ratiopharm Ulm started the 7DAYS EuroCup season by fending off Umana Reyer Venice 81-80 at home in Group A.

Fedor Zugic led Ulm with 18 points while Devin Robinson tallied 13 points and 6 rebounds and teenager Juan Nunez collected 9 points and 7 assists, including the free throw with 14 seconds left that ended up making the difference. Allerik Freeman paced Reyer with 19 points and 6 assists.

Ulm scored the first 5 points of the game and Reyer did not take a lead until a 2-14 run to surge ahead 27-34. The hosts trailed 40-42 at halftime. Ulm failed to score for nearly 5 minutes to start the second half but Reyer only led 40-49. Ulm answered with 9 straight points and followed with a 10-3 spurt to go up 80-75 with 41 seconds to play. Freeman drained a three-pointer with 5.3 seconds to make it 81-80. Matt Mobley missed 2 free throws with 4.3 seconds left for Ulm, but Reyer could not snatch the road win.

Ulm edges Reyer, 81-80, to start Group A with home win

ratiopharm Ulm v Umana Reyer Venice (2022-10-11T17:15:00.000Z)

### ratiopharm Ulm head coach Anton Gavel:

"We are extremely happy after three losses \[in the German League\] to win the game. It doesn’t matter in which competition. I think today we were aggressive and tried to get to the paint and we were rewarded with some free throws. We got hurt a little bit with the two-big-man lineup. That caused us some trouble. But overall in the end, I think we made some good decisions and we are happy to get this game."

### Umana Reyer Venice head coach Walter De Raffaele:

"It’s a tough loss. It’s the second time we lost by 1 point this season. We played too up and down... We had a very good impact on the game and in the third quarter, we showed we could come back one more time but we suffered too much on offensive rebounds and we missed a couple of open shots. We knew that we are a new team and that we need to work."

### ratiopharm Ulm guard Fedor Zugic: 

"It means a lot to us, especially because we are a young team and we played against one of the best teams in the group, who is made to maybe play in the EuroLeague. It means a lot to us. It was a great team win and hopefully, we can keep this up. They were more experienced than us so we had to fight hard, which we did especially on defense. We rebounded the ball pretty well today. I’m pretty happy with our effort today. We just have to keep this going."

Post-game quotes: Ulm vs. Reyer

### Paris Basket head coach Will Weaver:

“I’m proud of the resilience my players showed, especially competing against a team that is as well-coached and well-built as Turk Telekom. They were obviously missing some key contributors tonight and had to use different lineups as a result. I’m a huge admirer of Can Erdem and I think he does an incredibly good job. I think they will be scary to play against at the end of the year but I believe we will be also because our guys have stayed together, injuries, a tough start in which I was not able to coach for the first games, and I think that starting scoring 10 minutes in the first quarter, being scoreless for the first 7 minutes of the game, and from that point forward we made 90, that only comes if you have a very resilient group and a group that plays for each other.” 

### Turk Telekom Ankara head coach Erdem Can: 

“I would like to congratulate Paris for this win. We knew they really are an aggressive team on one-on-one, very athletic, and able to score in one-on-one situations. Until the last quarter, we were able to stick to our game plan, but because of many reasons, in the last period we went down. We couldn’t contain them in one-on-one, we couldn’t stick to our defensive adjustments. We look forward to the next game”

### Paris Basket guard Kyle Allman: 

“I think my teammates made a good job getting me the ball and we were resilient as we were in the first half. We came back, we were down by 15 points and we came back and pushed to get some stops and trusted each other.”

Post-game quotes: Turk Telekom vs. Paris

Turk Telekom Ankara v Paris Basketball (2022-10-11T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Tel Aviv made the most of an extraordinary basketball atmosphere at Shlomo Group Arena by beating London Lions 76-59 in both teams' debut in the 7DAYS EuroCup. 

Hapoel led from start to finish and did not find much trouble to get its first win in Group B. J'Covan Brown paced the winners with 19 points and 6 assists. Xavier Munford and Tomer Ginat added 11 points each for Hapoel. Tomislav Zubcic led London with 21 points and 8 rebounds and Kostas Koufos added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Hapoel broke the game open midway through the second quarter and never looked back.

Brown struck twice from downtown in a 9-0 opening run. Sam Dekker answered with 5 quick points but left the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Hapoel found new go-to guys in Bar Timor and Tomer Ginat to boost its lead to 24-13 after 10 minutes. Brown kept pacing the hosts, getting help from Jordan McRae and Chris Horton to break the game open, 34-17. Kostas Koufos got London closer, 41-28, at halftime. 

Munford took over with 9 quick points right after the break to keep Hapoel out of trouble, 50-32. Vojtech Hruban and Zubcic managed to bring London within 51-40 late in the third quarter. Hapoel improved its defense and then McRae and Horton made sure that Hapoel kept a safe lead all the way until the final buzzer.

