Following the tragic consequences of the earthquakes that have affected southeast Turkiye and neighboring Syria, which tragically took the lives of his grandmother and cousin, Ahmet Duverioglu has parted ways with Frutti Extra Bursaspor and decided to stop playing basketball for now.

 After losing family to earthquakes, Ahmet Duverioglu leaves Bursaspor 

Following the tragic consequences of the earthquakes that have affected southeast Turkiye and neighboring Syria, which tragically took the lives of his grandmother and cousin, [Ahmet Duverioglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ahmet-duverioglu/006399/) has parted ways with Frutti Extra Bursaspor and decided to stop playing basketball for now. 

Duverioglu, a former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion, made the announcement on Friday, the day before his 30th birthday.

"I am happy to get to know you all. Due to the situation I am in, I need to find myself for a while. I had bad days for reasons beyond my control. I wish you success for the rest of the season," Duverioglu said in a video message. "I love you all. I hope we can meet again in the future."

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Teşekkürler 💚 Ahmet Düverioğlu <br><br>Profesyonel sporcumuz Ahmet Düverioğlu ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarımızı ayırmış bulunuyoruz. <br>Bugüne kadarki katkılarından dolayı kendisine teşekkür eder, kariyerinde başarılar dileriz. <a href="https://t.co/d7kndTKa2p">pic.twitter.com/d7kndTKa2p</a></p>&mdash; Frutti Extra Bursaspor (@BsBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BsBasketbol/status/1631676000521134080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Duverioglu, who won the EuroLeague title as a key contributor for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in 2017, was in his first 7DAYS EuroCup season with Bursaspor. In 12 EuroCup games this season, he averaged 6.9 points on 68.1% two-point shooting and 5.2 rebounds. In 142 careeer EuroLeague games over seven seasons, the last six with Fenerbahce, he averaged 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 67.9% inside the arc, ranking fourth all-time for career two-point efficiency.

After losing family to earthquakes, Ahmet Duverioglu leaves Bursaspor

Most people do not think about basketball when Cuba is mentioned. Karel Guzman is doing his best to change that with his performances in the 7DAYS EuroCup with U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Cluj’s Guzman helping put Cuban on the basketball map

Most people do not think about basketball when Cuba is mentioned. [Karel Guzman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karel-guzman/011797/) is doing his best to change that with his performances in the 7DAYS EuroCup with U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Guzman has been one of the leading players for Cluj in its debut EuroCup season. The 28-year-old has averaged 9.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals for an index rating of 12.5. 

"I am very happy since it was one of my goals to play in the EuroCup since we all know that this competition has a very high level,” said Guzman, who hails from the Cuban capital of Havana. 

Guzman is spending his third season in Europe - all of them with the Romanian club. And he helped Cluj win the Romanian League and Super Cup double in 2021 and 2022. 

“I wanted to test myself at this level. Cluj was the only team that gave me the opportunity and I will always be grateful to them,” he added.

Guzman is not the only Cuban winning hardware in Europe. Fellow Havana native Jasiel Rivero won the Basketball Champions League twice with San Pablo Burgos and is playing in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Valencia Basket, while Howard Sant-Roos won the EuroCup with Darussfaka Istanbul in 2018, the 2019 Intercontinental Cup with AEK Athens and also played two and a half seasons in the EuroLeague with CSKA Moscow and Panathinaikos Athens. There is also Javier Justiz, who played from 2018-19 to 2020-21 with Spain's Casademont Zaragoza before getting injured. And Yorman Polas Bartolo plays for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany

Highlights of Cluj's Karel Guzman in the EuroCup

"Those titles have been the result of a long and hard sacrifice that we have made to obtain them. It goes without saying that they are also a motivation for me to convince myself that nothing is impossible,” he said.

Guzman admitted he doesn’t really know the 32-year-old Sant Roos or 37-year-old Bartolo. But he talks a lot to Rivero and Justiz, who are 29 and 30, respectively. 

"When we talked, we always talked about doing the impossible to put Cuban basketball on the map and to keep climbing levels in Europe," Guzman said. 

Just like Rivero and Justiz, Guzman left Cuba for South America to start his journey, starting at age 22 in the Argentinian second division for Juninense in the 2017-18 season before moving up to top-flight side Olimpico de La Banda. 

"For me, it was an opportunity, a step forward in my career. Professionally I felt ready for this kind of change and I also knew that economically I would be able to earn more and to help my family," Guzman said. 

