The Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv fans will be partying into the night in Bulgaria after defeating Valencia Basket 96-91 in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals, bouncing back from a 91-82 defeat at La Fonteta in Game 1 earlier this week.

Hapoel Tel Aviv forces Game 3 with 96-91 win over Valencia

The Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv fans will be partying into the night in Bulgaria after defeating Valencia Basket 96-91 in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals, bouncing back from a 91-82 defeat at La Fonteta in Game 1 earlier this week.

Johnathan Motley dominated for Hapoel, posting 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, while Antonio Blakeney had 22 points, Yam Madar paired 21 points with 9 assists, and Tomer Ginat finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Valencia was led by Matt Costello, who had 21 points. Nate Reuvers netted 13 points, Stefan Jovic poured in 11, and Jean Montero came close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 assists.

Game Videos

Madar was inspired in the early going, being responsible for all 13 of his team’s points by scoring 5 points and dishing 3 assists as Hapoel went 13-7 ahead. The Israeli guard added a couple of steals to his name, with Motley and Ish Wainwright helping swell Hapoel’s advantage to 19-10. A couple of threes by Reuvers and Costello featured during an 11-2 Valencia run to close the quarter, yet Hapoel still led 23-21 after 10 minutes.

Bar Timor struck from deep to get the home fans back into it, but Reuvers scored inside and Jovic’s three-point play tied it up at 26-26. Motley’s tip-in, Timor’s layup and Madar’s three opened a seven-point difference, 33-26, and Motley kept charging by moving to 15 points with the score at 39-32. Xabi Lopez-Arostegui and Reuvers helped make it a one-possession ballgame, 41-39. Then it was the turn of Marcus Foster to get his first points of the night, netting four points in quick succession, 50-44, but Costello scored five points inside the final 1:14 minutes to ensure it was 54-49 at the break.

Game News

Blakeney stepped up for Hapoel in the early stages of the third period, scoring 11 points inside the first three minutes as the hosts went 66-53 ahead. Motley then scored inside to make it a 15-point difference, 68-53, while the lead extended to a game-high 17 points, 74-57, when the American big man found his way to the basket again. Valencia hit back, though, by putting together a 14-2 run that included five points by Jovic to head into the fourth quarter trailing by five, 76-71.

Madar’s three-pointer got the fourth quarter off to a bang, 79-71, but Puerto and Costello both scored inside to keep it close, 79-75. Motley’s mid-range jumper was followed by a triple by Costello, 81-78, then Costello responded to a Madar mid-range jumper to keep Valencia three points behind, 83-80. Reuvers got his team within two points, 83-81, but Blakeney and Madar helped swell the lead to 93-83 with 2:47 to go. Costello, once again, scored inside, but Tomer Ginat’s three resulted in a huge roar among the fans, 96-85. Montero scored a couple of times either side of a Chris Jones layup, but it wasn’t enough for Valencia as Hapoel won 96-91.

The Israeli side led for the last 28 minutes of the game

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Valencia Basket (2025-03-28T17:30:00.000Z)

## Friday, March 28

### [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 96-91 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-valencia-basket/U2024/192/)

Hapoel held off a Valencia comeback attempt to win 96-91 in Bulgaria in Game 2 and force a do-or-die Game 3 at La Fonteta next week. Johnathan Motley dominated for the hosts, posting 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, while Antonio Blakeney had 22 points, Yam Madar paired 21 points with 9 assists, and Tomer Ginat finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Valencia was led by Matt Costello, who had 21 points. Nate Reuvers netted 13 points, Stefan Jovic poured in 11, and Jean Montero came close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 assists.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">עוד אחד. <a href="https://t.co/luQAG1Y2Jv">pic.twitter.com/luQAG1Y2Jv</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1905709981137346803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Dreamland Gran Canaria 69-68 Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/dreamland-gran-canaria-bahcesehir-college-istanbul/U2024/191/)

