The most critical phase of the 7DAYS EuroCup season is here, which means it's time to consider which stars are most deserving of end-of-season honors. As always, the fans will have their say in choosing the award-winners.

 Fan voting for the All-EuroCup teams open now! 

The most critical phase of the 7DAYS EuroCup season is here, which means it's time to consider which stars are most deserving of end-of-season honors.

As always, the fans will have their say in choosing the award-winners.

The fan portion of the All-EuroCup voting will run from Tuesday, April 18 through Thursday, May 5, the day after the semifinals conclude.

Ballots cast by fans, coaches, team captains and members of the media will each count for 25% of the totals used to determine the All-EuroCup selections.

Upon the completion of all voting, the player with the most votes will become this season's MVP. He and the next four top vote-getters will comprise the All-EuroCup First Team and the next five will make up the All-EuroCup Second Team.

To make your impact on the final results, go to [https://alleurocupteam.eurocupbasketball.com/](https://alleurocupteam.eurocupbasketball.com/) to register your vote for the players who impressed you the most this season!

Please base your selections on each player's performances for the entire 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season and Elimination Rounds.

Remember to cast your ballot no later than May 5, 2022.

Fan voting for the All-EuroCup teams open now!

Two veteran point guards, Andrew Albicy and Guillem Vives, will have a chance to do something they have never done in the 7DAYS EuroCup before – face one another – when Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona go to battle in Wednesday's semifinal tie between the two sides.

Head-to-head: Andrew Albicy, Gran Canaria vs. Guillem Vives, Joventut

Two veteran point guards, [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) and [Guillem Vives](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/guillem-vives/002361/), will have a chance to do something they have never done in the 7DAYS EuroCup before – face one another – when Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona go to battle in Wednesday's semifinal tie between the two sides.

The two players have combined for nearly 200 appearances in the competition over more than a decade, but this will be the first time that they will be on opposite sides of the floor. Curiously, this is also the first-ever EuroCup meeting between Spanish League rivals Gran Canaria and Joventut – and what a time for it to occur, with a spot in the 2023 EuroCup Finals on the line.

For Albicy, this semifinal will be his 100th appearance in the EuroCup. He has 79 starts so far and boasts career averages of 8.2 points and 5.2 assists. Albicy is the only player in EuroCup history that has averaged at least 5.0 assists and played in at least 70 games.

Albicy made his debut in the 2011-12 season and is currently in his seventh EuroCup campaign with a fourth different club. He helped MoraBanc Andorra reach the EuroCup Semifinals in 2018, and he helped Gran Canaria do the same in 2021. His career average PIR of 12.0 is the third highest for players with more than 95 appearances.

Andrew Albicy and Guillem Vives quarterfinals highlights

Albicy and Vives quarterfinals highlights

Vives, on the other hand, was a EuroCup champion with Valencia Basket in 2019. He has 97 appearances across six EuroCup seasons, but with lesser averages of 5.0 points, 3.2 assists and 1.7 rebounds.

In more than half of those 97 games, Vives has come off the bench – and he has done the same in 11 of the 19 fixtures he has disputed this season, averaging 5.3 points on 40.0% three-point shooting, 3.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds.

His role – and importance – has grown due to the injury of veteran point guard Pau Ribas. Vives scored 11 points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting, in addition to grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing 3 assists, in Joventut's eighthfinals win over the London Lions. He then played 26 minutes, the fourth most this season, in the team's dramatic quarterfinal triumph against Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv. That night, Vives finished with 5 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal.

Albicy has had slightly better averages this season, including ranking just outside top 10 in assists (4.8 apg.) and steals (1.4 spg.). He had 5 points, 5 assists and 2 steals in the eighthfinals against Frutti Extra Bursaspor, before recording 7 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in 20 minutes during Gran Canaria's comfortable quarterfinal win over Paris Basketball.

On Wednesday night, in his third appearance in the EuroCup Semifinals, the 33-year-old Albicy will try to reach the EuroCup Finals for the first time. Vives, meanwhile, is trying to return there again, four years after lifting the title.