He stayed there for two more seasons before leaving for Europe - just like Rivero and Justiz who left Argentina for Burgos in 2019 and Zaragoza in 2018, respectively. 

Guzman is proud that people back home see him as a role model.

"It means a lot to me when young athletes from another generation see me as an example to follow. It means that I am a pure example of sacrifice, willpower and dedication to the work and the sport that we love. If I could do it, why not them?" he said. 

Guzman already sees the level of Cuban basketball rising. He has been playing for the national team since 2014 and even though the team went 0-6 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers, Cuba performed well.

The biggest highlight was leading against the United States by 11 points late in the first quarter on November 28, 2021, and it was tied with 3 minutes left before eventually losing 95-90.

"That game was the best and the one I enjoyed the most with the national team because it's no secret that the United States national team always beats us by more than 50 points in all the previous games we had. Playing in that way and achieving that final result showed us that we are on the right track," said Guzman, who had 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in that game.

Cuba also was tied early in the fourth quarter in the game in Puerto Rico before losing 69-60 and led at home over Puerto Rico with 5 minutes to play in a 65-62 defeat. 

"The results and the change we have achieved say it all. When I started playing for the national team, all those teams used to beat us by a minimum of 40 points, and seeing that now anyone on the court can win against them is a personal pride of how we have been able to improve the level of the Cuban basketball national team in one way or another."

One further highlight for Guzman came in the quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League last season when Cluj ousted Ludwigsburg 2-1 to reach the Final Four. It was a chance for Guzman to play against his compatriot Bartolo.

"I don't have many opportunities to play against another Cuban here in Europe as Americans do… That's why I think it was incredible to see how the two of us fought professionally for victory on the court, and I hope to have that opportunity again with him or with other players," he concluded. 

Karel Guzman is definitely helping put Cuba on the world basketball map. 

Cluj’s Guzman helping put Cuba on the basketball map

Frutti Extra Bursaspor made the most of its solid shooting night to grab its first win in four 7DAYS EuroCup games, beating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, 92-82, at Tofas Spor Salonu on Thursday.

Bursaspor showcased shooting prowess to power past Bourg

Frutti Extra Bursaspor made the most of its solid shooting night to grab its first win in four 7DAYS EuroCup games, beating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, 92-82, at Tofas Spor Salonu on Thursday.

The host were an impressive 19-for-19 (100.0%) from the free-throw line in what was the best perfect night this season and joint ninth-best in EuroCup history. Germani Brescia and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica had previously shot 14-for-14 (100.0%) against Bourg in Round 13 and Veolia Towers Hamburg in Round 10, respectively.

Meanwhile, Bursaspor’s 60.7% on two-point shooting was its second-best tally this season, as the host missed only 9 of their 28 two-pointers. Zach Auguste was particularly impressive in the paint, as he scored 17 points, including 8-for-9 shooting from two-point range.

Game News

Head coach Dusan Alimpijevic’s team was solid behind the arc too, as Bursaspor matched its second-best total of 13 three-pointers made with its fourth-finest percentage in three-pointers (40.6%) on Thursday. The only game Bursaspor managed to make more triples was in its 111-93 win over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 10, when it went 18-for-35 (51.4 %) from three-point land.

Its shooting prowess on Thursday helped Bursaspor sweep Bourg for an important victory on home soil, taking into account that this was its first official game in a month following the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Its next EuroCup duel is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8, when Bursaspor will face ninth-placed U-BT Cluj-Napoca on the road.

Game Videos

Frutti Extra Bursaspor v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-03-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Frutti Extra Bursaspor returned to 7DAYS EuroCup action in a rescheduled Round 14 game, recording an 92-82 home win over Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. The hosts improved to 7-7 to get closer to Bourg's 8-6 and got back to winning ways after having registered three defeats in a row. Onuralp Bitim scored 19 points, while Zach Auguste recorded a double-double, pairing his 17 points with 10 rebounds. Derek Needham netted 16 points and Anthony Clemmons finished with 13. As for Bourg, Hugo Benitez scored 14 points and Pierre Pelos added 12.

