Pre-Game quotes: Promotey vs. Hamburg

### Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach Benka Barloschky:

"The real issue that is paramount for me is that we don't have to play in Ukraine, but in Riga. For me, that is more important than sports. Not much needs to be said about that - because the team is the newly crowned champion in the Latvian-Estonian league, with a lot of quality. Despite the absence of two top performers, the results have always been right. As far as the performance of my team is concerned, I have no concerns. We've already proven that we can come back from serious defeats. We certainly need a special performance, but my team is definitely capable of it."

 

### Veolia Towers Hamburg forward Seth Hinrichs:

"I'm really looking forward to the playoffs, especially in what has been an extremely inconsistent season for us. It's an opportunity to show what we're really made of. It would be just the right time to reward us for our hard work and finally leave behind the adversities that have always set us back. We know it's a decider. We need a consistently high level of intensity throughout the game. The \[German League\] game in Ulm was one in which nothing worked, so I wouldn't use that as an example. I'm confident that we'll do a lot better again on Tuesday."

Game News

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

Arguably the most remarkable story of the current basketball season anywhere on the planet continues when Prometey Slobozhanske (14-4) hosts Veolia Towers Hamburg (6-12) in the first game of the do-or-die 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals on Tuesday.

 Injury-riddled Prometey puts streak on line vs. Hamburg 

Arguably the most remarkable story of the current basketball season anywhere on the planet continues when [Prometey Slobozhanske (14-4) hosts Veolia Towers Hamburg (6-12)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2022/181/#info) in the first game of the do-or-die 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals on Tuesday.

"Hosts" needs further explanation, though.

[Prometey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/), from Ukraine, has been playing all home games except one this season at Arena Riga in the Latvian capital due to the war in its home country. Nonetheless, Prometey is 8-1 at home and currently enjoying an 11-game winning streak, tied for the 10th-longest in EuroCup history. The streak allowed Prometey to win Group A of the regular season, no small feat for a team making its EuroCup debut.

[Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/roster/ham/), meanwhile, sneaked into the playoffs in eighth place in Group B despite losing seven of its last 10 games. However, half of its wins came since a coaching change brought in Benka Barloschky in early January, and more recently Hamburg lost to two top-four teams in its group by just 8 points combined.

The big question coming into this game is how Prometey will deal with a spate of significant injuries in just the last two weeks.

The team's top three performers by PIR – [Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) (16.6 per game), [D.J. Kennedy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-kennedy/005301/) (16.0) and [D.J. Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stephens/005982/) (15.3) – went down one by one.

"I don't know what to say," head coach Ronan Ginzburg commented after Stephens was hurt. "I am 40 years in basketball and I've never seen something like this. I am speechless. To lose three players in one week – it's crazy."

But it wasn't over. Team captain Denis Lukashov soon underwent surgery for a leg injury, leaving Ginzburg to face the Estonia-Latvian League final four over the weekend with nine healthy players. Undeterred, Prometey won both games by an average of 18.5 points to lift the domestic trophy.

Kennedy and Lukashov are done for the season, while Stephens missed the last three domestic games, making his status for Tuesday uncertain at best. Ginzburg commented that Agada, who has a leg injury, is trying to get healthy for the game with Hamburg despite an original prognosis of four weeks out of action, but his participation is quite doubtful.

Gian Clavell, Ondrej Balvin, Yoeli Childs, Ziga Samar Top Plays from 03/11/2023 to 04/10/2023

Highlights: Gian Clavell, Ondrej Balvin, Yoeli Childs, Ziga Samar

As such, Prometey will have to lead a lot on its second-best scorer, [Gian Clavell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gian-clavell/011942/) (15.1 ppg.) and leading rebounder [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/) (6.5 rpg.), who has averages 12.3 points during the win streak. Expect [Issuf Sanon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/issuf-sanon/011947/) and[ Illia Sydorov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/illia-sydorov/011966/) to see extra time at point guard, as might veteran [Oleksandr Lypovyy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/oleksandr-lypovyy/001686/) at forward.