Gran Canaria’s dreams of reaching the EuroCup Finals are still alive after Caleb Homesley’s three-point play with 1.1 seconds left gave the Spanish side a thrilling 69-68 victory over Bahcesehir. The home victory evened the semifinal series at 1-1 and means Game 3 will be played in Istanbul on Wednesday. Nico Brussino scored 18 points and delivered the pass to Homesley for the game-winner, while Mike Tobey had 11 points and 8 rebounds and Homesley finished with 6 points, all of which came in the fourth quarter for the 2023 EuroCup champion. Bahcesehir thought it had a series sweep when Marko Simonovic threw down a dunk with 2.0 seconds to play, but the Turkish club will need one more home victory to reach the finals. Furkan Korkmaz scored 12 points and Simonovic and Mateusz Ponitka both added 10 points in the loss.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">🏀 Final:<br><br>🐥 Dreamland Gran Canaria 69<br>🔵 Bahcesehir College Istanbul 68<br><br>🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosGranca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosGranca</a> <a href="https://t.co/UWews8jTq8">pic.twitter.com/UWews8jTq8</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1905742014106530026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hapoel and Gran Canaria will need to respond on Friday night, otherwise their EuroCup seasons will be over

Game Center: Gran Canaria, Hapoel Tel Aviv both win to set up Game 3s next week

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-03-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals.

Semifinals, Game 2: Pregame quotes

## Friday, March 28: Game 2

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Valencia Basket (18:30 CET)

**Valencia Basket head coach Pedro Martinez**

"Surely with the environmental factor \[Hapoel\] will have more energy, surely it will help them, but well, we have to think about what is ours, what depends on us. And be prepared for a tough environment, but in the end it is a basketball game, we must not take it out of there. Basketball is always about adaptation, the other day we scored 91 points, hopefully we will score 91 again, and the way we do it, if we run more, run less, shoot more from the outside or shoot less, in the end you have to adapt and be prepared for any circumstance. We are also prepared for them to change things with respect to the first game, we are also going to do the same, and that's it. Small details will surely make the difference. There are always details, nothing revolutionary, nothing very different from what we usually do, but well, for both teams there are certainly things in their tactical baggage that you save for one day, then you put them in the next day, and even more so in these matches that are played in such a short time. It's not something new, but there are things that you've had in previous matches, and well, I'm sure they're going to do it and we're going to do it too. We are only thinking about this match, we are not thinking about anything else, we have to live exclusively in the present, and the present is to play a good game tomorrow and try to qualify."

### Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (21:00 CET)

**Jaka Lakovic, Dreamland Gran Canaria head coach**

"I think the team is doing well. We traveled all day yesterday. So far I don't have all the information from the physiotherapists. We will see how the team is, but I think everyone should be ready to play tomorrow. Above all, we have to improve our defensive rebounding, because they hurt us a lot there. They grabbed twenty offensive rebounds, they hurt us a lot, and they scored 20 second-chance points. On offense we have to improve our reads on their switch defense, where we got stuck. With that, along with the things we've done well and can do better, we should be fine."

**Miquel Salvo, Dreamland Gran Canaria forward**

"We knew it was a long series, and we are sure it will be 120 minutes \[in total\] because we are sure that with our fans, with a lot of people, we will have the enthusiasm and desire to play a good game. We want to force a Game 3 which I think we deserve because of what we've been through: all the trips, the hours away from our families, the effort we've made, the early mornings we've had... I think we deserve to level this series and go back to Istanbul with the pressure on them."

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals

Heading into Game 2 of the EuroCup semifinal series between Valencia Basket and Hapoel Tel Aviv BC, both teams will have learned important lessons in Game 1.

Valencia, Hapoel learned valuable lessons in Game 1

After Game 1 of the semifinal series between [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) and [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/), some cards are already on the table.

Valencia rallied from a double-digit deficit to [beat Hapoel 91-82](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-outlasts-hapoel-at-home-91-82/) at La Fonteta in Game 1, but both teams will meet again at Samokov Arena on Friday. If Hapoel wins, the series would return to La Fonteta for do-or-die Game 3.

Valencia found the way to win despite not being able to impose its rhythm for the best part of the game. It had only 4 assists in the first half, none of which came in the first quarter. Despite entering the game as the competition's leader in three-point shooting (39.1% 3FG), Valencia hit just 4-of-24 shots from downtown (16.7% 3FG).

"We won despite our bad three-point shooting percentage," said head coach Pedro Martinez. "This is something we usually do quite well, and we only 4 four of those even though we scored 91 points, so it's good to score from other positions. We knew it would be difficult to show our identity and be focused. We will try to do that on Friday."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Retratos de una noche especial 🧡<br><br>Nuestro equipo audiovisual se ha puesto creativo, y ha decidido inmortalizar el partido de ayer de una forma especial. <br><br>¿Os gusta? 👀 <a href="https://t.co/jzzstLdQV3">pic.twitter.com/jzzstLdQV3</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1904873748915720653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How did Valencia turn it around? The biggest key was circulating the ball better while preventing Hapoel from doing so. After getting 11 assists and 4 turnovers before the break, Hapoel finished the game with more turnovers (16) than assists (15). Valencia ended up getting 14 second-half assists, too

Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis believes that his team paid a big price for an underwhelming third quarter.