 Bursaspor downs Bourg to end three-game skid 

Frutti Extra Bursaspor returned to 7DAYS EuroCup action in a rescheduled Round 14 game, recording an 92-82 home win over Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. The hosts improved to 7-7 to get closer to Bourg's 8-6 and got back to winning ways after having registered three defeats in a row. Thursday's duel was previously postponed in the wake of the tragic earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. It is an important victory for Bursaspor, who swept Bourg 2-0 with five games to go after also having grabbed an 80-89 road win back in November.

Bursasport secured the victory by winning three of the four quarters. Onuralp Bitim scored 19 points, while Zach Auguste recorded a double-double, pairing his 17 points with 10 rebounds. Derek Needham netted 16 points and Anthony Clemmons finished with 13. As for Bourg, Hugo Benitez scored 14 points and Pierre Pelos added 12, while Amida Brimah tallied 7 points and 8 rebounds.

The game was tight in the opening stages, with Bitim scoring 10 of his team's first 24 points. Bourg led 18-23 with 50 seconds to go in the first quarter, but Bitim made 3 free throws and and Yigitcan Saybir sank a three-pointer to turn the game around, 24-23, after 10 minutes. Benitez scored 8 of his 14 points in the second quarter, but Bursaspor tallied 27 points to secure a seven-point lead, 51-44 after Needham netted a two-pointer just before the break. After halftime, Axel Julien trimmed the deficit down to 55-53 and Amida Brimah added another basket to forge a 55-55 tie, but Bursspor bounced back to take a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, 72-62, as Aubrey Dawkins scored from behind the arc. Bourg pushed for a comeback in the last quarter, but a clinical Bitim recorded 7 points after going scoreless in the third quarter and Auguste added another 9 to put the game to bed for Bursaspor.

Bursaspor downs Bourg to end three-game skid

 Zach Auguste, Bursaspor: 'The win is a great message' 

### Bursaspor head coach Dusan Alimpijevic

"First of all, we have to say that it is very difficult to talk about sport and basketball right now when the country is in this situation. But unfortunately this is the bad side of life. Whatever happens somehow we have to find a way to continue after this big tragedy for the country. It was really difficult to play this game. It was emotional, it was different and, for sure, no one from our side in the league had a break of one month like us. To be honest I expected a game like this. I expected a game without a clear dynamic or flow in our offense even though we scored 92 points. Also, defensively we are still looking for each other in some situations and this is a normal thing after almost one month without any games. So I have to congratulate my players for this game and for this win, because this is a really precious win for us, our club, our community and surely for the country. I have to say big thanks to our fans who were unbelievable for another time and led us to that win. Last thing, which for me is very important. I know that we lost a little bit of our habits coming into this game after the break and this is normal. But I also know that for these habits to come back we need time."

### Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux

"Of course, we are disappointed because we lost, but we wouldn't deserve this victory, as Bursaspor played better than us. In the first half, they scored 51 points; this is too much for this level. After that, we had a good reaction in the second half, but we missed little details, like freethrows for example. We missed 8 free throws. At this level the little detail is very important, but Bursaspor deserved the victory."

### Bursaspor player Zach Auguste

"This is really important for us not just as a team but for the country of Turkey. We suffered a lot. It \[the earthquake\] was a very tragic moment for everybody, so we want to dedicate this win to our fans, supporters and everybody. The win is a great message. We are trying to make a big run in the second half \[of the season\], so we want to stay focused and continue winning."

Zach Auguste, Bursaspor: 'The win is a great message'

Impact moves in Group B

All teams open the season with a roster they hope can go all the way. At some point, the time comes to reevaluate. It may be because there are injuries. Perhaps something isn't working and there is a need to make changes. Or, perhaps, teams begin to smell an opportunity to make history and go all in.

With the deadline for making roster changes this season now in the past, here's a look back at the midseason moves that have had the most impact on teams in Group B and may continue to pay dividends into the playoffs.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica took a step forward by signing experienced scorer [Erick Green](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erick-green/005159/), who has truly delivered since his arrival, averaging 17.4 points on 47.8% three-point shooting and a PIR of 14.8. Not only does Green give Buducnost the backcourt threat it needed, but the club also signed former EuroCup champion [Jaleel O'Brien](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaleel-o-brien/009558/) (9.6 ppg.) at forward and [Manu Lecomte](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/emmanuel-lecomte/003875/) at point guard. Lecomte is set to make his EuroCup debut in Round 15 and has added even more depth to the Buducnost backcourt.

Joe Thomasson has quickly become one of Promitheas Patras's main pillars, averaging 13.4 points in 5 games.

