Paris Basketball put an end to Joventut Badalona’s seven-game winning streak by beating the Spanish side 89-82 in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup. 

Paris holds off Joventut, 89-82

Paris Basketball put an end to Joventut Badalona’s seven-game winning streak by beating the Spanish side 89-82 in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup. The hosts were in control of the game in the first three quarters, but Joventut took its first lead of the night in the opening stages of the closing quarter. Nadir Hifi came to the fore in crunch time and netted his team’s last 8 points of the game to seal Paris’s eighth win in a row. With its victory on Tuesday night, Paris improved to a 15-1 record. Badalona dropped to 15-6, but remains in pursuit of a top-two spot.

Hifi led Paris with 17 points, with Collin Malcolm and Tyson Ward scoring 15 each. Youngster Enzo Shahrvin registered a career-high 12 points, while TJ Shorts and Mikael Jantunen added 10 apiece. For Joventut, Andres Feliz scored a game-high 20 points, Shannon Evans followed with 17 and Tyler Cook added 12.

Game News

Paris started strong, as a Shorts layup was followed by triples from Ward, Malcolm and Sy for an 11-2 lead. The visitors struggled on offense in the opening stages, having scored just 2 points in transition in the first 4 minutes. In fact, Joventut sank its second field goal of the night with 4:07 left on the clock in the first quarter through Michael Ruzic, who made it 17-7 from deep. Pau Ribas and Shahrvin traded baskets before Cook opened his account by hitting a couple of free throws, 21-12. Then, Evans and Ward exchanged triples and Paris took a 24-15 cushion into the second quarter.

A monster slam by Cook was followed by Feliz’s first triple of the night and Joventut cut the difference to 24-20. Paris responded with a 5-0 run behind 3 points by Shorts and a Ward bucket before Feliz made back-to-back three-pointers to bring Joventut within 32-30. A timeout by head coach Tuomas Iisalo served as a wake-up call for Paris, which went on a 9-0 run inspired by Malcolm, who netted a couple of tough baskets from inside. A Cook bucket was followed by a Yannick Kraag corner triple and the Spanish side managed to trim the deficit to 41-35 at halftime.

Game Videos

Cook opened the third quarter with a couple of free throws, but Ward drilled one from behind the arc, 44-37. Following an exchange of blows from inside, Shorts nailed a triple to make it 49-41. Jantunen and Ante Tomic traded buckets before Malcolm extended Paris’s lead to 53-45 with a layup. Hifi responded to a Ruzic three-pointer with one of his own and Sebastian Herrera knocked down his first of the night from deep to make it 59-50. However, a Tomic basket and back-to-back triples from Ribas and Feliz were followed by a layup from the latter, who tied it 60-60.

The two teams were level 62-62 at the end of the third quarter, but Feliz put the guests ahead for the first time with a couple of free throws. Then, Malcolm and Evans traded triples before Feliz scored a reverse layup, 65-69. A Ward basket was followed by another Evans three-pointer, but Malcolm responded from beyond the arc to make it 70-72. Cook and Shahrvin scored a basket each before Jantunen drove twice to the basket to put Paris back in front, 77-76. Pep Busquets hit a big triple, but Hifi tied it with a midrange jumper before Shahrvin skied for a dunk in transition, 81-79, with 2:51 left on the clock. Hifi stepped up when it mattered most and hit back-to-back triples before nailing a layup to extend Paris’s lead to 89-82 and practically put the game to bed with half a minute remaining.

The victory was the eighth in a row for the Group A leaders and ended Joventut's win streak at seven.

Paris Basketball v Joventut Badalona (2024-01-23T19:30:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm escaped with a hard-fought victory from the Moraca where it defeated Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 80-87 on Tuesday night. 

Ulm clinches playoff berth with 80-84 OT win in Podgorica

ratiopharm Ulm escaped with a hard-fought victory from the Moraca where it defeated Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 80-87 on Tuesday night. The visitors needed some time to warm up the engines in the early going but managed to build a 30-38 advantage at halftime that extended to 50-64 early in the fourth. A strong reaction allowed the hosts to turn the tables, 69-67, with 3 minutes remaining. Fletcher Magee had a shot to win the game, but missed a mid-range jumper and the game went to overtime. 

