Andy West previews Round 3 of the EuroCup 2025-26 season
At a glance: At least one unbeaten record will end in Round 3
Game Preview
7 Mins read
Round 3 of the BKT EuroCup regular season will see five teams defending perfect records, with five more seeking a first victory. Here’s your overview of the upcoming action.
Tuesday, October 14
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CEST)
This week’s opening tipoff will see Turk Telekom (0-2) seek its first victory with a visit from Buducnost (1-1). The hosts will feel that a win is on the way after a couple of tight losses, and will hope for more fireworks from big man Marko Simonovic after he combined 27 points with 10 rebounds at Bourg last week. Buducnost needs to bounce back from a home loss against Trento when defense was the main problem, allowing 107 points. Offensively, the visiting team will be driven by forward Skylar Mays, who has averaged 17.0 points over the first two games.
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (18:30 CEST)
Two perfect records will be on the line as Cedevita (2-0) welcomes Aris (2-0). The Slovenian team’s strong start to the season has been powered by excellent defense, allowing opponents just 76.5 points per game partly thanks to the ball thieving skills of Joseph Girard (2.0 steals per game). DJ Stewart’s efficiency near the basket, with 11 of his 14 two-point attempts converted, will be a major threat to an Aris team which has also been very effective inside the paint. Naz Mitrou-Long scored 15 points on perfect two-point shooting in last week’s win over Hamburg, and maintaining those levels of offensive execution will be the task for both teams.
Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:30 CEST)
It’s bottom against top in Germany as winless Hamburg (0-2) welcomes high-flying Bahcesehir (2-0). The host has struggled defensively, allowing 99.0 points per game with its opponents converting a league-high 71.8% of two-point shots, despite the outstanding rebounding skills of big man Zacharie Perrin with 11 and 14 boards in the first two games. He faces a big challenge this week against visiting center Trevion Williams, whose double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds was instrumental in last week’s win over Reyer. Bahcesehir has been firing on all cylinders behind an offense led by Malachi Flynn (20.0 points and 6.0 assists per game), and will look for more of the same on Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 15
Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. ratiopharm Ulm (18:00 CEST)
Lietkabelis (1-1) needs to rediscover its offense as it faces the challenge of ending Ulm’s (2-0) perfect start to the season. The Lithuanian team could only muster 67 points in last week’s loss at Chemnitz, especially struggling from long range with only 5 three-pointers converted. Shooter Jamel Morris will be particularly keen to find his range after making just 3 of his 14 long-range attempts so far this season. Ulm had no such problems as it blasted 103 points past Panionis in Round 2, and will hope that Nelson Weidemann can maintain his hot hand after converting 75% of his three-point attempts across the opening two gsmes.
Panionios Athens vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (18:30 CEST)
Panionios (1-1) will attempt to return to winning ways with a visit from Group B leader Bourg (2-0). The French team maintained its perfect start by downing Turk Telekom last week, powered by the versatile scoring skills of Both Gach (21 points). But Panionios has shown it possesses plenty of firepower by averaging 92.5 points in the first two games, with Jaylen Hands netting 23 points in last week’s high-scoring loss at Ulm. The distribution of Markel Starks, who dished 11 assists in that game, will also be crucial against a Bourg team relying on more backcourt inspiration from Darius McGhee (21.5 points and 5.0 assists per night).
Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. NINERS Chemnitz (19:00 CEST)
After both teams won convincingly last week, Besiktas (1-1) and Chemnitz (1-1) will look to build more momentum when they meet in Istanbul. The German team will look to control the paint through the power of Bulgarian big man Yordan Minchev, who has averaged 9.5 rebounds over the first two games, while Ty Brewer will again attempt to fire from long range after netting 4 triples in last week’s win over Lietkabelis. The home team showed its potential with a thumping win over London in Round 2, with six players in double digits led by Ante Zizic’s 17 points to showcase the variety of weapons at the disposal of coach Dusan Alimpijevic.
Slask Wroclaw vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (19:00 CEST)
Two teams tied in the middle of Group A go head to head as Slask (1-1) welcomes Cluj (1-1). Slask needs an offensive improvement after scoring just 62 points in last week’s loss at Manresa, with no players scoring in double digits. Kadre Gray will look to lead the necessary upturn after failing to record any assists in Round 2, but he faces a tough task for backcourt supremacy against Cluj dynamo Fatts Russell, who has made a spectacular start to the season with 21 and 37 points in the opening two rounds. Nathan Mensah was also key to last week’s win at Neptunas with 15 points and 13 boards, so he will look to control the paint again.
Umana Reyer Venice vs. Neptunas Klaipeda (20:00 CEST)
A first win of the season is up for grabs as Reyer (0-2) faces Neptunas (0-2). The home team needs to find its three-point shooting game after only making 31% of triples so far, and guard RJ Cole will be confident of rising to that challenge after shooting 3 of 5 from long-range in last week’s loss at Bahcesehir. Reyer struggled off the glass in that game, so needs Amedeo Tessitori to shine against a Neptunas frontcourt led by Arnas Venicka, who has averaged 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The Lithuanian team will also look for more scoring heroics from Donatas Tarolis, who netted 21 in last week’s high-scoring loss to Cluj.
BAXI Manresa vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (20:45 CEST)
Hapoel (1-1) seeks a return to winning ways with a tough trip to face a Manresa team (1-1) aiming for a second straight win. Hapoel star Jared Harper is aiming to hit top form after a fairly subdued start to the season, especially from long range with just 25% of three-point attempts converted. That won’t be easy against a Manresa defense which showed its toughness in last week’s win over Slask, allowing just 62 points. The big man tandem of Grant Golden (14 points) and Kaodirichi Akobundu (13 points and 3 blocked shots) functioned particularly well for the Spanish team, which will again attempt to use physicality to control the tempo against Hapoel’s dangerous offense.
Thursday, October 16
London Lions vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (20:30 CEST)
Thursday’s only game will see London (0-2) seek a first victory against resurgent Trento (1-1). Having lost its first game by 30, the Italian team bounced back last week to overcome Buducnost on the road behind a stellar DeVante Jones (24 points and 7 assists). Trento made 72.5% of its two-point shots in that game, so will look to again control the paint against a London team which has the worst offense in the competition with just 66.0 points per game. A key man for the British team will be Deane Williams, who paired 8 points with 10 rebounds in last week’s heavy loss at Besiktas.