Twenty teams started the season dreaming of EuroCup glory and now only 12 remain

The 2025 BKT EuroCup Playoffs bracket is official!

The playoff picture was finalized with the last five teams crashing the party on Wednesday, the final night of the regular season. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul and U-BT Cluj-Napoca all won to secure their spots while Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, which lost, and Umana Reyer Venice, which won on Tuesday, advanced thanks to other results.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem both won to secure second place in Groups A and B, respectively, thus joining Bahcesehir College Istanbul and Valencia Basket with eighthfinals byes and home-court advantage in the single-game quarterfinals.

The eighthfinals matchups will feature Dreamlife Gran Canaria against Umana Reyer Venice,

Turk Telekom Ankara against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana against Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul, and Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius against U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

The single-game EuroCup Eighthfinals will be played on Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, and the quarterfinals will take place the following week.

The 2025 BKT EuroCup Playoffs bracket is official

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius beat Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 91-82 to qualify for the BKT EuroCup Playoffs for the first time behind a career game from Matas Jogela

Matas Jogela's career-night put Wolves on the right track

[Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25) captured [a 91-82 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/wolves-beat-buducnost-to-clinch-playoff-berth-91-82/) over [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) to qualify for the BKT EuroCup Playoffs for the first time behind a career game from [Matas Jogela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matas-jogela/006853/). It was the game of the season for both teams, as only the winner had a guaranteed ticket into the next round.

Jogela entered this game averaging 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds for a PIR of 7.4, shooting rather poorly from beyond the arc. He had buried 12 of 37 three-point shots (32.4% 3FG). Jogela had shown progress lately, boosting his numbers to 12.5 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting and 5.0 rebounds for a PIR of 16.0 in the last two games.

Matas Jogela hit six three-pointers to lead Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius past Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Jogela ties club record in important victory

On Wednesday, Jogela made history for Wolves in a first half for the ages in which he was truly unstoppable. Once [Andrija Slavkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrija-slavkovic/006566/) scored 5 seconds after the tip-off, Jogela buried his first three-pointer, igniting a 10-0 run that put the Wolves ahead 10-2. Jogela struck twice more from beyond the arc in the first quarter, singlehandedly helping his team get a 26-25 edge after 10 minutes.

He was far from done, however. Jogela remained on fire throughout the first half, making 6 of 7 three-pointers, tying a club record that previously belonged to current teammate [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/), and [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/), currently playing for Buducnost. [Jeffery Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jeffery-taylor/006546/) added 3 shots from downtown to give Wolves a 54-41 lead at halftime.

Jogela cooled off after scoring the second half's opening basket. He was scoreless for the remainder of the game and that was when the Wolves made the difference with outstanding defense. Buducnost went on to score just 3 points in the next 6 minutes, as [Marek Blazevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marek-blazevic/008186/) and [Anthony Cowan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-cowan-jr/012003/) helped the hosts break the game open, 68-44. Buducnost only got within single digits in the final seconds of the game.

Game Videos

Jogela set career highs of 20 points and a PIR of 22. Five other Wolves teammates scored in double digits. Wolves dished 20 assists, twice as many as Buducnost. Despite making just 2 of 10 three-pointers (20%) in the second half, the Wolves still finished the game on 12-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc (46.2%). Buducnost only made 7 of 28 from downtown (25%).

After the game, Jogela highlighted his club's great achievement.

"This is very important for this club because we are going to the playoffs for the first time. It was the most important game of the season. We won this game and are happy," Jogela said. "I just tried to be aggressive and play aggressive with and without the ball. My teammates passed me the ball when I had open shots."

Game News

The 27-year-old forward drilled 6 first-half triples to spark his team

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona finished its BKT EuroCup season on a high note with a 69-56 victory at home over Group A winner Bahcesehir College Istanbul

Joventut finishes season on high note, beats Bahcesehir 69-56

Joventut Badalona finished its BKT EuroCup season on a high note with a 69-56 victory at home over Group A winner Bahcesehir College Istanbul. Joventut decided the game with a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter for a 7-11 record.

Sam Dekker collected 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Artem Pustovyi had 12 points and Kassius Robertson finished with 10 points for the Spanish side, which already had been eliminated weeks ago. Bahcesehir had nothing riding on the game - though there was a mathematical chance it could overtake Valencia Basket as the overall number one seed - and finished the regular season with a 14-4 record after having won five of the last six games. Tai Odiase paced Bahcesehir with 13 points and Furkan Korkmaz had 10 points.

