03/01/2017
News
to read
U-BT Cluj-Napoca shake up Power Rankings; Nanterre 92 back in front
MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) – Returning from a two-week break in action in the FIBA Europe Cup, it's the same group of teams that are dominating the Power Rankings.
However, Pau-Lacq-Orthez, who topped the ladder last time around, dropped all the way to fourth after suffering their first defeat of the season in the competition to U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the last round.
The two teams that benefited the most from this result are Nanterre 92, who regained pole position, and the Cluj-Napoca club itself, as they moved into the Top 10.
| 1. Nanterre 92 (2-0) | Nothing can stop them and they are all the way up... back to the top spot in the Power Rankings as now the only undefeated team in the competition. |
| 2. Telekom Baskets (2-0) |
Telekom Baskets picked up so much momentum in the closing weeks of the last calendar year that they are most likely heading into 2017 way over the legal speed limit. |
| 3. Vytautas (2-0) | Vytautas closed the year with a trip to Cyprus, where they enjoyed a quick break from the dark and cold Lithuanian winter. And a win. Yes, they enjoyed another one of those too. |
| 4. Pau-Lacq-Orthez (1-1) |
There's a first time for everything. After five wins in a row in the FIBA Europe Cup, Pau-Lacq-Orthez got served the sour taste of defeat, falling a couple of places in the Power Rankings. |
| 5. Demir Insaat (2-0) |
Buyukcekmece played well with Clevin Hannah before his departure; Buyukcekmece have been equally good with Jerry Johnson. Maybe they are just that good? |
| 6. Enisey (2-0) | Frank 'The Tank' Elegar is back and so are the smiles on Enisey supporters' faces, as the Krasnoyarsk club earned its second win in the Second Round. |
| 7. Elan Chalon (2-0) | John Roberson's return to Sweden was marked by another emphatic Elan Chalon victory in the Second Round. That's +59 in two games! |
| 8. Gaziantep (2-0) |
You better call the police, call the coroner, call up your priest, have him warn ya — Gaziantep are one of the most dangerous teams in the league, beware. |
| 9. Alba Fehervar (2-0) | After wins against U-BT Cluj-Napoca and Pardubice, can the Hungarian club ride their hot streak and complete their collection against Elan Bearnais? |
| 10. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (1-1) |
No Vlad-Sorin Moldoveanu? No problem! Cluj-Napoca were the first team in the competition to successfully inflict damage on Pau-Lacq-Orthez by holding their French opponents to under 70 points. |
| 11. Tsmoki Minsk (1-1) |
Khaleesi, one of your Dragons has escaped! Over the winter break, versatile Lithuanian forward Laimonas Kisielius left the Minsk club, leaving a big gap in the team's front court. |
| 12. Lukoil Academic (1-1) |
The recent break in action was enough for Lukoil Academic to forget their long trip back from Krasnoyarsk after losing to Enisey. And here we are, reminding them. |
| 13. Donar Groningen (1-1) | Does Drago Pasalic own some real estate in Lisbon? He certainly felt like at home in the Portuguese capital, scoring 21 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists in a 94-82 victory against SL Benfica. |
| 14. Kormend (1-1) | If anyone's got a special home court advantage in the FIBA Europe Cup, it's Kormend, who brushed aside the powerful Tsmoki side in front of their home fans in the last round of action. |
| 15. Antwerp Giants (1-1) |
Antwerp got the monkey off their back and earned a gigantic win against BCM Gravelines, their first in the Second Round, to stay afloat in Group L. |
| 16. BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque (0-2) |
When will the misery end? Four straight losses for the French club now, combining the end of the Regular Season and the start of the Second Round. |
| 17. Prievidza (1-1) | Aren't fairy tales supposed to have happy endings? After a great performance against BCM Gravelines, the Slovakian side got hammered by 26 points at home by Buyukcekmece. |
| 18. Bnei Herzliya (0-2) | For the first time this season, Bnei Herzliya were gracious hosts and allowed the visiting side to come away with a win in Israel. While Nanterre might be thankful, good manners don't give you extra points in basketball. |
| 19. SL Benfica (0-2) |
We're all still wondering... which way around the globe will SL Benfica travel to Krasnoyarsk this week? |
| 20. Sodertalje Kings (0-2) |
Although Toni Bizaca is still the top scorer in the competition, there's not much royal about Sodertalje's performance in the Second Round so far. |
| 21. Pardubice (0-2) |
Coach Levell Sanders was dealt a tough hand when Pardubice found out their Group O opponents, but it's too late to fold now. They will practically be all-in in the upcoming game against Cluj-Napoca. |
| 22. Redwell-Gunners (0-2) | Always trust the process, but maybe not this season. |
| 23. APOEL (0-2) | A loss to Telekom Baskets by 38 was followed by a 6-point defeat to Vytautas... This seems to suggest APOEL will win their next game by 26 points. |
| 24. BC Mures (0-2) | A point differential of -50 after two games is not a very inspiring place to be, but a game against Sodertalje could change things. |
FIBA
