Final Eight of BCL to be staged in September
The Final Eight of the 2019/2020 Basketball Champions League will take place in September, the organisation has confirmed.
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On Tuesday, the Basketball Champions League released this following statement:
“At the BCL Board Meeting that took place on Monday March 30 via videoconference, the Basketball Champions League has taken the decision to postpone for late September / early October 2020 all remaining games, originally scheduled from March to May 2020, in order to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, officials and fans.
“The BCL Board discussed extensively the ongoing situation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the competition, and confirmed the following conditions as prerequisites in order for the BCL Season to resume in the event that FIBA would lift the suspension of all its competitions as per the decision taken on March 12 and confirmed at the FIBA’s Central Board on March 26-27, 2020:
“In order to protect the health and guarantee the safety of players, coaches, officials and fans: sport activities to be permitted by the relevant public authorities of all countries with teams still participating in the current season;
“In order to safeguard a fair competition: players to be available for an adequate period of training once sport activities are allowed;In order to properly organize game operations: cross border travel restrictions to have been lifted;
“In order to provide the best conditions for players, fans and partners: the pinnacle event and crowing of BCL Champion to be held in front of fans.
“Taking into consideration that the above conditions cannot be, reasonably, met in order for the BCL Season to conclude, the BCL Board took the unanimous decision to resume and conclude the 2019-20 Season with the hosting of a Final Eight, single-game knock-out competition, to be held on September 30 - October 4, 2020.
“The host & location of the event and further details regarding the competition will be announced in due course.
“The two outstanding games (JDA Dijon vs Nizhny Novgorod and Iberostar Tenerife vs Filou Oostende), still pending for the conclusion of the Round of 16, will be played prior to the hosting of the Final Eight at a date to be confirmed. Further details will be communicated in due time.”
AEK are the last remaining Greek representatives left in the competition. In the Round of 16, the Kitrinomavri swept Telekom Baskets Bonn, claiming a pulsating 92-85 victory in Athens before securing progression with a tight 90-86 triumph behind closed doors in Germany. Peristeri, for their part, were knocked out by Hapoel Jerusalem in two matches.
The tournament was subsequently suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which has halted nearly all sporting competitions across the world.
AEK supremo, Makis Angelopoulos, had suggested holding a Final Eight of the Basketball Champions League. The Athens-based club won the competition in 2018.
In the regular season, AEK finished in second place of Group B, earning a 9-5 record in games against Hapoel Jerusalem, San Pablo Burgos, Bandirma, RASTA Vechta, Anwil Włocławek, Pau-Lacq-Orthez and Telenet Giants Antwerp.