Bahcesehir opened the game’s scoring but then went 4 minutes without a point and Devon Dotson had 4 points for an 8-2 lead. The visitors followed with the next 8 points and led 15-16. Joventut finished the first quarter with an 8-3 run to lead 23-19.

The momentum continued and Joventut was ahead 28-19 as Bahcesehir needed nearly 3 minutes to finally score in the second quarter. Korkmaz tallied 7 points in a 0-11 answer to move ahead 28-30. There were five lead changes the rest of the first half, which finished with the hosts leading 35-34.

The guests’ scoring struggles continued, not getting on the board in the first 4 minutes of the second half and Robertson drained 2 three-pointers in an 11-0 start to the third quarter. The cushion grew to 51-36 on a Yannick Kraag triple. Bahcesehir held Joventut scoreless for the final 4 minutes of the quarter though and it was 51-45 after 30 minutes.

A Furkan Haltali free throw made it 51-46 to start the final frame and then Bahcesehir’s offense sputtered again for 5 minutes and a 14-0 run had Joventut up 65-46. The visitors could not get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Bahcesehir already had first place in Group A locked up 

Joventut Badalona v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

The trio of Yam Madar, Johnathan Motley and Marcus Foster combined for 23 of Hapoel's final 27 points in a 90-97 victory at ratiopharm Ulm for its sixth win in the last seven games to finish second in Group A and clinch a spot in the BKT EuroCup quarterfinals

Experience helped down the stretch as Hapoel rallied into quarters

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2024-25)’s big game experience on its roster shined through when it was needed most as the Israeli side fought back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to lock up a spot in the BKT EuroCup quarterfinals.

The trio of [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/), [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) and [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/) combined for 23 of Hapoel's final 27 points in [a 90-97 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-rallies-to-beat-ulm-90-97-and-lock-up-ticket-to-quarterfinals/) at [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/roster/ulm/?season=2024-25) for its sixth win in the last seven games and a 12-6 record in Group A.

“For this game, especially the second half and the final quarter, the stats don’t matter much. It’s the heart and the belief. We talked about more heart in the halftime. We realized we needed to play better. And we defended great,” Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “That was a tough game to go through and that will help our character for sure.”

Hapoel vets Marcus Foster, Yam Madar and Johnathan Motley led late charge in Ulm

Hapoel's vets led late charge in Ulm

Hapoel trailed 80-70 with 8 minutes to go when Madar scored 9 points, Motley 8 points and Foster knocked down a pair of three-pointers in a 10-27 close to the game.

“They are a hard team. They play fast. They play physical. They deny everything They hit the boards. It’s always tough when you play against anybody with a good coach. We’re just glad we came out here and got the win and do what we were supposed to do,” said Motley, who led the way with 24 points.

Madar finished with 18 points including the dagger three-pointer to make it 90-95 with 37 seconds left. And Foster also had 18 points.

All three of those players have the advantage of falling back on EuroLeague experience. Madar has appeared in 73 EuroLeague games - including 4 this season with FC Bayern Munich before coming to Hapoel. Motley got into 72 EuroLeague games the last two seasons with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. And Foster played 20 games with Panathinaikos Athens in 2020-21.

“We have a lot of guys with experience. We have a great EuroLeague coach. So that definitely helped us in the end,” added Motley, referring to Itoudis, who won two EuroLeague titles among his more than eight seasons in the league. “We were down but we weren’t really phased. We knew we had to take those ups and downs and pull through in the end.”

That is how experience in important games can help you.

Madar, Motley, Foster combine for 23 of final 27 points for Tel Aviv 

ratiopharm Ulm v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

In a result that few saw coming, Veolia Towers Hamburg ended up coasting to an 80-62 win over playoff-bound Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 18.

Hamburg ends its season on a high with 80-62 win over Cedevita Olimpija

In a result that few saw coming, Veolia Towers Hamburg ended up coasting to an 80-62 win over playoff-bound Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 18.

Jaizec Lottie (17 points), Johnathan Stove (13) and Kur Kuath (10) combined for half of Hamburg’s points, with Cedevita not only trailing at the end of all four quarters but being outscored in each of them, too. The visitors’ leading scorers on the night were Aleksej Nikolic with 14 points, Gregor Glas with 12, and Brynton Lemar with 11.

