The three-way race for the runner-up finish in Group A is set to go down to the wire.
London Lions gained ground on Hapoel and Joventut
![Matt Morgan celebrates a made basket for the London Lions against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.](https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/77a7490d-6564-47a3-a2f5-eb88c89c08f5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A35)
The London Lions boosted their hopes of achieving a top-two finish in Group A of the BKT EuroCup with a comprehensive 93-72 home drubbing of Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in Round 16, coupled with defeats for their closest rivals, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Joventut Badalona.
With two rounds remaining in the regular season, the results have set up a fascinating three-way battle for the runner-up spot and hence a bye in the first knockout round of the competition, when the playoffs start on March 5.
Hapoel shot itself in the foot in Round 16 with a 105-113 home defeat to Prometey Slobozhanske, which earned the visitors a playoff berth, while Joventut also did itself no favors when it succumbed 89-82 at runaway group leader Paris Basketball (15-1). Paris is already assured of an automatic quarterfinal berth, while Hapoel (11-5), London (11-5) and Joventut (10-6) are vying to join them in the last-eight picture.
A friendly schedule for London
As it stands, Hapoel is in the driving seat to cross the finish line ahead of London and Joventut, but the Lions appear to have a much easier task in the home straight. London visits bottom team Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (1-15) in Round 17 and hosts Wolves Vilnius (6-10) in Round 18, with both its rivals firmly out of the playoff picture.
Hapoel is in the best position due to its better head-to-head record with London, as it beat the Lions 90-98 on the road in Round 5 before going down at home 96-100 on home court in Round 14. However, the Israeli side visits Joventut in a direct dogfight in Round 17 before the Round 18 outing at Besiktas, which is seeking a top-four finish and, with it, home-court advantage in the playoffs.
After the home game with Hapoel in Round 17, Joventut visits Paris in Round 18 and while last season’s semifinalist faces a pair of tough must-win fixtures, the Spanish team also needs other results to go its way.
Whatever the outcome, the Lions will be buoyed by its best home court performance of the season against Besiktas, having blown away the Turkish side in a captivating atmosphere generated by both sets of fans in the Copper Box.
A vast contingent of traveling Besiktas fans roared the visitors on from start to finish and their support was matched by the home faithful, with London head coach Petar Bozic expressing hope they would be just as relentless when the business end of the competition starts.