Hapoel beats London, 76-59, for first-ever EuroCup win

Hapoel Tel Aviv v London Lions (2022-10-11T17:00:00.000Z)

### Hapoel Tel Aviv head coach Danny Franco: 

"First of all, it was a great atmosphere throughout the game, our fans really gave us a boost and helped us out to climb that mountain of London. I am really happy for the win and excited for the club, it is a good start for us, only the start of the journey."

### London Lions head coach Ryan Schmidt:

"Disappointed is a great word. I don't think we handled the moment very well. Obviously, losing Sam \[Dekker\] hurt us quite a bit but our lack of execution on both ends was pretty disappointing. But it is our first EuroCup game. It is a hell of an environment to play in and we will be fine. I thought there were some times when we did some good things but again, we have to pull a longer stretch together. We were also without Aaron Best, one of our best defenders. He is out with a groin injury and is back in London right now. Obviously, having these two guys out is a lot from a leadership standpoint, from a performance... but again, we have to step up. We have other guys, we are a deep team and it is an opportunity for other guys. We just have to do better.

"Obviously, a tough game for us. Losing Sam \[Dekker\] in the first 5 minutes of the game was obviously a pretty devastating blow, especially from the offensive standpoint, but I thought there were stretches from the second to the fourth quarter that we did a lot of good things. But anytime we spot a team at 11 points, against a talented team like these guys, it is going to be tough to get back in the game. Everyone knows \[Dekker\] is kind of our offensive go-to scorer. You have other weapons on the floor but as you can tell, it was a tough shooting night. So in nights like this when shots aren't falling, I think we shot 15% from three, to be able to have a guy who can create his own shot, missing him hurt us."

### Hapoel Tel Aviv guard J'Covan Brown:

"I just wanted to be aggressive. This is my first EuroCup and I have to set the tone night in and night out. I know what it is about with me. I know what it is about for the organization and my teammates and I am just ready. I'm here, some nights is going to be my night, some nights is not going to be, but most of the time, I am going to make sure I'm there."

Post-game quotes: Hapoel vs. London

Game Notes and Facts: Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg

Check out what the protagonists have to say before the game.

### Vladimir Jovanovic, Buducnost head coach

"I would like to be able to say that we are eagerly awaiting the game with Hamburg and the start of the EuroCup because we have been preparing for it during our short camp. However, with all the problems, we had a game that was played less than 24 hours ago, we won't even have 24 hours until the next game. With all the problems we have in the roster, I mean first of all the absence of \[Alpha\] Kaba, who at this moment will not be able to return to the field quickly. We will try today to prepare as much as possible for Hamburg, a team that has shown an enviable level of talent in the German championship. They won in two matches and against ALBA they played an even match where they had a shot to win. They are composed to play very fast, they kept the style of play from previous seasons even though they changed the coach and players. A versatile team, they have two very good playmakers with totally different playing qualities, shooter James Woodard, two centers who are completely different. It is very important, and from what I can see, our boys are very focused for this game. We will be questionable with strength, but I hope that the fans will come to support us in large numbers and give us the support that we really need at this moment."

### Kenan Kamenjas, Buducnost player

"After our derby game in the Adriatic League, already tomorrow we are expecting a match of the first round of the EuroCup against the Hamburg team. First of all, we need to rest and prepare well because in 24 hours we have a match against a very difficult opponent. They take a lot of shots in transition, as well as from the set attacks, so it will be a game with a lot of wear and tear. We will have to try hard and put a lot of energy and effort to follow their rhythm and hopefully celebrate at the end."

### Raoul Korner, Hamburg head coach

"We are clearly outsiders in the EuroCup, certainly the team with the lowest budget. You can see that in the squads of our opponents, some of whom have also signed EuroLeague players. But that makes it all the more exciting. Similar to the league, we have to solve it as a collective. Against Podgorica, we encounter a different kind of basketball: it's more structured, the individual quality of the players is even higher. Trae Bell-Haynes was MVP in the German League. Reynolds is a proven scorer at this level. Aaron White has played for top teams in the EuroLeague. It's also a different caliber in terms of size and physique." 

### 

### Christoph Philipps, Hamburg player

"The game in the EuroCup is even more structured than in the German League, advantages in the individual positions are played out better. It's also a great experience for me as a young player to get to know other basketball cultures. Even though we'll probably be the underdog in every game, we mustn't shy away. We have to go into the first game on Wednesday and try to surprise them. We have nothing to lose."

### Ziga Samar, Hamburg player

"I'm really looking forward to the start of the EuroCup - it's the second most important competition after the EuroLeague. It's important for me to quickly get used to the rhythm of playing two games a week and to grow with it. We are a young team; not all players have experience at this level. However, we have to go into every game with the attitude that we can win. When we play as a team, we always have a chance of winning, internationally as well."

Pre-game quotes: Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2022-10-12T17:00:00.000Z)

BT Sport will broadcast all games played by the London Lions, as well as semifinals do-or-die showdowns and the most crucial moment of the season, the 7DAYS EuroCup Final.

