This week brings us Semifinal Wednesday in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The matchups are exactly what the regular season ordered in terms of quality and results as the four competing teams are the four that finished in the top two spots in their respective groups. The early game between Promotey Slobozhanske and Turk Telekom Ankara will send one of them to the EuroCup Championship Game for the first time. The All-Spanish League duel between Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona will land the winner a return to the competition's biggest stage. 

The EuroCup this week: The Semifinals

This week brings us Semifinal Wednesday in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The matchups are exactly what the regular season ordered in terms of quality and results as the four competing teams are the four that finished in the top two spots in their respective groups. The early game between Promotey Slobozhanske and Turk Telekom Ankara will send one of them to the EuroCup Championship Game for the first time. The All-Spanish League duel between Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona will land the winner a return to the competition's biggest stage. 

[Promotey Slobozhanske (14-4) vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (13-5)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/193/)

It will be a true offense versus defense showdown as top-scoring Prometey (88.0 ppg.) takes on Turk Telekom, whose 77.8 points allowed per game is the third-lowest in the EuroCup this season. Prometey, which has won 13 games in a row, was last held below 80 points in mid-January. Turk Telekom has failed to reach 80 in two of its last three games, so controlling the game’s pace will be critical. 

[Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) returned from injury earlier than expected to produce 7 assists and 3 steals in 15 minutes in Promotey's quarterfinal victory over Promitheas Patras and with another week of practice and recovery under his belt, could be a key player in this matchup. He joins veteran center [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/) and explosive forward [D.J. Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stephens/005982/) as Prometey's players to watch. They will take on Turk Telekom's star trio of point guard [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) (20 points), center [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) (20 points) and forward [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) (18 points), which combined for more than two-thirds of their team’s points in the quarterfinals against ratiopharm Ulm. 

[Gran Canaria (15-3) vs. Joventut Badalona (13-5) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-joventut-badalona/U2022/194/)

We may see old-school basketball at its best when Gran Canaria and Joventut meet as both teams are anchored by stars in the paint. While Joventut leans on the older [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/), who boasts more than a decade of EuroLeague experience, Gran Canaria turns to the last two EuroCup Rising Star Award winners, [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) (2021) and [Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/khalifa-diop/008072/) (2022). 

Veteran forward [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/) has been a force for Granca all season long and he has raised his level for the playoffs with 17 points in both games so far. His matchup against [Henry Ellenson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/henry-ellenson/011841/) could be pivotal. These teams met just three weeks ago at Gran Canaria Arena in the Spanish League and the hosts pulled out a 100-88 triumph behind 18 points from [Nicolas Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) and 17 from [AJ Slaughter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aj-slaughter/003637/). They led an attack that made 14 of 25 three-pointers (56.0%), which Joventut must contain. [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/) scored 21 for Joventut in that loss and could be an X-factor in this game. 

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

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

The top four teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season have played true to form in the elimination rounds, all making the most of their home-court advantage to advance to the semifinals. Three of them have taken a common path to get here. Gran Canaria, Joventut Badalona and Turk Telekom Ankara have been this season's three most efficient offensive teams while also ranking in the top 10 defensively with near-identical numbers. Prometey Slobozhanske ranks in the top 10 on the defensive end, as well, but has otherwise been an outlier, finishing only sixth in offensive efficiency but separating itself from the other semifinalists by having dominated the possession margin all season.

Semifinalists are the true cream of the crop

The top four teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season have played true to form in the elimination rounds, all making the most of their home-court advantage to advance to the semifinals. Three of them have taken a common path to get here. [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23), [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) and [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) have been this season's three most efficient offensive teams while also ranking in the top 10 defensively with near-identical numbers. [Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23) ranks in the top 10 on the defensive end, as well, but has otherwise been an outlier, finishing only sixth in offensive efficiency but separating itself from the other semifinalists by having dominated the possession margin all season.

Regardless of strengths and weaknesses, though, results mean everything in the EuroCup's single-elimination postseason format, and the table below displays the lineups that will shape this season's final outcome. It lists the five-man units that have been on the floor for most than 60 possessions over their teams' last five games and how effective they have been in those minutes. It is worth noting that nearly every team has found considerable success with one or more lineups. These four teams have their rotations down to a science at this point.

