Neptunas through to last 16 as Monaco near perfect season

Neptunas Klaipeda qualified for the last 16 of the Basketball Champions League despite losing on Wednesday, while AS Monaco are now one win away from completing a perfect regular season.

A 91-70 loss at PAOK threatened to keep Neptunas waiting to qualify from Group B, but their place in the play-offs was confirmed later in the day as defending champions Iberostar Tenerife beat Elan Chalon to end the latter's hopes.

PAOK and Ventspils now face a winner-takes-all clash in the final gameday, with the winner set to join Tenerife, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and Neptunas in progressing. Ludwigsburg won 72-67 at Gaziantep on Wednesday.

Monaco overcame the absence of injured captain Amara Sy, who was ruled out for three months this week, by beating UCAM Murcia 83-75 to make it 13 wins out of 13 in Group A. The other game in that group saw Pinar Karsiyaka beat Enisey Krasnoyarsk 81-74.

Five teams are still in the running for three qualification spots in Group C after medi Bayreuth moved up to second with an 89-81 win over Umana Reyer Venezia.

In Group D, Sidigas Avellino beat rock-bottom Aris 79-66 to stay in the hunt for a play-off berth, while CEZ Nymburk won 79-73 at Oostende.