2018 Basketball Champions League Final Four Explained

Tourney Name:Basketball Champions League Final Four
Year:2018
City:Marousi, Athens
Country:Greece
Arena:O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall
Season:2017–18 season
Dates:4–6 May 2018
Champion: AEK Athens
1st title
Second: Monaco
Third: UCAM Murcia
Fourth: MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg
Top Scorer: Kevin Punter (32)
Mvp: Mike Green
Mvp Link:Basketball Champions League Final Four MVP
Prevseason:2017
Nextseason:2019

The 2018 Basketball Champions League (BCL) Final Four was the second Basketball Champions League tournament. It was the concluding phase of the 2017–18 Basketball Champions League season.

Venue

The O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall hosted the final tournament for the first time.

Athens
O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall
Capacity: 18,989

Teams

Road to the Final Four

See main article: article and 2017–18 Basketball Champions League.

ClubClinched
Final Four
Season performance
Regular season
record
Round of 16Quarterfinals
Monaco 3 April 2018[1] 13–1
(1st Group A)
174–142 bgcolor=#cfc 82–84 (A) bgcolor=#cfc 90–60 (H)159–152 bgcolor=#cfc 77–85 (A) bgcolor=#fcc 74–75 (H)
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 4 April 2018[2] 12–2
(2nd Group B)
162–149 bgcolor=#cfc 63–88 (A) bgcolor=#fcc 74–86 (H)170–163 bgcolor=#fcc 81–86 (H) bgcolor=#cfc 77–89 (A)
AEK Athens 4 April 2018[3] 8–6
(3rd Group C)
181–180 bgcolor=#fcc 88–98 (H) bgcolor=#cfc 82–93 (A)156–151 bgcolor=#cfc 78–69 (H) bgcolor=#ffc 83–83 (A)
UCAM Murcia 4 April 2018[4] 7–7
(4th Group A)
149–143 bgcolor=#fcc 66–71 (H) bgcolor=#cfc 72–83 (A)160–137 bgcolor=#cfc 65–79 (A) bgcolor=#cfc 81–72 (H)

Background

MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg

Ludwigsburg qualified for its first ever final phase of a European competition, as in the 2016–17 season they were eliminated by Banvit on a buzzer-beater. In the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), Riesen was having a solid year as it was battling for playoff position. In the BCL play-offs, Riesen eliminated two German sides, EWE Baskets Oldenburg and medi Bayreuth in order to advance to the final four.

Monaco

Monaco was at the top of the standings in its domestic Pro A season. In February, Monaco won the Leaders Cup for its third consecutive time. In the previous season, the team also qualified for the Final Four but was eliminated in the semi-finals, by runners-up Banvit.

AEK Athens

AEK was having a successful season as well, as the team captured its fourth Greek Cup title, while beating EuroLeague teams Olympiacos and Panathinaikos on the way. AEK had a remarkable path to the final four, as it was nearly eliminated in the round of 16 but was saved by a three-pointer by Kevin Punter to defeat Czech side ČEZ Nymburk. In the quarter-finals, AEK eliminated French side SIG Strasbourg.

Guard Manny Harris was named the Basketball Champions League MVP as well.[5]

UCAM Murcia

In its first BCL season, and just its second year ever playing in European competitions, Murcia eliminated the defending champions Iberostar Tenerife in the round of 16. In the quarter-finals, Pınar Karşıyaka was defeated. In the 2017–18 ACB season, Murcia was close to qualifying to the playoffs.

Semifinals

MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg vs Monaco


valign=top align=right width=33%
Riesen Statistics[6] Monaco
19/38 (50%) 2-pt field goals 23/34 (67.7%)
4/17 (23.5%) 3-pt field goals 9/28 (32.1%)
15/23 (65.2%) Free throws 14/23 (60.9%)
13 Offensive rebounds 13
21 Defensive rebounds 22
34 Total rebounds 35
9 Assists 27
16 Turnovers 9
7 Steals 11
1 Blocks 2
16 Fouls 21

AEK Athens vs UCAM Murcia


valign=top align=right width=33%
AEK StatisticsMurcia
17/31 (54.8%) 2-pt field goals 19/43 (44.1%)
8/22 (36.4%) 3-pt field goals 6/20 (30%)
19/31 (61.3%) Free throws 19/25 (76%)
6 Offensive rebounds 15
26 Defensive rebounds 29
32 Total rebounds 44
15 Assists 14
14 Turnovers 15
9 Steals 10
6 Blocks 3
25 Fouls 28

Third place game


valign=top align=right width=33%
Riesen StatisticsMurcia
20/39 (51.3%) 2-pt field goals 18/37 (48.6%)
7/22 (31.8%) 3-pt field goals 9/24 (37.5%)
13/18 (72.2%) Free throws 22.31 (71%)
7 Offensive rebounds 17
21 Defensive rebounds 29
28Total rebounds 46
20Assists 23
12Turnovers 17
11 Steals 8
3 Blocks 4
26 Fouls 20

Final


valign=top align=right width=33%
Monaco StatisticsAEK
24/45 (53.3%) 2-pt field goals 23/45 (51.1%)
7/19 (36.8%) 3-pt field goals 9/17 (52.9%)
25/35 (71.4%) Free throws 27/40 (67.5%)
13Offensive rebounds 11
25Defensive rebounds 23
38Total rebounds 34
21Assists 18
13Turnovers 12
6 Steals 9
7 Blocks 6
30 Fouls 26

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Banvit win second leg but Robinson fires Monaco into Final Four. 3 April 2018. 3 April 2018. Chamionsleague.basketball.
  2. News: Sears leads MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg to Final Four with Leg 2 win in Bayreuth. 4 April 2018. 5 April 2018. Chamionsleague.basketball.
  3. News: AEK Athens advance to Final Four as they hold off SIG Strasbourg. 4 April 2018. 5 April 2018. Chamionsleague.basketball.
  4. News: Murcia lower the boom in fourth quarter to beat Pinar Karsiyaka and advance. 4 April 2018. 5 April 2018. Chamionsleague.basketball.
  5. http://www.championsleague.basketball/17-18/news/harris-named-mvp-of-the-season Harris named MVP of the season
  6. http://www.championsleague.basketball/17-18/0405/MHP-Riesen-Ludwigsburg-AS-Monaco#tab=boxscore Boxscore Riesen – Monaco