Rachel Knight, sports rights director, BT Sport, said: "We are looking forward to bringing British basketball fans more coverage of European club basketball, including the London Lions' bid to win the 7DAYS EuroCup."

BT Sport broadcasts in the UK and Republic of Ireland, offering five linear TV channels, six interactive BT Sport Extra channels, and is available on BT TV, Sky, Virgin Media and Talk Talk. BT Sport is also available online and via the App, on mobile and large-screen devices, and operates the pay-per-view channel BT Sport Box Office.

"We are delighted to welcome BT to our family of broadcasters," Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball Marketing and Communication Senior Director, said. "Together with the addition of London Lions to the roster of 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup teams, it was of high priority to find the right partner that would allow us to bring this content to the biggest number of fans possible and help us grow the appeal for professional basketball in the UK. BT is the perfect fit to achieve that."

BT Sport to broadcast the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup in the UK and Ireland

Head-to-head: Muric, Cedevita vs. Bitim, Bursaspor

A pair of forwards who know each other quite well and are coming off career-best seasons, Edo Muric of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Onuralp Bitim of Frutti Extra Bursaspor, are set to face off against each other once again on Wednesday night when their teams square off in Round 1 of the new 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup season.

The two are former teammates who shared the locker room at Anadolu Efes Istanbul for the first part of the 2017-18 season, when each made his debut in that competition. On Wednesday, they will go against each other in a EuroCup game for the third time in just over eight months.

This week's game is a rematch of last season's quarterfinals at Stozice Arena, in which Bursaspor escaped the Slovenian capital with a dramatic 83-85 win. Both players were among the key protagonists of that thriller. Bitim had 14 points and 6 rebounds in 32 minutes in Bursaspor's win, while Muric had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists as Cedevita's rally from a double-digit deficita came up just short.

It was their second head-to-head game of the season. They had also gone against one another in early February, also in Ljubljana, with Cedevita storming to a 103-86 home win. Muric played more minutes than any of his teammates (32:25) that night, and finished with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Bitim played a game-high 35 minutes, and had 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a loss.

That regular season game came as the start of Bitim's explosion onto the scene. After averaging 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in his first five appearances last season, his first in the EuroCup, the 23-year old Bitim went on to score in double figures in 13 of his last 14 appearances. One of the most athletic players in the competition, he finished the season averaging 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists, helping Bursaspor reach the EuroCup Finals.

Muric also had his career-best season, which was his sixth in the competition. Muric averaged 10.4 points making a career-best 69.2% of his two-point shots and 39.8% on three-pointers while pulling down a career-high 5.2 rebounds.

Poised to build on a career-best season, the soon-to-be 31-year old Muric will do everything it takes for Cedevita to get its season started on the right foot. Meanwhile, Bitim will want to continue his run of quality performances, ready to embrace a growing role for last year's finalists.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-10-12T18:00:00.000Z)

### Danny Franco, Hapoel head coach

"We are all excited for our first game in the EuroCup and the return of Hapoel Tel Aviv to compete in the group stage in Europe. We are preparing for the high level and the challenge that the competition brings. We respect the opponent that comes here and are prepared for the challenges it poses to us. We are playing the first game at home and we would like our audience to see a quality match that will hopefully end in our home victory."

### Tomer Ginat, Hapoel player

"We are very excited. We managed to calm down from the crazy atmosphere that was here in the game last Friday and we did a good preparation for London. We have many players with experience and that is very important at this point of the season, we will do everything to start on the right foot and I am sure that together with the atmosphere that will be here It is possible."

### Ryan Schmidt, London head coach

"It's a great opportunity. I think our preparation leading up to this point has been really good. Thankfully, we have had a tough start in some ways where it's kind of helped us. Domestically in the BBL, we have had four tough games against good opponents that have allowed us to dive into some things and clean up some areas that we know we're going to need to be better tomorrow night. This is history in the making for the organization, for the BBL, for UK basketball and everyone's excited about it. It's hard to just kind of focus on one guy in particular. They have got a couple of guys that really stand out on film from a scoring standpoint. Xavier Mumford, Jordan McRae is with them, he is going to play for the first time, it sounds like tomorrow, J'Cowan Brown... So their guards are very dominant from a scoring standpoint, but at the same time they've got guys on the perimeter that you leave open from a shooting standpoint, they can hurt you. Their bigs are really effective playing out of the short roll. So again, a really good well-coached team. And again, we've got to make sure we do a really good job of kind of just defending by committee. And it can't just be a single player that we're focused on."

### Kostas Koufos, London player

"I am definitely excited. Hapoel is a really good team and we are still improving, gaining confidence. The EuroCup is a great league and I am fortunate to be a part of it. We have to play hard and do the simple things: rebound, play good defense and let everything happen on the court. Most importantly, try to get a win."