Idan Zalmanson, Hapoel: 'We want to go all the way'

### Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv head coach Danny Franco:

"We were all very excited to play against a team like Venice – a lot of tradition, veteran players and a great coach like Neven \[Spahija\]. I am happy for the way we reacted, we were a bit nervous in the beginning but we came out of it extremely well. A lot of guys contributing, coming off the bench, it was really a team effort. In an atmosphere like that, I am really proud of my team.

"I want to congratulate my players for a great night. We played a team with a lot of experienced guys and a great coach, we were never going to take anything for granted against them. The fans gave us incredible energy and with so many players contributing, I am proud as a coach how we reacted. We needed to be more focused to prevent the momentum that Venice got \[in the latter stages\], but I am happy we’re here and I hope we can keep dreaming."

### Umana Reyer Venice head coach Neven Spahija:

"I would like to congratulate Hapoel for playing amazing basketball, they were the better team and they deserved to win. They’ve played amazing basketball all season and I hope they can go all the way. We didn’t play good basketball today for most of the game. I regret that we were not more consistent and realize that we couldn’t make open shots. We needed to play inside more because a serious team can’t afford to take 36 shots from three-point range and just 22 from two-point territory. Basketball is about balancing the inside and the outside game."

### Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv center Idan Zalmanson:

"They are a good team and if you don’t play well, they’re going to punish you. They showed us that we should never be satisfied and that we have to keep pushing for 40 minutes. It’s a tough win, a big one for us, moving forward we want to go all the way... I am sure a lot of \[our fans\] are going to be with us \[in the quarterfinals\]. The atmosphere here was amazing, we are happy for them and they deserved it more than anything."

Game News

Game Videos

Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv v Umana Reyer Venice (2023-04-12T18:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm dominated the third quarter to complete a comeback from a 17-point second-quarter deficit en route to a 92-83 victory over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Wednesday night at Ratiopharm Arena in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals. 

Ulm rallies from 17 down to KO Buducnost, 92-83

ratiopharm Ulm dominated the third quarter to complete a comeback from a 17-point second-quarter deficit en route to a 92-83 victory over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Wednesday night at Ratiopharm Arena in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals. Ulm will face the winner of Thursday's clash between Turk Telekom Ankara and Germani Brescia in next week's quarterfinals.

Bruno Caboclo led the winners with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Paul scored 18 on 4-of-7 three-point shooting, Fedor Zugic added 14 against his former team and Yago Dos Santos ran the offense with 10 points and 7 assists. Erick Green paced Buducnost with 29 points, Trae Bell-Haynes contributed 17 points and 8 assists and Alpha Kaba collected 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks in defeat.

It was all Caboclo in the first minute with a slam and a put-back on the first two offensive possessions and a block and a rebound on Buducnost's first two attacks. The Buducnost guards soon tied the score and went ahead 7-10 through 5 points from Edin Atic. Bell-Haynes heated up for the visitors and a pair of triples by Green made it 14-23. An Ulm timeout changed little as Petar Popovic scored the last 5 points of the fist quarter to take a commanding 16-30 advantage.

Buducnost more than doubled the hosts' output after Cameron Reynolds's three-pointer to open the second quarter. Ulm entered the bonus after drawing 5 fouls in the first 3 minutes of the quarter. Dos Santos heated up with free throws and a deep three in an 11-2 run that drew Ulm within 30-37. Green and Buducnost soon restored a double-digit lead. Zugic continued to shine for Ulm, but Buducnost had an answer for each of his scores and halftime arrived with the visitors ahead 42-53.

Ulm came out for the second half with a renewed defensive effort and after put-backs by Caboclo and Philipp Herkenoff and a three by Do Santos, the margin was down to 49-55. A jumper by Caboclo prompted a Buducnost timeout at 56-59, midway through the third quarter, with the crowd in full song. Thomas Klepeisz completed the Ulm comeback with a floating one-legged three-pointer that made it 61-59. Juan Nunez drilled a three and a buzzer-beating layup to make it 68-62 at the end of the quarter.

