MIAMI (United States) – Season 7 of the Basketball Champions League Americas resumes on Wednesday, January 13, with the start of Stage 2 of the Group Phase for Groups D, C and B. Group A will get underway later in January. Following the December action, Instituto (ARG), Minas Tenis Clube (BRA) and Nacional (URU) finished undefeated in their respective groups (see standings here) and will look to stay on the winning path to take major steps toward qualifying for the Quarter-Finals. The remaining teams, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back and stay in contention for the next round. Before the opening tip of Stage 2, here are the key facts and stats to know for each group:
Group D
Upcoming games:
January 14 SESI Franca vs. UdeC – Local time: 6:40 p.m. (GMT-3) January 15 UdeC vs. Instituto – Local time: 6:40 p.m. (GMT-3) January 16 SESI Franca vs. Instituto – Local time: 6:40 p.m. (GMT-3) Venue: Ginásio Pedrocão, Franca, Brazil.
Franca’s home record stands at 12 wins and 4 losses. Its longest home winning streak is eight games.
Instituto won both of its December games, marking the third time in its BCLA history it has won two straight. The team has never won three in a row.
UdeC has dropped 11 straight BCLA games, the longest losing streak in tournament history.
With its win over UdeC in Stage 1, Franca reached 31 all-time BCLA victories, tying Quimsa for the second-most all-time in competition history. With a win in the upcoming stage, it would stand alone in second place, behind Flamengo (47).
Stephen Maxwell (UdeC) attempted 21 two-point field goals against Instituto, tying the record for most two-point attempts by a player in a single game (Thomas Robinson, Real Estelí vs. Honey Badgers in BCLA4).
Lucas Dias (Franca) became the third player to score more than 700 career points in BCLA history. He ranks third all-time with 714 points (Jezreel De Jesus, 844; Brandon Robinson, 786). He also reached 282 total rebounds, placing him second all-time, just nine shy of tying Ismael Romero (291) as the BCLA’s all-time leading rebounder.
Group C
Upcoming games:
January 14 Boca Juniors vs. Minas – Local time: 10:10 p.m. (GMT-3) January 15 Minas vs. Aguada – Local time: 9:10 p.m. (GMT-3) January 16 Boca Juniors vs. Aguada – Local time: 9:10 p.m. (GMT-3) Venue: Estadio Luis Conde, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Aguada has lost five of its six games in BCLA history. It has allowed fewer than 87 points only once (most recently, 77 against Minas).
Boca Juniors has won six of seven games played in Buenos Aires (at Boca, Ferro and Obras arenas), including four straight victories.
Minas has played 39 BCLA games. It has scored more than 100 points only twice and has not reached 90 points in its last 11 games. It has won just three of nine games played in Argentina (3–6 record), though it has won two of its last three there.
Santiago Scala (Boca) has reached six BCLA editions.
If Martín Cuello (Boca) plays at least one game after missing the first two, he will also reach six editions.
Group B
Upcoming games:
January 17 Flamengo vs. Obras – Local time: 7:10 p.m. (GMT-3) January 18 Obras vs. Nacional – Local time: 7:10 p.m. (GMT-3) January 19 Flamengo vs. Nacional – Local time: 7:10 p.m. (GMT-3) Venue: Maracanazinho Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nacional won its first two games of this edition. It is the second time it has won consecutive BCLA games (BCLA5 vs. Quimsa and Halcones de Xalapa). It has never won three in a row. Its record changes drastically when playing in Uruguay compared to away or neutral venues: 4–1 at home, 3–9 elsewhere.
The Maracanazinho has become a fortress for Flamengo, which holds a 10–1 all-time BCLA record at the venue.
Obras has lost its last four BCLA games, tying its second-worst losing streak (eight losses between BCLA2 and BCLA3).
During Stage 1 of BCLA7, Flamengo surpassed Quimsa as the all-time leading scoring team in competition history (4,760 points to the Argentinians’ 4,675).
Juan Brussino (Obras) became the only player to appear in all seven BCLA editions and is also the competition’s all-time assists leader with 206 (second: Franco Balbi with 204).
Guilherme Deodato (Flamengo) moved into the BCLA’s all-time top 10 scorers, ranking ninth with 495 points.
Who’s in and who’s out?
Keylan Boone will not continue with Instituto after exercising a contract opt-out clause. Anton Cook joins the roster.
UdeC announced the addition of shooting guard Barham Amor. Point guard Diego Silva, who missed the first two games, is also expected to make his debut.
Minas announced the signing of point guard Tim Frazier.
Martín Cuello has returned to training with Boca Juniors after recovering from physical issues and could make his BCLA debut. Romeao Ferguson will not continue with the club.
Dominican center Luis Santos was announced as a reinforcement for this second stage. Point guard Santiago Vidal is available again after recovering from the injury that sidelined him for the first two games. David Cubillán will not continue.
FIBA