Gaziantep, Besiktas, Banvit and Pinar Karsiyaka will play in Basketball Champions League

Basketball Champions League has confirmed today that four top clubs from Turkey have signed-up for the second season of the competition.

Season one runners-up Banvit are among four leading Turkish clubs to be confirmed for the 2017-18 Basketball Champions League. They are joined by two-time national champions Besiktas and Pinar Karsiyaka – who also competed in the inaugural Basketball Champions League – as well as newcomer Gaziantep.

Besiktas finished second in this year’s Regular Season of the Turkish Super League, and reached the Play-Off Finals losing to eventual title winners Fenerbahce. Banvit also had a remarkable season, finishing 5th in the Turkish League, winning the Turkish Cup and reaching the Basketball Champions League Final Four, where they lost to Iberostar Tenerife in the Final. Gaziantep reached the Round of 16 of this year’s FIBA Europe Cup and the Quarter-Finals of the Turkish League. Pinar Karsiyaka, winner of the Turkish Super League in 2015, reached the Quarter-Finals of the inaugural season of the Basketball Champions League.

"The strength in depth of Turkish basketball is reflected in the quality of the clubs that have joined the second season of the Basketball Champions League and we are delighted to have such a strong representation," said Basketball Champions League CEO Patrick Comninos.

"It is our pleasure to welcome back Besiktas, Banvit and Pinar Karsiyaka that participated in the inaugural Basketball Champions League season. Their return confirms that the continuous efforts undertaken in view of the development of all participants are being appreciated and clubs are considering the Basketball Champions League as the competition that safeguards their rights and promotes their interests. Finally, we are delighted to welcome Gaziantep to our family. I am confident that they will make a significant contribution to what is shaping up to be a highly competitive second season."

A total of 32 teams will contest the Basketball Champions League Regular Season which gets under way on October 10 with eight qualifiers joining 24 pre-qualified clubs. They will play in four groups with the top four in each going through to a home and away Round of 16 ahead of Quarter-Finals which will determine the Final Four. The Final Four weekend will be hosted in the home city of one of the qualifying clubs.

The full line-up for the season will be announced next week. An initial draw sorting the Qualification Rounds and the Regular Season phase will take place on Tuesday 11 July at the House of Basketball in Geneva, Switzerland.