"We pretty much succeeded in the first half, scoring almost 50 points and being +6," commented Coach Itoudis. "The third quarter costed us a lot due to the aggressiveness Valencia showed. We went 1 of 4 and 1 of 8, twos and threes, so 2 of 12 combined, 6 turnovers and no assists. It says a lot how much it cost us this third quarter, but it is a playoff series. We have to become better in the second game and try to find a way to tie the series."

### What changes can we expect in Game 2? 

First of all, small forward Semi Ojeleye should be in a better physical condition. Ojeleye led Valencia in scoring this season (12.8 PPG) but played less than seven minutes against Hapoel, going scoreless. 

"He was feeling really bad in the morning and had a very bad night. An indigestion or indisposition, I don't know exactly what it is. But he has been feeling very bad," Coach Martinez explained. "He has made a great effort: during warm-ups, he had to go to back to the locker room twice because he had diarrhea and needed to vomit. He has made a huge effort coming from his heart more than from his physical skills. Let's see if we can get him back for Friday. Hapoel, meanwhile, was without [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) and [Joe Ragland](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/joe-ragland/005181/), who are key pillars in the team's rotation.

Of course, both teams are set to make adjustments to take the closer to their respective comfort zones. Valencia is all about hard defense, rebounds and high rhythm, looking or quick shots whenever possible. Hapoel is able to score just as much but feels more comfortable in a five-on-five offense in which [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/) and [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) can find one-on-one opportunities. Valencia did a good job bringing Hapoel's stars into foul trouble: Madar and Foster fouled out, and Motley picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter.

Coach Martinez gave credit to his players for solving a tough situation. "You always adjust things but in the end, but it was the players themselves. They were uncomfortable in the first half due to Hapoel's great work. In the second half, they had the ability to adjust better," he said. "As coaches, we change small things, but it is the players who have managed to feel more comfortable."

"We cannot lose our composure and being kicked out because we are nervous for some decisions offensively or defensively, so we need to find a better way to execute the plan," Coach Itoudis noted. "We will work on that, we have two more days to find it out, to figure it out."

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHqKc3vteGu/?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/reel/DHqKc3vteGu/?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; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHqKc3vteGu/?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 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝘃 𝗕𝗖 (@hapoeltlvbc)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Coach Itoudis knows that preventing Valencia from hitting three-pointers should not be enough, as it was proven in Game 1. Valencia outrebounded Hapoel 42-31, took a better care of the ball and found answers outside with an outstanding [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/), but also inside, as [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-costello/010444/) and [Nate Reuvers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nathan-reuvers/012738/) combined for 25 points.

"We lost the battle on rebounds and turnovers, and stayed scoreless for four and a half minutes in the third quarter, staying out of the game plan," Coach Itoudis said. "So it doesn't mean that if you manage to keep Valencia low on the three-pointers you have the game in your pocket, on the contrary they have other ways to win the game, but at least on that part we were pretty much successful."

Above all, EuroCup fans can be sure that it will be another basketball battle between two really well-coached teams.

"We kept playing, looking for our moment and that arrived in the third quarter, in which we improved. We have to recover, try to change some things to see if we are able to be a little more in our rhythm and know that they won't let us do it," Coach Martinez said before the game. "This is basketball: you want to do things and the opponent won't allow you to do it. Both teams will change things and I am sure they will give us even more trouble in the next game."

Adjustments will be key before Game 2 in Samokov, Bulgaria on Friday

The opening game of the best-of-three BKT EuroCup Semifinals left CB Gran Canaria and Bahcesehir College Istanbul with reasons for optimism as they travel to the Canary Islands for Game 2 on Friday night.

Granca, Bahcesehir both have reasons for optimism ahead of Game 2

The opening game of the best-of-three BKT EuroCup Semifinals left both teams with reasons for optimism as they travel to the Canary Islands for Game 2 on Friday night.

