Titled: "Oldenburg Baskets Bids Farewell to Champions League After Tight Loss"
It's time to bid adieu to the Champions League for EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The German basketball powerhouse faced a 77:85 (32:41) defeat against French first-division club Strasbourg IG in the preliminary round's concluding encounter on Tuesday. A nail-biting win by Lower Saxony's rivals BC Ostende over Pinar Karsiyaka with a scoreline of 78:76, in another parallel match, proved to be the final nail in Oldenburg's Champions League coffin.
Struggling amidst a shortage of substitutes, Oldenburg showed resilience and managed to match pace with their French opponents for a considerable stretch of the first quarter (17:18/10th minute). However, the team of Head Coach Pedro Calles stumbled after the absence of Chaundee Brown Jr., who had officially joined their Tuesday opponents earlier that day. Struggling in the latter stages, Oldenburg narrowly missed a come-back in the closing moments, losing by just four points (76:81/39th minute). Despite a grand effort, Geno Crandall's 23-point haul wasn't enough to secure a dramatic victory.
Strasbourg IG Claims Champions League Victory
In a closely-fought Champions League encounter, French first-division outfit Strasbourg IG emerged triumphant against a depleted Oldenburg side. Regardless of the significant weight behind each point scored, Oldenburg fell just short, with the final scoreline reading 77-85 in favor of their French opponents.
Rivals BC Ostende and Pinar Karsiyaka Impact Oldenburg's Final Position
With Oldenburg's elimination from the Champions League group already sealed, a separate parallel match between Lower Saxony rivals BC Ostende and Pinar Karsiyaka unfolded, providing yet another twist in the tale. BC Ostende clinched a hard-earned victory with a 78:76 scoreline, effectively influencing the overall dynamics of Group E and possibly affecting Oldenburg's last-placed finish.
Oldenburg's Champions League journey has come to an end, but the team will return to treading water in domestic championships and tournaments. While toes may have been dipped in international waters, the direction will remain set on the German shore for now.
