The landscape for the 2016-17 FIBA Europe Cup season was finalised on Thursday, as the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Qualification Rounds addressed the remaining question marks.
The quartet of Tsmoki-Minsk (BLR), Lukoil Academic (BUL), BC Tartu (EST) and U-BT Cluj Napoca (ROU) claimed the last four spots to round out the 38-team field in the FIBA Europe Cup Regular Season.
All in all, clubs from 21 different European countries will compete for the FIBA Europe Cup trophy that Fraport Skyliners (GER) lifted in last year’s Final Four in Chalon sur Saone.
All Regular Season teams were sorted into two geographical conferences and drawn into 10 different groups, each consisting of three or four clubs.
Conference 1
Group A: Brussels Basketball (BEL); SL Benfica (POR); Alba Fehervar (HUN); Elan Chalon (FRA)
Group B: Donar (NED); Kormend (HUN); Hubo Limburg United (BEL); BCM Gravelines Dunkerque (FRA)
Group C: Sodertalje (SWE); Belfius Mons Hainaut (BEL); Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER)
Group D: Sopron (HUN); FC Porto (POR); PO Antwerp Giants (BEL); Nanterre 92 (FRA)
Group E: BC Tartu (EST); Redwell-Gunners Oberwart (AUT); Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq Orthez (FRA)
Conference 2
Group F: Lukoil Academic (BUL); Prievidza (SVK); Steaua CSM Bucharest (ROU); Bnei Herzliya (ISR)
Group G: U-BT Cluj Napoca (ROU); Petrolina AEK (CYP); Gaziantep Basketbol (TUR); KB Peja (KOS)
Group H: Demir Insaat (TUR); Rilski (BUL); Enisey Krasnoyarsk (RUS); KB Sigal Prishtina (KOS)
Group I: BC Mures (ROM); Igokea (BIH); BSC Prienai (LTU); TLU/Kalev Tallinn (EST)
Group J: Apoel Nicosia (CYP); Tsmoki-Minsk (BLR); BC Siauliai (LTU); BK JIP Pardubice (CZE)
Of the 38 Regular Season teams, the 10 group winners and second-placed teams, plus the best four third-placed clubs (two from each conference) will qualify for the Second Round, which will consist of six groups.
Following the Second Round, the six group winners plus the two best second-placed teams in each group will qualify for the Round of 16 Play-Offs together with eight clubs coming from the Basketball Champions League.
From the Round of 16 onwards, the FIBA Europe Cup becomes direct knock-out, with the winner of each home-and-away series advancing to the next round.