Gran Canaria v Joventut Badalona (2023-04-26T19:00:00.000Z)

Head-to-head: Caleb Agada, Prometey vs. Erkan Yilmaz, Turk Telekom

Two of the 7DAYS EuroCup's best pickpockets are set to face off in Wednesday's first semifinal, when Prometey Slobozhanske and do-it-all forward [Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) comes up against Turk Telekom Ankara and swingman [Erkan Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erkan-yilmaz/006372/).

Agada enters the semifinals ranked second in the competition for steals with 2.3 steals per game, and he has recorded at least 1 in all but one of his 17 appearances, including 3 last week in the quarterfinals against Promitheas Patras. On the other hand, Yilmaz had 1 steal or more in 17 of his 20 games, and in 10 of those he has had multiple steals.

But both players have contributed way more to their teams than just what they can do on the defensive end of the floor.

For the 28-year-old, Agada that has been true all season, with the Canadian having enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the EuroCup. He has been everywhere for Prometey, which is currently on a 13-game winning streak. Agada is Prometey's second-best scorer (14.8 ppg.), the team leader for assists (4.1 apg.), and he also averages 3.8 rebounds per game.

Agada scored in double figures in each of his 16 regular-season games, and Prometey missed him big in the eighthfinals after he picked up an injury in the second quarter of team's regular season finale. Agada returned last week and, even though he scored just 5 points, he had 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 rebounds in less than 15 minutes on the floor. 

Caleb Agada Top Plays of the 2022-23 Regular Season

Caleb Agada's top plays

While Agada and Prometey hope he will be closer to full strength in the semis, Yilmaz has played some of his best basketball during the 2023 EuroCup Playoffs.

For Yilmaz, this is his third season in the EuroCup with a third Turkish team, as he first appeared in the competition with Banvit Bandirma in 2015-16 before later returning with Bahcesehir in 2020-21. Yet, this is by far the best season that the 25-year-old has had, posting 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals this season.

Erkan Yilmaz's top plays since February 7, 2023.

Erkan Yilmaz's top plays

But Yilmaz took his game up a notch in the eighthfinals, amassing 8 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in a come-from-behind win over Germani Brescia. Then, he had 2 points, 3 rebounds and another 5 assists as he helped Turk Telekom erase a 14-point deficit to beat ratiopharm Ulm.

Only one player has pulled down more rebounds in the first two rounds of the playoffs than Yilmaz, while he also ranks seventh in the EuroCup Playoffs with 5.0 steals per game.

Yilmaz and Agada now bring their all-round styles of play into the semifinals, with both determined to help their respective teams make history and reach the EuroCup Finals. There, a win against either Gran Canaria or Joventut Badalona would see it book its place in next year's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Prometey Slobozhanske v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-04-26T16:00:00.000Z)

First things first, we beat Paris and made it to the semifinals. It was great to get a win in front of a great crowd, a great atmosphere. We knew that Paris obviously is a high-powered offensive team and in the first quarter, it was back and forth and not much defense, really. But we were able to settle down a little bit, played better on defense and were able to get some stops and scores and transition, and then played well in the last three quarters. Damien Inglis came off the bench and gave us a big boost. I think it is important getting key contributions from everyone. Each game is a single-elimination one so everybody has to be focused, locked in, giving their best and trying to contribute however they can to help the team. 

"It was great to get a win in front of a great crowd, a great atmosphere."

I was fortunate to have a strong start but it could have been anyone, really. I think that throughout the season we have shown we have a lot of talented guys on our team. And the way the defense was being played early in the game, my teammates were finding me in positions to score. We got contributions from everyone, and we have a lot of talented and unselfish guys, so I think you could go down our entire roster and see we got key contributions from everyone and it was a good team win. Again, we had a great crowd, especially for a late start. I wasn't sure what kind of crowd we were going to get but our fans have been terrific and to have such great support for an important game like that was great. And of course, getting a win for them made it even better.

It was important for us to get the home-court advantage for all the playoffs. Playing in front of our crowd is huge and not having to go on such long travels is definitely beneficial for everyone's bodies. So I think having a strong regular season and just having that sort of consistency as a team has been important for us, especially now that we have a really tough test against Joventut. With all the extra time not traveling around, we have been practicing and focusing on each of these games, the EuroCup Playoffs and the final regular-season games in the ACB, trying to make a push for the playoffs. It's a lot of important and intense games, so I am trying to make sure I am recovering and preparing for each game. Also, getting quality time with my family has been great. 

