### Slaughter shines as Poland rises

In Sunday’s first game, Poland outlasted Ukraine 86-94 to set up a quarterfinals duel against Slovenia. A.J Slaughter led the way with 24 points, his Gran Canaria teammate Aleksandar Balcerowski posted 14 points and Mateusz Ponitka tallied 22 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to lead Poland. After Prometey Slobozhanske swingman Ivan Tkachenko’s three-pointer gave Ukraine a 76-74 lead early in the fourth quarter, Ponitka scored 10 points in a 2-13 run that gave Poland control for good. Ukraine rallied to within 2 in the final minutes, but was unable to complete the comeback. Vyacheslav Bobrov scored 15 to lead Ukraine, Prometey guard Issuf Sanon accounted for 13 points and 8 assists and Gran Canaria center Artem Pustovyi also scored 13.

### Finland rides Markkanen's big game 

Finland took charge late to eliminate Croatia with a 94-86 victory. Lauri Markkanen poured in 43 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to lead Finland, which will face Spain in the quarterfinals. Sasu Salin added 17 points for the winners. With the score tied at 77-77 with less than 5 minutes remaining, Four different players scored for Finland in a 10-0 run that put Croatia on the ropes. After Croatia drew within 5, a triple by Markkanen with 28.5 seconds remaining proved to be the knockout punch.  Bojan Bogdanovic led Croatia with 23 points and ALBA Berlin guard Jaleen Smith added 17.

### Italy rallies past Serbia

Italy punched its ticket to the quarterfinals by rallying past Serbia 86-94. Marco Spissu of Umana Reyer Venice shined with 22 points and 6 assists, Nicolo Melli of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan netted 21 points and Achille Polonara of Anadolu Efes Istanbul produced 16 points and 8 rebounds for the Italians, who will face France in the next phase. Serbia led 68-66 through three quarters before Italy turned the game on its head with a 2-16 tear to open the fourth. Spissu and Polonara combined for 14 points in that run. Nikola Jokic led the Serbian attack with 32 points and 13 rebounds, two-time defending EuroLeague champion Vasilije Micic of Efes paired 16 points with 8 assists and FC Barcelona’s Nikola Kalinic added 12 points in defeat.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Marco Spissu with the game of his life 🔥<br><br>22 PTS on 6/9 from three as <a href="<https://twitter.com/Italbasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ItalBasket</a>> 🇮🇹 shock Serbia &amp; advance to the <a href="<https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a>> Quarter-Finals! <a href="<https://twitter.com/hashtag/BringTheNoise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BringTheNoise</a>🇮🇹> <a href="<https://t.co/5BY0Lg6scX">pic.twitter.com/5BY0Lg6scX</a></p>&mdash>; #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) <a href="<https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1569030166407528449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September> 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="<https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js>" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Sloukas helps Greece KO the Czechs

Greece set up a quarterfinals showdown with Germany after holding off the Czech Republic 94-88 in their Round of 16 matchup. Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead Greece, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul playmaker Nick Calathes added 14 points and 6 assists, Ioannis Papapetrou of Partizan NIS Belgrade scored 13 and Olympiacos Piraeus’s Kostas Sloukas had 10. The Czechs held a 63-67 advantage entering the final stanza before Kostas Sloukas took over with 6 points in an 11-2 run that gave the Greeks an 80-72 lead with less than 5 minutes remaining. The Czech side was able to get within 4 in the closing seconds before Sloukas iced the game from the line. FC Barcelona big man Jan Vesely scored 21 for the Czechs and his Barcelona teammate Tomas Satoransky dished 17 assists in defeat.

The Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2022 concluded with four games on Sunday in Berlin.

EuroBasket: Finland, Greece, Italy, Poland to quarterfinals

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana will be without veteran guard [Zoran Dragic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zoran-dragic/003514/) for the start of the season after he suffered an injury playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket 2022 on Saturday. Dragic went down after a drive to the basket in the second quarter against Belgium and did not return. The national team staff perfumed an ultrasound and then an MRI to confirm the diagnosis of a partially torn quadriceps muscle. He is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks and thus be sidelined when Cedevita opens the 7DAYS EuroCup season on October 12 against Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Dragic averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in a reserve role for Slovenia, which will face Poland in the EuroBasket quarterfinals on Wednesday. After starting last season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Zalgiris Kaunas, he joined Cedevita during the season and helped it reach the quarterfinals by averaging 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