For [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/), which held on for [a 74-66 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-overpowers-gran-canaria-74-66-in-game-1-of-semifinals/), the reasons are obvious, starting with the fact that it defended its home court and now is just one win away from a historic appearance in the finals. Coach Dejan Radonjic's team got the job done chiefly through teamwork – plus a brilliant showing from center [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🌅 Günaydın büyük Bahçeşehir Ailesi! 🙋<br><br>❤️💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyHighTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyHighTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HayalDe%C4%9FilHedef?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HayalDeğilHedef</a> <a href="https://t.co/stKLuT98Ep">pic.twitter.com/stKLuT98Ep</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1904771094826881106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bahcesehir used its depth and an overpowering rebounding effort to notch the victory. While the performances off the bench of Simonovic, [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) and [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/) made a massive impact, they overshadowed the fact that two key players – [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) and [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) – were somewhat underwhelming. And that means that Coach Radonjic can look forward to having those players, who combined to play less than 20 minutes on Tuesday, well-rested and hungry for Game 2.

What's more, aside from its fantastic rebounding, Bahcesehir did very little that it cannot repeat or improve on in Game 2. It shot below its season-long numbers, making only 48.7% of its two-pointers and 30.4% of its threes. The 12 turnovers committed were 1 more than normal and the lone blocked shot was fewer than normal.

All told, aside from its team-record 20 offensive rebounds and Simonovic's career game, Bahcesehir can be confident for Friday's contest.

### Gran Canaria looks to even things at home

And why would Gran Canaria be confident? Start with the fact that after stumbling to an 18-point third-quarter deficit, it outscored Bahcesehir 8-21 to get within 5 points in the fourth quarter. That run should boost the team's spirits, as coach Jaka Lakovic alluded to.

"The game was a physical game. I think we started the game well and after that Bahcesehir made a 10-0 run to take control of the game with their switching defense, which we didn’t resolve well," Lakovic said in the post-game press conference. "In the second half we started to play more physical with more effort. We stopped Bahcesehir on 25 points in the second half. But at the moments where we needed the stops, where we came close to 5 points, we gave up too many rebounds."

In short, Gran Canaria bounced back from a slow start, played strong second-half defense and needs a better plan against Bahcesehir's switching defense and rebounding. It sounds like much of Coach Lakovic's Game 2 plan should be easy to prepare!

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🤝 𝗡𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗦, 𝗡𝗢𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗦 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗦<br><br>💛 Esto no acaba aquí. <a href="https://t.co/y0J1s6OSHG">pic.twitter.com/y0J1s6OSHG</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1904617126775681403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So far, in the three meetings this season between these teams, the home team has won each time. Only twice has a team scored more than 70 points in those matchups. And Gran Canaria has scored at least 70 points in seven of its 10 home games and averaged 82.2 points at home this season.

One of the best free-throw shooting teams in the EuroCup, Gran Canaria was just 11 of 16 from the line (68.9%) in Istanbul, including a few costly misses. Coach Jaka Lakovic will also have his team primed for a better rebounding effort in Game 2 after Bahcesehir controlled the glass to the tune of 42-27 – and scored 16 second-chance points – in the opener.

Perhaps the biggest advantage for Gran Canaria is the psychological one. Playing with its back to the wall, the team will give everything to stay alive, while in the back of their minds, Bahcesehir's players will know that there is always Game 3 to fall back on.

For club legends and team leaders [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) and [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/), going down without maximum effort is out of the question. And in them, like teammates [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/), [Miquel Salvo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/miquel-salvo/005005/) and [Jovan Kljajic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jovan-kljajic/007560/), beats the heart of a champion. A 2023 EuroCup champion. And that should be more than enough to win this game and push the series to Game 3 next week.

Bahcesehir shined in the opener, but Gran Canaria will host Friday's showdown

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Semifinals winner, Game 1

Congratulations to Arale Weisberg, our 21st winner in the 2024-25 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Arale's team, 'Aralos 10', posted a score of 178.25

Arale had the following starting lineup: Jean Montero of Valencia Basket as team captain, then his teammate Matthew Costello, Yam Madar of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Bahcesehir College Istanbul duo of Marko Simonovic and Axel Bouteille. Valencia guard Chris Jones was the sixth man.

The head coach of Arale's team was Pedro Martinez of Valencia Basket, and the four bench players were Tyler Cavanaugh of Bahcesehir, Ish Wainright of Hapoel as well as Dreamland Gran Canaria duo of Nico Brussino and Caleb Homesley.

The prize for finishing first in the 21st round of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Arale!

