MUNICH (Germany) - Five weeks down, one to go, and there are 14 teams already assured of their place in the Second Round as the Regular Season comes to a close on Gameday 6.

All 16 teams are in action on Wednesday with two spots still to be decided in the next round as well as how the Second Round groups will shape up.

Group A

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	SL Benfica	5	4	1	80.0	422	398	24	84.4	79.6	9
2	ZZ Leiden	5	3	2	60.0	428	403	25	85.6	80.6	8
3	Inter Bratislava	5	2	3	40.0	395	425	-30	79	85	7
4	PVSK-Veolia	5	1	4	20.0	414	433	-19	82.8	86.6	6

SL Benfica clinched their spot in the next round at the second time of asking with a strong win at home last Tuesday. They were joined by ZZ Leiden after they battled past Inter Bratislava on the road to secure the all-important head-to-head. The Dutch side also hold the advantage over SL Benfica so would top the group if they win, and the current leaders do not. 

Wednesday, November 27
Inter Bratislava v SL Benfica (Previous meeting: SL Benfica won 77-68)
ZZ Leiden v PVSK-Veolia (Previous meeting: PVSK-Veolia won 87-77)

Permutations

• SL Benfica have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group if they match or better the result of ZZ Leiden;
• ZZ Leiden have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group if they better the result of SL Benfica;
• Inter Bratislava are eliminated from contention;
• PVSK-Veolia are eliminated from contention.

GROUP B

9/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Ironi Ness Ziona	4	4	0	100	346	317	29	86.5	79.2	8
2	Landstede Hammers Zwolle	5	3	2	60.0	442	383	59	88.4	76.6	8
3	Keravnos	5	2	3	40.0	388	405	-17	77.6	81	7
4	Kapfenberg Bulls	4	0	4	0	276	347	-71	69	86.8	4

Ironi Ness Ziona made it four wins from four to advance last week and were joined in the next round as Landstede Hammers Zwolle enjoyed a 33-point victory on the road to secure their place. The Dutch side hold the head-to-head over Keravnos to lock up a top-two finish and still have an outside shot at winning the group.

Wednesday, November 27

Kapfenberg Bulls v Keravnos (Previous meeting: Keravnos won 76-70)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle v Ironi Ness Ziona (Previous meeting: Ironi Ness Ziona won 92-90)

Permutations

• Ironi Ness Ziona have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group with a win or even a defeat if they secure the head-to-head tie-breaker;
• Landstede Hammers Zwolle have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • In case of defeat or a one-point win, they would finish second;
• Keravnos are eliminated from contention;
• Kapfenberg Bulls are eliminated from contention.

Group C

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Ventspils	5	5	0	100	480	367	113	96	73.4	10
2	medi Bayreuth	5	3	2	60.0	459	404	55	91.8	80.8	8
3	Sigal Prishtina	5	2	3	40.0	441	448	-7	88.2	89.6	7
4	Apoel Nicosia	5	0	5	0	348	509	-161	69.6	101.8	5

Ventspils are on the cusp of a perfect six from six as group winners and they know they will advance to Group K. medi Bayreuth move onto Group I having overcome Sigal Prishtina last week to seal second in a decisive clash and they will look to deny Apoel Nicosia a first win on the final week.

Wednesday, November 27

Apoel Nicosia v medi Bayreuth (Previous meeting: medi Bayreuth won 112-68)
Sigal Prishtina v Ventspils (Previous meeting: Ventspils won 104-84)

Permutations

• Ventspils have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They will win the group;
• medi Bayreuth have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They will finish second;
• Sigal Prishtina are eliminated from contention;
• Apoel Nicosia are eliminated from contention.