John Shurna led Gran Canaria to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals.

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup playoffs highlights: John Shurna, Gran Canaria

Both teams obviously know each other very well. I played for Joventut, even our president Sitapha Savane played for Joventut... and we played together there! We faced them two weeks ago, too. They are obviously a great team. They have a lot of talent. You go down their entire roster and they have a great team that has played well in both the EuroCup and the ACB, and it is definitely a tough matchup, but we are excited for the game. Tomic has been a guy who has been playing at a high level for an incredibly long time. He is someone who reads the game really well and can score and pass and rebound. He is great! He is almost like another point guard on the court with his vision and decision-making. And then they have a lot of talent, I could name their whole roster. You have Vives, Feliz, Guy, Ventura, Busquets, who played well against Hapoel. You have Parra, you have Ellenson, you have Brodziansky, Birgander... Hopefully, I'm not missing someone there. But like I said, it is a deep team who gets contributions from everyone and Tomic is obviously a phenomenal player.

"We are gonna try our best to be focused and leave it all out on the floor."

We are aware that a win sends us to the final and that we are two victories away from winning the title. Still, it is very important to focus on the game ahead and it is a really tough game against a great Joventut team. We are going to try our best to be focused and leave it all out on the floor. I have been fortunate to reach the EuroCup Semifinals twice, along with Andrew Albicy and Oliver Stevic: with Andorra in 2018, we lost against ALBA Berlin; and with Gran Canaria in 2021, we lost against Monaco. We have to stay focused on the game ahead because it is going to be a really tough one. I am sure our fans will give us a big boost. I hope to see you at Gran Canaria Arena on Wednesday!

John Shurna, Gran Canaria: 'We are excited for the game'

Breakdown: Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

Two first-time semifinalists will square off in Riga, the home away from home for Ukrainian club [Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23), which hosts [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) in a do-or-die game that will send the winner into the final. Competition newcomer Prometey entered the playoffs as the Group A winner, while Turk Telekom finished in second place in Group B. Both teams have ridden their respective home-court advantages into the semis and, while Prometey tries to continue doing that, Turk Telekom now must find that same spark on the road.

### Uncharted territory

Prometey has not only made the semis in its first season in the competition, but the team is on a 13-game winning streak that dates back to December 6, when it lost an overtime game at Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. This winning run is tied for the sixth-longest in competition history and tied for the fourth-longest in a single season. Prometey will try to do something only Unicaja Malaga has done in the past 10 years, reach the EuroCup Finals in its debut. Turk Telekom played in the quarterfinals for the first time last week and now it is a first-time semifinalist and aiming for its first finals appearance. Even though both rosters have many veteran players and experience, the only player on either team who has played this deep into a EuroCup season is Turk Telekom center Michael Eric, who won the title with Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018.

Prometey goes from steals to fast breaks

### Defense will decide it

No team this season has forced as many turnovers (15.6 tpg.) or collected as many steals (9.6 spg.) as Prometey, led by Caleb Agada's 2.3 steals per game, the EuroCup's second-best. The team actually ranks near the bottom in three-point accuracy (32.7% 3FG), but Prometey ranks first in scoring (88.0 ppg.) in big part thanks to its defense, which allows it to often play in transition and get a whole bunch of fastbreak points. That defense also allows Prometey to shoot more often than all but one team this season, with its 67 field goal attempts per game and 29.9 three-point attempts per game both second-most in the competition. 

Turk Telekom, on the other hand, has one of the best defenses in terms of points allowed. The team enters the semifinals having allowed 77.8 points per game, which is third-fewest this season, and it has allowed the third-fewest offensive boards (9.4 orpg.) and second-fewest rebounds (32.3 rpg). Turk Telekom has won the rebounding battle in 14 of its 20 games this season, including both playoff contests, and has won 13 of those. In addition, both teams have held opponents to 76 or fewer points in their last three games, and that will be the goal for each team in this semifinal matchup, too.

