The black-and-white Italian team has managed to become a playoffs contender in the BKT EuroCup after the last two futile seasons.

Paolo Galbiati’s Trento is finally delivering in the BKT EuroCup

Taking a look at the very first minutes of Dolomiti Energia Trento’s BKT EuroCup season, everybody thought another year of European disappointment was on the way after two consecutive fiascos.

Two back-to-back three-pointers made by Juan Nunez and the first ratiopharm Ulm’s points of Trevion Williams welcomed the newest Italian team’s head coach Paolo Galbiati to the European landscape with an 8-0 run on the road, an immediate notice how tough competing would be again.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1604400/dolomiti-energia-trento-paolo-galbiati-bkt-eurocup-regular-season/)

Reyer Venezia announced the signing of shooting guard Max Heidegger, who arrives from the Windy City Bulls of the G League. 

Reyer Venezia adds scoring punch with Max Heidegger

Umana Reyer Venice has announced the signing of shooting guard [Max Heidegger](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/max-heidegger/012259/), who arrives from the Windy City Bulls of the G League. Heidegger (1.91 meters, 26 years old), averaged 12.9 points on 40.9% three-point shooting and 3.6 assists in 10 games with the Bulls this season. He made his EuroLeague debut last season with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and averaged 2.5 points in 12 appearances.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Combo guard di 191 centimetri from Windy City Bulls: Max Heidegger è un giocatore dell’Umana Reyer Venezia! Benvenuto 🦁<br>Il comunicato 👉 <a href="https://t.co/HGFvrPhSsh">https://t.co/HGFvrPhSsh</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FinoAllaFine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FinoAllaFine</a> <a href="https://t.co/QzOD5pM2bl">pic.twitter.com/QzOD5pM2bl</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1744394941470474428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After playing college basketball at the University of California Santa Barbara, where he was a two-time All-Big West Conference first team selection, Heidegger signed a multi-year deal with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in September 2020. He played two games for the team in the Israeli League before being loaned to Bnei Herzliya, who also played in the Israeli top division. After shining with Bnei Herzliya, he signed for Oldenburg of Germany in July 2021 and for Yukatel Merkezefendi of Turkey in the summer of 2022, from where he moved to Baskonia during the season.

Max Heidegger's EuroLeague highlights

More Reyer News

The sharpshooter will make his BKT EuroCup debut with the Italian club. 

Reyer adds scoring punch with Max Heidegger

Umana Reyer Venice v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-01-10T19:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv was the first team to win a BKT EuroCup game in 2024 and hopes to be the last to get a victory in the 2023-24 season. Hapoel ranks second in Group A with an 11-2 record and hosts London Lions (9-4), Paris Basketball (12-1) and Prometey Slobozhanske (7-6) in the next three rounds. Hapoel has averaged a PIR of 118.0, which is unprecedented in EuroCup history. It all starts with combo guard Xavier Munford, who is in his second EuroCup season with Hapoel. 

Xavier Munford, Hapoel: 'We have unfinished business in the EuroCup'

[Xavier Munford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/xavier-munford/007759/) is averaging 16.2 points, 4.4 assists and a PIR of 17.5 and has started in all 13 games this season. He ranks 13th in three-point shooting (48.5%) despite taking 5.2 attempts from downtown this season. Mumford led Hapoel to the EuroCup Quarterfinals last season and hopes to rank much higher this time around, with the same core of players and coaches. If Hapoel goes all the way, Munford knows his team will make history, as he told Javier Gancedo in this interview. "I think if we are able to win the EuroCup, it would be great for sports, great for the country, great for our fans, for our coaching staff, everything," Munford said. "That's our main goal, and it will be an amazing thing if we can accomplish it." 

**Hello, Xavier. Congratulations on beating the Wolves. It was your 11th win in 13 games and you made things happen with a couple of assists and a big basket down the stretch. What allowed you to stop their comeback and win the game?** 

"Thanks. Some of those games are like that. It turned into one of those dirty, physical games. So I just wanted to do the things on the court to help my team get the win, like playing hard defense. I think that's what really sparked the run, just being more physical on defense and grabbing rebounds, getting out and running."

