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
Club Clinched Final Four Season performance Regular seasonrecord Round of 16 Quarterfinals Monaco 3 April 2018 13–1(1st Group A) Zielona Góra 174–142 82–84 (A) 90–60 (H) Banvit 159–152 77–85 (A) 74–75 (H) MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 4 April 2018 12–2(2nd Group B) Oldenburg 162–149 63–88 (A) 74–86 (H) medi Bayreuth 170–163 81–86 (H) 77–89 (A) AEK Athens 4 April 2018 8–6(3rd Group C) ČEZ Nymburk 181–180 88–98 (H) 82–93 (A) SIG Strasbourg 156–151 78–69 (H) 83–83 (A) UCAM Murcia 4 April 2018 7–7(4th Group A) Iberostar Tenerife 149–143 66–71 (H) 72–83 (A) Pınar Karşıyaka 160–137 65–79 (A) 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.Harris named MVP of the season 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.
Bracket
Semifinals MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg vs Monaco
Riesen StatisticsBoxscore Riesen – Monaco 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
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
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 28 Total rebounds 46 20 Assists 23 12 Turnovers 17 11 Steals 8 3 Blocks 4 26 Fouls 20
Final
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%) 13 Offensive rebounds 11 25 Defensive rebounds 23 38 Total rebounds 34 21 Assists 18 13 Turnovers 12 6 Steals 9 7 Blocks 6 30 Fouls 26
2017–18 Basketball Champions League champions AEK Athens1st title Team captains (C): Amara Sy (Monaco) and Dušan Šakota (AEK)
References
External links Basketball Champions League (official website)