The leader in the overall standings remains Milos Mihajlovic and his squad, 'BallIsLife', which has a total of 3,523.15 points after the first 21 rounds. Trades are now open for the 22nd round, which is Game 2 of the EuroCup semifinals, and the number of trades is unlimited.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become EuroCup Fantasy Challenge's next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager, so get in the game and go for the gold!

Jean Montero is nicknamed "El Problema". If anyone had doubts on why he is called like that, Montero made sure everyone knew. 


Jean Montero solved Valencia's scoring problems against Hapoel

In an intense and extremely tactical showdown, Valencia Basket grabbed a 91-82 victory over Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv at La Fonteta, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semifinal playoff series and getting within one victory of returning to the EuroCup Finals for the eighth time.

It was not easy for Valencia, as Hapoel started the game with the right rhythm, not allowing the hosts to share the ball and forcing their best scorers into one-on-one situations. Hapoel quickly identified [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) as its go-to guy, and soon got plenty of help from [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/) to get a double-digit margin, 36-46, near halftime.

Valencia needed answers on offense and 21-year-old guard [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/) provided them from that moment until the end of the game.

Jean Montero finished the game with 24 points, scoring 20 of those in the final 22 minutes of the game. He led Valencia to a 1-0 lead in its best-of-three semifinal series against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.

Montero leads Valencia past Hapoel

Montero went to the line twice and made all 4 free throw attempts to help Valencia get within 42-48 at halftime. After the break, Montero scored around the basket off a great pass by [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-jones/010568/), added a floater and sent the crowd to their feet with a wild four-point play. He then found [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-costello/010444/) for a jump hook that capped a 12-0 run. When Hapoel got within 62-59 late in the third quarter, Montero stepped up once again with an off-balance three-point play.

He was far from done: Montero buried a jumper and soon added a three-pointer to put Valencia on track to win the game, 74-63, with 8 minutes remaining. Montero finished the game with 24 points, scoring 20 of those in the final 22 minutes of the game.

"I don't really focus on points. I am just trying to do my thing the best I can do, to help the team to get the dub. I know I am really good at getting points but I am just trying to do my thing," Montero said. "They are a great team and we can never give up. We know it is not going to be an easy series. They have great players and we have to fight through it, just keep in the momentum."

Valencia had 4 assists before the break but once Montero found his rhythm, everybody followed. Valencia had 14 assists in the second half and committed just 9 turnovers. It also outrebounded Hapoel by 42-31, including 16 offensive rebounds. 

After the game, Valencia head coach [Pedro Martinez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/martinez-pedro?season=U2024) praised Hapoel's defense and said that he expects another top-class basketball battle in Game 2 on Friday.

"We beat a great team that plays very tough, very smart, an incredibly well-coached team. We had a lot of problems and were out of rhythm for a lot of minutes," Coach Martinez said after the game. "It was a tough game, maybe the toughest game of the season for us. We have to prepare, because the next game is going to be very similar to this."

If anyone questioned why Montero is nicknamed 'El Problema', he supplied answers on Tuesday night

Valencia Basket v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-03-25T19:30:00.000Z)

Jean Montero scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half 


Valencia outlasts Hapoel at home, 91-82! 

Valencia Basket got closer to its eighth EuroCup Finals by downing Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 91-82 at La Fonteta in Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinal playoff series on Tuesday.

Valencia took a 1-0 lead in the series and earned a chance to punch its finals ticket if it beats Hapoel again in Game 2 in Samokov, Bulgaria. Jean Montero led the winners with 24 points. Chris Jones and Matt Costello each added 13 while Nate Reuvers had 12 for Valencia. Yam Madar and Marcus Foster were Hapoel's top scorers with 20 points apiece. Johnathan Motley had 12 while Antonio Blakeney added 10 for the visitors.

Blakeney got Hapoel going with a five-meter jumper and Motley added a layup. Tomer Ginat capped a 0-6 opening run with a backdoor layup. Jones halved the Valencia deficit, Yam Madar followed Motley's layup with a three-pointer. Reuvers dunked and Jones added a jumper, but Madar singlehandedly kept the visitors in charge, 8-15. Montero sank a six-meter shot before Jaime Pradilla ignited the crowd with a coast-to-coast dunk. After Ish Wainright and Stefan Jovic traded layups, Ginat struck from beyond the arc to boost Hapoel's lead to 14-20. Brancou Badio found his first points for Valencia. Ginat matched Jovic's layup with a floater and Foster's power basket established a 20-24 Hapoel lead after 10 minutes.