Digging into the data, it is clear that the science works a little differently for some teams than others as there's a big gap in usage between many of these top lineups. Gran Canaria has leaned heavily on a core group of players, while Prometey has substituted more liberally, with dozens of five-man combinations contributing on a nightly basis. Turk Telekom has rolled with the same frontcourt while shuffling its backcourt a bit more frequently. And Joventut has looked more than the others to leverage its depth at several positions. Regardless of the substitution patterns these teams have employed, they have optimized their personnel this season.

Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to see which of these lineups and individual players rise to the occasion under the continued pressure of a win-or-go-home scenario. Some things have been very stable for these teams from the regular season. All have won of their postseason games by 8 or more points, held serve at home, and been able to rely on the same lineups they did during their rise to the top of the standings. 

Other things were a bit more unexpected, however.

For example, a 23-point outburst from Gran Canaria forward Damien Inglis in only 15 minutes of action against Paris Basketball in the quarterfinals qualifies as the type of performance that can shake up the status quo. Whether the end of the season plays out to true to form or has some surprises in store remains to be seen, but these teams have already proven beyond doubt that they are the cream of the crop this season.

182 games down. Three to go. And so far, it's gone almost exactly based on the regular season results. The two semifinals in the 7DAYS EuroCup will see the two group winners and teams with the best records in the competition host the corresponding group's runner-up for a ticket to the winner-take-all championship game and a spot in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Here’s a look at the semifinal matchups.

7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals at a glance

182 games down. Three to go. And so far, it's gone almost exactly based on the regular season results. The two semifinals in the 7DAYS EuroCup will see the two group winners and teams with the best records in the competition host the corresponding group's runner-up for a ticket to the winner-take-all championship game and a spot in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Here’s a look at the semifinal matchups.

### [Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/193/)

The hottest team in the competition, [Prometey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23) has sidestepped injuries and distractions to win 13 consecutive games, the most recent of which was an 80-57 thrashing of Promitheas Patras in the quarterfinals. [Turk Telekom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) appears to be peaking at the right time and showing plenty of spirit with a pair of come-from-behind wins in the knock-out stages, most recently against ratiopharm Ulm in Wednesday's quarterfinals. Both teams are in uncharted waters, with Prometey playing its maiden EuroCup campaign and Turk Telekom having already making history just by reaching the quarters.

Prometey Slobozhanske, TURK TELEKOM ANKARA Top Plays from 11/01/2022 to 04/21/2023

Top plays of Prometey Slobozhanske and Turk Telekom Ankara in 2022-23

### [Gran Canaria vs. Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-joventut-badalona/U2022/194/)

This showdown features two teams that know one another well and have rich EuroCup experience. [Joventut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) lifted the crown in 2008 and [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) is making its fourth appearance in the semifinals and looking to return to the final after losing in that stage in 2015. Gran Canaria has won its last six games and its 16-3 record is the best in the competition. It trounced Paris Basketball 104-74 in the quarterfinals. Joventut had to work harder to eliminate Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv in the quarterfinals for its seventh victory in a row. This will be the first meeting of these teams outside of Spanish competitions; They met earlier this month in the Spanish League with Gran Canaria earning a 100-88 victory.

Joventut Badalona, Herbalife Gran Canaria Top Plays from 11/01/2022 to 04/21/2023

Top plays of Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona in 2022-23

Look back at all the action in the Quarterfinals by checking out the best photos of the week!

Photos of the week, Quarterfinals

Joventut Badalona's win over Hapoel Tel Aviv was another chapter in the illustrious Catalan club’s climb from the brink of extinction, and it stormed back with a vengeance.

Joventut roared back from near-obscurity to giddy heights

Victory was already in the bag for Joventut Badalona against Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv in the last few seconds of their enthralling 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinal, hence the hosts were expected to just run the clock down and refrain from shooting on their last possession.

Yet, the home team’s forward Joel Parra broke that rule of thumb as he sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the right corner [to make the score 82-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/joventut-badalona-hapoel-vegan-friendly-tel-aviv/U2022/192/), then turned to jubilant Joventut fans and punched the air in sheer delight.

The act may have rubbed salt into Hapoel’s wounds as the visitors were clearly upset after the game with what they might have seen as a lack of manners, but Parra’s stunt actually epitomized Joventut’s true grit and defiance. The win over Hapoel was another chapter in the illustrious Catalan club’s climb from the brink of extinction, and it stormed back with a vengeance.

Final seconds of Joventut Badalona's quarterfinal win over Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv

The trophy-laden franchise and the only Spanish club alongside Real Madrid never to be relegated from the country’s top basketball division faced dissolution in 2018 due to dire financial problems before its shareholders decided to keep the club afloat after all.