Then Juan Nuñez and LJ Figueroa took over, combining for 10 of Ulm’s 12 points in the extra period to help Ulm end its four-game losing streak and secure a playoff spot. Ulm’s record improved to 9-7, while Buducnost slipped to 6-10.

LJ Figueroa led all scorers with 24 points. Karim Jallow and Trevion Williams followed with 12 and 10 points, respectively while Juan Nuñez finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Yogi Ferrell paced Buducnost with 15 points and 8 assists, Magee chipped in 12 and Kenan Kamenjas posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort.

### Ulm regroups after a slow start

Both teams had a below-par start offensively, as the only points in the first 2 minutes came from the free-throw line through the hands of Marvin Jones. Vladimir Mihalovic drilled a three that built a 6-0 edge for the home side and opened the door for a more prolific scoring stint by both sides. Trevion Williams began punishing inside for Ulm, as Marvin Jones had 7 of Buducnost’s 12 total points when the score was 12-9 for the hosts. Kamenjas made it 16-9 soon after, but Ulm reacted in style and despite Buducnost kept dominating the boards, it shut Buducnost’s lights with a 0-8 run led by Karim Jallow that turned the tables, 16-17, at the end of the first quarter.

The hosts finally found some contribution from its frontcourt through Fletcher Magee and Yogi Ferrell, who nailed a three and scored a contested layup respectively to return the lead to Buducnost, 21-17, early in the second quarter. The joy didn’t last for long, though, as Nuñez took over scoring 4 points in a row and feeding Nicolas Bretzel for an inside basket and later Thomas Klepeisz for the first Ulm’s three of the night that granted a 25-28 edge for the visitors with 5 minutes remaining in the half. Brandon Paul struck back from the same place in the next play to tie it, but Ulm was again stronger in the last minutes of the period and sparked a 2-10 run with Figueroa scoring 8 points to finish the first half enjoying a 30-38 advantage.

### Buducnost rallies back, misses the winning shot

Figueroa remained hot after the break and nailed a three that made it a double-digit margin, 30-41, for the first time in the game. Ferrell came to the rescue on the other side, providing some offensive momentum to the hosts. Despite also finding some help from Yoan Makoundou, Buducnost couldn’t trim the deficit in a meaningful way and remained behind by double-figures midway through the third quarter, 41-51. Pacome Dadiet made it even worse after drawing an unsportsmanlike foul on Paul, giving Ulm a 44-57 advantage. A free-throw exchange in the last 2 minutes of the third quarter allowed Ulm to enter the last stanza with a comfortable 48-59 lead.

Kamenjias tried to revitalize his team with a couple of good moves both on offense and defense, but the momentum melted down like a sugar cube in hot coffee after Georginho de Paula converted an offensive rebound and Figueroa drilled a fastbreak three-pointer that provided Ulm with a 50-64 advantage with 8 minutes to go. Buducnost didn’t give up, though, and used a timeout to ignite a 14-0 run capped by a four-point play and a corner fastbreak three by Magee to make it all square, 64-64 with 5 minutes to go. Ferrell capped the rally with a mid-range jumper that set the stands on fire, 69-67, but Ulm managed to suffocate it and made it 72-72 before Fletcher missed the last shot in regulation.

### Nuñez and Figueroa take over in OT

The visitors recovered early when the game resumed, as Nuñez contributed 4 points in a row to help Ulm take the wheel. Despite Mihailovic tying it soon after, Figueroa showed up from deep to nail a key three that cooled down Buducnost, 76-79. Kamenjas reduced the gap from inside, and Buducnost had a couple of possessions to take back the lead, but consecutive turnovers allowed Williams to score, then Figueroa came up deadly again by hitting another three with 32 seconds to play that put the game on ice.

The visitors snapped a four-game losing streak with Nunez and Figueroa pulling the strings in the last 5 minutes.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-01-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Bryce Jones was in on nearly all of the big plays for U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the fourth quarter of its 88-83 victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento. 

Bryce Jones made the big plays late for Cluj

[Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones/012621/) was in on nearly all of the big plays for U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the fourth quarter of its 88-83 victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento.