Prometey will have the difficult task of trying to limit Hamburg's little big man, [Yoeli Childs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yoeli-childs/012013/), owner of six double-doubles in 16 games played this season for 14.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and a 17.8 PIR on average. Mid-season pickup [Anthony Polite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-polite/011937/), with 15.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, is looking dominant on the wing. Point guard [Ziga Zamar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ziga-samar/007550/), with 9.6 points and a third-ranked 6.1 assists, will run the show for the visitors.

Prometey has been the more-dominant team by far all season, save for fewer assists and lower three-point accuracy than Hamburg, but with at least two main players and possibly as many as four out of action due to injury misfortune, this game becomes a lot closer on paper.

Of course, inspired to play for its war-torn countrymen, Prometey has risen above again and again, winning all of its EuroCup games so far in 2023. Should that streak continue on Tuesday, it will be another chapter in the stirring story of perseverance that Prometey has already written in its first EuroCup season.

Injury-riddled Prometey puts streak on line vs. Hamburg

The 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals are here. The graph below depicts the league efficiency landscape in terms of how far above and below the league average each playoff team has been on both ends of the floor. Even if this provides a roadmap moving forward, if we learned anything last season, the teams that have played well to this point are guaranteed nothing in a single-elimination tournament.

 Eighthfinals efficiency landscape 

The 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals are here. The graph below depicts the league efficiency landscape in terms of how far above and below the league average each playoff team has been on both ends of the floor. Even if this provides a roadmap moving forward, if we learned anything last season, the teams that have played well to this point are guaranteed nothing in a single-elimination tournament.

[Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/eighthfinals-breakdown-prometey-slobozhanske-vs-veolia-towers-hamburg/)

Prometey represents one of the most fascinating test cases of any team from an analytics perspective. They dominated the possession margin all season but ultimately ranked right around average in efficiency on both ends of the floor despite their level of play spiking in a major way over their 11-game winning streak to close the group stage. No team in recent memory has turned things around quite as abruptly as Prometey. Whether that momentum pays dividends in the postseason will be fascinating to watch. They will host a Hamburg team that plays fast and has been effective when they have been able to collapse opposing defenses and find the open man.

[7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/eighthfinals-breakdown-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys-vs-paris-basketball/)

Paris Basketball did as good of a job forcing teams to beat them with tough shots as nearly any team in the EuroCup as they finished third in Synergy Shot Quality on the defensive end and first in foul rate. Lietkabelis, in contrast, scratched and clawed their way to fourth place in Group A despite posting a negative scoring margin. Seven of their 10 victories were in games decided by two possessions or fewer while only two of their eight losses came fit that criterion. When they had chances to win games, they found ways to get it done more often than any team in the middle of the standings.

[Ratiopharm Ulm vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/eighthfinals-breakdown-ulm-vs-buducnost/)

Ulm closed the regular season +9 in point differential but captured third place in Group A anyway as they have looked like two very different teams this year. In the early going, they leaned heavily on their ball movement and three-point shooting. Nearly two-thirds of Ulm's made shots have been assisted this season thanks to the work of Yago Dos Santos and Juan Nunez. In the second half of the year, Ulm had an epiphany on the defensive end. After allowing 1.02 points per possession over the first half of the year, that defense allowed just 0.92 per possession over the last 9 games – the difference between ranking third and third--to-last in defensive efficiency this year. That creates perhaps the most intriguing *Who does it best?* matchup of the eighthfinals as Buducnost has ranked among the top few defensive units all year, ultimately finishing second in Group B.