"Obviously, I am not destined to be able to help the national team in decisive battles at the European championships, but that's the unpredictability of sports," Dragic said. "I will help my teammates from the bench, encourage them loudly and thereby add positive energy, which we will still need in the following days. I believe that the boys will come together even more, leave their hearts on the field and in the end, we will look forward to the good result that we all want so much. These days I am already starting rehabilitation. Both in the national team and in the club, we have an excellent medical, physiotherapist and coaching service, and together we will do everything so that I can return to the floor well prepared."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/ID8nCJ5T03">https://t.co/ID8nCJ5T03</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1568956592682401792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cedevita's Dragic to miss start of season 

Umana Reyer Venice edged Dolomiti Energia Trento to win the Trofeo Dalla Riva Sport Floors. Allerik Freeman led the winners with 16 points while Derek Willis added 11. Darion Atkins had 14 points for Trento while Matteo Spagnolo added 13. Reyer led 14-12 after 10 minutes. Spagnolo and Toto Forray allowed Trento to get the lead, 25-29, at halftime. Both teams were tied at 42-42 at the end of the third quarter and then again, 52-52, in the next-to-last minute. Freeman struck from downtown and Jeff Brooks bettered Spagnolo's basket with a triple that sealed the outcome, 58-54, as Trento never recovered. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">✌️ L’Umana Reyer vince la finale del Torneo di Cavallino Treporti con un gran finale: 60-57 su <a href="https://twitter.com/AquilaBasketTN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AquilaBasketTN</a> 💪<br>Bravi leoni 🦁 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Reyer150?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Reyer150</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/finoallafine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#finoallafine</a> <a href="https://t.co/f7ftNokILX">pic.twitter.com/f7ftNokILX</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1568697784404180992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


Gran Canaria made it to the Torneo Ciutat de Mao final by edging Basquet Girona 76-71 in Menorca. John Shurna led the winners with 22 points. Jovan Kljacic added 10 for Gran Canaria, which outrebounded Girona by 39-27. Gran Canaria led most of the way, getting a 39-32 halftime margin and extending it to 59-49 at the end of the third quarter. Girona managed to get within 71-69 but Shurna buried a critical three-pointer that sealed the outcome with 17.5 seconds remaining. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📝 CRÓNICA | El Gran Canaria muestra en Menorca el trabajo de pretemporada con triunfo (76-71).<br><br>▪ Los claretianos superaron al Bàsquet Girona con un completo partido.<br><br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/jPgQtN6BZe">https://t.co/jPgQtN6BZe</a> <a href="https://t.co/y2BLHjUFXd">pic.twitter.com/y2BLHjUFXd</a></p>&mdash; CB Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1568659556271796224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


In other games, Paris Basketball registered an 81-83 loss against Turkish Airlines EuroLeague powerhouse ALBA Berlin at the Paris European Games in the French capital. Gabriele Procida and Louis Olinde paced the winners with 14 points apiece. Tyrone Wallace led Paris with 21 points. Kyle Allman added 17, Ismael Kamagate 13 and Dustin Sleva 12. It all came down to the final 7 seconds, in which Jonas Mattisseck drew a foul and made free throws to make ALBA win the game down the stretch. Germani Brescia lost at home against Bertram Yachts Derthona Basket, 70-88, in the Trofeo Roberto Ferrari. Luca Severini led the winners with 14 points. Tai Odiase had 13 points for Brescia, Michael Cobbins 12 and Tommaso Laquintana 11. 

Preseason results: Reyer, Gran Canaria win on Saturday

### France beats Turkey in overtime, 86-87

In a thriller that went to overtime, France became the first team to reach the EuroBasket 2022 quarterfinals by edging Turkey 86-87 behind 20 points and 17 rebounds from Rudy Gobert. Evan Fournier and Thomas Heurtel each added 13 points for France. Bugrahan Tuncer of Anadolu Efes Istanbul led Turkey with 22 points. Furkan Korkmaz added 18, Sertac Sanli of FC Barcelona had 12 and Cedi Osman got 11. Turkey led 77-75 late in regulation and Osman drew an unsportsmanlike foul. He missed both free throw attempts and Fournier got a steal which allowed Gobert to send the game to overtime, in which Les Blues prevailed.