Reynolds's slam sparked Buducnost, but Ulm maintained a slim lead. Paul's four-point play threatened to blow things open at 77-69 and he followed that up with a three on the next possession.  With less than 5 minutes remaining, Buducnost called timeout and looked to regroup through Bell-Haynes and Green, who got their side within 80-74. Caboclo scored on a mismatch and Klepeisz sank free throws to keep Ulm in control down the stretch, 85-76. Buducnost was unable to mount a final charge and Ulm held on to celebrate.

ratiopharm Ulm v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2023-04-12T17:30:00.000Z)

### ratiopharm Ulm head coach Anton Gavel:

"We told them \[at halftime\] that they have to get better defensively. It was in the first half, we received 53 points and that was the difference, we couldn’t handle Green and Bell-Haynes going to the basket. I think the guys stepped up and did a great job defensively in the second half and from there on we were able to score. I think throughout the season, we developed our defense and we have to build on that and without it, in the first half we were non-existent and they took advantage of us. The second half, especially the third quarter, we only allowed 9 points and that was the key for our victory. First of all, congrats to our players. We continue our dream, our journey. It’s huge that we overcame this kind of deficit in the first half. For a young team, it’s great to believe that we can still go on. We deserve the next game and we’re happy about it.

 

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica head coach Vlada Jovanovic:

"In the first half, we played almost perfect on both sides. Second half, first of all the defense; we didn't have the toughness. Without energy, we allowed them a lot of easy shots, easy and-one situations. Too many mistakes."

 

### ratiopharm Ulm forward Bruno Caboclo

"The first half, they made almost every shot they shot. In the second half, I think we played good defense. We kept playing even better defense and didn't allow them back in the game and we won in the end. I think it was the intensity \[that made the difference in the second half\] and every player playing harder.  I think in the beginning, we didn’t do that. So the second half, we did an even better job, If we play like this, we have a very strong team."

 

Anton Gavel, Ulm: 'We continue our dream'

In a thriller that went down to the wire, Paris Basketball edged 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-97 at Cido Arena to make it to the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals. The winners' hustle was shown in the stats and it was a difference-maker. Paris had an advantage in all hustle stats, finishing the game with more steals, offensive rebounds and blocked shots than Lietkabelis

Paris's hustle paid off in a thriller

In a thriller that went down to the wire, Paris Basketball edged 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-97 at Cido Arena to make it to the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals. The winners' hustle was shown in the stats and it was a difference-maker.

Paris had an advantage in all hustle stats, finishing the game with more steals, offensive rebounds and blocked shots than Lietkabelis. Paris collected 8 steals, pulled down 12 offensive boards and had 3 blocked shots. Juhann Begarin did a little bit of everything, getting 2 offensive rebounds, 3 steals and a block to go with 20 points and a PIR of 22. Paris ended up out-rebounding the hosts by 30-37.

On the other side, Lietkabekis had 10 offensive rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in this game. Steals and offensive rebounds allowed Paris to finish the game with a really high percentage inside the arc. 

The guests hit 26 of 36 two-pointers, its second-best percentage (72.2% 2FG) this season. Paris had hit 72.4% of its twos in the regular season finale against London Lions. It's two-point accuracy was also the third-best mark in any eighthfinals game, after Krka Novo Mesto in 2003 (75.0% 2FG) and Maroussi in 2005 (72.7% 2FG).

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Paris Basketball (2023-04-12T16:00:00.000Z)

Tyrone Wallace, Paris: 'Our guys battled'

### Paris Basketball head coach Will Weaver

"\[My team\] stayed together tremendously well, and they had to face an incredibly tough, deep, well-coached team in a great atmosphere, so I couldn't be prouder of them. This time of the year is about doing what you do well. They are an amazing pick-and-roll show defensive team, and is really good in the post... We are different: we are running and pushing and getting into early pick-and-rolls. Both teams have done a good job using their strengths tonight. We will keep working hard at it."