[Joventut Badalona vs. London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/breakdown-joventut-badalona-vs-london-lions/)

Joventut finished third in offensive efficiency this season while London finished third in defensive efficiency. Joventut was stellar in half-court thanks to tremendous balance. Joventut was able to create shots consistently, playing through pick-and-rolls and post touches alike while picking and choosing their spots at an exceedingly high level on the perimeter. London's effectiveness on the defensive end is rooted in how its defenders protected the rim. They held opponents to just 58% shooting around the basket, this season's lowest mark and one of the best in recent EuroCup history. While the strength-on-strength matchup on the defensive end is worth watching, Joventut was one of just two teams to finish in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

[Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv vs. Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/breakdown-hapoel-vegan-friendly-tel-aviv-vs-umana-reyer-venice/)

Hapoel was this season's top defensive unit and finished fourth in offensive efficiency, as well, in route to easily the league’s largest scoring differential, +194 points. In its maiden voyage in the EuroCup, Hapoel won a lot and often won big, posting three victories of more than 30 points. When its guards have gotten hot off the dribble, Hapoel has been extremely hard to beat thanks to being remarkably stingy in the half-court defensively. Aside from a hiccup against Buducnost in Podgorica, this team has not lost a game since early December. With 5 losses by four or fewer points, Reyer played better than its record suggests, doing a notably good job of controlling the tempo many nights. In fact, they were one of just five teams to play at an above average level on both ends of the floor. Losing both of their games against Joventut and Prometey this year, Reyer will have a chance to prove they can deliver against an elite opponent in the eighthfinals.

[Promitheas Patras vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2223-qf-b-template-pat-bou/)

Losing six straight games before beating Cedevita Oljimpija Ljubljana in Round 18, Bourg has had a somewhat uneven year. At their best, their potent perimeter shooting opens up quality opportunities inside, but they found mixed results around the rim late in the season. Their perimeter rotations are perhaps the bigger point of interest in the matchup with Promitheas, who led the EuroCup by knocking down 42% of their catch-and-shoot three-point attempts. Ranking as perhaps the streakiest team in the EuroCup this season, the Promitheas defense has allowed 0.90 points per possession in wins compared to 1.08 per possession in losses. They have scored 1.05 in wins and 0.92 in defeats, looking like an entirely different team when they are firing on all cylinders.

[Gran Canaria vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/breakdown-gran-canaria-vs-frutti-extra-bursaspor/)

The surprise finalist in the first year of the EuroCup's single-elimination postseason format, Frutti Extra Bursaspor will need a special effort to recapture that magic as they face off with 15-win Gran Canaria in the eighthfinals. Like last year, Bursaspor remains one of the league’s more explosive offensive units and least effective defenses. Interestingly, the 1.02 points per possession they have allowed this year is actually an improvement on the 1.03 they allowed last year. In 2022, they figured things out defensively quite suddenly in the postseason. To advance, Bursaspor will have to do the same against this season's most efficient offensive unit to advance.

Gran Canaria has won 11 of their last 12 games. With an impressive level of balance and depth, they have shot an absurd 70% finishing around the rim this season, have made their spot up threes at a strong rate, and have been pretty effective in midrange spots as well. Doing a very good job challenging opposing ball-handlers to beat them and forcing turnovers on the defensive end, they figure to be a very difficult puzzle for Bursaspor to solve.

[Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Germani Brescia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/breakdown-turk-telekom-ankara-vs-germani-brescia/)

Having a similar year to Gran Canaria and Joventut on paper, Turk Telekom has a just as impressive balance. Finishing second in offensive efficiency and seventh in defensive efficiency, they had some trouble with Paris and Gran Canaria in Group B, but otherwise had a stellar season. They have made shots consistently from all three levels, will look to go on runs against their opposition's second unit, and have held their own on the defensive end.

Splitting their season series with each of the top three teams in Group A, Brescia has been formidable for a team that ranks as this year's most "average" team on paper. What makes them interesting is how they got to that point, as they’ve scored an absurd 1.09 points per possession in wins and 0.88 per possession in losses, owning one of the largest offensive efficiency gaps in EuroCup history. When they start fast, they tend to finish fast, but that figures to be a tall task on the road.