**You have the same core of players and the same coach as last season. How has that helped Hapoel this season?**

"It helps a lot. Having the same coaches gives us a lot of confidence. It makes us more cohesive, having the same group of guys. And we are learning. We are learning each other each and every day even more. But having this same coaching staff and the same core group of guys makes it a lot easier on the court and gives me a lot of confidence as well, because I know my coaching staff and the players believe in me and I believe in them as well."

"We are learning each other each and every day even more."

**Hapoel is on track for an all-time record with an average PIR of 118.0. The best mark ever in 21 EuroCup seasons is a team PIR of 108.5. What allows you to play so efficiently?** 

"I think our coaches are definitely putting us in the right spots to go out there and succeed. And I think just sharing the ball and playing that team type of aspect, it just helps everybody flow and helps us play well and get wins. But our assist numbers and getting out and running is very important for us. And we know that without moving the ball and sharing the ball, it's going to be tough for us, so our goal is to get a high number of assists, team assists throughout the games." 

**This is your second season in the team. What makes you feel so comfortable in this team, in this environment?** 

"Just like I told you before, it was a no-brainer for me. This is a very family-oriented team. They take care of me on and off the court and that just also translates to things on the court. When you are comfortable, you feel confident to go out there and do your job. So my team and the organization put me in a great position to go out there and be my best self. Whether I'm good or bad, they're still going to love me the same way and still believe in me no matter what."

**You just signed EuroCup veteran Will Cummings. What does he bring to the table?** 

"Will definitely brings a different aspect to the team. He gives us a different type of threat. He is a very fast guard, experienced as well. He can get to the basket at any time he wants and I think that's what really changed a little bit the dynamic of the team, but for the better, especially having J'Covan \[Brown\] out for some time now. I think Will is a great guy to come in and fill the void."

Xavier Munford of Hapoel ShlomoTel Aviv is averaging 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and a PIR of 17.5, starting in all 13 games until now. He ranks 13th in three-point shooting (48.5%) despite taking 5.2 attempts from downtown this season.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Xavier Munford, Hapoel

**Your next three games are in Belgrade, against London, Paris and Prometey. How much are you looking forward to the most exciting part of the season?** 

"Right now, it's not an ideal time for us, playing in Belgrade away from our home fans, who bring a lot to the game. Our fans are amazing and it's tough for teams to come to Tel Aviv and win, but putting that aside, we know we have three big games coming up, very important games, and we know we are going to prepare the right way to go out there and try to get those wins. It's very important for us. We lost to Paris, we lost to Prometey and we got another tough game against London. We are just going to go out there and do what we have to do, play our style of play, make sure we lock in on scouting and play our game."

**You mentioned your fans. We have seen thousands of them in road games, which is unbelievable. How would you explain the team's connection with your fans?** 

"Our fans are amazing. They are there when we were doing good, and they were there when we were doing bad. They bring a lot of energy. They bring energy throughout the whole game. It's never a quiet moment in the game, and it gives us a lot of motivation, a lot of drive to go out there and make them proud. And it's also tough for opponents to come and play in front of those fans. It's a hostile environment, and it is good for us when we compete. I think it's also good for the sport, you know? It's good for the competition."

"When you are comfortable, you feel confident to go out there and do your job."

**This is also your second EuroCup season after a brief EuroLeague stint with FC Barcelona. How do you like the EuroCup and how fun has it been to play it in the last two years?** 

"It's definitely fun competing against those teams. And we also have unfinished business in the EuroCup. That was the main focus throughout the summer, and coming back was just to handle our business that we had last year. It was tough, a tough loss to \[Joventut\] Badalona in Spain. We all still have that taste in our mouths. We thought we could have played better or a couple of things would have went our way, we would have won. But that was just the motivation coming into this season, just unfinished business and knowing we have to do it."

**Has any player surprised you in the EuroCup this season?** 

"I love the guard Nadir Hifi. He is exciting to watch, especially being at a young age, being 21 years old, you know, shooting 50-40-90, leading the EuroCup in scoring. That's very impressive for me, so he is one of the guys that really stood out to me. I love his game." 

**Hapoel Jerusalem won the EuroCup in 2004, 20 years ago. How great would it be for Hapoel Tel Aviv and for Israeli basketball if you lifted the trophy this spring?** 

"I think if we are able to win the EuroCup, it would be great for sports, great for the country, great for our fans, for our coaching staff, everything. That's our main goal, and it will be an amazing thing if we can accomplish it."