Joventut escaped relegation into the second tier by the skin of its teeth, as a 15th-place finish was the club’s worst-ever in Spain’s ACB League, but it survived and head coach Carles Duran was understandably elated after his team reached the EuroCup semis on Wednesday.

"We played with a lot of heart and character, so now we can dream of reaching the final. Five years ago Joventut was in a bad position for several reasons and now we’re in the EuroCup Semifinals," Duran said courtside after the game.

"It’s a great victory and I hereby want to thank the fans and the club for making it happen," he added at the post-game press conference.

Game News

Few would have bet on Joventut making such an impressive recovery after nearly going into administration five years ago, but the club’s die-hard fans got their reward as did the owners for saving a franchise whose past glory commands ultimate respect.

Joventut has four Spanish League titles and eight Copa del Reys to its name, as well as a vast array of European honors. Among them, the 1994 EuroLeague triumph and the 2008 EuroCup title stand out, and Joventut’s smooth run this season has its supporters dreaming of more silverware.

Having finished runners-up in Group A with a 13-5 record, Joventut made home-court advantage count in wins over the London Lions and Hapoel to reach the semis. It now faces the biggest challenge yet – a road game at Group B winner and fellow Spaniards Gran Canaria, who stormed into the last four with a 104-74 home rout of Paris Basketball.

EuroCup debutants Hapoel bowed out fighting after a valiant comeback attempt fell just short, with the visitors briefly taking a 69-70 lead in the fourth quarter as they wiped out a 21-point deficit. 

"We knew coming here that Joventut was the favorite after a great season and for all the club’s tradition," Hapoel head coach Danny Franco said at the post-game press conference. "It was the first time for us in the competition and I hope we can finish the season on a high note. We chased the game throughout and we came close, but it wasn’t enough."

Game Videos

Joventut roared back from near-obscurity to giddy heights 

Joventut Badalona v Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv (2023-04-19T18:00:00.000Z)

After a historic performance in leading Turk Telekom Ankara to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals, Jerian Grant can celebrate another honor after he earned the title of MVP of the Quarterfinals. Grant sparked his team to an 86-76 come-from-behind victory over ratiopharm Ulm with 20 points and 7 assists. The playmaker drew a EuroCup Quarterfinals record 13 fouls and made 12 of 14 free throws n amassing a performance index rating of 31, which was the highest of ay player in the quarterfinals. 

Quarterfinals MVP: Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom Ankara

After a historic performance in leading Turk Telekom Ankara to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals, [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) can celebrate another honor after he earned the title of MVP of the Quarterfinals. Grant sparked his team to an [86-76 come-from-behind victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/turk-telekom-ankara-ratiopharm-ulm/U2022/190/) over ratiopharm Ulm with 20 points and 7 assists. The playmaker drew a EuroCup Quarterfinals record 13 fouls and made 12 of 14 free throws n amassing a performance index rating of 31, which was the highest of ay player in the quarterfinals. 

After a historic performance in leading Turk Telekom Ankara to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals, Jerian Grant can celebrate another honor after he earned the title of MVP of the Quarterfinals.

Jerian Grant |  Quarterfinals MVP | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

The next-best PIR, 26, came from Ulm big man [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/), who went for 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. Gran Canaria froward [Damien Inglis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/damien-inglis/003960/) was third on the PIR list for the quarterfinals. He scored 23 points on 11-of-14 two-point shooting in his team's 104-74 rout of Paris Basketball. Rounding out the list of top quarterfinals performers were [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) of Turk Telekom and [J’Covan Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/j-covan-brown/011991/) of Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv. Jones scored 20 points on 9-of-11 two-point shooting and grabbed 6 rebounds for a PIR of 24 and Brown tallied 21 points, 4 assists and 2 steals in his team’s loss at Joventut Badalona. 

### Individual highs: Damien Inglis of Gran Canaria, 23 points

Damien Inglis of Gran Canaria was the top scorer in the quarterfinals with a career-high 23 points! In doing so, he raised his season average to 9.8 points per game. 

No player had more rebounds or blocks in the quarterfinals than Bruno Caboclo, who recorded 10 and 3, respectively. His 7.8 rebounds per game are sixth in the competition and he is third in the EuroCup with 1.5 blocks per game. Caboclo also recorded the lone double-double of the quarterfinals. 