Early on, after Trento closed the gap to 4, it was Jones’s penetration and dish to Emanuel Cate that got Cluj back on track. He would add a rainbow triple in what became a 13-0 run that Jones concluded with a layup for Cluj’s largest lead of the night, 79-62.

Trento turned up the heat late with 11 unanswered points to get within 83-80 in the final minute. Jones took control of the game from that point. First he whipped a pass to a wide-open Mareks Mejeris to give Cluj some breathing room. Then the playmaker’s defense of Trento star Kamar Baldwin forced a turnover. Jones finally iced the game with a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds to go.

Bryce Jones was clutch for Cluj against Trento

It was important for Jones to step up with the game on the line because Cluj was without scoring leader D.J. Seeley, who was serving a one-game suspension. Several players stood up to fill the void with center Andrija Stipanovic erupting for 10 first-quarter points and Adam Mokoka scoring 11 of his 14 in the third quarter.

After Cluj went up 17, it did not appear anyone would be needed for clutch plays late, but when the hosts took their foot off the glass too early and Trento rallied, Jones proved he could be counted on to carry the team.

Jones finished the night with 12 points and 5 assists to raise his season-long averages to 9.9 points and 4.3 assists per game. Most importantly, he ensured Cluj held on to win and to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish in Group B this season.

The Cluj guard had 8 points and 2 assists in the fourth quarter of his team’s victory on Tuesday.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-01-23T17:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca survived a late push from Dolomiti Energia Trento to claim an 88-83 victory on Tuesday at BT Arena. 

Cluj survives late Trento run to win 88-83

U-BT Cluj-Napoca survived a late push from Dolomiti Energia Trento to claim an 88-83 victory on Tuesday at BT Arena. Despite dominating for stretches and leading by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter, the hosts needed some key plays by Bryce Jones in the final minute to preserve the win. Cluj won its fourth straight game to improve to 12-4 on the season to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish in Group B – and with it an eighthfinals bye. Trento slipped to 7-9 and in the thick of the race for a playoff spot.

Andrija Stipanovic posted 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Karel Guzman also scored 16 and grabbed 3 steals to lead the winners. Adam Mokoka added 14 points, Jones finished with 12 points and 5 assists and Patrick Richard added 11 points and 5 assists. Trento’s Kamar Baldwin led all scorers with 21 points plus 4 steals. Paul Biligha and Quinn Ellis contributed 12 points apiece, Toto Forray netted 11 and Davide Alviti had 10 in defeat.

### Stipanovic fuels early Cluj charge

Stipanovic dominated early, scoring 5 baskets in the opening 5 minutes as the hosts raced to a 15-6 start. A three by Baldwin did little to change the momentum as Jarell Eddie heated up with his second and third triples of the night to give Cluj a 23-11 cushion. Derek Cooke provided some resistance for Trento. Despite seeing Cluj lead by as many as 14, Biligha willed Trento to within 28-18 after 10 minutes.  

### Ellis and Cooke lead Trento comeback

A pair of Trento scores to start the second quarter drew the visitors within 6. Threes by Guzman and Richard restored a double-digit difference and prompted a Trento timeout. Ellis stepped up for the visitors and Cooke provided an alley-oop slam and a putback in a 2-9 run that trimmed the deficit to 40-38. Guzman’s put-back slam made it 42-38 at the break.

### After Trento takes the lead, Cluj regains momentum  

Trento completed the comeback with a jumper from Baldwin and a layup from Cooke to lead 42-43. Guzman put Cluj back on top – twice – and the hosts regained control, 53-48, midway through the quarter. The momentum returned firmly to Cluj as Guzman forced a turnover and Mokoka and Mareks Mejeris dunked on consecutive possessions. Mokoka restored a double-digit Cluj advantage before Forray drew Trento to within 66-60 entering the fourth quarter.

