The final four: Which teams will make the FIBA Europe Cup Finals?

MUNICH (Germany) – The most anticipated FIBA Europe Cup Semi-Finals in recent memory gets underway on Wednesday with two mouthwatering clashes.

Three of the four sides have enjoyed lengthy winning spells that have led them to this stage, whereas the other team – for the majority of the campaign – led the way in points per game.

Here's a closer look at the Semi-Finals matchups:

NINERS Chemnitz (GER) vs Surne Bilbao Basket (ESP)

First Leg: Wednesday, March 27 - Bilbao, ESP - 20:00 CET
Second Leg: Wednesday, April 3 - Chemnitz, GER - 19:00 CET

Two teams that started the FIBA Europe Cup in blistering form will battle in the final four. NINERS and Bilbao won their first 10 and nine games, respectively, while their Quarter-Finals matchups could not have been more different.

The German side cruised through their last eight tie against Casademont Zaragoza, winning both legs 98-64 and 102-86 for a dominant 200-150 aggregate margin. However, Bilbao had to overcome the largest deficit in FIBA Europe Cup history by turning an 83-64 first-leg loss into a resounding 81-53 victory, winning 145-136 on aggregate.

The key numbers:

NINERS Chemnitz – PPG: 92.3 (1st); RPG: 40.4 (2nd); APG: 23.0 (1st)
Surne Bilbao Basket – PPG: 82.4 (11th); RPG: 39.4 (4th); APG: 18.9 (9th) 

The key players:

Jeff Garrett – NINERS Chemnitz
11.9 PPG / 7.5 RPG / 1.5 SPG - 17.3 EFF

Garrett was Zaragoza's ultimate thorn in the side in the Quarter-Finals. He secured double-doubles over the two legs and had a standout performance in the second leg - going 8-for-9 from the field for 20 points and 11 rebounds.

DeAndre Lansdowne – NINERS Chemnitz 
13.8 PPG / 3.6 RPG / 5.0 APG - 16.9 EFF

Lansdowne has consistently performed well over the course of the season, both as a scorer and as a playmaker for the German side - ranking second in efficiency. At 34 years old, the American has shown no signs of slowing down and forms a formidable backcourt partnership with in-form Canadian Kaza Kajami-Keane.

Sacha Killeya-Jones – Surne Bilbao Basket
15.2 PPG / 6.5 RPG / 1.0 BPG - 15.0 EFF

Killeya-Jones could take advantage of mismatches under the basket in this tie and will look to cause some headaches for their counterparts. The 25-year-old GB international followed up his 18-point performance against Legia Warszawa with a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double in the unforgettable second leg.

Melwin Pantzar – Surne Bilbao Basket
9.4 PPG / 4.4 RPG / 2.8 APG - 13.0 EFF

Pantzar ranks third in efficiency for Bilbao this season, just behind Killeya-Jones, which makes the Swede a precious commodity for the Spaniards in their quest to the Finals. He has made his last 13 free throws and was an essential part of Bilbao's second-leg triumph over Legia with 13 points and 5 rebounds.

Bahcesehir College (TUR) vs Itelyum Varese (ITA)

First Leg: Wednesday, March 27 - Varese, ITA - 20:30 CET
Second Leg: Wednesday, April 3 - Istanbul, TUR - 19:00 CET

Former champions Bahcesehir College have also enjoyed a lengthy winning run after recovering from an opening-day loss to ERA Nymburk to conquer their next 11 opponents. That run ended in the first leg of the Quarter-Finals on the road to FC Porto, when they lost 90-80, but the Turkish side bounced back emphatically to win 88-52 and 168-142 overall.

They next face a free-scoring Itelyum Varese side that led the FIBA Europe Cup for the majority in points per game until the last eight. Still, the Italians weren't complaining as they saw off Nymburk over two legs, 80-65 and 91-76, for a comfortable 171-141 aggregate success.

The key numbers: 

Bahcesehir College – PPG: 91.6 (3rd); RPG: 40.1 (3rd); APG: 22.2 (3rd)
Itelyum Varese – PPG: 92.0 (2nd); RPG: 37.4 (7th); APG: 20.5 (6th)

The key players:

Jerry Boutsiele – Bahcesehir College
15.5 PPG / 7.8 RPG / 2.1 APG - 20.6 EFF

Registering double figures in scoring in all but two games for the Turkish outfit this season, Boutsiele has always been a danger man and constantly singled out in every scouting report. He was one rebound shy of a double-double in their quarter-final success over FC Porto, with nearly identical statlines of 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Tyler Cavanaugh – Bahcesehir College
15.7 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 2.1 APG - 18.6 EFF

Like his teammate, Cavanaugh has also scored double figures in 12 of the team's 14 games to this point. He pulled down 12 rebounds over the two legs against Porto and scored a combined 30 points across the two legs to help his side to victory.

Nico Mannion – Itelyum Varese
14.2 PPG / 3.8 RPG / 5.3 APG - 15.5 EFF

Varese's early Christmas present following the departures of Willie Cauley-Stein and Olivier Hanlan, has rejuvenated Varese since his arrival in late December with Mannion leading them to the last four with solid performances across the two legs over Nymburk. The skilled Italian point guard had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in the first leg, followed by 12 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds in the second tie.

Gabe Brown – Itelyum Varese
15.2 PPG / 5.8 RPG / 1.3 SPG - 17.4 EFF

Quietly going about his business, Brown has been an integral part of Varese's run in the FIBA Europe Cup this season. In the second leg against Nymburk, he put on perhaps his most vital showing yet, with three triples en route to 17 points and 4 rebounds. 

FIBA