MUNICH (Germany) - The last eight available spots in the Round of 16 were collected on Thursday night, including a quartet of Hungarian clubs who all navigated their way to the next phase of the competition in January. However there was a nail-biting finish for NKA Universitas Pecs who almost blew a 22-point first leg advantage to Olympiacos. But they scraped through against their higher seeded opponents.
They were joined by three other Hungarian clubs who all went through as well. On Wednesday night, many of those who advanced had done the heavy lifting in the first leg games and attained huge leads - including the likes of Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring, BLMA and Rutronik Stars Keltern. The closest encounters came as LDLC ASVEL Feminin slipped past Kibirkstis Vilnius by just two points on aggregate. BDS Dinamo Sassari eliminated Hozono Global Jairis by only three points across both games.
Key Storylines
- Four Hungarian clubs all take tickets on last night of action in 2024; - Tournament frontrunners like Besiktas and Galatasaray safely into next phase; - French side ASVEL dodge a major bullet to make the next stage; - Sassari, Estudiantes and IDK Euskotren all squeeze out tickets after seriously close calls.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Kamila Borkowska (MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec) - 46 Points: Sparkle Taylor (BDS Dinamo Sassari) - 32 Rebounds: Kamila Borkowska (MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec) - 18 Assists: Kyra Lambert (Olympiacos) - 14 Steals: Kathryn Westbeld (TARR KSC Szekszard) - 5 Blocks: Dominique Malonga (LDLC ASVEL Feminin) - 3
Productive night for Hungarian clubs; Brilliant Borkowska erupts
NKA Universitas Pecs almost crashed out of the competition as they were beaten 93-75 at Olympiacos. Ahead by 22 heading into the contest, only a majestic double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds from Julia Reisingerova helped Pecs survive. Another Hungarian side through are DVTK HUNTHERM who did a double over Elitzur Ramla and their 77-71 second leg success sealed the deal. Kaila Charles netted 18 points for the winning side.
It was then a hat-trick when Sopron Basket made light work of seeing off GEAS Basket 64-55 as Zala Friskovec top scored once again for her team, this time sinking 14 points. Uni Gyor made it four teams clutching tickets to the next phase, although it wasn't all happiness for Hungarian basketball since they saw off domestic rivals TARR KSC Szekszard 98-73. Virag Kiss showed her quality by harvesting a team-high 19 points. Kamila Borkowska came up with the highest performance efficiency valuation of 2024 but it would be in vain as MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec went down 90-88 at home to UFAB 49. The center racked up an eye-bulging 46 from 29 points, 18 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Axelle Merceron impressed for the French visitors with 17 points.
Turkish giants Besiktas JK made last season's Final and are edging closer to a repeat after despatching InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow 80-71. Elif Bayram made a big impression with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, while Tina Krajisnik dropped 19 points and 10 boards. Two more Spanish sides progressed as BAXI Ferrol won 97-75 at Castors Braine, with Julia Pospisilova doing the damage with a sharp-shooting effort that returned 21 points. Spar Girona also showed their teeth by seeing off La Molisana Campobasso 82-71.
ASVEL breathe a sigh of relief; big-hitters all advance
The biggest drama of the night came as LDLC ASVEL Feminin took a 69-67 home win against Kibirkstis With the first leg a draw, ASVEL had to survive a last-gasp three-point attempt which would have probably eliminated them. Another double-double from Dominique Malonga was vital as she weighed in with 18 points and 10 boards.
Hozono Global Jairis lost by six points at BDS Dinamo Sassari and came close to overhauling their opponents. But a 74-71 home win was not to be enough as Sassari celebrated reaching the next phase. A stellar 32 points from Sparkle Taylor was pivotal to an exciting outcome in the tie.
VBW Arka Gdynia were 5 points behind Movistar Estudiantes from their first meeting, and hoping home advantage would pay. But they went out to the Spanish side after a rare 59-59 draw. Frieda Buhner solidified her rising star status for the visitors as the German posted 19 points and 10 boards to help her team advance.
Similarly, Charnay Basket and IDK Euskotren were inseparable in the first game but it was the Spanish team that march on. IDK took a 73-66 success, with Delicia Washington harvesting 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Galatasaray had to work hard to see off KKZ Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet 72-65 as they claimed a second win against their opponents. A monstrous double-double of 24 points and 11 boards from Yueru Li was the highlight. Villeneuve d'Ascq LM roared past CSM Constanta 91-71 as Haley Peters briefly threatened a triple-double with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
BLMA held a healthy lead from their first meeting against Neptunas-Amberton and completed a win-double in Lithuania with a 65-55 success, founded on 10 assists from the experienced Romane Bernies.
Rutronik Stars Keltern also did the double over Tarbes Gespe Bigorre by beating them 71-50 on French soil, led by 17 points from Mina Djordjevic. Meanwhile, 24 hours earlier in the only game to be played on Tuesday night, DVTK won their rearranged first leg matchup against Elitzur Ramla 81-75, with the deciding leg to be played on Thursday.
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