Wolves (4-9) is aiming to end a six-game losing streak and boost its flagging playoff hopes with a visit from eliminated Cedevita (0-13), which hopes to gain a first win of the season under new coach Zoran Martic. 

Preview: Wolves Vilnius vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/wolves-vilnius-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2023/135/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-game-notes-facts-wol-lju/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-prequotes-wol-lju/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Fit-again [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/) will pose a major threat, having scored 22 points when Wolves beat Cedevita 78-86 in Round 5. After losing its last three games by 5 points or less, the visiting team will hope the experience of [Jaka Blazic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaka-blazic/003452/) will help finally seal a long-desired first win.

[Wolves Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/statistics/wol/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Cedevita Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/statistics/lju/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Vaidas Kariniauskas vs. Jaka Blazic: These guards could decide this game

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Wolves Vilnius | Round 5 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Wolves, Cedevita meet with one certain to end losing streak

Wolves Vilnius v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-01-09T17:00:00.000Z)

After red-hot Hapoel (11-2) secured a postseason berth in last week's makeup victory over Wolves, now London (9-4) will aim to follow the Israeli team into the playoffs with a road win.

Preview: Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. London Lions

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-london-lions/U2023/132/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-game-notes-facts-hta-lli/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The English team has lost two of its last three and suffered a 90-98 home defeat to Hapoel earlier in the season despite [Donte Grantham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/donte-grantham/012586/)'s double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. He faces a great matchup with [Tomer Ginat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tomer-ginat/010550/), who had a season-high 24 points in that game for Hapoel, which has now won seven in a row. London will secure a playoff berth with a win or if Wolves loses its game earlier Tuesday.

[Hapoel Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/statistics/hta/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [London Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/statistics/lli/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Tomer Ginat vs. Donte Grantham: A matchup of versatile forwards 

London Lions-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 5 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

London seeks playoff spot when it visits Hapoel

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v London Lions (2024-01-09T17:30:00.000Z)

Round 14 in the 2023-24 EuroCup signing is here, so here are my most recent recommendations for the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge.

EuroCup Round 14: First fantasy choices in 2024

Happy (belated) New Year, BKT EuroCup fans, as the competition returns for its first games in 2024. Round 14 starts with four teams already qualified to the playoffs – Paris Basketball and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in Group A; Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Dreamland Gran Canaria in Group B – and more squads could join these sides this week.

With five regular-season games left, every detail matters in the competition and in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home). Here are my recommendations for Round 14.

[Tyrone Wallace, Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrone-wallace/011925/) (15.7 credits) 

He’s the man of the moment in the competition. In the last two games, Wallace has averaged 30.5 points on 11-of-17 three-pointers, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 6.5 fouls drawn and a PIR of 36.0. Those numbers are hard to ignore, making Wallace a must-own player in Round 14.  

[Isiaha Mike, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/isiaha-mike/011836/) (13.2 credits) 

Bourg has climbed up to top spot in Group B and Mike has been one of its key players all season long. In the last two games, Mike averaged 25.0 points on 8-of-13 three-pointers, 8.0 rebounds and a PIR of 28.5, helping Bourg beat U-BT Cluj-Napoca on the road and Dreamland Gran Canaria at home. 

Vassilis Toliopoulos, Isiaha Mike, Dusan Miletic, Aleksander Dziewa and Tyrone Wallace are featured in this week's artice.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 14

[Vassilis Toliopoulos, Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/) (8.4 credits)

Toliopoulos has been outstanding lately and his price should keep going up. Importantly, he has had a double-digit PIR in five of his last six games. In Aris’s last two showdowns against Turk Telekom and Slask Wroclaw, Toliopoulos averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and a PIR of 25.0. Outstanding!  

[Dusan Miletic, Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/) (12.8 credits)

Given his numbers, Miletic is still a relatively cheap option at center. He is averaging 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and a PIR of 20.9 this season, as he’s dominated at the “five” position. In the last four games, however, Miletic has boosted those numbers to 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and a PIR of 25.0. A rock-solid choice at the center spot. 