### Key players carry the load

Turk Telekom playmaker Jerian Grant enters the semifinals ranking fourth in the competition in average PIR (18.6), big man Tyrique Jones is fifth (18.4) and shooting forward Axel Bouteille ranks eighth (17.8). Grant, who was the quarterfinals MVP, ranks second this season in assists (6.2 apg.), Bouteille ranks fourth in scoring (17.9 ppg.) and third in three-pointers made (2.8 3FG), Jones is sixth in offensive rebounding (2.7 orpg.), and along with Tony Taylor, those three players have carried Turk Telekom throughout the season. On the other side, Prometey's main protagonists are playmakers Gian Clavell (15.0 ppg.) and Agada (14.8 ppg., 4.1 apg.) who returned from injury last week, as well as D.J. Stephens (13.4 ppg.). Prometey has a more balanced attack, one in which six different players have averaged 8.3 points or more so far. Will Turk Telekom's three stars be able to carry the load and make plays when their team needs them? or will Prometey's balance prevail? 

Turk Telekom's show-stopping plays

### The stars provide sparks

When Prometey or Turk Telekom take the floor, highlight-reel plays come in bunches. Stephens, thanks to assists from Agada and Clavell, has been a fixture when it comes to best plays each round, but so have Jones and Grant for Turk Telekom. Whether it is the pulverizing dunks or emphatic blocks from Stephens or Jones, sweet passes from Agada, Clavell or Grant, or big-time three-pointers from Bouteille, both Prometey and Turk Telekom have the players who can provide a spark when their team needs one. 

Turk Telekom erased double-digit deficits in both playoff games, including a 14-margin last week against ratiopharm Ulm, and its second-half charge included a series of highlight-reel plays that got the entire team going, as has been the case the entire season. The same is true of Prometey, and in addition to the team-leading trio, big man Ondrej Balvin has also been no stranger to delivering exciting plays. There will certainly be plenty of those when these teams share the same floor on Wednesday.

Breakdown: Gran Canaria vs. Joventut Badalona

We have an all-Spanish-League 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinal in which both teams look for their second-ever appearance in the final. [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) (17-3) comes into this game with the best record in the competition and has the home-court advantage against [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) (15-5), which won the competition in 2008. 

### Another semifinal 

Joventut will compete in the EuroCup Semifinals for the third time in club history. It reached this far in the competition's original season, 2002-03, when it took a 13-point lead in the first leg of a two-game, total-points series against Krka Novo Mesto. An 82-66 road loss prevented the team from reaching the finals. Joventut was back in the semis in 2008 and beat Galatasaray Istanbul 90-83 behind 27 points from Rudy Fernandez. It went on to beat Akasavyu Girona 79-54 and lift the trophy. Pau Ribas, who is currently injured, was with the squad in 2008.

Gran Canaria has been to three semifinals already and won one of them. In 2015, Gran Canaria swept UNICS Kazan in the two-game semifinals and lost to Khimki Moscow Region in the finals. A year later, Gran Canaria lost against Galatasaray on point difference, 169-170, after missing the final shot. Gran Canaria played a third semifinal in 2021, in a best-of-three playoff format, and was swept by AS Monaco. Both Galatasaray and Monaco went on to lift the trophy. 

### We meet again 

Several Gran Canaria players know Joventut better than most after playing for that team in the past. John Shurna played for Joventut in the 2013-14 season. He was a teammate of current Joventut players Guillem Vives and Albert Ventura, as well as Gran Canaria president Sitapha Savane, which was with La Penya at that time, too. Ferran Bassas grew up with Joventut, left at age 21 and returned after eight years for a second stint with the club. Oliver Stevic also played for Joventut in the 2019-20 season. 

Shurna, Stevic and Andrew Albicy have been to two EuroCup semifinals together, with Gran Canaria in 2021 as well as with MoraBanc Andorra in 2019, when they lost to ALBA Berlin in the best-of-three playoffs. Despite playing in different groups, Gran Canaria and Joventut have faced each other twice this season. Gran Canaria bested Joventut 75-91 in Badalona on January 22 behind 18 points from Olek Balcerowski. On April 4, Gran Canaria beat Joventut again, 100-88. Nico Brussino led five Gran Canaria scorers in double digits with 18 points. 

