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Telekom Baskets enter the Play-Offs as new Power Ranking leaders

MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - FIBA Europe Cup has reached the knock-out stages and Play-Off fever has in turn reached the Power Rankings, with Telekom Baskets emerging as the new leaders before the start of the Round of 16.

After the conclusion of the Second Round two weeks ago, the eight best teams in the competition advanced to the Round of 16, where they were joined by eight more sides from the Basketball Champions League.

In spite of the level playing field and the free-for-all nature of the format, we simply could not resist the temptation of ranking the teams before the start of the Play-Offs to bring you another edition of the Power Rankings.

1. Telekom Baskets (5-1)  A new name atop the Power Rankings? Telekom Baskets were steadily climbing up the ladder for a number of weeks now and have the honor of entering the Play-Offs as the top seed. No pressure, Bonn. No pressure, whatsoever!
2. Enisey (5-1) Having reached the Final Four last year, anything less would be a disappointment for Krasnoyarsk this time around in the FIBA Europe Cup Play-Offs. Through ups and downs this season, the team's play-caller Oleg Okulov has been as calm as the summer sea. There must be a good reason.
3. Elan Chalon (5-1) Five excellent games in the Second Round and an extremely sloppy one against Gaziantep just before Play-Offs saw our confidence in Elan Chalon shake, but only marginally, as they dropped from first to third in the Power Rankings.
4. Telenet Oostende (6-8)* Oostende, meet FIBA Europe Cup. FIBA Europe Cup, meet Oostende. Having won their last two games in Group D, Telenet Oostende finished their Basketball Champions League on a high and have brought some momentum with them to the Round of 16.
5. Gaziantep (5-1) Huge smiles in Gaziantep after they dismantled Elan Chalon in the last game of the Second Round. Huge. They advanced as a second-placed team. The best second-placed team. And that's great. It's true. They are a great team. Fantastic team.
6. Demir Insaat
(5-1)
As long as Andrija Stipanovic is on a triple-double mission, Demir Insaat can challenge anyone in the FIBA Europe Cup. And, Andrija, if you're reading, we reaaaally want that triple double.
7. Pau-Lacq-Orthez (5-1) Elie-Franck Okobo was the man with the cape for Pau-Lacq-Orthez in Hungary. Belgian customs officers might want to inspect his superhero kit more closely, when the French side travels to Oostende for the Round of 16 tie.
8. Muratbey Usak Sportif (5-9)* When the name of your top scorer is Shaquielle O'neal McKissic, you're pretty well set for any basketball game. Usak ought to take extra precautions in Romania against CSM CSU Oradea to avoid ending up on Shaqtin-a-Fool.
9. Cibona (5-9)* Welcome on board to the Nik Slavica Airlines flight from Zagreb to Zielona Gora. Due to the difficult weather conditions, some turbulence can be expected, but you are in the safe hands of captain Scottie Reynolds and his co-pilot Zeljko Sakic. Have a safe journey!
10. Nanterre 92 (4-2)
Nanterre have now lost twice in the last three games… but got by far the best draw in the Round of 16, with their opponents situated less than 300 km away. That's, of course, just the logistical side of things. Proximus Spirou will be a tough nut to crack, especially on the road in Charleroi.
11. Kataja Basket
(6-8)*
Finnish old-timer Teemu Rannikko returns to the FIBA Europe Cup after an excellent run last year. This time, accompanied by the explosive duo of Daniel Mullings and Rion Brown. There will be fireworks against Telekom Baskets in Bonn. Bring some popcorn.
12. CSM CSU Oradea (6-8)*  Sean Denison ranked 9th in efficiency in the Basketball Champions League, but that will not be news for their upcoming opponents Muratbey Usak Sportif, another team to switch competitions for the Round of 16.
13. Proximus Spirous (6-8)* We've heard the local Charleroi tourist office lists the 223 cm Slovakian center Michael Fusek as one of the top attractions in town. If their Round of 16 opponents Nanterre had a choice, they'd probably likely to steer clear.
14. Ironi Nahariya (5-9)* Had Ironi Nahariya won their final Regular Season game against Fraport Skyliners, they would have continued their Basketball Champions League campaign and last year's FIBA Europe Cup champions would have had a chance to defend their trophy. Maybe rubbing shoulders with the champs will at least get the luck on Nahariya's side in the Play-Offs?
15. Kormend (4-2) If you're Elan Chalon, we'd advise you to take this Hungarian bunch very seriously. Time and time again, we have tried to stick the underdog label to Kormend. Nothing we can do about it – it just won't stick. Watch and see!
16. Zielona Gora
(4-10)*
Having gone only 4-10 in the Basketball Champions League, Zielona Gora will be happy about starting with a clean slate in the FIBA Europe Cup. There will be some extra pressure to perform right off the bat, though, with the first leg of the tie against Cibona to be played in Poland.

* Asterisks denote Basketball Champions League records. 

FIBA