[Aleksander Dziewa, Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-dziewa/011168/) (12.6 credits) 

Dziewa is in a similar situation as Miletic, as he has posted big numbers for a team that is not getting the wins it expected at the start of the season. He has had a double-digit PIR in his last seven games and did really well against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in Round 13, posting 23 points, 8 rebounds and a PIR of 33. 

The EuroCup returns with a bang, as the regular season starts to enter its final stretch.

Round 14: First fantasy choices in 2024

Euroleague Basketball's annual mid-season survey polls BKT EuroCup general managers on a series of fan-centric questions about the competition. Just before the halfway point of the regular season, the GMs were asked about their likely finalists, the most suprising team, the best pure shooter and the most uncomfortable opponent, among other questions. Check out their answers!

 BKT EuroCup GMs Mid-Season Survey 

Euroleague Basketball's annual mid-season survey polls BKT EuroCup general managers on a series of fan-centric questions about the competition. Just before the halfway point of the regular season, the GMs were asked about their likely finalists, the most surprising team, the best pure shooter and the most uncomfortable opponent, among other questions. Check out their answers!

GMs give Paris plenty of props at mid-season

Joventut Badalona added another weapon to its backcourt by signing playmaker Shannon Evans for the remainder of the season.

Joventut Badalona signs playmaker Shannon Evans

Joventut Badalona added another weapon to its backcourt by signing playmaker [Shannon Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shannon-evans/010677/) for the remainder of the season. Evans (1.85 meters, 29 years old) arrives from the Shougang Beijing Ducks, where he averaged 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 13 Chinese League games this season. He made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with Valencia Basket last season and averaged 5.5 points and 2.3 assists in 12 games. Evans started the 2022-23 campaign with another Spanish club, Betis Baloncesto, where he posted 21.0 points, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals in five games before joining Valencia.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔥 Shannon Evans, un gran reforç pel joc exterior verd-i-negre<br><br>👊 Amb experiència contrastada a l’ACB, el base signa amb la Penya fins al final de temporada<br><br>🔗 La notícia: <a href="https://t.co/Dr6x3oquvU">https://t.co/Dr6x3oquvU</a><br><br>👋 Welcome to Badalona, <a href="https://twitter.com/hollywood_XI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hollywood_XI</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/Bp7Yn8fPvP">pic.twitter.com/Bp7Yn8fPvP</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1744320547985424720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Evans began his professional basketball career in Hungary with Atomeromu SE Paks. He went to play for Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez of France and Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul of Turkey before joining Betis. Evans had a breakout 2021-22 season with Betis, during which he led the Spanish League in assists (6.8 apg.) while ranking second in scoring (17.4 ppg.) and steals (1.6 spg.). He has also been a member of the Guinean national team. Evans is set to make his EuroCup debut with Joventut.

Shannon Evans EuroLeague highlights

More Joventut News

The EuroCup contender bolsters its backcourt with the former Spanish League assists leader. 

Joventut signs playmaker Shannon Evans

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Joventut Badalona (2024-01-10T18:30:00.000Z)

Faltering CB Gran Canaria (10-3) will look to rediscover winning ways with a road win at BC Lietkabelis (5-8), which is still in the playoff hunt despite only winning one of the last five.

Preview: BC Lietkabelis vs. CB Gran Canaria

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys-dreamland-gran-canaria/U2023/140/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-game-notes-facts-lkb-can/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

After qualifying for the playoffs despite suffering three straight defeats, the title holder will look for [Ethan Happ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ethan-happ/009864/) (8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game) to establish his authority in the paint, while Lietkabelis hopes explosive guard [Deividas Sirvydis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/deividas-sirvydis/007029/) (17.8 points per game) can continue his streak of seven games with multiple triples.

[Lietkabelis Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/statistics/lkb/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Gran Canaria Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/statistics/can/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Gabrielius Maldunas vs. Ethan Happ: The battle between these centers could prove key in this matchup.

Last game: Dreamland Gran Canaria-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 5 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Faltering Gran Canaria (10-3) will look to rediscover winning ways with a road win at Lietkabelis (5-8), which is still in the playoff hunt despite only winning one of the last five.

Falling Lietkabelis, Gran Canaria eager to get back on track

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-01-10T17:00:00.000Z)