### Coaching familiarity

As in any high-profile showdown, the coaching battle will be very interesting. This time, it is extra special, as the two head coaches know each other well and have worked together in the past. Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic finished his legendary playing career in 2016, and joined Bilbao Basket as an assistant coach in the 2017-18 campaign, briefly working for current Joventut boss Carles Duran, who was fired in November 2017. 

Lakovic and Duran crossed paths three times after that. Added to Gran Canaria's two wins against Joventut last season, Lakovic led ratiopharm Ulm to a 73-79 road win in last season's EuroCup Eighthfinals. Joventut came into that game with a 12-4 record and was 9-0 in front of its fans. Jaron Blossomgame and Semaj Christon led Ulm with 21 points apiece. Lakovic went from Duran's apprentice to coaching nemesis, but it all may change on Wednesday. 

Ante Tomic of Joventut Badalona averages 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and a PIR of 23.0 in 2 playoffs games.

Ante Tomic dominates in the playoffs

### A test for young centers

Joventut center Ante Tomic has been a pillar for his team this season, averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for a PIR of 17.4 in less than 23 minutes per night. In fact, Tomic leads the competition in PIR per 40 minutes (30.7). The playoffs are a different animal, they say, and Tomic has definitely responded, going for 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for a PIR of 24 in the eighthfinals against London Lions before playing a key role in the quarterfinals against Hapoel Vegan Friendly Jerusalem with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for a PIR of 22. 

Stopping Tomic could be among Gran Canaria's biggest priorities and Coach Lakovic will rely on his young centers, Balcerowski and Khalifa Diop, to do so. Balcerowski has averaged 9.1 points on 74.4% two-point shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks for a PIR of 11.4. Diop has similar numbers, mostly coming off the bench: 8.6 points on 66.3% two-pointers, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 block for a PIR of 11.0. In two Spanish League games this season, Balcerowski and Diop limited Tomic to 13.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and a PIR of 14.0. Keeping Tomic below his playoff averages should help Gran Canaria tremendously. 

And then there were four! The 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals are here, which means that there are fewer and fewer options to choose from in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, powered by Ardu Prime](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home?_ga=2.140488115.1008357699.1682319962-884385655.1669721726). I am sure all managers will take advantage of the unlimited trading and get all the main stars like Ante Tomic, Jerian Grant, John Shurna and D.J. Stephens, just to name one player per team. We are going to focus on players who are cheaper and can give you the tie-breaker you need to challenge for prizes or do better in your private league. Here they are: 

[Nate Sestina, Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nathan-sestina/011980/) (8.4 credits) – Sestina had a solid performance in the quarterfinals against Ulm with 12 points and 8 rebounds for a PIR of 15 in over 30 minutes of action. With only four teams available, Sestina has a big price value of fewer than 9 credits. 

[Issuf Sanon, Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/issuf-sanon/011947/) (7.1 credits) – Caleb Agada returned but that didn't slow Sanon on. In fact, Sanon had a good game against Promitheas with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 fouls drawn for a PIR of 16. He helps in many aspects of the game, which has a lot of fantasy value. 

Nathan Sestina, Issuf Sanon, Vladimir Brodziansky, Damien Inglis and Ferran Bassas are featured in this week's article.

Eurocup Fantasy tips: semifinals

[Vladimir Brodziansky, Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vladimir-brodziansky/010458/) (10.5 credits) – Brodziansky had a stellar performance against Hapoel last week, amassing a PIR of 22. He had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Brodziansky can play at the '4' and '5' spots, which is important against a versatile team such as Gran Canaria. 

[Damien Inglis, Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/damien-inglis/003960/) (10.1 credits) – Inglis had an explosive performance against Paris, making his first 7 shots in a seven-minute span in the first half. He ended up getting 23 points on 11-of-14 two-point shooting and a PIR of 25 in just 15 minutes. It is time to hop the Ingli fantasy train! 

[Ferran Bassas, Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ferran-bassas/001607/) (8.8 credits) – Here's another Gran Canaria player, just because they have the best record in the competition at 17-3. Bassas played for Joventut in the past and comes off a good game: 8 points and 5 assists for a PIR of 11. He should bring out his best version in such a critical situation.