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys head coach Nenad Canak

"We had problems all game against their transition points. That was one of the tasks we should control and we didn't. Just congratulate them and wish them good luck. I feel sorry because I think we could have won this game and we didn't. It is too early to analyze \[the entire season\]."

### Paris Basketball guard Tyrone Wallace

"Early in the first quarter and second quarter, they jumped on us quick, got out to a good lead but our guys battled. We made the plays down the stretch in order to win. That's how we play \[30 fastbreak points\]. We've got a lot of athletic guys that can get out and run, so whether it is misses or makes, we try to get up and attack the rim. I have not made a shot all game, I don't think, but in the big moments, I think that's when I like to play my best, so I am glad I was able to make some plays down the stretch to help the team win. Wherever we want it to be \[Paris's ceiling\]. We have a good team, and as long as play together and stick together, we can go far."

Paris Basketball has made it to the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals by downing 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-98 on the road in a do-or-die thriller at Cido Arena on Wednesday. Juhann Begarin led the winners with 22 points. Tyrone Wallace posted a double-double of 19 and 10 assists. Aamir Sims contributed 16 points, including 5-for-6 free-throw shooting in the final 15 seconds. Gauthier Denis added 11 points while Ismael Kamagate had 10 and 9 rebounds for Paris. Jamel Morris led Lietkabelis with 23 points. Gyorgy Goloman added 22 and 7 rebounds, while Kristian Kullamae had 20 points, Zeljko Sakic 11 and Vytenis Lipkevicius 10.

 Paris KO's Lietkabelis, 97-98! 

Paris Basketball has made it to the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals! Paris stayed alive in the competition by downing 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-98 on the road in a thriller at Cido Arena on Wednesday. Paris became the fifth French League team to reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals, after LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, AS Monaco, Strasbourg and Metropolitans 92. Lietkabelis lost in the eighthfinals for the second consecutive campaign, finishing the 2022-23 EuroCup season with a 10-9 record.

Juhann Begarin led the winners with 22 points. Tyrone Wallace posted a double-double of 19 and 10 assists. Aamir Sims contributed 16 points, including 5-for-6 free-throw shooting in the final 15 seconds. Gauthier Denis added 11 points while Ismael Kamagate had 10 and 9 rebounds for Paris. Jamel Morris led Lietkabelis with 23 points. Gyorgy Goloman added 22 and 7 rebounds, while Kristian Kullamae had 20 points, Zeljko Sakic 11 and Vytenis Lipkevicius 10.

Kullamae downed a couple of jumpers in a 6-0 run that gave Lietkabelis an early 8-4 lead. Begarin single-handedly restored an 8-10 Paris lead. Morris, Kullamae and Lipkevicius each struck from downtown in a 14-0 run that made it a double-digit game, 22-10. Kamagate and Simms brought the guests within 24-19 after 10 minutes. Nikola Popovic stepped up early in the second quarter, getting help from Sakic and Morris to restore a 33-23 Lietkabelis margin. Denis and Amar Gegic fueled a 0-9 Paris run highlighted by Kamagate's put-back slam. Jeremy Evans's three-point play completed Paris's comeback, 38-39. Axel Toupane and Begarin kept the guests ahead, 45-46, at halftime.

Morris hit a triple right after the break and Lipkevicius restored a 50-46 Lietkabelis lead. Begarin kept pacing Paris and Simms's dunk gave the visitors a 52-55 edge. Goloman followed a dunk with a three-pointer but Simms and an unstoppable Begarin kept Paris ahead, 57-61. Kullamae, Goloman and Morris each struck from beyond the arc to put the hosts back in charge, 68-63. Gegic and Evans kept Paris within 74-71 after 30 minutes. 

Simms gave Paris a 74-75 edge with 8 minutes left. Kullamae rescued Lietkabelis with a driving layup and back-to-back triples. Denis answered from downtown for an 84-85 Paris lead with over 4 minutes left. Wallace scored in penetration, Sakic and Denis traded three-pointers and Goloman's jump hook kept the hosts within 89-90. Wallace answered from downtown for a 89-93 score with 43.2 seconds remaining. Simms hit 5 of 6 free throws in crunch time to seal the outcome as Sakic's buzzer-beating circus shot from midcourt was too little, too late for the hosts.