Eighthfinals efficiency landscape

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

Promitheas Patras v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-04-12T18:00:00.000Z)

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

Gran Canaria v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2023-04-12T19:15:00.000Z)

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

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

Turk Telekom Ankara v Germani Brescia (2023-04-13T16:45:00.000Z)

The 7DAYS EuroCup has reached the stage that all have been waiting for. Through 18 regular-season games, the top teams sorted themselves from the rest to first earn qualification to the knockout stages and then home-court advantage. Now they have to put it to use in these win-of-go-home single-game elimination rounds. 

EuroCup Eighthfinals: What upsets are in store?

The 7DAYS EuroCup has reached the stage that all have been waiting for. Through 18 regular-season games, the top teams sorted themselves from the rest to first earn qualification to the knockout stages and then home-court advantage. Now they have to put it to use in these win-of-go-home single-game elimination rounds. 

Last season saw a quarter of the eight games in this stage go to the visiting teams. Only nine teams that reached the 2022 eighthfinals have done the same this season and there are only three returning quarterfinalists, so the road is open to see new teams shine. 

The winners of these eight games will advance to the single-game quarterfinals, which begin on April 11.  

[Promotey Slobozhanske vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2022/181/)

The eighthfinals begin in Latvia, where Ukrainian side Promotey will "host" Hamburg in the lone Tuesday night game. Promotey (13-4) is the hottest team in the competition with 11 consecutive wins to close out the regular season atop Group A, but it will play this game without starts Caleb Agada and DJ Kennedy, who are both injured. Hamburg (6-11), which placed eighth in Group B, was 2-7 on the road this season. 

Prometey Slobozhanske, Hamburg Towers Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Hamburg Towers

[7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys-paris-basketball/U2022/186/)

A EuroCup playoff game will be played in Panevezys for the first time when Lietkabelis meets Paris in Wednesday's early game. An eighthfinals participant a year ago, Lietkabelis (10-8) is back after placing fourth in Group A. It will not have an easy time against a debutant Paris side that, despite finishing fifth in Group B, had the same number of wins and posted a winning record (5-4) away from home. 

Lietkabelis Panevezys, Paris Basketball Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Paris Basketball

[ratiopharm Ulm vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/ratiopharm-ulm-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2022/183/)

The poster child for the potential upset drama the EuroCup Eighthfinals possesses, Ulm will look to advance as a home team when it faces Buducnost. Ulm (11-7), which came in third in Group A this season, knocked off top-seeded Joventut Badalona as the No. 8 seed last season. Buducnost (9-9) will be in the elimination stages for the third year running after reaching the quarterfinals in 2021 and the eighthfinals last season. 

ratiopharm Ulm, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance ratiopharm Ulm vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

[Joventut Badalona vs. London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/joventut-badalona-london-lions/U2022/188/)

The only former champion in the competition, Joventut will start its challenge for glory against newcomer London. Joventut (13-5), which finished second in Group A this season, won the EuroCup in 2008, but found itself on the wrong side of history last season when it became the first top seed to go out in the eighthfinals under the new format. Expect to see it extra motivated to go through this time. London (8-10) came in seventh in Group B in its EuroCup debut and should not be taken lightly, either.  

Joventut Badalona, London Lions Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Joventut Badalona vs. London Lions

[Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv vs. Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/hapoel-vegan-friendly-tel-aviv-umana-reyer-venice/U2022/187/)

It will be two teams with very different EuroCup paths when Hapoel hosts Reyer. A EuroCup newcomer, Hapoel (13-5) came in third in Group B after losing just once in the second half of the regular season. Reyer (9-9) lost its last two games of the regular season to finish sixth in Group A and has dropped five of its last six games on the road. Meanwhile, Hapoel was 8-1 at home. However, experience may favor Reyer, which has qualified for the knock-out stages in three of the last four seasons.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, Umana Reyer Venice Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Hapoel Tel Aviv vs. Umana Reyer Venice

[Promitheas Patras vs, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/promitheas-patras-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2022/182/)

Another city to experience the EuroCup Eighthfinals for the first time is Patras, whose local side Promitheas will face Bourg. Promitheas (11-7) was due to host a quarterfinals game in 2020 before the competition was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After finishing fourth in Group B, it gets that chance again versus Bourg (9-9), which started the season on a blistering pace, but lost six in a row before salvaging its regular-season finale. This marks Bourg’s first time in the knock-out rounds. 