Fantasy tips, semifinals: going to small details!

It has been a great 7DAYS EuroCup season for Turk Telekom Ankara, which has won 15 of its 20 games en route to the semifinals. Turk Telekom began the season with a new core of players and a new head coach in Erdem Can. The gelled quickly and are peaking at the right time. Playmaker Jerian Grant has been at the heart of it all.

Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom: 'We are ready'

It has been a great 7DAYS EuroCup season for Turk Telekom Ankara, which has won 15 of its 20 games en route to the semifinals. Turk Telekom began the season with a new core of players and a new head coach in Erdem Can. The gelled quickly and are peaking at the right time. Playmaker [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) has been at the heart of it all. A member of a distinguished basketball family, his father, Harvey Grant, played in the NBA for a decade. Harvey's twin brother was Horace Grant, a four-time NBA champion. Jerian's brothers Jerami and Jerai also play professional basketball. Jerian Grant is enjoying a breakout EuroCup season with 14.6 points and 6.2 assists for a PIR of 18.6. He was the EuroCup Quarterfinals MVP after posting 20 points, 7 assists and a quarterfinals record 13 fouls drawn for a PIR of 31 in the win against ratiopharm Ulm. Grant is now looking forward to Turk Telekom's semifinal matchup against Prometey Slobozhanske. "We know it will be a tough environment going to play there, but we are ready," Grant said. "Our guys have been ready from day one and we are two games away from a championship, so \[we are\] taking it one game at a time. I think all our guys are excited and ready to get on the road and have a great game."

**Congratulations on the comeback win against ratiopharm Ulm. What allowed you to overcome a bad start and make it to the semifinals?** 

"I think we have put ourselves in that position probably in the last couple of months. We have been down big in some games and I think our team never loses confidence. I think we just know that as long as we stick together and keep doing what we are doing, eventually, we will come out on top. We have won a lot of games this year and we have done it in all types of different ways, so we just keep confidence in each other and stay together, and that's how we have been winning this year."

"The guys have trusted me, coaches have trusted me, and that's all it really takes."

**You drew 13 fouls in that game, a new record for the quarterfinals or later. Was it part of the game plan, to be aggressive and attack their guards?** 

"Not really the game plan, but before every game, Coach and my teammates just tell me to be aggressive. They always tell me, 'be aggressive, be aggressive', so that helps me to start every game just trying to be in attack mode. And against Ulm, obviously, with them having the younger guards and a couple of smaller guards, it was a great way to play."

**This is your first EuroCup season after a year with Milan in the EuroLeague? How do you compare the competitions and what surprised you about the EuroCup?** 

"Obviously the EuroLeague is deeper from one to 18 teams. Anybody can get beat any night because they are just a bunch of talent all the way, top to bottom. And the EuroCup is just a little different because I think the top half of the teams are more EuroLeague level and you have the bottom half of the teams that can struggle a little bit. But it's definitely top-level basketball, and just me this year, being with this team and with Coach trusting me, it has helped my game progress a lot."

**Your brother Jerai played the EuroCup before you did. Did you ask him about the competition before you signed with Turk Telekom? If so, what did he tell you?** 

"I didn't ask him much about the EuroCup, but I watched a lot of his games so I was able to see kind of just the way it compared to the EuroLeague. And I think that's obviously helped me this year to play the way I'm playing. I didn't ask him specifically, but I definitely watched his games and got to kind of scout out some of the teams." 

**You come from one of the biggest basketball families we know of: your Dad, your uncle and your two brothers all played professionally. How often do you stay in touch, and how important is basketball in the family?** 

"It's big. I talk to my brothers pretty much almost every day. Obviously, Jerami plays in the NBA, and it is a different time. But Jerai playing out here and my youngest brother just keeping up with all of us. I talk to my brothers every day, pretty much. Obviously, my dad tries to catch the games out here when he can, and basketball has been in our family since day one. So it's something that we always talk about and we always compete trying to push each other to the next level."

Jerian Grant averages 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and a PIR of 18.6, leadng Turk Telekom Ankara to the 7DAYS EuroCup semifinals with a 15-5 record.