### Late Trento rally sets up tense finish

After Baldwin got Trento within 4, Emanuel Cate scored twice to ignite a 13-0 run that also featured triples by Jones and Richard. The 79-62 difference was the largest of the game. Trento continued to fight and after Alviti’s steal and layup made it 81-72 with less than 4 minutes remaining, Cluj called timeout to regroup. A triple by Richard all but sealed the outcome. However, Alviti led a 0-11 response to get Trento within 1 on an Ellis triple. Jones found Mejeris open for a layup with 12.3 seconds left that made it 86-83. Jones then forced Baldwin into a turnover and iced the game with free throws with 3.6 seconds to go.

With its 4th win in a row, Cluj remains in the heart of the race for a top-two finish in Group B.

From now until the end of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, every night could see shifts in the standings as teams jostle for playoff spots. Here is what could happen in Round 16:

Playoff possibilities for Round 16

### Group A

[Paris Basketball ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/prs/)(14-1) has clinched first place in Group A. If it wins and Group B leader [Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) loses on Wednesday, Paris will secure the best regular season record and thus home court for every playoff series it plays.

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) (11-4) can clinch a top-four finish if it wins and [Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/bes/) loses.

[London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/lli/) (10-5) can clinch a top-four finish if it beats Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (9-6).

[Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/) (10-5) can clinch a top-four finish if it wins and both Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul and Prometey Slobozhanske lose.

[Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/pmt/) (8-7) clinches a playoff berth with a win and a Umana Reyer Venice loss.

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) (6-9) is eliminated from playoff contention if it loses and Prometey wins.

[Wolves Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/wol/) (5-10) is eliminated from playoff contention if it wins by fewer than 30 points or if Prometey Slobozhanske wins.

### Group B

[Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) (12-3) can clinch a top-two spot with a win and a [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) loss. 

[ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) (8-7) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/).

[7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/) (5-10) is eliminated if it loses and [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/) wins.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Prometey Slobozhanske (2024-01-24T17:30:00.000Z)

London Lions v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-01-24T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-01-24T18:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Wolves Vilnius (2024-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2024-01-24T18:00:00.000Z)

Slask Wroclaw v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-01-24T17:00:00.000Z)

Ondrej Balvin of BC Prometey is the latest player to write a EuroCup blog column.

Ondrej Balvin, BC Prometey: 'We have all the cards in our hands'

This is it, the regular season will finish soon and we are still trying to qualify for the playoffs. We have three games left and if we beat Reyer in Venice, we will surely qualify, but, of course, we will try to win every game. Actually, if we win and Reyer loses this week, we will punch our playoff ticket. Right now, it's either us or Reyer for the playoffs. We have all the cards in our hands, I believe, and if we do everything we should do, or at least play the way we've been playing lately, I believe we don't have to just wait for the result of that game against Reyer. Hopefully, we will solve this issue next week.

Prometey center

Right now, it's either us or Reyer for the playoffs."

It feels like in the last month, we finally came together as a team. Until now, we had some problems. For example, I traveled to Paris and was sick with a high fever, so I couldn't play. Rob Gray has a small hand injury, so as you see, there are small things that always somehow affect us. If all these things did not happen, I believe we would be in much better shape than we are, but right now we are on the right track to qualify for the playoffs.

We had a solid game against Wolves Vilnius. A lot of coaches love to say that offense wins games, but defense wins championships, so everything should start with defense, especially in the late part of the season, which is right now. For us, defense is always the game changer because the team has good chemistry and a lot of talent on offense. If we can use that chemistry on the court, it is a completely different world.

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As I mentioned before, I traveled to Paris and got sick. How unlucky is that? We practiced on Monday afternoon and when I came home, I started feeling a little bit sick, so I went to sleep early because when we go on road trips, we usually take early flights. So we had a meeting at 5 a.m. in the gym and I went there feeling already a little bit sick, but the team decided that, since I didn't have a fever, I could travel. And when we arrived in Paris, it was a complete disaster for me. I went down with a fever of almost 39 degrees, so I was in bed in the hotel the whole time. Luckily, our medical staff took great care of me and I was at least able to travel back, because after the game I was still in bed with 38 degrees. I felt like I was not going to be able to travel but they did a great job. We were next to the Bercy area, not far from the city center and I believe Paris in winter must be great. I cannot say because I have never seen it, even if I was there! Paris in winter must be really beautiful and charming. Maybe next time I will be lucky!