Joventut's [Kyle Guy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-guy/011826/) delivered a personal-best 8 assists, which was the high mark for all players in the quarterfinals. Two players were tied for the most steals in the phase: [Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) of Prometey Slobozhanske and [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) of Turk Telekom with 3 steals apiece.

Turk Telekom Ankara v ratiopharm Ulm (2023-04-19T15:30:00.000Z)

Congratulations to Eman Haskic, who is the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime winner for the Quarterfinals! His team Hppaaa posted a score of 217.2.

 

Eman's team featured the following lineup: team captain Ante Tomic of Joventut, Tyrique Jones and Jerian Grant of Turk Telekom Ankara, Bruno Caboclo of Ulm, D.J. Stephens of Prometey Slobozhanske as starters; Axel Bouteille also of Turk Telekom as the sixth man; Glen Clavell and Oleksandr Lypovyy of Prometey, Gauthier Denis of Paris Basketball and Fedor Zugic of ratiopharm Ulm as bench players; and Ronen Ginzburg of Prometey as head coach. The prize for finishing first is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2023-24 season!

 

Antreas Apostolakos stays atop the overall standings. His team Andy cup1 is ahead of everyone else with 3,505.9 fantasy points.

 

Trades are now open for the semifinals. From now on, unlimited trades are allowed before each round until the end of the season, and as always, you can also trade your head coach.

 

The first semifinals game, yet to be determined, is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, April 25, and thus marks the next round's deadline.

 

Try to improve your teams and challenge for more prized at the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, powered by Ardu Prime!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Quarterfinals winner!

Gran Canaria qualified for the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals for the fourth time in club history by thrashing Paris Basketball 104-74 at home. In doing so, it set a new scoring record.

Gran Canaria set scoring record

Gran Canaria qualified for the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals for the fourth time in club history by thrashing Paris Basketball 104-74 at home. The hosts rolled to a 61-48 halftime lead and in doing so, it set a scoring record.

The 61 points scored set a record for first-half points scored in a game in the quarterfinals or later. There had previously been teams that scored 59 in a half in both the quarterfinals and semifinals. Valencia Basket had 59 first-half points in the 2017 quarterfinals en route to an 88-82 home win against Khimki Moscow Region. And ALBA Berlin also reached the 59-point mark in Game 1 of the 2019 semifinals against MoraBanc Andorra. ALBA won 102-97.

Gran Canaria made 14 of 18 two-pointers (77.8% 2FG) and 9 of 15 three-pointers (60%) in a first half to remember. It had its second-best scoring first half in the EuroCup. It previously scored 68 first-half points against Paris earlier this season. Its final score, 104, was 1 point shy of the quarterfinals record. Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia and Valencia each had 105 points in quarterfinals games against Zenit St Petersburg (2018) and Zadar (2003).

Gran Canaria set scoring record 

Gran Canaria v Paris Basketball (2023-04-19T19:45:00.000Z)

Gran Canaria qualified for the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals by downing Paris Basketball 104-74 at home on Wednesday and its French duo had to do a lot with it.

Gran Canaria's Frenchmen stepped up

Gran Canaria qualified for the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals by downing Paris Basketball 104-74 at home on Wednesday. It was Gran Canaria's third win against Paris in as many games this season and its French duo had to do a lot with it.

Damien Inglis, a EuroCup champion with AS Monaco in 2021, played one of his best games in the competition. He came off the bench to get a career-high 23 points on 11-of-14 two-point shooting. Inglis added 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 fouls drawn for a PÎR of 25. Inglis was perfect on 7 two-pointers in the first half, allowing Gran Canaria to get its first double-digit margin late in the second quarter.

Albicy and Inglis combined for a PIR of 43 in Gran Canaria's 104-74 home win against Paris Basketball.

Albicy and Inglis: French connection in Gran Canaria

Playmaker Andrew Albicy did a little bit of everything, finishing the game with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 6 fouls drawn, good for a PIR of 20. Paris head coach Will Weaver praised both of them, Albicy in particular, after the game.

"Their Frenchmen \[Inglis and Albicy\] in particular were outstanding tonight. Andrew Albicy was dominant: defensively, he got two steals but he also forced offensive fouls. He didn't commit a single foul in the entire game, which is incredible," Weaver said. "He just has the best hands maybe in the continent, to be able to disrupt as much as he did and not have a single foul and create many disruptive plays as he did. So congrats to those Frenchmen and best of luck to Gran Canaria."