Eurochallenge Second Stage: Round 4

The Eurochallenge recommenced on Tuesday after a week´s hiatus with a full schedule of games around Europe as Round 4 of the Second Stage took place.

Tartu Rock defeated Krasnye Krylia 84-73 to remain undefeated and qualify to the next stage from Group I, while Gaz Metan Medias fell out of the competition after defeat at the hands of Antwerp. In Group J KRKA Novo Mesto kept its Quarterfinal hopes alive with an overtime victory over Cholet, although Szolnoki Olaj took command of the group with a victory over Reggio Emilia. Royal Hali Gaziantep went 4-0 in Group K and qualified for the next stage of the Eurochallenge by downing BK Ventspils in a cruising win. Triumph Lyubertsy looks likely to join Gaziantep in the quarters after seeing off Dijon at home. Tsmoki Minsk notched over 100 points as the team gunned down Kotka in Group L, while Bakken Bears Aarhus reeled in Ural Ekaterinburg to a first defeat.

Group I

Tartu Rock remained undefeated in the Second Stage and qualified for the Quarterfinals with a hard fought win over Krasnye Krylia. Even though Tartu won by 11 points the team was tested through three quarters as the lead was exchanged numerous times. With the game in the balance after 30 minutes the Group I leaders picked up the pace in the 4th to outscore Krasnye 22-12 and win the game. 23 points from Vilmantas Dilys propelled the Estonian team to the win and to the Q/F´s, while Krylia stays in second place at 2-2.

Gaz Metan Medias welcomed Belgian club Port of Antwerp Giants to Romainia but slipped to a home defeat to crash out of the Eurochallenge competition this season. The hosts fought back in the fourth quarter after trailing by 14 points, but could not prevent Antwerp taking a deserved win. Medias stays bottom of the group with a 0-4 record while Antwerp stays in third with a 2-2 record.

Group J

In Group J KRKA Novo Mesto travelled to Cholet Basket and collected an important road win to keep its Quarterfinal hopes alive at 2-2 in third place. It was the kind of victory that could build momentum in future weeks as the Russian club came from 17 points down in regulation time to snatch victory in overtime. The devastating loss sees Cholet stay bottom of the table with a 1-3 record.

Szolnoki Olaj took control of Group J by downing Italian club Reggio Emilia at home. The Hungarian team built its attack on the back of 17 points apiece from Akos Keller and Willie Warren, while the team stayed tight in defence during the second half. The team is coming off winning the Hungarian Cup on the weekend and now looks good for qualifying from the group with a 3-1 record. Reggio Emilia stays in the hunt but drops to second place on 2-2.

Group K

Royal Hali Gaziantep became just the second team in the Eurochallenge Second Stage to stay undefeated after destroying BK Ventspils 46-71 on the road. The visitors controlled the game throughout as they improved to the Quarterfinals and 4-0 at the top of Group K and sent Ventspils to third with a 1-3 record.

Likely to be joining Gaziantep in the next round is Triumph Lyubertsy after the Russian club edged Dijon at home. Triumph almost threw away a 14 point lead in the fourth but held on to grab a vital win that sent Dijon packing from the top 16 after losing four consecutive games. Lyubertsy commands second spot at 3-1 and looks likely to gain qualification next week.

Group L
Tsmoki Minsk looked good as the team put 100+ points on the board at home to defeat Kotka and put the Quarterfinals within touch. Demonte Harper paced the winning effort with 20 points as the Belarussian team held on to second place with a 3-1 record in Group L. Kotka stays in touch in the group despite the loss, although the Finnish team has it all to do from last place and a 1-3 record.

Kenneth Barker hauled 22 points for Bakken Bears Aarhus as the Danish team won at home against Ural Ekaterinburg to keep things interesting in Group L. The win was the Bears first in the Second Stage as the team inflicted a first defeat on Ural. The visitors remain favourites for the next stage at the top of the group (3-1) although Aarhus is in contention down in third with a 1-3 record.