Bilbao pull off comeback to advance; Nymburk, Zaragoza also clinch Quarter-Finals spots

MUNICH (Germany) - Three more places in the FIBA Europe Cup Quarter-Finals were secured on Wednesday in the penultimate week of action in the Second Round.

Spanish sides Casademont Zaragoza and Surne Bilbao Basket enjoyed contrasting home wins to advance, while ERA Nymburk took care of business on the road to ensure they progress in the competition.

Key Storylines

- Bilbao complete comeback in OT to advance;

- Nymburk, Zaragoza lock up Quarter-Finals spots;

- Bahcesehir take winning run to 10 straight.

Bilbao needed to erase a 12-point deficit in the final quarter to avoid back-to-back losses; eventually confirming their place in the next phase by beating FC Porto 90-86 in an overtime thriller.

Denzel Andersson was the hero for the home side with the decisive triple late in the extra period. From 53-65 down inside the fourth, Bilbao rallied through five different scorers in double figures. It was a tough loss for Porto - despite 25 points from Anthony Barber - but they still have control of their destiny next week.

Earlier, Nymburk were first to confirm their place in the last eight in Wednesday's action as they pulled away from Manisa BBSK to secure a 69-55 triumph in Turkiye. It was a tough shooting night for the hosts as Manisa finished 5-of-31 from three-point range with Nymburk doing enough to advance from Group M.

That result opened to the door for Zaragoza to also book their spot in the Quarter-Finals, and the Spanish side duly obliged by beating BCM Gravelines Dunkerque 101-90. Santi Yusta starred with 25 points as Zaragoza came out on top in a high-scoring battle to claim the crucial head-to-head.

Meanwhile, Bahcesehir College continued their win streak as they repelled the Sporting CP fightback to close out a 99-87 success to move to 5-0 in Group L. Tyler Cavanaugh and Axel Bouteille led the way with 19 points apiece with four other players also in double figures in the win.

The runners-up spot will be decided next week when Sporting host Legia Warszawa in a must-win clash. The Polish side hold the advantage after they eased past Jonava CBet 101-77 on their travels to improve to 3-2 behind another 30-point performance from Christian Vital.

BG Gottingen are still in the mix to make it out of Group K with Umoja Gibson pouring in a 31-point haul to lead his side past Balkan Botevgrad, 101-75, for their third victory.

Dutch side ZZ Leiden staved off elimination with an important 81-77 home win over a resurgent Itelyum Varese to set up a three-way tie for second spot. It was a 27-13 second quarter that proved pivotal with Leiden led by a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double from Roeland Schaftenaar and 19 points from Luuk van Bree.

The other Gameday 5 encounter from Group N was played earlier this month as NINERS Chemnitz defeated CSM CSU Oradea to book their place into the last eight.

Highs

Efficiency: 37 - Christian Vital (Legia Warszawa)
Points: 31 - Umoja Gibson (BG Gottingen)
Rebounds: 14 - Roeland Schaftenaar (ZZ Leiden)
Assists: 9 - Axel Bouteille (Bahcesehir College) 
Steals: 4 - Marcus LoVett (Sporting CP), Anthony Barber (FC Porto)
Blocks: 3 - Dimitar Dimitrov (Balkan Botevgrad)

Wednesday, January 31

Group K: Balkan Botevgrad 75-101 BG Gottingen; Surne Bilbao Basket 90-86 FC Porto
Group L: Bahcesehir College 99-87 Sporting CP; Jonava CBet 77-101 Legia Warszawa
Group M: Manisa BBSK 55-69 ERA Nymburk; Casademont Zaragoza 101-90 BCM Gravelines Dunkerque
Group N: ZZ Leiden 81-77 Itelyum Varese

FIBA