Despite Joan Beringer scoring the first basket of the game, a Cedevita drought followed as Hamburg opened a 10-2 lead. Nikolic ended the visitors' four-minute wait for points with a pair of free throws, but Hamburg got contributions from Stove, Lottie and Kuath to remain comfortable at 18-8. A strong finish to the quarter, capped by back-to-back threes by Glas, made it 20-18 after 10 minutes.

It was a similar story in the second period as Jordan Barnett and Leif Moeller both struck from deep to give Hamburg a 26-20 advantage, before Kuath netted twice inside to boost the lead to 30-23. Cedevita responded and got within three points at 36-33, but Lottie netted a couple of baskets inside the final couple of minutes to ensure Hamburg held a 41-36 lead at halftime. 

A couple of triples by Nikolic either side of a Lemar free throws saw Cedevita take the lead at 41-43 in the early stages of the third, then DJ Stewart gave his team a 41-45 edge. Stove came to the rescue for Hamburg by converting a pair of free throws and hitting a three to push his team 48-47 ahead. Six points by Fabian Giessmann kept Hamburg in control at 62-50, and Brae Ivey's three-pointer with 10 seconds to go in the third made it 64-52 entering the fourth.

It took over two minutes for the first points of the final frame, but Moeller got them to put Hamburg 66-52 ahead. Cedevita never got within single digits the rest of the way as Hamburg ended up romping to an 80-62 victory.

The Slovenian came into the game knowing it had already qualified for the EuroCup Playoffs

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv locked up an automatic spot in the quarterfinals after rallying from 10 points down to beat ratiopharm Ulm 90-97 and secure second place in Group A. The result also eliminated Ulm from the playoffs

Hapoel rallies to beat Ulm 90-97 and lock up ticket to quarterfinals 

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv locked up an automatic spot in the quarterfinals after rallying from 10 points down to beat ratiopharm Ulm 90-97 and secure second place in Group A. The result also eliminated Ulm from the playoffs. Hapoel wasted a 10-point lead and trailed by 10 points with 8 minutes to go before mounting a 0-13 run and getting a dagger three-pointer from Yam Madar.

The victory was the Israeli side’s sixth in the last seven games for a 12-6 record. Johnathan Motley scored 24 points and Marcus Foster and Madar both added 18 points for the winners. Ulm will miss the playoffs with a 9-9 record as the German side lost its final five games of the season. Justinian Jessup scored 18 points, Ben Saraf had 17 points and Alfonso Plummer chipped in 16 points in the losing effort.

Saraf scored 4 points as Ulm went up 9-4 with Hapoel needing nearly 2 minutes to score. After Ulm lost the lead 10-11, the hosts went back ahead 12-11. The visitors started taking over with Foster and Bruno Caboclo both hitting triples in a 2-9 spurt to lead 14-20. Bar Timor scored the final 5 points of the first quarter - including a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 21-29 lead after 10 minutes.

Hapoel extended the cushion to double digits at 21-31. Saraf responded with 7 points in a 14-4 Ulm answer to knot the game 37-37. Motley took charge at the other end and Hapoel was ahead 43-47. The lead switched hands three times and Ulm led 50-49 at the break.

Hapoel had the better start to the second half with a 2-9 run to go ahead 52-58. Ulm started putting together some stops and Jessup scored 7 points in a 14-0 surge to lead 66-58. Motley stopped the 5-minute drought but Ulm pushed the gap to double figures 70-60. The score was 72-65 after three quarters.

Plummer converted 3 free throws and hit a triple to re-establish a 10-point lead and the cushion was 80-70. Saraf threw down a big dunk to keep Ulm up 83-75. Hapoel looked to wrestle control with a 0-13 spurt to go up 83-88. Ulm finally scored after more than 4 minutes and Nelson Weidemann’s triple tied it 88-88 with 107 seconds to go. Ish Wainright responded with a tip-in and Madar nailed a massive three-pointer to make it 90-95 with 37 seconds to play to seal the outcome.

Ulm fails to reach playoffs after suffering its fifth straight loss 

U-BT Cluj-Napoca is back in the BKT EuroCup Playoffs thanks to a 74-89 win over Aris Thessaloniki on Wednesday night. Cluj finished Group A with a 10-8 record, while Aris finished the regular season in a last place in the group with a 3-15 record.

