Four more join Round of 16 after Basketball Champions League update

MUNICH (Germany) - Six open spots in the Round of 16 remain after the latest developments in the Basketball Champions League saw Telekom Baskets Bonn confirm their transfer while producing a situation that is guaranteed to take all three of Alba Fehervar, Balkan Botevgrad and Ironi Ness Ziona through in Group J of the FIBA Europe Cup as well.

The list of teams qualified for the Play-Offs also includes Avtodor Saratov, Bakken Bears, Dinamo Sassari, Pallacanestro Varese, Pinar Karsiyaka and s.Oliver Wurzburg.

Although the final configuration of the standings is yet to be determined in the tightly-contested Group J, it is now clear that the 3-2 record shared by Alba, Balkan and Ness Ziona will be enough even for the team that finishes in third place. There will be at least three extra slots to be filled by 'lucky losers' from the Second Round, with that number potentially rising to as many as seven in the outmost scenario.

The only Basketball Champions League team to have booked a switch-over ticket to FIBA Europe Cup, Telekom Baskets will not be newcomers to the competition, having taken part in the 2016-17 campaign, when they reached the Semi-Finals.

Depending on their results, Filou Oostende (BEL), CEZ Nymburk (CZE), UNET Holon (ISR) and Ventspils (LAT) could also be FIBA Europe Cup bound but would have to finish either 5th or 6th in their respective Regular Season group for that to materialize.

The other teams with FIBA Europe Cup opt-ins included Telenet Giants Antwerp (BEL), medi Bayreuth (GER), Fribourg Olympic (SUI) and Besiktas Sompo Japan (TUR). However, they are no longer in contention for positions that would permit a cross-over between competitions.

Any further vacancies in the original eight-team Basketball Champions League quota in the Round of 16 will be filled by the best-ranked third-placed and, if necessary, fourth-placed clubs from the FIBA Europe Cup Second Round.

FIBA