Fitness First Würzburg Baskets have been knocked out in the first qualifying round of the Basketball Champions League. The Main-Franconians suffered a surprise 73–74 defeat against the underdogs from Manchester.
However, the international season is not over for Würzburg, as they will now compete in the FIBA Europe Cup instead. The Baskets have already been drawn into Group E, where they will face AEK Larnaca (Cyprus), Tartu (Estonia), Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece), Dziki Warsaw (Poland) and MZT Skopje.
However, the newly formed Würzburg side put in a very poor performance in Samakov, Bulgaria; only Sam Griffin (26 points, 9/17 FG) and returnee Charles Thompson (8 points, 8 rebounds) provided any bright spots in what was a very lacklustre display. In the first quarter, the BBL club still seemed to have everything under control, but the English side stayed in the game and consistently hit their shots thereafter, meaning that Manchester even led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter. The Baskets then won the fourth quarter 21–10, with Würzburg finally getting a grip on defence as well.
Thompson was particularly noteworthy here, proving a rock under the basket in the closing minutes. At the start of the fourth quarter, a 9–0 run helped turn the tide, including a four-point play by Lukas Herzog, who also made his mark with his defence. With just under two minutes remaining, Thompson levelled the score from the free-throw line, and with 13 seconds left on the clock, top scorer Griffin gave the Baskets their first lead since the second quarter from the line.
Würzburg must now face the FIBA Europe Cup
However, Griffin missed the second free throw, and Kenny Dye (2, 1/7 FG, 7 assists) committed an unnecessary foul on a jump shot shortly afterwards, allowing Manchester to regain the lead with four seconds remaining. Griffin then attempted a difficult floater, but it didn’t even touch the rim.
Manchester will face Spanish side Rio Breogan in the second qualifying round; Rio Breogan made short work of hosts Samakov, sinking 23 of their 36 three-pointers in the process. Only the winner of the qualifying tournament secures a place in the Champions League; from a German perspective, Rasta Vechta will also have a chance tomorrow, as they face Yukatel Denizli Basket, who feature German international Mahir Agva.