Basketball Champions League round-up: Burgos lift title

Hereda San Pablo Burgos have been crowned champions of the Basketball Champions League (BCL) after they defeated AEK 85-74 in Athens.

Burgos became the second Spanish team to win the competition, after Iberostar Tenerife in 2016/17.

The Spanish side, who were only formed as a professional club five years ago, have also become the first ever team in the competition to go all the way from the qualifying rounds to win the competition.

Por la ciudad y por la provincia. Esto es por y para Burgos. #ChampionsOfEurope #MásLejosQueNunca pic.twitter.com/IcRCvq6zv4

— Hereda San Pablo Burgos (@SanPabloBurgos) October 4, 2020

Joan Peñarroya’s side trailed by ten points after the first quarter, but they fought back to lead 35-33 midway through the second quarter, and at the halfway stage, led the Greek side by an unassailable 13 point lead.

A key distinction in where the match was won comes from the amount of three-pointers Burgos scored compared to AEK. The BCL winners scored 17 out of 35 (48%) attempts, while AEK managed 10 out of 34 (34%).

Also, Burgos recorded 14 more rebounds than AEK, 41 to 27. The graphic (below) is provided by FIBA Live Stats and you can see all the statistics from the final at the following link: https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/FEUR/1767182/st.html.

Thaddus McFadden was awarded MVP of the Final 8 after scoring 18 points against AEK. He became the first man to collect 15+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a final.

JDA Dijon won a tight third-placed play-off 70-65 against Casademont Zaragoza. There were only two points between the teams with 20 seconds to go, but the French side held on to finish their season with a win.

It was a game to remember for David Holston, who finished with 20 points, six assists and five rebounds.