Promitheas Patras, JL Bourg en Bresse Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Promitheas Patras vs. JL Bourg en Bresse

[Gran Canaria vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-frutti-extra-bursaspor/U2022/185/)

Former runner-up Gran Canaria has the inside track the rest of the way after finishing with the top record of any team in the regular season, but it faces last season's Cinderella. Gran Canaria (15-3) was the only team that had a perfect home record this season and it will not need to leave the Canary Islands again this season. Bursaspor (8-10), however, won games in Belgrade, Ljubljana and Andorra last season to reach the finals and will relish the opportunity to make another such run.

Herbalife Gran Canaria, Frutti Extra Bursaspor Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Herbalife Gran Canaria vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor

[Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Germani Brescia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/turk-telekom-ankara-germani-brescia/U2022/184/)

The EuroCup Eighthfinals will come to a close with a lone Thursday game with Turk Telekom facing Brescia. Turk Telekom (13-5) will look to continue the stellar form that saw it win five of its last six regular season games. Brescia (8-10) has made it to this stage for the first time and will look to leave its mark. It will be an interesting game for Brescia forward Kenny Gabriel, who played for Turk Telekom in 2018-19.

TURK TELEKOM ANKARA, Germani Brescia Leonessa Top Plays from 09/30/2022 to 04/03/2023

Eighthfinals at a glance Turk Telekon Ankara vs. Germani Brescia

On the eve of the 7DAYS EuroCup's first elimination round, Joventut Badalona has lost one of its veteran leaders, point guard Pau Ribas, to an injury that will likely keep him out the rest of the season, the club announced on Sunday.

 Joventut veteran Ribas out for postseason 

On the eve of the 7DAYS EuroCup's first elimination round, Joventut Badalona has lost one of its veteran leaders, point guard [Pau Ribas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pau-ribas/jug/), to an injury that will likely keep him out the rest of the season, the club announced on Sunday. According to the club, Ribas had suffered a third-degree left ankle sprain. Ribas, who turned 36 last month, had been averaging 9.4 points and 3.5 assists this season for [Joventut, which opens the playoffs with a do-or-die eighthfinals game against visiting London Lions ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/breakdown-joventut-badalona-vs-london-lions/)on Wednesday. Ribas ranks fourth on Joventut in scoring and seocnd in assists despite playing just 18 minutes per game.

Ribas, a two-time EuroCup champion, is one of Joventut's emblematic home-grown players. He won the EuroCup with the club in 2008 and made his EuroLeague debut with the team the next season before spending 11 years until 2020 as a key contributor for Baskonia, Valencia Basket and FC Barcelona. He won another EuroCup title in 2014 with Valencia. He returned to Joventut in 2020.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🚑 Comunicat mèdic: Pau Ribas<br><br>Després de les proves realitzades al jugador Pau Ribas, s&#39;ha confirmat que pateix un esquinç de tercer grau als lligaments del turmell esquerre. Probablement es perdrà tot el que resta de temporada<br><br>💪 Molts ànims, <a href="https://twitter.com/PauRibas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PauRibas</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/1NOeqJHSAw">pic.twitter.com/1NOeqJHSAw</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1645084205104209921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Joventut veteran Ribas out for postseason