Paris KO's Lietkabelis, 97-98!

Onuaku and Watt are centers of attention for Hapoel-Reyer clash

When [Chinanu Onuaku](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/chinanu-onuaku-/012076/) joined [Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2022-23) in November, it raised some eyebrows. 

Why would a team off to a good start in the 7DAYS EuroCup and its domestic league make such a big move? Especially with the strong showings it was getting from starting center Chris Horton, who had collected 25 rebounds in the first two games of the EuroCup campaign. Hapoel's management was upfront about the signing of Onuaku being a "risk".

“From the position of a winning team, we chose to take a risk and strengthen ourselves in the paint with Chinanu," Coach Danny Franco said at the time. "There are probably not many players we would take at such an early stage of the season and in the near term we face a difficult task of adjustments, connection and chemistry, but Chinanu's availability presented us with a great professional and mental challenge. We will benefit from the move in the long run."

So far, Hapoel has benefitted. Onuaku has been a force in the paint averaging 11.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks in 14 EuroCup games. He is sixth in the competition in PIR per minute with an average of 28.9 prorated over 40 minutes. 

Best of Mitchell Watt from the 2022-23 EuroCup Regular Season

Onuaku had his best game of the season so far against an Italian team, Dolomiti Energia Trento, to earn MVP honors for Round 13 with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for a PIR of 35. 

While all of that is nice, the risk Hapoel took was to have Onuaku ready for the knockout stages. And when that begins with a clash against Italy's [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2022-23), the Hapoel center will have his hands full against [Mitchell Watt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mitchell-watt/006332/).

Watt has been one of the top centers in the EuroCup since he joined Reyer in 2019. This season he leads Reyer in scoring (12.9 ppg.), rebounding (5.1 rpg.) and PIR (15.5) as one of only three players to appear in all 18 regular-season games for the club. 

What's more, Watt will be eager to have a big showing in the eighthfinals after fouls hampered his ability to impact Reyer's game last season against Boulogne Metropolitans 92. The French side won 87-66 with Watt posting a team-high 11 points, but being held to just 15 minutes and 16 seconds on the floor before fouling out in the third quarter. Ironically, Watt's fifth foul came when battling Tomer Ginat, now a Hapoel starter, for a rebound. 

The strength of Reyer, which placed third in Group A this season with a 9-9 record, has been its frontline that features Watt, Derek Willis and Jeff Brooks as its main pieces. All three have the edge in experience against the likes of Onuaku, Jaylen Hoard and Tomer Ginat. And who like Watt knows how getting one of the opposition's stars into foul trouble can change a game.

Best of Chinanu Onuaku from the 2022-23 EuroCup Regular Season

Of course, less Onuaku could mean more Hoard, who is the EuroCup leader in per-minute PIR (32.0 prorated over 40 minutes). So there is no easy solution to stopping Hapoel, which relies even more on its star-powered backcourt with EuroCup assists leader J’Covan Brown (6.8 apg.), three-time MVP of the Round Jordan McRae and Xavier Munford. 

Reyer has more experienced players in the backcourt, too, led by Jayson Granger and Michael Bramos. And Coach Neven Spahija, who himself spent two spells in Israel as Maccabi Tel Aviv's head coach, is a former EuroCup champion and more experienced on this stage than his Hapoel counterpart. 

On the other hand, Onuaku, who was the Israeli League MVP last season with Bnei Herzliya, was at his best in big games. After posting 15.7 points on 54.0% two-point shooting, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for a PIR of 21.6 in 26 games in the Israeli regular season in 2021-22, he erupted for 17.4 points on 69.% two-point shooting, 11.9 boards and 3.4 assists for a PIR of 29.4 in eight playoff games – including averages of 21.0 points on 78.6% two-point shooting, 12.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists for a PIR of 34.7 against Turkish Airlines EuroLeague side Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the semifinals. 

