MIES (Switzerland) – Two months after the colorful ending to Season 7 in Malaga, the stage is set for Season 8 after the official draw held in the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland on Wednesday morning.
Reigning champion Michael Kessens of Telekom Baskets Bonn and former captain of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem Lior Eliyahu helped the CEO of the BCL Patrick Comninos on stage, placing the 29 Regular Season teams in their respective groups, and further 24 teams across three tournaments in the Qualification Rounds.
The qualifiers tip off on September 25. All three tournaments will see eight teams start the competition in a single game elimination bracket from the Quarter-Finals. Only the three tournament winners will advance to the Regular Season.
Qualification Round tournament #1
Quarter-Finals
Bakken Bears Aarhus (DEN) v KB Peja (KOS)
Kalev/Cramo (EST) v Norrköping Dolphins (SWE)
SL Benfica (POR) v TSU Tbilisi (GEO)
Patrioti Levice (SVK) v Petrolina AEK Larnaca (CYP)
Qualification Round tournament #2
Quarter-Finals
Cholet Basket (FRA) v Telenet Giants Antwerp (BEL)
FMP Soccerbet (SRB) v Pallacanestro Varese (ITA)
Happy Casa Brindisi (ITA) v CSM CSU Oradea (ROU)
Heroes Den Bosch (NED) v BG Gottingen (GER)
Qualification Round tournament #3
Quarter-Finals
SIG Strasbourg (FRA) v Jonava CBet (LTU)
Karhu Basket Kauhajoki (FIN) v Ironi Hay Motors Ness Ziona (ISR)
Legia Warszawa (POL) v Winner Pre-Qualifier (Caledonia Gladiators v Fribourg Olympic)
Mornar Barsko Zlato (MNE) v Monbus Obradoiro (ESP)
Once we learn the names of the three Qualification Round winners, the eighth edition of the Basketball Champions League Group Stage will start on October 17. All 32 teams will be in action for the first Gameday of the Regular Season, before getting every other week off from Gameday 2 to Gameday 5.
All eight groups will then be in action together once more for the final Gameday of the Regular Season.
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Distinguished guests and representatives from all 53 teams were in attendance
