SAMOKOV (Bulgaria) - The Basketball Champions League Regular Season Group C will have another member either from Belgium or Türkiye.
Joventut Badalona, Hapoel Netanel Holon and Cholet Basket will have their eyes glued to the screen on Tuesday, as Windrose Giants Antwerp take on Bursaspor Basketbol in the Final of the Qualification Round Tournament 2 in the SamElyon Arena in Samokov, Bulgaria.
Windrose Giants Antwerp 81-78 Pallacanestro Reggiana
Back in 2019, Roel Moors brought Windrose Giants Antwerp all the way to the Basketball Champions League Final Four, playing at home in Belgium. That tournament was won by an Italian team, Virtus Bologna.
On Sunday, Roel Moors and an Italian team were in a similar do-or-die scenario, this time in Samokov for the Semi-Finals of the Qualification Round Tournament 2, and Antwerp prevailed 81-78 over Pallacanestro Reggiana.
Joel Murray was the absolute protagonist for the Belgian side, as he concluded his all-around afternoon with 18 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds in the win. Andrew Funk knocked down four threes en route to 12 points, Enoch Cheeks flirted with a double-double at 11 points and 8 boards, while Yoeri Schoepen also scored 11.
Reggiana was pretty much never in contention, as they were trailing by 20 points (73-53) at the start of the final stanza.
Their comeback wasn't enough, despite Troy Caupain's 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Bursaspor Basketbol 92-73 PAOK mateco
PAOK's fans were all over the place once again on Sunday, trying to push last season's FIBA Europe Cup runners-up to the Final of the BCL Qualification Round Tournament 2, but it wasn't enough.
Bursaspor Basketbol displayed a dominant win in impressive fashion, led by Berk Akin's 22-point afternoon. It was a perfect birthday present for himself, as Berk turned 20 just two days ago. Brandon Childress ran the point perfectly with 19 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
The Crocodiles will now face the Giants in the Final, with a return to the Regular Season on the line for both teams.
On the other side, the black-and-white Greek team led for only 45 seconds during the Semi-Finals. Tomas Dimsa had an 18-point losing effort.