Javier Gancedo has some ideas to help your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge teams this week
Fantasy tips, Round 12: Smart picks for a round bridging 2025 and 2026
Fantasy Challenge
3 Mins read
This is a tricky round in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. One of the games was played in advance, so all players from NINERS Chemnitz and Besiktas GAIN Istanbul are getting average scores, including two of the competition's best centers, Ante Zizic and Kevin Yebo. There are plenty of great choices and a lot of players doing really well lately, so it's an exciting time to write this, right at the end of 2025. Here are this week's recommendations, brought to you by me, Javi Gancedo, ranked 688th overall.
Mark Smith, ratiopharm ulm (12.3 credits)
All of a sudden, Mark Smith is a great choice in the game. Over the last three games, Smith has averaged 19.3 points on 14-of-23 two-point shooting and 6-of-11 on three-pointers, plus 4.7 rebounds for a PIR of 21.0. He roared for 29 points and 9 boards for a PIR of 39 in a victory in the German League over the weekend. Ulm plays at home against high-paced Lietkabelis on Friday, so everything seems to be clicking for him right now.
Agustin Ubal, BAXI Manresa (9.3 credits)
Agustin Ubal was already having a strong EuroCup debut season and he has taken things up a notch lately. He comes off a career-best performance with 21 points - with just 1 missed shot, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for a PIR of 31. Ubal also amassed a PIR of 18 in 17 minutes in Spanish League action this weekend.
Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (12.6 credits)
Right at the prime of his career, Aleksej Nikolic has become Cedevita's floor general and leader. It is a bold statement, but the numbers back it up as Nikolic is averaging 16.1 points on 92.1% free-throw shooting this season, including scoring in double digits in all 11 games. His last performance? 27 points and a PIR of 34 PIR against Jerusalem!
Stefan Djordjevic, Slask Wroclaw (11.9 credits)
He started the season quietly but Stefan Djordjevic has been a beast over the last five games, averaging 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds and a PIR of 19.4. Djordjevic has had double-doubles in Slask's last two games: 18 points and 12 rebounds against Neptunas, 12 points and 12 rebounds against Manresa. What's not to like?
Ky Bowman, Umana Reyer Venice (11.0 credits)
Reyer comes off a huge come-from-behind win over Bahcesehir in which Ky Bowman did a little bit of everything: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block for a PIR of 24. He had 21 points and a PIR of 21 in Reyer's previous game against Aris. When a player is in shape, you have to go for him!s