Do-or-die week in Basketball Champions League
Unicaja Malaga is the only team that managed to get a place in the Basketball Champions League Final Four after sweeping UCAM Murcia, the other 3 Quarter-Finals needing the 3rd match.
Telekom Bonn – SIG Strasbourg
The German-French duel is the only one in which none of the teams managed to win their home match. In the first match, Bonn inexplicably lost at home 76-77 despite the very good game played by T. Shorts (24 points, 5 reb, 6 ast) helped by Malcolm with 13 points and Herrera with 12 points. From Strasbourg, Keane had 26 points and Lansdowne 14 points. In France, Bonn took the match much more seriously leading with 21 points in the 3rd quarter for a 76-66 victory. From the hosts, Keane shone again with 20 points and from the Germans, Herrera had 19 points and Kessen’s double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds. Bonn seems to be the big favorite, their only defeat at home in 2023 being the first match against Strasbourg.
Lenovo Tenerife – BAXI Manresa
The Spanish duel was balanced in both matches but with the team problems from Tenerife (Sasu Salin, Leandro Bolmaro, Jaime Fernandez and Joan Sastre) plus the new acquisition, Dakota Mathias does not have the right to play in the BCL, Manresa will have a good chance in match 3 to win. The first match was won by Tenerife 91-84 thanks to Shermadini 18 points and Fitipaldo 16 points, from the guests Harding 21 points and Robinson 15 points stood out. Match 2 was won by Manresa 85-83, all 12 players from Manresa scoring, Badio and Robinson each with 16 points were the team leaders, from Tenerife, Huertas 19 points, Fitipaldo and Shermadini each with 17 points.
Hapoel Bank Jerusalem – AEK
Each team won their home games, but there were 2 completely different matches, the match in Israel showed why they are 2 of the best defensive teams, Hapoel winning 64-55 thanks to Smith 20 points and Randolph 12 points, from AEK, Williams had 18 points and Mitchell 12 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists. The match in Greece was played in a different style, AEK winning 94-78 with Lemar 24 points after he did not score in the first match and Mitchell 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. From the guests Randolph had 28 points and Carrington 11 points. Mitchell’s consistency will not be enough to be able to win in Israel, against an extremely good team at home.
Valentin Petruta
Photo credit: Basketball Champions League