Guerschon Yabusele of Real Madrid got France going with a three-pointer, sparking a 2-9 opening run which he capped with a dunk.  Osman and Sehmus Hazer of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul stepped up for Turkey but Olympiacos Piraeus center Moustapha Fall kept Les Bleus ahead, 11-18, after 10 minutes. Vincent Poirier of Real Madrid followed a jump hook with a dunk to make it a 16-point game, 15-31. Osman and Tuncer gave Turkey hope, 35-42, at halftime. A red hot Tuncer struck three times from downtown in a mamooth 19-0 run that put Turkey ahead, 57-49, at the end of the third quarter. France found a go-to guy in Efes swingman Amath M'Baye, who got help from Heurtel to bring Les Bleus in charge, 69-71, with under 2 minutes left. Hazer struck from downtown and Furkan Korkman hit 5-of-5 free throws, then Gobert sent the game to overtime with a put-back slam, 77-77, with 2.7 seconds left in regulation. Gobert put France ahead, 86-87, and Turkey had a final chance to win the game but Korkmaz picked up a critical turnover almost at the buzzer.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WHAT. A. GAME! 👏<br><br>France 🇫🇷 complete a miraculous turnaround, as they defeat Turkey 🇹🇷 in OT and move on to the Quarter-Finals!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BringTheNoise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BringTheNoise</a></p>&mdash; #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1568570980552818688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### Slovenia outlasts Belgium, 88-72

Slovenia had to battle hard to defeat Belgium 88-72. Former EuroLeague MVP and Final Four MVP Luka Doncic led the winners with 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Klemen Prepelic of Valencia Basket added 13 points, Mike Tobey of FC Barcelona had 12 while Goran Dragic got 11 for Slovenia. Emmanuel Lecomte had 16 points for Belgium, which got its first lead, 63-64, early in the fourth quarter. Doncic and Prepelic stepped up in crunch time to send Slovenia, the defending champion, to the quarterfinals. 

Doncic struck three times from beyond the arc, getting help from Tobey to make it a double-digit game, 16-5. Retin Obasohan of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Hans Vanwijn and Jonathan Tabu helped Belgium get as close as 20-19 late in the first quarter. Zoran Dragic of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Prepelic and Tobey combined for all points in an 8-0 run that restored a 37-27 Slovenian lead. Belgium found a go-to guy in Pierre-Antoine Gillet, who joined forces with Emmanuel Lecomte and Obasohan to get their team within 44-41 at halftime. Doncic stepped up again late in the third quarter, allowing Slovenia to boost its margin to 57-50. Belgium was not done, however, getting within 63-60 after 30 minutes and taking the lead, 63-64, on a layup by Kevin Tumba. Doncic and Prepelic combined for 13 points in a 19-1 run that sealed the outcome, 82-65, as Belgium did not recover. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Slovenija je v četrtfinalu! 🇸🇮<br><br>📊:<br> ➡ Edo 6 skokov<br> ➡ Zoran 6 točk | 5 skokov | 1 pridobljena žoga<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevoSrce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevoSrce</a> | 📸: <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroBasket</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/mUHsnsZtmT">pic.twitter.com/mUHsnsZtmT</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1568610530234957826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### Germany holds off Montenegro's comeback, 85-79

Germany made the most out of its home-court advantage at Berlin Arena by edging Montenegro 85-79. Dennis Schroeder led Germany with 22 points and 8 assists. Maodo Lo of ALBA Berlin and Franz Wagner each added 14 points for the winners. Kendrick Perry led Montenegro with 25 points. Bojan Dubljevic of Valencia Basket added 22. Germany led 48-24 at halftime but Montenegro managed to get within striking distance, 80-77, in the final minute. Free throw accuracy allowed Germany to punch its ticket to the next round. 

Daniel Theis, Schroeder and FC Bayern Munich guard Andreas Obst fueled an 11-2 opening run. Perry and Marko Simonovic rescued Montenegro, bringing their team within 11-10. Johannes Thiemann of ALBA and Lo each struck from three-point range to restore a 19-10 German lead after 10 minutes. Obst and Lo kept pacing Germany and Wagner buried a three-pointer that broke the game open, 32-14. Germany boosted its margin to 48-24 at halftime but Montenegro bounced back after the break. Perry and Dubljevic allowed their team to get within single digits, 67-58, with over 8 minutes remaining. Perry buried back-to-back triples to bring Montenegro even closer, 69-64. Lo and Theimann rescued Germany and Schroeder buried a jumper for a 80-71 German lead with 2 minutes left. Montenegro rallied within 80-77 with 26 seconds left but Lo and Schroeder sealed the outcome from the foul line. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Schroder puts up a show, as hosts Germany 🇩🇪 knock out fearless Montenegro 🇲🇪 in the Round of 16!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BringTheNoise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BringTheNoise</a></p>&mdash; #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1568660367005417478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