Group D

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Bahcesehir College	5	4	1	80.0	392	359	33	78.4	71.8	9
2	CSM CSU Oradea	5	4	1	80.0	394	369	25	78.8	73.8	9
3	BC CSU Sibiu	5	1	4	20.0	401	401	0	80.2	80.2	6
4	Fribourg Olympic	5	1	4	20.0	341	399	-58	68.2	79.8	6

This group was already wrapped up after four weeks, and it's just top spot still to be decided. Bahcesehir College now have control after beating CSM CSU Oradea to claim the head-to-head and a fifth win will send the Turkish side into Group L alongside compatriots Pinar Karsiyaka. BC CSU Sibiu broke their drought last week, and both themselves and Fribourg Olympic can still play a role in determining the final positioning.

Wednesday, November 27

Bahcesehir College v BC CSU Sibiu (Previous meeting: Bahcesehir College won 83-81)
CSM CSU Oradea v Fribourg Olympic (Previous meeting: CSM CSU Oradea won 79-60)

Permutations

• Bahcesehir College have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group if they match or better the result of CSM CSU Oradea;
• CSM CSU Oradea have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group if they better the result of Bahcesehir College;
• BC CSU Sibiu are eliminated from contention;
• Fribourg Olympic are eliminated from contention.

Group E

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Pinar Karsiyaka	5	4	1	80.0	403	320	83	80.6	64	9
2	Phoenix Brussels	5	2	3	40.0	378	399	-21	75.6	79.8	7
3	Donar Groningen	5	2	3	40.0	322	376	-54	64.4	75.2	7
4	Spirou Basket	5	2	3	40.0	395	403	-8	79	80.6	7

Pinar Karsiyaka are in, that's confirmed after their fourth win last week. And then it gets interesting with the other three teams - including two Belgian sides - locked at 2-3. Donar Groningen can advance with a win regardless of the other result, while Spirou Basket need to win and hope that Phoenix Brussels fail to do so - alternatively Phoenix Brussels need to win and hope that Spirou Basket do the same. So, one Belgian side wants the other to lose, but the other wants that Belgian side to win. 

Wednesday, November 27

Pinar Karsiyaka v Phoenix Brussels (Previous meeting: Pinar Karsiyaka won 79-66)
Donar Groningen v Spirou Basket (Previous meeting: Spirou Basket won 87-56)

Permutations

• Pinar Karsiyaka have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They will win the group;
• Phoenix Brussels would qualify for the Second Round with a win if Spirou Basket also won;
  • They would finish second if they advance;
• Donar Groningen would qualify for the Second Round with a win;
  • They would finish second if they advance;
• Spirou Basket would qualify for the Second Round with a win if Pinar Karsiyaka also won;
  • They would finish second if they advance.

Group F

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Tsmoki-Minsk	5	3	2	60.0	427	408	19	85.4	81.6	8
2	BC Kyiv Basket	5	3	2	60.0	414	408	6	82.8	81.6	8
3	Levski - Lukoil	5	2	3	40.0	370	392	-22	74	78.4	7
4	BC Dnipro	5	2	3	40.0	436	439	-3	87.2	87.8	7

Perhaps the group that took the biggest turn on Gameday 5. All of a sudden, from a 3-0 start and needing one win to advance, Tsmoki-Minsk are in danger of going out. BC Kyiv Basket got the win they needed last week and take advantage of the head-to-head records to go through. BC Dnipro are holding on having claimed the head-to-head over Tsmoki-Minsk and need a favor from BC Kyiv Basket to complete their turnaround. Meanwhile, Levski-Lukoil fall foul of the tie-breakers and can longer make it out of the group.

Wednesday, November 27

Tsmoki-Minsk v BC Kyiv Basket (Previous meeting: Tsmoki-Minsk won 99-74)
BC Dnipro v Levski-Lukoil (Previous meeting: Levski-Lukoil won 85-78)

Permutations

• Tsmoki-Minsk would qualify for the Second Round with a win;
  • They would win the group with a win;
• BC Kyiv Basket have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group with a win;
• Levski-Lukoil are eliminated from contention;
• BC Dnipro would qualify for the Second Round with a win if BC Kyiv Basket also win;
  • They would finish second if they advance.