Thomasson arrives to lead Promitheas

Promitheas Patras needed a scorer after Joe Young's departure and found one in [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/), who has quickly adjusted to the role. Thomasson has averaged 13.4 points in five games and his numbers have improved to 19.5 points in the last couple of games. He has led Promitheas on a three-game winning streak that helped the team clinch a playoff spot.

Veolia Towers Hamburg signed [Anthony Polite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-polite/011937/) from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Polite has made an instant impact by averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and a PIR of 15.8 in four games.

Erick Green of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica is averaging 17.4 points on 47.8% three-point shooting and a PIR of 14.8 since he joined the team in early January.

Green joins Buducnost, fills the nets

[Michael Eric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/michael-eric/007360/) arrived to bolster Turk Telekom Ankara's frontcourt. A EuroCup champion with Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018, Eric is a strong defensive player with polished post moves. EuroCup newcomers Paris Basketball and London Lions, which have also reached the playoffs from Group B, added [Mael Hamon-Crespin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mael-hamon-crespin/010802/) and [Jonathan Komagum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jonathan-komagum/012303/), respectively.

Slask Wroclaw has made the most moves in the entire EuroCup in 2023 by bringing in three new players as well as registering the injured Jakub Karolak and up-and-coming talent Kuba Pisla before the deadline. Slask signed three-point threat Vasa Pusica, forward D.J. Mitchell and big man [Serhii Pavlov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/serhii-pavlov/012200/). Mitchell and Pusica are set to make their respective EuroCups debut in Round 15 when they will try to stop their team's five-game losing streak. Pavlov has played nearly 27 minutes in three games.

All teams open the season with a roster they hope can go all the way. At some point, the time comes to reevaluate. It may be because there are injuries. Perhaps something isn't working and there is a need to make changes. Or, perhaps, teams begin to smell an opportunity to make history and go all in. 

With the deadline for making roster changes this season now in the past, here's a look back at the midseason moves that have had the most impact and may continue to pay dividends into the playoffs. 

ratiopharm Ulm got the team on the right track with a big signing in the middle. Center [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) has been outstanding in his first go-around in the competition. Since he was registered prior to Round 10 in January, Caboclo has averaged 16.4 points on 70.2% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for a PIR of 19.8. He set a club record for most two-point shots made (14) in a 92-86 home win against Frutti Extra Bursaspor and finished that game with 33 points. Ulm also added promising French prospect [Pacome Dadiet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pacome-dadiet/011457/), though he has played sparingly so far. 

Bruno Caboclo joined ratiopharm Ulm in January and has been unstoppable, averaging 16.4 points on 70.2% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and a PIR of 19.8 in 5 7DAYS EuroCup games.

Caboclo's sudden impact in Ulm

[Gediminas Orelik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gediminas-orelik/002012/) rejoined 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys during the season after playing for that team last season. He knew head coach Nenad Canak and most of his teammates, which has helped him deliver right away to the tune of 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and a PIR of 14.5 in four games. Lietkabelis also signed center [Nikola Popovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nikola-popovic/006230/), who has adjusted to the team well to produce 7.0 points on 66.7% two-point shooting, 4.7 rebounds and a PIR of 8.0. 

Joventut also added a weapon that it knew well from last season; power forward [Vladimir Brodziansky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vladimir-brodziansky/010458/) averaged 12.3 points in 16 EuroCup games with Joventut last season. After playing for Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade earlier this season, Brodziansky begins his second stint with Joventut. 

Gediminas Orelik and Nikola Popovic joined 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in 2023, taking their new team closer to the 7DAYS EuroCup playoffs.

Orelik, Popovic make Lietkabelis stronger

U-BT Cluj-Napoca made a pair of significant additions. It brought in playmaker [Shepherd Kasey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/shepherd-kasey/012093/), who has posted strong numbers (10.2 ppg., 5.0 apg., 1.6 spg., 10.8 PIR) through five games, and [Jalen Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jalen-jones/009298/), who's averaged 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in four games. They have not been able to prevent Cluj from ranking ninth with a 4-10 record.

Looking for depth at the wings, Frutti Extra Bursaspor inked [Aubrey Dawkins](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aubrey-dawkins/011241/), who played the 2021-22 EuroCup with Turk Telekom Ankara. And Umana Reyer Venice signed experienced combo guard [Kendrick Ray](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/reyer-signs-kendrick-ray-at-guard/), who did well with Promitheas Patras (13.3 ppg., 3.9 apg.) last season.

