Balkan knock out Besiktas, Oradea through as Sporting lose

MUNICH (Germany) - BC Balkan eliminated Besiktas ICRYPEX in Istanbul on a dramatic final day of Regular Season action to seal one of the 16 spots in the Play-Offs.

All four outcomes were possible in Group D on Friday, and Balkan rallied from a 14-point deficit to stun Besiktas with a 74-71 triumph. The hub hosts had appeared in control for the majority of the crunch clash with 18-year-old Alperen Sengun producing another monster line with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

However, it was the Bulgarians who would be left celebrating at the Akatlar Arena with a dominant final quarter capped by Siyani Chambers' huge go-ahead three-pointer before Bozhidar Avramov helped ice the game with three free throws.

BC CSU Sibiu took care of business against Romanian rivals CSM CSU Oradea as they led from start to finish in a 78-70 success. The lead peaked at 18 points early in the second, and Sibiu were paced by Kevin Hardy's 19 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

In the final game of the Regular Season, Sporting CP missed out on the final place in the next phase as they fell short in the battle for third place in Group C, with a 78-67 loss to Szolnoki Olajbanyasz.

Bojan Subotic led his side to the win with 25 points and 11 rebounds, though the Hungarian side were already eliminated and finished alongside Donar Groningen as the two remaining third-placed sides, while Oradea snuck through.

Fribourg Olympic booked their spot in the Round of 16 in emphatic fashion as they overcame Anwil 86-69 with all three teams from Group E heading through. Sean Barnette posted a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds with Arnaud Cotture adding 17 points along with 4 blocks.

UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia secured second place in Group A with a hard-fought 88-79 win over Egis Kormend. Brandon Taylor dropped 26 points to help carry his side through, while Anthony Ireland and Balint Mocsan combined for 43 points in the loss.

Earlier, Iraklis BC had completed a perfect week at Maaspoort as they defeated Belfius Mons-Hainaut 79-75 in overtime for their third win. Olivier Hanlan top scored with 22 points, including a decisive free throw to force an extra period in a tense finale.

Skylar Spencer had given his side the lead late in regulation and the American would finish with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in defeat as the Belgian side were made to wait to learn their fate to qualify as one of the best-ranked teams in third place.

Rilski Sportist looked down and out before battling back from 17 points down to defeat BC Kyiv Basket, 74-69. Brandon Brown connected with a timely triple late on and finished with 15 points along with Nico Carvacho and Pavlin Ivanov to seal a result that sent both sides through. 

That made it two sides from Ukraine progressing from Group B as BC Prometey moved to a perfect 3-0 record with their 64-58 success over Kapfenberg Bulls. Denys Lukashov led the way with 16 points and 8 assists as a decisive 8-0 close clinched the win, while DJ Stephens displayed more of his athleticism.

Elsewhere, BC Parma comfortably beat Heroes Den Bosch 85-63 to finish 2-0, while Arged BMSLAM Stal defeated Ironi Ness Ziona 93-86 in the battle to top Group C with Trey Kell posting 17 points and 5 assists to ensure his side stayed unbeaten.

Here is how the third-placed teams were ranked:

(In groups with four teams, results against the fourth-placed clubs were disregarded for qualification purposes)

FIBA