Reuvers took over with an alley-oop dunk early in the second quarter and then Jones followed a layup with a triple to give Valencia its first lead, 27-24. Montero capped a 9-0 run with a layup, prompting Hapoel to call timeout at 29-24. Madar struck from downtown and matched Jones's backdoor basket with a layup. He then scored in penetration to tie it at 31-31. Pradilla scored in the low post and Blakeney struck twice from beyond the arc before Jovic drew Valencia within 34-37. Motley stepped up with a three-point play and got help from Blakeney and Marcus Bingham to make it a double-digit game, 36-46. Montero and Costello brought Valencia closer, 42-48, at halftime.  

 

Montero followed a layup with a floater after the break and soon added a wild four-point play to put Valencia back ahead, 50-48. Costello capped a 12-0 Valencia run with a jump hook. Madar and Timor stepped up to bring Hapoel within 52-51. Reuvers made free throws before Costello followed a jump hook and a three-pointer that prompted Hapoel to call timeout at 59-51. Foster tried to change things with a bomb from downtown and matched Pradilla's fastbreak layup with a driving basket that brought Hapoel within 62-57. Bingham made foul shots before Montero's off-balance three-point play gave Valencia plenty of fresh air, 65-59, at the end of the third quarter.

 

Madar buried a jumper off the dribble, which Costello immediately erased with a fastbreak layup. Montero sank a jumper and followed Costello's layup with a bomb from beyond the arc that boosted Valencia's lead to 74-63. Foster followed a driving layup with a three-pointer to give Hapoel hope, 74-68, with 6 minutes left. Reuvers dunked and Jovic erased Foster's floater with a driving layup. Foster buried a corner triple after a timeout. Reuvers took over with an alley-oop slam and Badio's layup-plus-foul kept Valencia in control, 83-74, with over 3 minutes remaining. After Timor struck from downtown, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui scored around the basket and Pradilla's layup sealed the outcome, 87-77. Hapoel kept fighting but the Valencia fans were already celebrating an important home win.

Valencia outlasts Hapoel at home, 91-82

Bahcesehir College Istanbul dominated on the glass and got a huge lift from its second unit en route to a 74-66 victory over Dreamland Gran Canaria in the opening game of their best-of-three BKT EuroCup Semifinals series

Bahcesehir's second unit lifted it in Game 1

It may not have been the way coach Dejan Radonjic drew it up, but it worked perfectly. Bahcesehir College Istanbul dominated on the glass and got a huge lift from its second unit en route to a 74-66 victory over Dreamland Gran Canaria in the opening game of their best-of-three BKT EuroCup Semifinals series.

The home team scored its first basket of the game, a CJ Massinburg three-pointer, after a Kenan Sipahi offensive rebound and continued to control the boards the rest of the night. By the end, Bahcesehir outrebounded Gran Canaria 42-27, including a whopping 20 offensive boards. The home team turned those into 16 second-chance points.

The man who led the way was Marko Simonovic, who tallied 8 rebounds. Those were part of a spectacular line that also included 20 points, 3 assists and 3 steals for a personal-best PIR of 29.

Bahcesehir's reserves made the difference in Game 1

What made his line stand out even more was the fact that Simonovic did not start the game. He was joined by Sehmus Hazer, Furkan Korkmaz and Jalen Smith among Bahcesehir who left their mark on the game despite coming off the bench.

That quartet combined for 42 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and 5 steals. The Bahcesehir starters had 32 points, 24 rebounds, 11 assists and 3 steals in 27 more combined minutes.

Hazer made his mark early, subbing in with the game tied 15-15 and promptly nailing a three-point shot from the corner. He would add a monster slam in the second quarter and finished the game with 9 points, 3 assists and 1 steal in 19 minutes.  

Korkmaz did his damage in the second quarter when he scored all 8 points of his points. Smith clocked in with just 5 points, but dished 6 assists.

Their impact can be seen in the +/- stats with Simonovic at +19, Smith +9 and Hazer +7, showing how Bahcesehir simply played its best basketball with them on the floor.

The series now moves to Spain for Game 2 on Friday and Gran Canaria will need to pay extra attention to Bahcesehir's second unit if it hopes to tie the series and force a deciding game next week back in Istanbul.

The Turkish side has the advantage in its series with Gran Canaria

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-03-25T17:00:00.000Z)