PRAGUE (Czechia) - Back in 2019-20, ERA Nymburk won nine Basketball Champions League games in a row, reaching the Final 8 tournament in Athens, Greece. It feels like 2024-25 could be a bit of history repeating.
That's because the perennial Czech champs are on another six-game winning streak in the BCL, five of those wins coming this season, and securing the top spot in Group D with a game in hand.
On Tuesday, Galatasaray chased a 13-point deficit from their first matchup, and opened up a 51-36 lead to start the second half. At that point, the Turkish juggernauts were the top ranked team of the group.
However, ERA Nymburk are a different animal this season, erasing that deficit by the end of the third quarter, and going on to create a 71-60 advantage with just over five minutes left to play in the final stanza.
That 26-point swing in 12 minutes of action was enough to secure a calm finish to the game for the home team. Final score said 80-70.
JT Shumate led a balanced offense with 16 points on five made three-pointers, while Jaromir Bohacik and Frantisek Rylich had 11 each for coach Francesco Tabellini.
"Honestly, I'm not putting a ceiling on our dreams, I believe in things. I really believe if you are surrounded by special people and if you really commit, if you really want things, you will be able to get those things. It's a purpose for me, more than a dream. It's a purpose," an emotional Nymburk coach said after the game.
At 5-0, his men cannot be caught anymore, while Galatasaray are at 3-2, with a consolation prize of having the home court advantage in the Play-Ins in January. They will face the third-placed team from Group C.
Nymburk will now move to the Round of 16 Group L, alongside Group H winners (Manisa Basket or UCAM Murcia), and two additional Play-In winners (A2 vs B3 and F2 vs E3). They have been to the Round of 16 three times before, including a pair of trips to the Quarter-Finals in 2020 and 2021.