Cluj downs Aris 74-89 to march into playoffs

U-BT Cluj-Napoca returned to the BKT EuroCup Playoffs thanks to a 74-89 win over Aris Thessaloniki on Wednesday night. Cluj finished Group A with a 10-8 record, while Aris finished the regular season in a last place in the group with a 3-15 record. Cluj took control - and the lead - for good with a 0-13 second-quarter run and then broke the game wide open in the third quarter. 

DJ Seeley scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half for the winners. Sasu Salin netted 18 points, Zavier Simpson collected 13 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds, De’shawn Stephens added 12 points and Karel Guzman had 10 in the victory. LJ Figueroa paced the hosts with 13 points, Josh Roberts scored 12, Trey Woodbury 11 and Sharife Cooper 10 points in defeat.

Seeley netted a pair of triples, but Cluj was trailing early as Figueroa scored the first 6 points for Aris, all from close range, before Roberts joined in the scoring run. Willis added a three-pointer, the first for the hosts. A layup from Roberts opened a 19-12 lead, but Seeley nailed his third triple, before Stephens and Mareks Mejeris closed the gap, and Aris was ahead only 23-21 after 10 minutes.

Woodbury kept Aris ahead with a triple early in the second, but that’s when Cluj went on a surge. Salin’s four-point play started a 0-13 run, in which Salin had another three-pointer while Tudor Somacescu and Karel Guzman had layups to help open a 26-36 lead. A triple from Georgios Gkiouzelis ended the hosts’ drought, but a three-point play from Zach Hankins and a third triple from Salin made it 33-45. Aris got an offensive spark from Cooper who made a three-pointer and then a spin move to get to the rim and close the gap to 42-48. Seeley scored the last 5 points of the half, including a triple that made it 42-53 at halftime.

Cluj scored the first 7 points of the third quarter, with Guzman’s big dunk and Seeley’s triple capping a run. Seeley’s corner triple opened a 44-63 advantage, but Woodbury had a pair of big dunks to spark a 7-0 run. After Aris got within 53-65, Salin nailed a triple and another basket and Cluj led 55-72 going into the fourth quarter.

A fastbreak basket from Simpson and a triple from Salin made it 55-77 early in the fourth, and Cluj was on its way to victory. A pair of baskets from Stephens extended the margin to 58-82. Aris kept showing fight, scoring the next 9 points, but Cluj was in control and cruising to a playoff-clinching win.

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem overpowered Turk Telekom Ankara 76-66 at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria on Wednesday to clinch second place in Group B and with it an automatic berth in the quarterfinals

Jerusalem clinches spot in quarters with 76-66 victory over Turk Telekom

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem overpowered Turk Telekom Ankara 76-66 at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria on Wednesday to clinch second place in Group B and with it an automatic berth in the quarterfinals. The result gave Jerusalem an 11-7 record for the regular season, while Turk Telekom, which would have been second had it win, fell to 10-8 to finish in third place. It will host its first postseason game in the eighthfinals against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. <br>
<br>
Jared Harper paced the winning attack with 21 points and 5 assists, Khadeen Carrington netted 17 points, Chris Johnson added 13 and Yovel Zoosman 12. Anthony Brown led Turk Telekom with 19 points, Olivier Hanlan had 13, Javon Bess chipped in 12 and Speedy Smith tallied 5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists against his former team.

Jerusalem scored the game’s first 4 points before Turk Telekom came alive with threes by Bess and Brown. Jerusalem regrouped with a triple by Harper and a basket-plus-foul from Tarik Phillip, which sent Speedy Smith to the bench with his second foul. Justin Smith made a turn-around jumper and then forced a steal to make it 11-8 midway through the opening quarter. Brown briefly evened things with a three-pointer before Jeremy Morgan put Jerusalem back ahead with 3 free throws. Braian Angola came off the bench and provided a spark for Turk Telekom and Yoan Makoundou’s fastbreak slam closed the gap to 19-18 after 10 minutes.

Angola suffered an injury early in the second quarter and had to be helped off the floor. Harper and Johnson helped Jerusalem to a 10-0 start to the quarter. Turk Telekom could not find the bottom of the basket for more than 5 and a half minutes before Brown ended the drought. Zoosman sank a three on the ensuing possession and followed that with a three-point play to make it 35-20. Hanlan and Speedy Smith provided some resistance, while Jerusalem endured missed free throws by Phillip, Austin Wiley and Harrington. Brown’s jumper put 39-27 on the scoreboard at halftime.