How Spahija, Granger and Watt can use their collective experience advantage against a hard-charging Hapoel side in general and Onuaku in the paint, in particular, could ultimately tell the story of this game and the two teams’ seasons.

One of the main contenders to win the 7DAYS EuroCup this season is Joventut Badalona, who was also one of the frontrunners in 2021-22. Last year did not quite go to plan for Joventut when it reached the playoffs, however, as it suffered its first home defeat of the campaign to eighth seed ratiopharm Ulm in the eighthfinals. This time around, Joventut enters the eighthfinals as the No. 2 seed from Group A and it comes up against the team that finished seventh in Group B, an ambitious London Lions squad.

European heavyweight takes on up-and-comer when Joventut, London meet

One of the main contenders to win the 7DAYS EuroCup this season is [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23), who was also one of the frontrunners in 2021-22. Last year did not quite go to plan for Joventut when it reached the playoffs, however, as it suffered its first home defeat of the campaign to eighth seed ratiopharm Ulm in the eighthfinals. This time around, Joventut enters the eighthfinals as the No. 2 seed from Group A and [it comes up against the team that finished seventh in Group B](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/joventut-badalona-london-lions/U2022/188/), an ambitious [London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/roster/lli/?season=2022-23) squad.

For London, playing in its first-ever season in the EuroCup, there were high moments but also a few tough lessons along the way. The team finished with an 8-10 record – Joventut went 13-5 through its 18 games – yet London had the curious situation of having a better road record than it had at home, going 3-6 in home games and 5-4 on its travels. For Ryan Schmidt's side, they will be hoping to emulate Ulm's success from last year and pull off a shock result at Palau Olimpic de Badalona.

The best plays of London Lions star Sam Dekker in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Sam Dekker's best plays, 2022-23

Both teams will be looking to lean on their key players to get them over the line. In the case of Joventut, it has the experience of Ante Tomic (13.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 3.4 apg.) at the 5, although it will be without the 36-year-old Pau Ribas after he suffered a third-degree left ankle sprain. Fortunately for head coach Carles Duran, he also has the likes of Joel Parra (12.9 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 1.2 apg.), Kyle Guy (12.1 ppg., 1.6 rpg., 2.1 apg.) and Henry Ellenson (10.6 ppg., 4.4 rpg.) that he can call upon, all of whom are between the ages of 23 and 26 and are ready to make a splash in the EuroCup Playoffs. 

On the other side of things, London has a go-to star in the form of the EuroCup's top scorer in the regular season, Sam Dekker, who averaged 18.9 points per night. Dekker twisted his ankle on the final play of the game against Turk Telekom Ankara in Round 17, but he has appeared in his team's last two domestic fixtures and should start in Badalona on Wednesday night. Kosta Koufos (11.8 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 1.5 apg., 1.1 bpg.), another big-name arrival at London in the offseason, is questionable after being away from the team to tend to a family matter, but Miye Oni (11.5 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 3.2 apg.) should be a player that Joventut highlights on its scouting report due to his play on both ends of the floor.

The best plays of Joventut Badalona quartet Ante Tomic, Joel Parra, Kyle Guy and Henry Ellenson in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Best plays of Joventut's star quartet, 2022-23

In terms of history, there's almost no comparison between Joventut and London. Joventut, champion of the EuroLeague in 1993-94 and winner of the EuroCup in 2007-08, is one of Europe's most well-known clubs, whereas London is a team that is on the rise but still has to prove itself among the very elite on the continent. However, the single-game elimination format of the EuroCup means that anything could happen when these two teams face off.

Both Joventut and London share dreams of playing in the EuroLeague in the not-too-distant future, and this eighthfinals test will be a good indicator of where these two teams stand with their goals. One team will be able to continue its dream this season, while the other will have to watch the remainder of the competition from afar. Make sure to tune in from 20:00 CEST on Wednesday night to see how this knockout tie plays out!