### Spain survives overtime thriller, 102-94

In an instant classic, Spain needed overtime to down Lithuania 102-94. Lorenzo Brown of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv paced the winners with 28 points and 8 assists. Willy Hernangomez added 21 points while his brother Juancho and Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid each had 13 for Spain. Mindaugas Kuzminskas led Lithuania with 18 points. Ignas Brazdeikis added 17, his Zalgiris Kaunas teammate Lukas Lekavicius and Domantas Sabonis each had 15 while Rokas Jokubaitis of FC Barcelona had 13 for Lithuania. Spain rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit but Brazdeikis forced overtime with a buzzer-beating tip-in. Brown scored 12 of his 28 points in overtime to make the difference. 

Brown gave Spain an early 9-6 lead, then Lekavicius came off the bench, following a driving layup with a three-pointer for a 19-20 Lithuanian lead after 10 minutes. Spain quickly regained a 29-22 lead behind the Hernangomez brothers. Lithuania found a new go-to guy in Kuzminskas, who joined forces with Marius Grigonis of Panathinaikos Athens to give their team a 40-45 lead at halftime. Kuzminskas struck from downtown to make it a double-digit game, 47-58, soon after the break. Fernandez and Usman Garuba kept Spain alive, 63-68, at the end of the third quarter. Lithuania led 68-75 with over 4 miniues left in regulation. Brown and Willy Hernandez fueled the Spanish comeback and Xavi Lopez-Arostegui of Valencia Basket completed it, 80-78, in the next-to-last minute. Brazdeikis hit a big triple and beat the buzzer with a tip-in to send the game to overtime, 83-83. An unstoppable Brown singlehandedly gave Spain a 95-88 margin with 2 minutes left, allowing Spain to stay alive in the competition. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Nunca se rinde 🇪🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/V7oQQRqfw9">pic.twitter.com/V7oQQRqfw9</a></p>&mdash; #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1568695441386270726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


France and Spain needed respective overtimes to beat Turkey and Lithuania in the EuroBasket Round of 16. Slovenia and Germany also qualified to the quarterfinals. 


EuroBasket Round of 16: France, Slovenia, Germany, Spain win

Dolomiti Energia Trento will play in the finals of the tournament in Cavallino Treporti, Italy, after downing Treviso 80-70. Trento kept an advantage throughout the contest in which Diego Flaccadori led the way with 20 points, Andrejs Graziulis hit 4-for-4 from long range and finished with 14 points, while Darion Atkins scored 13. In the tournament final, Trento will play last years' 7DAYS EuroCup champ Virtus Bologna, which beat another EuroCup side Umana Reyer Venice 78-67 in the other semifinal.

7BET-Lietkabelis Panevezys downed Latvian side Ventspils 97-80 thanks to a big third quarter that Lietkabelis 33-11, breaking open a game that was tied at halftime, 48-48. Zeljko Sakic paced Lietkabelis with 18 points, while Jamel Morris scored 12.

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiSvIW-MXuP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiSvIW-MXuP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiSvIW-MXuP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by BC „7bet-Lietkabelis” (@bclietkabelis)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></center>

In a game played in Riga, Latvia, Prometey Slobozhanske beat Lithuanian side Juventus Utena 80-71. It was Prometey's second preseason game, one in which it led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter. Juventus rallied to close to 58-63, but Prometey pulled away once again, registering a win. D.J. Stephens was top scorer in this victory with 13 points, while Caleb Agada scored 12.

Veolia Hamburg Towers lost against a fellow German League side Braunschweig 64-70 with Seth Hinrchs collecting 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. U-BT Cluj-Napoca lost in Belgrade against the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague side Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, 92-64. Stefan Bircevic scored 20 points in defeat.