Paris in winter must be really beautiful and charming. Maybe next time I will be lucky!"

Tai Odiase played really well in that game and is doing a great job in general. The funniest thing about him is that we have similar hobbies. He is a little bit nerdy and loves gaming. That surprised me because American guys usually like to chill or hang out more together, but not Tai. I think he is the most low-key foreigner I have ever played with. He spends most of his time with his wife and they are expecting a kid. Most of the time he is on the road, he is playing video games, just like me! I love this about him. Right now, I am playing Call of Duty: Warzone and checking a game called Satisfactory. It is about managing a company from the beginning to the end, so that's kind of fun for me. Tai likes to play a lot of emulators on a game console called Steam Deck. He also loves to play a lot of Nintendo, Mario and all that stuff. We always talk about the games on the road when we are on the bus because we sit across from each other.

Ondrej Balvin is in his second season with Prometey Slobozhanske.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Ondrej Balvin, Prometey

Most of the guys, especially us foreigners on the team, don't know much about the city, so what most of us do is play video games and hang out with our friends, at least online. The player I know who is best at gaming is Simon Birgander. He is in Murcia and is currently injured. I can say that I never played with him, I only played against him, and he is crazy good at Call of Duty. I've never seen anybody play like him. He is a crazy video gamer. The funniest thing is that he looks like a really nice guy but when it comes to video games, he kills everybody!

Back to basketball. Like last season, the Latvian-Estonian League, in which we play as a guest, finishes its regular season at the end of March and there is a Final Four at the beginning of April. That means we will have a good schedule in the league because we have a lot of games there during the February break in the EuroCup. If we make it to the playoffs, our schedule will be easier in March. Right now, we are doing well in this league and it is easier for us to be more focused on the EuroCup than in the domestic competition.

Last but not least, shoutout to all the Ukrainian fans who come to see us at home and on the road and to the Latvian fans coming to our games. Everywhere we go, home or away, wherever we play, we always see some Ukrainian flags. We truly appreciate all the support we get everywhere, home and away. We enjoy it and hopefully, we will make you proud of us!

More Prometey News

Ondrej Balvin in action for Prometey Slobozhanske in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The Czech big man offers his thoughts ahead of the final stretch of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

Ondrej Balvin, Prometey: 'We have all the cards in our hands'

With an old-school approach, Aris Midea Thessaloniki might make it to the BKT EuroCup postseason based primarily on defense.

 Trademarks by Eurohoops: Defense shows Aris the way to the playoffs 

You must be extra alert to spot it at first glance. The logo of Aris Midea Thessaloniki depicts the mythological god of war, Ares, and at his side there's a shield. So it's not a coincidence that defense is the key for Aris head coach Giannis Kastritis and his players as the storied club moves closer to a playoff qualification in its return to BKT EuroCup after an absence of seven years. Through 15 rounds, Aris has leaned on the EuroCup's stingiest defense, allowing 74.3 points per game. That's no small feat and it's a conscious choice, with Aris deliberately playing a slow-tempo game, opposing the trends of the modern game and controlling the tempo in an old-school way.

[MORE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1617093/defense-shows-aris-the-way-to-the-playoffs/)

With an old-school approach, the Greek club from Thessaloniki might make it to the BKT EuroCup postseason based primarily on defense.

Trademarks by Eurohoops: Defense shows Aris the way to the playoffs

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary sanction pertaining to incidents that occurred in Round 15 of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

 Round 15 disciplinary sanction 

- Dennis SEELEY, player of U-BT Cluj Napoca, has been sanctioned with a one-game suspension and a fine of €2,000 for the use of violent means or procedures during a playing action that were an affront to the physical well-being of a player, on the occasion of his team's away game against rationpharm Ulm under Article 29.2.e) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code
- Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul has been sanctioned with a fine of €1,500 for the lighting of flares by its fans on the occasion of its away game against Hamburg Veolia Towers under Article 27.2.d) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code
- Nenad Canak, head coach of 7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys, has been sanctioned with a fine of €4,000, for lack of respect towards the members of the officiating crew, on the occasion of his team's away game against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse under Article 27.2.b) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code
- Simas Juraitis, assistant coach of 7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys, has been sanctioned with a fine of €500, for attempted physical aggression towards a member of the visiting team, on the occasion of its away game against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse under Article 27.2.c) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code
- Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has has been sanctioned with a fine of €500 for the throwing of objects onto the playing court on occasion of its home game against 7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys under Article 29.2.h) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code

Round 15 disciplinary sanction

Raised on two continents and working his way up from the bottom, Paul Biligha has played a big part in reviving the fortunes of Aquila Basket Trento.