Impact moves in Group A

 Slask appoints Ertugrul Erdogan as head coach 

Slask Wroclaw announced on Monday that it has signed head coach Ertugrul Erdogan to guide the team through the end of the 2023-24 season. Erdogan, 54, coached Galatasaray Istanbul for three seasons, from 2018 to 2021, and had most recently has served on the Turkish national team's coaching staff. He started his coaching career as an assistant with Fenerbahce Istanbul in 2003, was appointed interim head coach at the end of the 2009-10 season, and was promoted to the head coaching spot in February 2013.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">🆕 Ertugrul Erdogan nowym trenerem Śląska Wrocław 🇮🇹<br><br>Witamy w Śląsku i życzymy powodzenia, trenerze! 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DumaMiasta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DumaMiasta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a></p>&mdash; WKS Śląsk Wrocław - koszykówka (@WKS_SlaskBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKS_SlaskBasket/status/1630139720876408837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Erdogan also coached Turk Telekom Ankara and Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi of his native Turkiye before joining Galatasaray in 2018. He coached Galatasaray in two 7DAYS EuroCup campaigns, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Erdogan briefly coached Fenerbahce in the 2012-13 EuroLeague, too. As head coach, he helped Fenerbahce win the Turkish League in 2010. He was also an assistant coach with Turkiye when it won a silver medal at the 2010 Basketball World Cup.

Slask appoints Ertugrul Erdogan as head coach

The last round of play in the 7DAYS EuroCup, back in early February, featured two major developments at the top of the standings. In Group B, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv beat top-seeded Gran Canaria by 22 points in Shlomo Group Arena to climb within one game of first place. On the other side of the ledger, Prometey Slobozhanske notched its seventh consecutive EuroCup victory to move a game clear of the rest of the field in Group A. 

Prometey keeps upping its chances

The last round of play in the 7DAYS EuroCup, back in early February, featured two major developments at the top of the standings. In Group B, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv beat top-seeded Gran Canaria by 22 points in Shlomo Group Arena to climb within one game of first place. On the other side of the ledger, Prometey Slobozhanske notched its seventh consecutive EuroCup victory to move a game clear of the rest of the field in Group A. 

Ranked just 12th in offensive efficiency and 11th in defensive efficiency through Round 14, some of Prometey's rise can be attributed to a spike in three-point shooting in half-court sets and what that has meant to their ability to keep teams out of transition. Still, a great deal of what has made them so hard to beat recently can be chalked up to opportunity.

The graph above looks at which teams have had the most opportunities to put the ball in the basket relative to their opponents. In essence, the graph combines a team's abilities to secure extra possessions and avoid empty possessions, set against how well it imposes the opposite on opponents.

Prometey has had more scoring opportunities compared to its opponents than any other EuroCup team this season. That's a big reason why efficiency numbers prove less relevant to Prometey's record than they do for other teams. Even if they have been playing better as of late, their third-ranked offensive rebounding percentage, second-ranked offensive turnover percentage, and league-best steal rate have meant that they are consistently finding more chances to score than their opponents. 

Dj Kennedy, Dj Stephens, Ondrej Balvin, Caleb Agada Top Steals of the 2022-23 Regular Season

Prometey's league-leading stealers

While efficiency plays a big role in how good some teams are offensively, volume is a factor on the scoreboard as well. To put that in perspective, the average EuroCup team is scoring 81.5 points over 84.7 possessions per game which equates to 0.96 points per possession. A team with 6 extra potential scoring chances would only need to score 0.89 points per possession to reach the same point total. That is a massive margin for error.  

After scoring 0.94 points per possession over the first seven games, Prometey has scored 1.01 points per possession since – roughly the difference between ranking 15th and fourth in scoring efficiency.  While that type of improvement would mean a lot to any team, it means more to this Prometey squad than any team in recent history. With D.J. Kennedy, D.J. Stephens and Ondrej Balvin all playing better, and Caleb Agada getting on track from the perimeter to complement his ability to generate steals, numerous players have contributed to Prometey's turnaround following a 3-4 start in Group A. 

With three teams in playoff contention on their schedule with four rounds remaining, it will be fascinating to see if Prometey can continue to bend the math in its favor as few teams in the modern EuroCup format before this.