The Murcians want to finish second in order to play two of the three possible matches of the qualifying round ahead of the ‘top 16’ of the Champions League at the Palace
The group stage pass for UCAM in this Champions League has already been achieved. Whatever happens today in Bursa, the Turkish city where Sito Alonso’s team meets today at 6pm in Tofas, it will not be the end of European competition this season. But that does not mean, far from it, that nothing is at stake. And it is that the two teams are playing today to be classified second in Group A, a merit awarded by playing the play-in with the home field factor in their favor.
And what is the ‘play-in’? It is the best-of-three match that pits second- and third-place teams from their respective groups against each other to stay alive in the competition and advance to the top 16, which also competes in a competition- format will be played. and for which they are already classified, without the need to take this tie that adds three high tension matches to the body in an already charged January, all classified first. Among them Strasbourg, who, by beating UCAM in the last European game (82-70), took the first place that the Murcians so desired. That triumph was not to be missed.
This two- or three-game tie takes place in the first three weeks of January and plays UCAM, depending on whether it comes second or third, against the third or second of Group B. First home game of the second, second in the third and, third and possibly last, again with the second as host.
With a victory advantage over Tofas, UCAM will be second if they win or if they lose by one or two points. If they lose by three, which is the difference they won the head-to-head match against Murcia on the first day (75-72), second place goes to the Turks, who have a positive ‘basket average’ of 28 points, while that of the UCAM of 10 is so much negative.
The team ahead of Sito’s today is an improved team compared to that first game where James Anderson was injured. Those from Bursa, who are struggling with injuries, have been able to draw well. One of those who was not in Murcia on October 4 is a well-known player of recent seasons in the Endesa League (Burgos, Unicaja and Zaragoza) and with a Euroleague past, Deon Thompson. And another to raise the level is Arturas Milaknis, a former Lithuanian international with twelve Euroleague seasons under his belt.
Almost at the same time, since they are matches that start half an hour before Tofas-UCAM, the final standings will be determined in group B. With Germany’s Bonn already ahead, AEK Athens, Pinar Karsiyaka or Reggio Emilia could be UCAM’s rival.
In other words, there is a 66.7% chance of having the morbidity of the 2017-18 Champions League, in which UCAM defeated Turkey’s Karsiyaka in the quarter-finals and lost to AEK in the semi-finals of the ‘Fina Four’, or forge a new path. The second place is for the Greeks or the Turks, who meet in Athens, and the third could be for the Italians if they can surprise again and beat German Bonn, as they are the only ones who beat them. But since they have lost the tie with AEK and Pinar, they will by no means be second.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
