VILA REAL (Portuguese Basketball SuperCup/FIBA Europe Cup) - The fate of the SuperCup in Portugal rests in the hands of two FIBA Europe Cup teams, as SL Benfica and FC Porto prepare for their first clash this season in Vila Real on Sunday.

Fully sold out, the game will pit Portuguese champions Porto against Cup winners and current SuperCup holders Benfica, who have now lifted the trophy on four consecutive occasions.

Having ended Benfica's domination in the domestic championship at the end of last season, Porto will hope to take away the SuperCup from their rivals as well, but it will be no easy feat.

The SuperCup will be take place on Sunday, 9 October at 19:00 CET.

Both teams were in contention for a place in the Basketball Champions League (BCL), but the fortunes were similarly unkind for the teams representing Portugal.

Benfica had to bow out of the competition in unbelievably heartbreaking fashion, coming up one point and only a couple centimetres short in the tie against Openjobmetis Varese (ITA), who triumphed 145-144 on aggregate.

Derek Raivio's successful buzzer-beating long-range shot at the end of the return leg in Italy could have forced overtime, but the Benfica point guard was deemed to have stepped on the three-point line.

The circumstances were less dramatic for Porto, who had a strong first leg at home against Juventus Utena (LTU), but couldn't handle the opponents on the road, leading to a 160-140 defeat on aggregate.

Both of the teams transferred to the FIBA Europe Cup, where they will continue their international campaigns.

Benfica were slotted into Group A, which also includes Brussels Basketball (BEL), Alba Fehervar (HUN) and Elan Chalon (FRA). Meanwhile, Porto will play against Sopron (HUN), Port of Antwerp Giants (BEL) and Nanterre 92 (FRA) in Group D.

FIBA