Basketball Champions League Qualification Rounds format updated and hosts announced

Following the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Basketball Champions League Board has approved a change of format for the 2020-21 Qualification Rounds.

In order to protect the health and guarantee the safety of players, coaches and officials, but also to safeguard a fair competition, and to properly organize game operations, the decision has been taken to modify the competition system from home-away games, to a tournament format, with single games for each Qualification Round.

Four (4) tournaments will take place, each consisting of two (2) Semi-Final games and of one (1) Final game, where the Semi-Finals will be played as the BCL Qualification Round 1 and the Final as the BCL Qualification Round 2. These Qualification tournaments will take place in two different locations:

Group A and B: Nicosia (Cyprus) – Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Indoor Hall

Group C and D: Botevgrad (Bulgaria) – Arena Botevgrad

The composition of the groups and pairings in the Semi-Finals are based on the BCL Qualification Rounds Draw as follows:

Group A – Nicosia, CYP (Eleftheria Indoor Hall)

Semi-Final 1: Bakken Bears (DEN) – Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR)

Semi-Final 2: Anwil Wloclawek (POL) – Belfius Mons-Hainaut (BEL)

Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2

The Semi-Finals will take place on Wednesday September 23.

The Final will take place on Friday September 25.

Group B – Nicosia, CYP (Eleftheria Indoor Hall)

Semi-Final 1: Keravnos (CYP) – Iraklis (GRE)

Semi-Final 2: Donar Groningen (NED) – Dnipro (UKR)

Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2

The Semi-Finals will take place on Tuesday September 22.

The Final will take place on Thursday September 24.

Group C – Botevgrad, BUL (Arena Botevgrad)

Semi-Final 1: U-BT Cluj Napoca (ROU) – Igokea (BIH)

Semi-Final 2: Fribourg Olympic (SUI) – Sporting CP (POR)

Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2

The Semi-Finals will take place on Wednesday September 23.

The Final will take place on Friday September 25.

Group D – Botevgrad, BUL (Arena Botevgrad)

Semi-Final 1: Tsmoki-Minsk (BLR) – Balkan Botevgrad (BUL)

Semi-Final 2: Neptunas Klaipeda (LTU) – London Lions (GBR)

Final: Winner SF1 – Winner SF2

The Semi-Finals will take place on Tuesday September 22.

The Final will take place on Thursday September 24.

Due to the current situation and the regulations in place in Bulgaria and in Cyprus, no fans will be allowed in the arenas.

Tip-off times will be determined at a later stage.