Prometey Slobozhanske is the Latvian-Estonian League champion! Prometey lifted the trophy by downing VEF Riga 77-62 at Unibet Arena in Tallinn, Estonia. Gian Clavell led the winners with 21 points. Issuf Sanon added 17 while Illia Sydorov and Ondrej Balvin each had 14 for Prometey. Balvin added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Prometey trailed 20-21 at the end of the first quarter but Sanon and an outstanding Clavell helped their team get a 44-37 margin at halftime. An 8-0 run that Clavell capped with a jumper allowed Prometey to break the game open, 64-44, keeping a safe lead until the final buzzer. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href=https://t.co/fLvTgRpoJF>pic.twitter.com/fLvTgRpoJF</a></p>&mdash; BC Prometey (@BcPrometey) <a href=https://twitter.com/BcPrometey/status/1644849289485512704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>April 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Prometey rounded a near-perfect domestic season. It finished the regular season with a 29-1 record, and beat Viimsi/Sportland 2-1 in the playoffs. It took do-or-die Game 3 59-57 at home on a go-ahead basket by Clavell. Once in the semifinals, Prometey thrashed Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits 89-67 behind 20 points from Sydorov before topping VEF in the championship game.

Prometey claims Latvian-Estonian League title!

It's that time of year again – the 7DAYS EuroCup Playoffs – and that means that you can now test your EuroCup expertise with the [EuroCup Bracket Challenge](https://bracket.euroleague.net/en/v2/eurocup)!

 

It's very easy to play. First, just go to the [EuroCup Bracket Challenge](https://bracket.euroleague.net/en/v2/eurocup) and create a EuroLeague ID if you don't have one.

 

To fill out your bracket, choose which team will win each playoff series: eighthfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and final, all the way through to the crowning of a champion. The final score in the championship game – assuming you choose the right winner – will serve as a tiebreaker, as will the finals MVP.

 

You will get 10 points for each eighthfinals winner, 15 in the quarterfinals, 20 in the semifinals and 50 if you guess the 2022-23 EuroCup champion! You'll get 25 extra points if you guess the exact point difference in the final, and 25 more for the final MVP.

 

Once the bracket is complete, click on the "Submit" button and you will be in the game!

 

The [EuroCup Bracket Challenge](https://bracket.euroleague.net/en/v2/eurocup) is open right now! To be eligible for great prizes, make sure to submit your bracket before Tuesday, April 11 at 17:59 CET, just one minute before the start of the playoffs!

 

And of course, there are great prizes! The grand prize winner will get four tickets for any 7DAYS EuroCup game he or she chooses during the 2023-24 regular season! The owner of the second-best bracket will get a EuroLeague TV season pass for the 2023-24 season. And the owner of the third-best bracket will receive an official Spalding EuroCup Basketball.

 

Simply [register to play](https://bracket.euroleague.net/en/v2/eurocup), fill out the bracket and compete for great prizes the EuroCup Bracket Challenge!

Play the EuroCup Bracket Challenge now!

Two teams playing their first-ever 7DAYS EuroCup elimination game will meet when Promitheas Patras (11-7) and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (9-9) square off on Wednesday. Promitheas finished as the fourth-placed team in Group B, while Bourg finished Group A in fifth place.

### Feeling comfortable in new situation

This is the first time either of these teams will play in the EuroCup elimination rounds. Promitheas had qualified for a best-of-three quarterfinals series in the 2019-20 season, but it was never played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last season, Promitheas and Bourg were in the same regular season group and both missed out on the playoffs. Now, one of them will reach at least the quarterfinals. 

When they met last season, Promitheas and Bourg split home wins. What will matter even more, however, is what happened this season. Promitheas's hard-earned right to host this eighthfinals game came behind a 6-2 late-season run that started in Round 10 and saw the team score 80 or more points in each of those victories. Promitheas also won its last four home games, so playing in Patras should make the team comfortable. But don't expect Bourg to feel too uncomfortable. Despite its late-season struggles, and a six-game losing streak which it snapped in the regular-season finale, Bourg still won more games on the road (5) than at home (4) this season.

