue the defense of their title. The Israeli side secured a thrilling triumph on home soil in April's Final Four and they are amongst the top seeds in the Qualifiers with a new-look roster, that of course still contains legendary captain Tal Dunne.

Hosts PSD will play for the right to face Ness Ziona if they can overcome Austrian side GGMT Vienna on the opening night. In the other Semi-Final, FC Porto take on Keravnos BC in a battle of two teams with previous experience of playing in the Regular Season.

Familiar faces: Mike Morrison is back in the competition playing for Keravnos with the prestige of a former champion; winning the FIBA Europe Cup title in the inaugural season at Fraport Skyliners.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - GGMT Vienna v PSD - Sep 28
Semi-Final - Keravnos BC v FC Porto - Sep 29
Semi-Final - Ironi Ness Ziona v QF winner - Sep 29
Final - SF winner 1 v SF winner 2 - Oct 1

The winner of this group will be placed into Group H of the Regular Season alongside CSM CSU Oradea, Szolnoki Olajbanjasz and Legia Warszawa.

The four group winners will advance as well as two lucky losers that will be determined from the four runners-up.

All games will be available to watch live on the FIBA YouTube channel.

FIBA