Preseason: Trento, Prometey and Lietkabelis register wins

Joventut Badalona has brought in Leonardo Okeke on loan from EA7 Emporio Armani Milan for the next two seasons, the club confirmed on Friday. Okeke (2.05 meters, 19 years old) is widely regarded as being one of the most exciting prospects in Italy. He earned his move to Milan in this off-season after impressing with Monferrato last year in the Italian second division, averaging 9.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks at the power forward position. Now, Okeke will be able to continue his development with Joventut in the 7DAYS EuroCup.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🟢⚫️ La Penya incorpora cedit el pivot italià Leonardo Okeke<br><br>🤝 El Joventut i l’<a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> han arribat a un acord per a les pròximes dues temporades. Okeke serà un dels vinculats al <a href="https://twitter.com/CBPrat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBPrat</a> <br><br>💻 La notícia: <a href="https://t.co/HLcBYUFuIh">https://t.co/HLcBYUFuIh</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/fsaSB9K6i0">pic.twitter.com/fsaSB9K6i0</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1568258739534286848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Okeke previously represented Milan's U20 team for three games during the 2019-20 campaign – averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds – before heading to Italian third division team College BK Borgomanero. The following season, he suited up for [Mamy.eu](http://Mamy.eu) Oleggio for seven games, but he finished the campaign back with College BK Borgomanero, where he started five times. It was last year when Okeke began to take a big step forward, as he made a sizeable impact in largely a bench role with Monferrato. He has also played for Italy at U20 level, averaging 14.0 points, 8.7 points and 1.9 blocks in seven games.

Joventut signs prospect Okeke on loan from Milan

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime is back for its 19th consecutive season. If you are new to the game or just don't remember how to make a team, don't worry! We are here to help. Here is a quick guide on how to make a Fantasy Challenge team.

Fantasy Challenge: Here's how to play! 

[EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) is back for its 19th consecutive season. If you are new to the game or just don't remember how to make a team, don't worry! We are here to help. Here is a quick guide on how to make a Fantasy Challenge team.

1. Go [HERE](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) and click on "CREATE TEAM".

2) A pop-up window will open. If you already have an account, log in. If not, click on "Sign Up" to create an account. 
3) You need to provide your name, surname, email, a password and agree to the terms and conditions to create an account. An email will be sent to your account. Once you verify your email, you will be ready to go.

4) You will then be asked to create a team name and to choose your favorite EuroLeague squad. 
5) Click on the "EuroLeague" drop-down to switch between EuroLeague and EuroCup.

6) You can either choose a random team (top right button) or pick the players and coach you want. There is a search bar to find specific players. You must choose 10 players and 1 head coach within a 100-credit budget. 

7) Remember: starters and the sixth man receive 100% of their points. Bench players get 50% only. The team captain earns double points.


8) Once you have chosen a full roster, click on Save and Continue, and you will be ready to go. Keep in mind that once the season starts, only three players and the coach may be replaced after each round.  

9) Each user may create up to three teams. The more teams you make, the better your chances to win!

10) Click the Leagues tab at the top of the page to create or join a Private League and play directly with friends.


EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge

Roster rundown: London Lions

The London Lions enter their debut season in the 7DAYS EuroCup with a lot of anticipation as the first English team to appear in the competition in 16 years. Back then, the Guildford Heat went 0-10 in the regular season and finished bottom of its group. Nobody in London's organization is expecting something like that to happen, following a summer in which it has significantly strengthened its roster and appointed a new head coach, Ryan Schmidt. London looks eager to shake things up in Group B.

### BACKCOURT

London has just two of its guards remaining from the 2021-22 season: Bradley Kaboza and Josh Ward-Hibbert. The 21-year-old Kaboza joined the senior team in March and made an impact at both ends over the final stretch of the season, after which the club locked him up long-term with a four-year deal. Ward-Hibbert, a former professional tennis player, missed much of last season and hopes to have a bigger role this season.  That won't be easy though because there is going to be a lot of competition for minutes this season. New signing Aaron Best, a Canadian international who briefly played under Coach Schmidt with Hamilton of Canada at the end of last season, figures to have a main role in the backcourt. London has made an effort of trying to bring the best English talent back to the country and it did so with the signing of Luke Nelson, a Great Britain international coming off a strong campaign in the French League. Swingman Mo Soluade, who brings EuroLeague experience from his time with Unicaja Malaga, returns home after playing the past few years in Spain. London also signed veteran EuroCup guard Tarik Phillip, but a knee injury has since sidelined him indefinitely. In his stead, the team made a move for point guard Devon Van Oostrum, another Great Britain international with EuroLeague experience. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Frames from the first half 📸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/londonlions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#londonlions</a> <a href="https://t.co/wjKJfwiKLH">pic.twitter.com/wjKJfwiKLH</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1566090668358901760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### FRONTCOURT