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup highlights:Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom

**It must have been a competitive environment, too. Did growing up in such a big basketball family help you become a better player?** 

"Yes, absolutely. I think growing up, we all wanted to be better than the other brothers, so we pushed each other. We had battles in the backyard. When my team was playing after his team, if he scored 20 points, I wanted to score 25 points. So all my brothers, we competed and we pushed each other and we still do to this day. It's more of friendly competition now, but we always just want to push each other so that the next guy can do better."

**You will play against Prometey, which is on a 13-game winning streak. What needs to be done to take them out of their rhythm and challenge for a playoff spot?** 

"They have a great team. They have won a lot of games in a row. I think I have seen a stat where they were like, between their two competitions, they had won maybe 30 games in a row, something crazy. We know it will be a tough environment going to play there, but we are ready. Our guys have been ready from day one, and we are two games away from a championship, so \[we are\] taking it one game at a time. I think all our guys are excited and ready to get on the road and have a great game."

**You lead Turk Telekom in assists, fouls drawn and PIR. Is that what you were looking for when you joined the team, having a big role and making things happen with the ball in your hands?** 

"Oh, absolutely. From day one when I talked to Coach, that's kind of what he told me. He was like 'you are going to have a big role in this team, you are going to be one of my lead guards, and I'm going to need you to lead this team'. And I was excited for the challenge. And it's been a great year. Honestly, the guys have trusted me, coaches have trusted me, and that's all it really takes. So for me, I'm just excited to be able to continue this journey."

"We are extremely excited. We can't wait to get back on the court."

**What's your take on the other semifinal, Gran Canaria against Joventut?**

"After our game, I will be tuned in. It will be a great game to watch. Everybody talks about how the ACB League is the best in Europe, so to have those two teams playing against each other with a chance for one of them to play for the championship will be an exciting good basketball \[game\]. Gran Canaria is deep, one to 12 or one through 13. They don't have a drop-off when they send their guys in and out. So I think that's the challenge with them, you get elite basketball for 40 minutes no matter who's in the game, and that can always be challenging. They play good basketball."

**You have five players averaging double digits in scoring. How important is the fact that anyone can step up in a one-and-done situation like the EuroCup Playoffs?** 

"I think that's one of our biggest weapons, honestly, to have any guy on our team to be able to go off in any given night. You can't just focus on one player. If you are planning to stop me, we got other guards and bigs that can go off your game plan to stop Axel \[Bouteille\], Tony \[Taylor\], Nate \[Sestina\], Erkan \[Yilmaz\], obviously Tyrique \[Jones\]... it's really tough because we have guys that can step up any given night and give you 20 points and 10 assists, and just have a great game, so you know, I think one of our biggest strengths is just being so versatile."

**What would it mean for you and for a traditional basketball city like Ankara to go all the way, lift the EuroCup title and return to the EuroLeague?** 

"It would mean the world. It is something that we talk about almost every day, just being able to reach our goal of winning the EuroCup and being able to go to the EuroLeague and make a big statement like that. I think guys, like I said, have been talking about it for a long time and we are extremely excited. We can't wait to get back on the court."

From the first day of the 7DAYS EuroCup season, it was a more-than-possible scenario, even for the final. And now, sure enough, one step before the last game of the season, two old friends will be fighting each other for their lives and a shot at reaching the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Gran Canaria hosts Joventut Badalona in an all-Spanish duel on Wednesday in the EuroCup Semifinals. There’s a long history between the two clubs and, of course, one thing stands out.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1493370/carles-duran-and-jaka-lakovics-paths-cross-again-on-the-way-to-the-eurocup-final/)

Fan voting for the All-EuroCup teams open now!

Head-to-head: Andrew Albicy, Gran Canaria vs. Guillem Vives, Joventut

Head-to-head: Caleb Agada, Prometey vs. Erkan Yilmaz, Turk Telekom

John Shurna, Gran Canaria: 'We are excited for the game'

Breakdown: Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

Breakdown: Gran Canaria vs. Joventut Badalona

Fantasy tips, semifinals: going to small details!

Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom: 'We are ready'

Coaches Lakovic, Duran meet again in playoffs