Groningen, Neptunas advance in first Basketball Champions League qualifiers

Both teams assured to play the final for one of the Group Stage spots.

Basketball Champions League 2020-21 season has officially started earlier today with the first Qualifiers played both in Nicosia and Botevgrad.

In Cyprus, Dutch side Groningen has routed Ukrainian Dnipro 88-53 behind Davonte Lacy’s 19 points and former NBA Damjan Rudez’s 13. Groningen will play the winner of Keravnos-Iraklis on Thursday night for a place in the Group Stage.

In Bulgaria, Lithuanian Neptunas has defeated British London Lions in a nail biter, 77-73, thanks to a strong double double by Norbertas Giga (15+14, with 9 offensive rebounds). London had 16 points and 9 boards from Matthew Bryan-Amaning. Neptunas will face the winner of Minsk-Botevgrad on Thursday night for a place in the Group Stage.