General Manager Brett Burman has rebuilt the frontcourt with a healthy mix of experience, youth and players who are ready to hit the ground running. In particular, the arrivals of Sam Dekker, Ovie Soko and Kosta Koufos have inspired a lot of excitement among London's fanbase. Dekker arrives in the English capital on the back of a solid season in Turkey with Bahcesehir and at 28 years of age, he is someone who will be expected to carry a fair chunk of the load. It is a similar story for Great Britain international Soko. The 31-year-old regularly put up points in the Japanese League last year with Shiga L-Stars and Nagoya DD. Czech forward Vojtech Hruban, who spent the last decade with his homeland's top team and is the all-time leading scorer in the Basketball Champions League, is another frontcourt threat. Two younger players who will be looking to impress and earn minutes at the forward positions are 23-year-old Jonathan Komagum and 21-year-old Kareem Queeley. At center, Koufos brings a wealth of experience with him after spending 11 years in the NBA and playing for CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos Piraeus in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in recent years. He spent the 2021-22 campaign with the G League Ignite but his role was more like a mentor, so he will no doubt be determined to display his talents in a London uniform next season. Koufous will be joined in the paint by Josh Sharma and Tomislav Zubcic. Sharma's shot-blocking skills and Zubcic's outside shooting should allow for creative lineups used by the Lions. 

#### PLAYER TO WATCH

Given his age, experience and quality, Sam Dekker is likely to play a key role for London in its first campaign in the EuroCup. The 2.04-meter forward is a threat around the rim and can be very dangerous from three-point range, while he is also not afraid to display his shooting stroke from mid-range, so opposition defenses will have a lot to worry about when he is on the court. London may be a newcomer to the EuroCup, but it has high hopes about what it could achieve. Dekker does also after a strong EuroCup debut with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar and how well he performs with the Lions could go a long way towards determining how the team does in the coming season.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ARE YOU SEEING WHAT IM SEEING?! 😳 <a href="https://twitter.com/Josharma20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Josharma20</a> throws the hammer down 🔥<br><br>Down by 1 at the end of Q1!<br>Lions 26 : 27 <a href="https://twitter.com/antwerpgiants?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@antwerpgiants</a> 🇬🇧🇧🇪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/londonlions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#londonlions</a> <a href="https://t.co/FI4nTubfn7">pic.twitter.com/FI4nTubfn7</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1566418292788629505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### OUTLOOK

It is never easy to come into a new competition and make an instant impact, but that is exactly what London plans to achieve in the 2022-23 EuroCup. This summer has seen the roster turned upside down, yet the enthusiasm caused by the new signings and the team's place in the EuroCup should lead to a great buzz inside Copper Box Arena. The history of English teams in the competition will not fill some people with confidence, but London has a clear plan and – perhaps more importantly – lofty ambitions. Should everything fall into place, a playoff run could be a real possibility.

AS Monaco took another win in the preseason on Thursday night by defeating 7DAYS EuroCup squad ratiopharm Ulm, 72-99, in a friendly scrimmage in Germany. With superstar Mike James resting for this game, Jordan Loyd led the winners with 20 points, Alpha Diallo added 15 on 6 of 8 shooting and Matthew Strazel contributed 11 points and 4 assists. David Fuchs led the Ulm scorers with 21 points plus 9 rebounds, Josh Hawley added 17 and Matt Mobley posted 13. Monaco managed to win the fist quarter, 13-21, but Ulm came back big in the second to win it and make it 41-43 at the break. In the second half, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague squad meant business and took the court by storm for a 31-56 partal score in the last two quarters that sealed the deal. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">👊 Nouvelle victoire en préparation pour nos Roca Boys qui s’imposent largement 🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ratiopharmulm</a> 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/iiMDKxKzNF">pic.twitter.com/iiMDKxKzNF</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1567966762427207680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz had its first win in the preseason also on Thursday by defeating Casademont Zaragoza, 81-77, in a friendly game played in Logrono, Spain. The first half was close throughout despite Baskonia's 12-2 start, and it ended with Zaragoza leading by 2, 37-39, as Enoch and Hommes had 7 points each. In the third quarter, Baskonia turned things around and took the lead quick to make it 57-50 after 30 minutes. The hosts could never run away comfortably, as Zaragoza stayed in the chase until the very last minute. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Victoria en el primer test de pretemporada<br><br>📎 <a href="https://t.co/D069kXbcQC">https://t.co/D069kXbcQC</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PreseasonBKN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PreseasonBKN</a> <a href="https://t.co/XuO9cNg1LL">pic.twitter.com/XuO9cNg1LL</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1567975225677029377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Check out the latest preseason results for the 18 teams of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, whose opening day is October 6.