 Paul Biligha, Aquila Basket Trento: 'We've worked hard as hell' 

Some players have it easy to play in elite European competitions, and others have to work their way upward. Born in Perugia, Italy, [Dolomiti Energia Trento center Paul Biligha](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/paul-biligha/009903/) started to play basketball in Cameroon, where he lived from the age of nine until he was 16. He returned to Italy, started to play in the country's third division and a decade later was suiting up in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. 

Looking for a bigger role, Biligha joined Trento last summer and his move is paying off. He has averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks for a PIR of 10.6 in 15 EuroCup games this season. Even more importantly, after several losing seasons, Trento ranks sixth in Group B with a 7-8 record and controls its destiny in the race for the playoffs. Biligha is enjoying the ride, too.

**Congratulations on beating Slask to stay in the playoff zone. What allowed you to win that crucial game?**

"Thank you. It was a really tough game for us and also for them. For us, we had to stay in the playoff course and for them, to finish the EuroCup really well. So it wasn't an easy game. We took the lead in the first minute of the game and they came back and took the lead. There were some lead exchanges and they were up at halftime when we went to the locker rooms. We talked about what we had to do better and how to do better, and just went out there and tried to compete and be as aggressive as possible. At some point, we started to win the battle of the boards and that gave us confidence to make some shots in the third quarter. And after that, it was just a fight to keep up with the lead we had."

Dolomiti Energia Trento

I am really interested in sustainability and climate change... When I was in Cameroon, I really saw the effects of globalization."

**Trento is in sixth place right now, one win ahead of Turk Telekom and Buducnost, despite starting 0-3 after several losing seasons. What has helped turn things around?**

"The thing is that I think this team is really understanding its talent and capabilities, what we can do on a basketball court because in Italy, we had some really ugly losses but also some crazy wins against Reyer or Brescia, which was in the EuroCup before. So we know what we can do and I think this year, after that 0-3 start, we knew that things would turn around for us, and that gave us the push to win three straight games after that. And at the point, when you are 50%, you just say 'Okay, let's try to get to the playoffs.' I think we have the talent to get to the playoffs and you need the focus in the games to do the little things and not make the little mistakes that would take us away from the playoffs."

**You joined Trento after four seasons in Milan. How do you like your role as a starting center? Is it what we were looking for, more playing time?**

 "Yes, it was my primary goal when I got out of Milan after four years. I won everything other than the EuroLeague. We had the chance to win the EuroLeague \[in 2021\] but unfortunately, we lost on the last shot. So yes, I came to Trento to play a little bit more. I wouldn't say I came here to be in the starting lineup, I just wanted to play more and give something more on the court for my team. That was my goal, my main goal, and I think until now, I am trying to be there, to do that, sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but it's a process. We are trying to build something in Trento and I really like the process. I think that also this year, we improved our competitiveness in the EuroCup. Trento is not just focused on the Italian championship, we can play in both competitions. This is what we are trying to do and what I'm trying to help the team to do."

**You lived in Cameroon and Italy as a child. Where did you start playing basketball?**

"I will start with the last question because it's something I'm really proud of. I started playing basketball in Cameroon when I was 13 years old, with a youth coach, national coach who was doing his basketball practices with teams during my middle school years. And he saw me playing soccer and he told me: 'Hey, let's go and try to play basketball with us, you are so tall and big! Why do you pursue playing soccer?'. Because in my head, I was thinking that maybe one day I'm going to be a soccer player, but it was a big mistake. So yes, I got that chance to start playing basketball with this coach and everything started from there. I started to have some basic skills: how to shoot, dribble, move... Then I had the occasion when I was 16 years old, to travel, come back to Italy and start my journey to learn and improve my basketball skills and here I am, having the career I am having. That's a little bit of the summary of my journey in basketball."

