Photo Credit: Federación Española de Deportes de Personas con Discapacidad Física
Following a weekend of action in the IWBF Europe’s Champions League Preliminary Rounds, the quarter-final line-ups were decided. As 14 of Europe’s top club team competed across three groups on Friday 2nd February and Saturday 3rd February.
Turkish team Galatasaray S.K. topped group A with four wins despite some tough competition. Whilst hosts by RSV Lahn Dill (GER) scooped the second spot in the final eight with three wins over The Owls (GBR), GSD Porto Torres (ITA) and cs Meaux bf (FRA).
The Owls took third place with wins over GSD Porto Torres and cs Meaux bf to qualify for the Euro League 1 Final in Spain, with GSD Porto Torres finishing fourth and heading to the Euro League 2 Finals in Sheffield.
Making up the all-star team in group A were Annabel Breuer (RSV Lahn Dill, GER), Hiroaki Kozai (RSV Lahn Dill, GER), Gregg Warburton (The Owls, GBR), Martin Edwards (The Owls, GBR), and Özgür Gurbulak (Galatasaray S.K., TUR).
Spain’s BSR Amiab Albacete, hosted Group B and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time ever with victories over Beşiktaş Gymnastic Kulübü (TUR), BG-Baskets Hamburg (GER), DECO Group Amicacci Giulianova (Italy) and Le Cannet (France). Three wins for Beşiktaş Gymnastic Kulübü including a victory in overtime over BG-Baskets Hamburg, saw them secure the second place and a spot in the last eight.
Finishing third with two wins, Germany’s BG-Baskets Hamburg will head to Euro League 1 Finals in Bilbao, Spain whilst Le Cannet in fourth place will participate in the Euro League 2 Finals in Sheffield, Great Britain.
Named in group b all-star team was Lee Manning (BSR Amiab Albacete, ESP), Karlis Podnieks (BG-Baskets Hamburg, GER), Kaan Dalay (Beşiktaş Gymnastic Kulübü, TUR), Kyle Marsh (BSR Amiab Albacete, ESP), Cem Gezinci (Beşiktaş Gymnastic Kulübü, TUR).
In Group C, hosts RSB Thuringia Bulls (Germany) were undefeated to finish top of the group and make through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They were joined by Ilan Ramat Gan who they beat 96 – 42 in the final. In the third/fourth play-off London Titans WBC defeated ASD Handicap Sports Varese for the second time, 67-37, to secure their place in Euro League 1 Finals whilst ASD Handicap Sports Varese take a place in the Euro League 2 Final.
The all-star team in Group C were Nicola Damiano (ASD Handicap Sports Varese, ITA), Matt Sealy (London Titans WBC, GBR), Matt Scott (RSB Thuringia Bulls, GER), Lior Dror (Ilan Ramat Gan, ISR) and Amit Vigoda (Ilan Ramat Gan, ISR).
Click here for full results and statistics.
Champions League Quarter-final Groups
Group A
Briantea84 Cantú 🇮🇹
Galatasaray S.K. 🇹🇷
Bsr Amiab Albacete 🇪🇸
RSB Thuringia Bulls 🇩🇪
GROUP B
CD Ilunion
RSV Lahn-Dill
Beşiktaş Gymnastic Kulübü
Ilan Ramat Gan