Joventut Badalona v London Lions (2023-04-12T18:00:00.000Z)

Illia Sydorov stepped up to guide Prometey into the quarterfinals

When Prometey Slobozhanske needed someone to turn to in its 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals matchup against Veolia Towers Hamburg on Tuesday evening, Illia Sydorov was the player who stepped up. 

Prometey was without D.J. Kennedy, who was on the sidelines in street clothes and will miss the postseason with an injury, while Caleb Agada was included on the bench but didn’t step onto the floor after an injury of his own. Then there was D.J. Stephens, who didn’t feature in the Estonia-Latvia League Final Four over the weekend due to injury but played 34:33 against Hamburg. 

Stephens was able to make a positive contribution on the night, pairing 15 points with 9 rebounds, but it was Sydorov that saw Prometey over the line. Up until the fourth quarter, the 26-year-old had enjoyed a decent night, scoring 12 points on 3-of-5 shots from two-point range and 2-of-4 from three, in addition to grabbing 1 rebound and dishing 1 assist. But, in the closing stages, he rose to the occasion [to help Prometey grab its first-ever win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2022/181/) in the EuroCup Playoffs.

Illia Sydorov scored a game-high 21 points in Prometey Slobozhanske's 87-79 win against Veolia Towers Hamburg in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals.

Illia Sydorov's made field goals vs. Hamburg

"For sure \[I expected this type of performance\], because Sydorov is a winner," stated Prometey head coach Ronen Ginzburg afterward. "I keep him in the team first of all because of this. In the decisive time he will be there, and he was there today."

Sydorov went on to score a further 9 points, while he also grabbed 2 more rebounds and dished 1 more assist. Importantly, though, it was the moments in which the Ukraine international was able to put points on the board in the final quarter of play.

Just as Hamburg's Harrison Cleary seemed to be putting forward a case to become the game's hero, having scored 7 points in the opening 2:37 of the fourth quarter to move to 14 points in the game and cut the deficit to 1 point, 69-68, Sydorov took over. Coach Ginzburg decided to call a timeout after Cleary had brought Hamburg as close as it had been since the first quarter, and Sydorov immediately appeared with a timely three-pointer to create some breathing room once again, 72-68.

Yoeli Childs of Hamburg went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line to make it a 3-point game, 72-69, but – once again – Sydorov drained a triple to extend the gap to 6 points, 75-69. Then, it was the turn of Len Schoormann to go 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, 75-71, before Sydorov completed a three-point play to keep Hamburg at arm's length, 78-71.

Hamburg kept fighting, but Sydorov had managed to single-handedly hold off the visitors at a point in the game when they appeared to have the momentum. Prometey went on to win the game 87-79, and it was perhaps fitting that Sydorov's last action in the game was to grab a defensive rebound off a missed Cleary two-pointer with 00:49 remaining. 

Prometey Slobozhanske - Veolia Towers Hamburg | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

"I think he did a hell of a job," Prometey center Ondrej Balvin said of Sydorov's performance. "He had some tough moments during the season with his injuries, so he lost some of his rhythm. I think we've got the luxury that we've got amazing coming from the bench, or they didn’t have that many minutes at the beginning of the season, but right now they're showing what they can do. They're playing with their hearts and doing an amazing job."

Sydorov, who entered Tuesday night's game averaging 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists, managed to set new personal bests against Hamburg. He beat his previous personal high for points with 21, bettering the previous best of 13 he scored against Joventut Badalona in Round 4, and he set a new career mark for PIR with 17, improving on his 16 PIR against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 16. He hit 4 three-pointers against Hamburg, too, which is double his previous best mark of 2 in that Round 16 clash against Bourg.

In a game that easily could have become a banana skin-type fixture for Prometey, Sydorov made sure that it became a night to remember. His contribtuion means that Prometey's dream of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague continues, and the team's next oppoennt – Promitheas Patras or Bourg – will no doubt have Sydorov's name highlighted in the scouting report after his heroics in the first game of the 2023 EuroCup Eighthfinals.

Prometey Slobozhanske v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2023-04-11T16:00:00.000Z)