Paul Biligha in his first BKT EuroCup season with Dolomiti Energia Trento.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Paul Biligha, Trento

**Did working your way up from the Italian third division to the EuroLeague make you appreciate that journey even more?**

"For sure, for sure, because it is something that the guys who always played in the EuroLeague will never experience, playing in small categories. If you played basketball, or are playing basketball in these kinds of categories, you know better than me. There is this feeling that nobody cares about what you are doing on the court, but you have to be competitive and put all you have on the court. That is the same as in the EuroLeague. And also, you have some story about some crazy gym where you played; places where it is really cold inside, or sometimes the rim is so low or so high, these kinds of things. It gave me memories and for sure, it is a big part of my basketball career and I will remember it for life."

**I heard that you are studying and preparing for life after basketball. What are you studying these days?**

"I am really interested in sustainability and climate change, all the things going around that. I think it is because when I was in Cameroon, I really saw the effects of globalization. For example, when you see this amount of waste, of clothing or other things just come around and you feel, like, how is it possible for us to produce so much garbage or waste? I started to understand that most of the things that are not used in some parts of the world just come to our part and stay there because they pay for that. That's a little example of why I'm trying to learn and maybe one day work in this kind of environment because I think we have to take care of our world the right way, not only take from the world, but also try to preserve that for our younger generations, my kids and other people are going to come after us."

**This is your first EuroCup season. What do you like about it?**

"I think it reminds me of my years in Venice when I played the \[Basketball Champions League\]. I think it was the second year of the BCL, but in the EuroCup, things are different. We have that kind of feeling that the game is played with more spirit. I think it comes from the EuroLeague and its tradition. The teams that play in the EuroCup have that kind of feeling, that tradition, that you are playing for something big and the level is really, really good. I played against people I met before in Italy, and also with some players who didn't play a lot in Italy but now I find them in a EuroCup team, and they are really tough to play, so the level is really good."

I think we have the talent to get to the playoffs."

**Let's talk about it, then. Did any player in particular surprise you?**

"Brandon Paul! I mean, everybody knows he was good, but he is still good. Brussino, of course. I think he is a big talent out there. Sometimes I ask myself why he stayed in Gran Canaria because he is a really great talent. So Nicolas Brussino and Brandon Paul, and also Dusan Miletic, who we played against last week. He is a really skilled big man who can do everything on the court. And the last one would be Williams of Ulm. He is really, really tough to guard. He also can do everything on the court, so these are the four guys that really impressed me." 

**Trento will play Cluj next week and Buducnost the week after that. You fought hard to keep your playoff hopes alive. How much are you looking forward to these truly important games?**

"First things first, we have to play against Cluj. It is a very important game for us, the players, also because of the way they beat us on our home court. That really hurt us badly, they came to our court and told us that we didn't have any chance to win. I think that our will is not only making the run for the playoffs, but also to show that what they did in our home, we can give back. As for Buducnost, we had a chance to win there. We were close to winning but unfortunately, we didn't close the deal. It is going to be an open game now at home. So yes, these are two key games that will decide if we are in or not. We have to take care of them."

**What would it mean for you and for the team to see Trento in the playoffs?**

"I think that is going to give us the validation of what we are already doing these months, because we've worked hard as hell every time in practice and every time in games. Everybody gives 100% and you need that validation. What we are doing is really something important for us, for the team, for the city. So yes, making it to the playoffs would give us confidence, proving that we are really doing something great. Now, we have to do that."

More Trento news

Raised on two continents and working his way up from the bottom, Trento's starting center is proud to be helping revive his team.

Paris holds off Joventut, 89-82

Ulm clinches playoff berth with 80-84 OT win in Podgorica

Bryce Jones made the big plays late for Cluj

Cluj survives late Trento run to win 88-83

Playoff possibilities for Round 16

Ondrej Balvin, Prometey: 'We have all the cards in our hands'

Trademarks by Eurohoops: Defense shows Aris the way to the playoffs

Round 15 disciplinary sanction

Paul Biligha, Trento: 'We've worked hard as hell'