Anthony Cowan buried 6-of-8 three-pointers, including the game-winning one, to make Promitheas Patras beat Paris Basketball 84-81 in Round 17 of the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Cowan makes it rain in Round 17

### Behind-the-arc strength

Each team's strength is its three-point shooting. Bourg leads the EuroCup with 39.6% accuracy from behind the arc, while Promitheas ranks third at 38.5%. Promitheas has made the fourth-most triples, 10.1 per game, but its 182 total are just 5 more than Bourg's 176, or 9.8 per game. Even more relevant, Bourg was head-and-shoulders the league's best three-point shooting team on the road, knocking down 44.7% of those attempts as only team making better than 39.0% in games away from home!

Oddly enough, only one player from each team ranks high in three-point volume. Promitheas forward Arnoldas Kulboka is second in the EuroCup with 2.9 triples made per game and Bourg's James Palmer is ninth with 2.3. No on else on either team enters the top 25. In three-point accuracy, Palmer (48.8%) and his Bourg teammate Pierre Pelos (47.8%) rank seventh and eighth, respectively, and Kulboka 19th (42.6%). In other words, three-point shooting is a true team strength for Promitheas and Bourg. Promitheas boasts six players who average 2.0 or more triples or have downed at least 20 total this season. That includes Anthony Cowan, who combined to make 11 of 15 attempts in Round 17 and 18 wins over London Lions and Paris Basketball that gave Promitheas home-court advantage. Bourg, meanwhile, has five players shooting better than 40.0% from long range and five who have hit at least 20 triples this season.

### An abundance of similarities

These teams have many other statistical similarities. Bourg (82.9 ppg.) has scored just 2 points more than Promitheas (82.8 ppg.) this season, in which they rank 11th and 12th, respectively, in scoring. Promitheas ranks dead last with both 30.0 total and 7.4 offensive rebounds per game. Bourg is not much better, ranking 18th on 33.9 total rebounds and 14th with 9.6 offensive boards. But Bourg does have Amida Brimah, who has pulled down 2.2 offensive boards per game since joining the team in Round 6. Also, Promitheas has dished the third-fewest assists, 16.2 per game, with Bourg  ranking 16th with 16.4 per game. If looking for an edge for either team, Promitheas is committing fourth-fewest 13.0 turnovers, one less per game than Bourg, and making 77.4% of its free throws. Bourg, meanwhile, is the league's fourth-best shot-blocking team (3.2 bpg.)

JL Bourg en Bresse best three-pointers of the 2022-23 regular season

Bourg led 2022-23 regular season in three-point accuracy

### The importance of halftime lead

I might sound too simple, but the outcome of this game might be decided by halftime. At least, that would be a conclusion if we look at how these teams have performed so far this season. Promitheas and Bourg have won all their games when they were not trailing at the half. Promitheas has held halftime leads in eight games this season, and won each one of them. Bourg was in front four times at the break, and won all of those games. The French club also won both games in which it was tied at the break. Bourg has also won all of its seven games when it made more three-pointers than its opponents. On the other hand, Promitheas won all six games when it dished more assists and all four games when it made more two-point shots.

Breakdown: Promitheas Patras vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

7DAYS EuroCup newcomer, [Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2022-23) (13-5) came in third in Group B after losing just once in the second half of the regular season. [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2022-23) (9-9) lost its last two games of the regular season to finish sixth in Group A and has dropped five of its last six games on the road. Meanwhile, Hapoel was 8-1 at home. However, experience may favor Reyer, which has qualified for the knock-out stages in three of the last four seasons.

### The MVPs

Since Round 7, the MVPs of the round in the EuroCup have come from four teams. Three of those teams have had multiple MVPs of the round. And two of those teams are Hapoel and Reyer. Power forward [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/derek-willis/009664/) was the Round 7 MVP for Reyer after he posted 19 points and 13 rebounds for a PIR of 31. In Round 15, center [Mitchell Watt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mitchell-watt/006332/) gave Reyer its second MVP of the round with 22 points on near-perfect shooting and a PIR of 34 against Germani Brescia. In between, most of the MVPs went to Hapoel players with [Jordan McRae](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordan-mcrae/007996/) picking up three (Rounds 9, 10 and 14) and [J’Covan Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/j-covan-brown/011991/) (Round 11), [Chinanu Onuaku](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/chinanu-onuaku-/012076/) (Round 13) and [Jaylen Hoard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaylen-hoard/006835/) (Round 14) getting one each. Add in Brown's first MVP in Round 2 and Hoard's two in Rounds 4 and 18 and these teams have had the players of the round in more than half the rounds this season! 