Group G

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Enisey Krasnoyarsk	5	4	1	80.0	452	381	71	90.4	76.2	9
2	U-BT Cluj Napoca	5	4	1	80.0	436	407	29	87.2	81.4	9
3	Sodertalje	5	1	4	20.0	390	445	-55	78	89	6
4	BC Balkan	5	1	4	20.0	390	435	-45	78	87	6

Enisey Krasnoyarsk and U-BT Cluj Napoca both picked up their fourth wins last week to book their spots in the Second Round, and now meet to decide who wins the group. BC Balkan and Sodertalje were up against it heading into Gameday 5 and can no longer qualify and play for pride in Botevgrad this week.

Wednesday, November 27

U-BT Cluj Napoca v Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Previous meeting: Enisey Krasnoyarsk won 97-87)
BC Balkan v Sodertalje (Previous meeting: Sodertalje won 93-83)

Permutations

• Enisey Krasnoyarsk have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group with a win;
• U-BT Cluj Napoca have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group with a win;
• Sodertalje are eliminated from contention;
• Balkan are eliminated from contention.

Group H

10/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Egis Kormend	5	4	1	80.0	400	370	30	80	74	9
2	Bakken Bears	5	4	1	80.0	425	402	23	85	80.4	9
3	Legia Warszawa	5	1	4	20.0	402	403	-1	80.4	80.6	6
4	Kataja	5	1	4	20.0	394	446	-52	78.8	89.2	6

Just like the previous group, the top two teams avoided taking things into the final week as Bakken Bears and Egis Kormend both prevailed on the road to lock down their Second Round berths. Top spot is still up for grabs, while Kataja and Legia Warszawa conclude promising campaigns despite not taking their chances in close games.

Wednesday, November 27

Kataja v Egis Kormend (Previous meeting: Egis Kormend won 81-75)
Bakken Bears v Legia Warszawa (Previous meeting: Bakken Bears won 84-83)

Permutations

• Egis Kormend have already qualified for the Second Round;
  • They would win the group with a win if Bakken lose
• Bakken Bears have already qualified for the Second Round with a win;
  • They would win the group with a win if Kormend lose;
• Since the head-to-head point differential between Egis Kormend and Bakken Bears is even, the teams will be classified according to the Official Basketball Rules. Overall point differential and total points scored, in that order, will be used as a tie-breaker;
• Legia Warszawa are eliminated from contention;
• Kataja are eliminated from contention.

The groups for the Second Round are currently as follows:

Group I

Winner of Group A (SL Benfica or ZZ Leiden)
Winner of Group H (Egis Kormend or Bakken Bears)
Runner-up of Group C (medi Bayreuth)
Runner-up of Group E (Phoenix Brussels or Donar Groningen or Spirou Basket)

Group J

Winner of Group B (Ironi Ness Ziona or Landstede Hammers Zwolle)
Winner of Group G (Enisey Krasnoyarsk or U-BT Cluj Napoca)
Runner-up of Group D (Bahcesehir College or CSM CSU Oradea)
Runner-up of Group F (Tsmoki-Minsk or BC Kyiv Basket or Dnipro)

Group K

Runner-up of Group B (Ironi Ness Ziona or Landstede Hammers Zwolle)
Runner-up of Group H (Egis Kormend or Bakken Bears)
Winner of Group C (Ventspils)
Winner of Group F (Tsmoki-Minsk or BC Kyiv Basket)

Group L

Runner-up of Group A (SL Benfica or ZZ Leiden)
Runner-up of Group G (Enisey Krasnoyarsk or U-BT Cluj Napoca)
Winner of Group D (Bahcesehir College or CSM CSU Oradea)
Winner of Group E (Pinar Karsiyaka)

DISCLAIMER: The above analysis has been prepared solely for the purpose of improving the experience of fans. It is not to be understood as advice or as binding information on the FIBA Europe Cup for competition purposes.

FIBA