The 2016-17 Adidas Next Generation Tournament is still more than five weeks away but the group breakdowns have been released and here is a look at who will play whom with their sights set on Istanbul and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.
L’HOSPITALET January 6-8,2017
Group A
Alba Berlin
Barcelona Lassa
Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas
Union Olimpija Ljubljana
Group B
Torrons Vicens L’Hospitalet
Cedevita Zagreb
Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona
Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens
FORMAT: Each team plays the other three teams in their group and then the first and second placed teams of each group cross in the semi-finals in the morning on January 8. Then the fifth and third placed games before the final.
With the addition of Coin as hosts (taking over from Rome), that means that Barcelona and Real Madrid will be playing in different qualifiers after facing off in the 2015 and 2016 Hospitalet finals – both won by Madrid.
The reigning ANGT champs Barcelona should be able to get past Berlin, Gran Canaria and Olimpija in the group stage. The second placed team could be Berlin. The other group is a bit more wide open. Hosts L’Hospitalet actually picked up two victories in last season’s tournament, including a win in the fifth place game against Joventut. Panathinaikos will be making their ANGT debut.
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KAUNAS January 12-14, 2017
Group A
CFBB/INSEP Paris
Fenerbahce Istanbul
Fraport Skyliners
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius
Group B
Canarias Basketball Academy Las Palmas
CSKA Moscow
VEF Riga
Zalgiris Kaunas
FORMAT: Each team plays the other three teams in their group and then the group winners play for the title. Second place in Group A plays Group B second place for third and there are fifth and seventh placed games as well.
There is a little bit of change this time around in Kaunas where hosts Zalgiris Kaunas have never lost in lifting three straight ANGT qualifying tournament titles as well as the crow in 2011-12 for a perfect 16-0 record.
Zalgiris face a tougher draw to the final than last season when VEF, Lietuvos Rytas and INSEP were all in the other group. Zalgiris this time will have to beat VEF to reach the final and CSKA has recently been a weak side but could bring an interesting group. And CBA will definitely have some interesting players.
Group A definitely will be a battle as INSEP/CFBB and Lietuvos Rytas will be joined by Fenerbahce and a Skyliners side which could have some elite talent.
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COIN February 10-12, 2017
Group A
Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul
Moviestar Estudiantes Madrid
Unicaja Malaga
USK Future Stars Prague
Group B
Real Bettis Energia Plus Seville
Cibona Zagreb
Bayern Munich
Real Madrid
FORMAT: Each team plays the other three teams in their group and then the group winners play for the title. Second place in Group A plays Group B second place for third and there are fifth and seventh placed games as well.
Coin comes in as the replacement for Rome, meaning the competition doesn’t actually start until after the New Year as Rome had always tipped off the event shortly after Christmas.
Group A includes Unicaja, who have usually done quite well in the qualifying tournaments. Darussafaka is the new kid on the block while Estudiantes are back in the competition for the first time since 2009-10.
Real Madrid meanwhile would like to return to their crown. They failed to reach the ANGT final last season after losing the 2014 title game and hoisting the trophy in 2015. And Madrid are the clear favorites in the group going in with Bayern Munich, Cibona and Seville all happy if they can pull off the upset.
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BELGRADE February 24-26, 2017
Group A
Porsche Basketball Academy Ludwigsburg
Crvena Zvezda MTS Belgrade
Partizan NIS Belgrade
Stellazzurra Basketball Academy Rome
Group B
Get Better Basketball Academy Prague
Spars Sarajevo
Maccabi Teddy Tel Aviv
Mega Bemax Belgrade
FORMAT: Each team plays the other three teams in their group and then the group winners play for the title. Second place in Group A plays Group B second place for third and there are fifth and seventh placed games as well.
Hosts Zvezda come into the ANGT Belgrade qualifier as six-time reigning champions but the 2014 overall winners may have the toughest time ever. First off they face city rivals Partizan in Group A. which also includes Stellazzurra, who will be extra motivated after losing the right to host the Rome qualifier.
And then in Group B are 2016 Belgrade finalists Spars, who would love another shot at the final not to mention Mega, who are one of the hottest youth programs in the world and are loaded with talent. Mega too join the Belgrade qualifier after having played – and won – the Rome tournament last season.