7DAYS EuroCup: two more reach Top 16
Round 8 of the 7DAYS EuroCup offered plenty of excitement as the regular season winds down to its final two rounds. Plenty was decided this week, including Unics Kazan and ALBA Berlin reaching the Top 16. Darussafaka Istanbul, Bayern Munich, and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar all tied up first place in their respective groups. Plenty remains open through each group, so the next two rounds should offer plenty of high octane hoops.
Group A
Already qualified Darussafaka Istanbul (7-1) secured first place in Group A for good by erasing a 13-point deficit to down Unics Kazan 75-79. Despite the loss, the Kazan players can celebrate tonight after booking their own passage into the Top 16 (5-3). MorraBanc Andorra dropped Cedevita Zagreb 78-71 to breathe life into its qualification hopes, putting it on 3-5 in fifth place. However, the Zagreb team remains in charge with a 4-4 record. FIAT Turin ended the chances of Levallois with a 92-86 home win that moved the club to 4-4. Cedevita, Andorra, and Turin will fight for two places in next week’s penultimate round.
Group B
FC Bayern Munich was guaranteed first place after Galatasaray kept its hopes alive with win over Buducnost yesterday. The German club celebrated by smashing Hapoel Jerusalem 111-85 to remain undefeated at 8-0. Lietkabelis Panevezys (4-4) took a big step towards the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 with an 82-85 road win over Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia (3-5). Three places remain open in Group B, so Round 9 will be excellent.
Group C
Bilbao pulled off a surprise by defeating Partizan Belgrade 67-83 for just its second win of the season (2-6). Partizan is already out, but the result means Limoges books its berth in the Top 16 after beating already qualified ALBA Berlin yesterday. Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar ensured there will be something to play for in Group C next week. The undefeated group winners (8-0) downed Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 77-68 to ensure Bilbao and Lietuvos will fight it out for the remaining qualifying position.
Group D
The most open group in the competition is still wide open. ASVEL would have qualified today (after beating Zenit yesterday), but needed Gran Canaria and Tofas Bursa to win today. Neither club could manage it. Instead, Dolomiti Energia Trento downed Tofas Bursa 79-91 and Ratiopharm Ulm passed Gran Canaria to ensure all remaining teams in the group can qualify. The next two rounds should be explosive.