MINSK, 21 January (BelTA) – BC Tsmoki Minsk have failed to advance to the second group stage of the Basketball Champions League, BelTA has learned.
In the Group C final match Rostislav Vergun's men suffered a narrow loss to Greece's AEK, 90-95 at the Falcon Club in Minsk on 20 January. Derek Cooke led the home team with 19 points. In the first leg of the group stage Tsmoki Minsk lost to AEK 69-95. Besides, the Dragons exchanged victories with France's Cholet, 82-75 (at home) and 71-79 (away) and Israel's Hapoel, 79-69 (at home) and 71-75 (away).
Elsewhere, Cholet lost to Hapoel 71-89.
The Group C final standings are as the following: Hapoel – 10 points, AEK – 10, Cholet – 8, Tsmoki Minsk – 8.
Two best teams advance into the second group stage of the Basketball Champions League. Thus, AEK and Hapoel join Spain's Saragos, Tenerife and Burgos, Czech's Nymburg, France's Strasbourg, Russia's Nizhny Novgorod, Germany's Bamberg and Turkey's Ankara and Bursa who have already qualified.
The second round draw will take place on 2 February, with the games to be played in March. Two best teams from each of four quarters will reach the Basketball Champions League Final Eight which is scheduled for early May. Burgos won the previous edition beating AEK 85-74 in the final.