Hapoel Tel Aviv Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/06/2023

Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv highlights from the 2022-23 regular season

### The importance of pace 

One of the keys to this game will be controlling the pace of play. Hapoel is the best team in the EuroCup by some metrics because it piles on the stats with its rapid pace of play. Coach Danny Franco's men top the EuroCup in per game PIR (108.8), scoring (88.7 ppg.). rebounds (40.1 rpg.) and assists (21.6 apg.). Reyer, in contrast, plays at a slower pace and is in the bottom half of the rankings in PIR (11th, 89.9), scoring (15th, 80.7 ppg.), offensive rebounds (19th, 8.9 orpg.), rebounds (16th, 34.1 rpg.) and assists (13th, 16.8 apg.). 

The best way for Reyer to neutralize Hapoel's strengths is to slow the game down and limit possessions. That will be a job for main ball handlers [Jayson Granger](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jayson-granger/003024/) and [Kendrick Ray](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kendrick-ray/009003/). Of course, it won’t be easy as Hapoel has great backcourt depth and its outstanding rebounders are key reasons that the team can run. But longer, smarter possessions for Reyer on offense could help limit Hapoel’s transition game and boost the visitors’ chances. 

### How much will experience matter?

When it comes to experience, all signs favor Reyer. From head coach Neven Spahija, who won the EuroCup in 2010 with Valencia Basket, through big man [Amedeo Tessitori](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/-amedeo-tessitori/003759/), who celebrated the EuroCup last season with Virtus Segafredo Bologna, through veterans Granger, [Jeff Brooks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jeff-brooks/004117/), [Michael Bramos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/michael-bramos/002906/) who have all tasted the EuroLeague Playoffs, Reyer has a squad that is battle-tested. 

Hapoel’s squad does not lack basketball experience, but it is short on players who have played many decisive games at the highest levels of Europe. The notable exceptions are [Tomer Ginat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tomer-ginat/010550/) and McRae, who were teammates last season on the Boulogne Metropolitans 92 squad that reached the EuroCup Quarterfinals. The team they beat in the eighthfinals? That would be Reyer, 87-66, with both Ginat and McRae in the starting lineup and combining for 18 points and 8 assists.  

Umana Reyer Venice Top Plays from 10/01/2022 to 04/06/2023

Umana Reyer Venice highlights from the 2022-23 regular season

### The common opponent

One way to measure teams' strengths when they have never before faced each other is through common opponents. The only common opponent for them each this season in fellow EuroCup side Dolomiti Energia Trento. 

Hapoel played Trento twice in Group B of the EuroCup and was victorious both times. The first time was in early November, in Round 4 in Tel Aviv in which the hosts rolled to a 93-63 victory with Hoard claiming MVP of the Round honors with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks for a PIR of 33. 

 In late November, Reyer hosted Trento in Venice in the Italian League and the visiting team eked out a 72-73 triumph thanks to Matteo Spagnolo's game-winner with 8 seconds remaining. Andrejs Grazulis posted 12 points and 13 boards for Trento and Spagnolo also finished with 12 points. [Riccardo Moraschini](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/riccardo-moraschini/000726/) netted 23 points in defeat.

In Round 13, Hapoel went to Italy and topped Trento 60-78 with Onuaku claiming MVP of the Round honors with a performance of 22 points, 8 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals for a PIR of 35. 

 If the test of mutual opponents means anything, it is a good sign for Hapoel. 

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Eighthfinals efficiency landscape

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Prometey claims Latvian-Estonian League title!

Play the EuroCup Bracket Challenge now!

Breakdown: Promitheas Patras vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

Breakdown: Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv vs. Umana Reyer Venice