Turk Telekom turned the ball over on its first three possessions of the second half. But then Speedy Smith and Brown started a 0-7 run that slashed the deficit to 7. After a timeout,  Makoundou denied Wiley at the rim, but a three by Carrington restored a double-digit lead for Jerusalem, 45-34. Despite a dunk by Brown, both teams cooled down offensively as the defenses contested nearly every shot. Johnson soared for a putback, Zoosman buried a jumper and Justin Smith dunked on the break as part of a 9-0 run. Bess and Harper swapped threes to make it 57-39 through three quarters.

Free throws by Harper to start the fourth quarter gave Jerusalem a 20-point cushion. Turk Telekom’s bigs frustrated the Jerusalem scorers, but Brown remained the only offensive threat for team from Turkiye. Carrington’s third three of the night prompted a Turk Telekom timeout at 67-45. Harper converted a free throw after a technical foul on the Turk Telekom bench to establish the game’s biggest lead, 68-45. Bess and Hanlan got their team going, but they were already facing a nearly unsurmountable deficit. Turk Telekom battled to within 70-59, but Hanlan was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Zoosman with 1:17 remaining and Jerusalem held on down the stretch.

The Israeli side led by as many as 23 in the one-sided contest 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Fidabanka Istanbul reached the BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals after a dramatic 79-75 home win over Dolomiti Energia Trento enabled the Turkish team to finish fifth in Group A with a 10-8 record

Besiktas beats Trento 79-75 to earn playoff spot 

Besiktas Fidabanka Istanbul reached the BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals after a dramatic 79-75 home win over Dolomiti Energia Trento enabled the Turkish team to finish fifth in Group A with a 10-8 record. Trento, which had earlier lost any chance of advancing into the business end of the competition, finished at 6-12 in what has been a patchy season for the Italian league leader.

Derek Needham paced Besiktas on 17 points while Kyle Allman and Dustin Sleva chipped in with 12 each for the hosts, who nearly spilled a comfortable lead in a thrilling climax. At the other end, Jordan Ford carried Trento with a game-high 21 points, Anthony Lamb added 13 and Myles Cale netted 10 for the visitors.

Besiktas set the pace early and took a 10-6 lead but Trento fought hard to stay in touch, although the visiting team struggled to make shots from long range. Needham was clinical at the other end, hitting 3 of his opening 4 efforts from downtown as Besiktas carved out a 22-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The home team also dominated the paint, winning the battle of the boards 13-8 in the opening 10 minutes while Trento’s shooting woes continued in the second, as the Italian side missed their opening 10 attempts from deep and allowed the hosts to pull away to 34-23.

Trento, which had only pride to play for, refused to lie down, but failed to match the home team’s firepower as Besiktas sank 5 of 10 from downtown in the first half while the visitors went 2 of 14, with the Turkish team engineering a 46-35 halftime lead. 

Needham paced the hosts on 9 points at the interval while big man Uros Plavsic, who recently joined Besiktas from Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade posted 7 and 4 boards. Trento, which trailed by as many as 16 points late in the second quarter, relied on Ford who racked up 10 points and 4 boards.

Battling Trento put together a 0-11 run late in the first half and early in the second, slashing the deficit to 46-41 before a fine backdoor pass allowed Allman to dunk and snap that streak. That spurred Besiktas back into action and the home team ramped up its defense again to open up a 63-52 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Needham nailed another deep three early in the fourth to give Besiktas a 68-54 advantage before Trento replied with a Selom Mawugbe slam dunk and a fine Quinn Ellis mid-range jumper, forcing the home team’s head coach Dusan Alimpijevic to call a timeout. 

The contest remained relentlessly competitive and Trento further closed the gap to 74-70 in the closing stages as Ford sank a sweet three-pointer and forced another timeout from Alimpijevic with 2:21 left on the clock. Moments later, it was 74-72 and Trento then committed two successive turnovers, throwing away a pair of glorious chances to turn the matchup on its head as Sleva scored on a fastbreak at the other end. Jordan Bayehe then made a three-point play for Trento to make the score 76-75 with 15 seconds remaining, forcing a dramatic climax in which Needham held his nerve from the foul line to seal Besiktas’s progress.

The Turkish side did its job at home and reached the postseason after a nerve-jangling victory 

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)