Aquila Basket Trento guard DeVante Jones spoke with Javier Gancedo in this week's EuroCup interview.

DeVante Jones: 'I’m hoping to have Victor Wembanyama in Trento soon'

[Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) has been one of the most successful road teams in the BKT EuroCup this season. In Round 5, the Italian side [defeated Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens 87-91](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/surprisingly-smarter-trento-rallied-big-to-sting-panionios/), coming from behind in the fourth quarter. [DeVante Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/devante-jones/013260/) played a key role, scoring nine of his 20 points in the final five minutes, including a clutch go-ahead basket and free throws to seal the win.

This is Jones’s second EuroCup season, after a year with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. So far, he’s averaging 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a PIR of 17.2. Off the court, he stays close with former teammate Victor Wembanyama, the NBA's rising star. Jones and Wembanyama keep in touch, and Jones is hopeful that Wembanyama might visit him in Trento soon, as he revealed to Euroleague.net's Javier Gancedo. 

DeVante Jones joined Dolomiti Energia Trento this season. 

Round 1-5 highlights: DeVante Jones, Trento

**Q: DeVante, let's start with the win over Panionios. You rallied in the fourth quarter and never lost faith. What helped you get this important road win?**

“Thanks. As a team, we just haven’t been in situations like that much this season. Toto \[Forray\] was a big help – he’s a great leader. He kept reminding us to stay calm, be patient, and stick to our game plan. Towards the end, Coach \[Massimo Cancellieri\] wanted me to have the ball in my hands to make plays, and my teammates trusted me. That trust really helped me make the right decisions down the stretch.”

**Q: You've had great success on the road, but a couple of tough losses at home. How do you translate that road mentality into your home games?**

“We just need to be more consistent. We’ve got to use our home crowd to our advantage, that ‘sixth man’ energy that can lift us when we’re tired or struggling to score. On the road, we have a chip on our shoulder because we know we’re facing tough environments, but at home, we should have that same mindset. Hopefully, we can bring that same focus to our home games before the season’s over.”

**Q: You’ve already had three 20-point games this season. Is this the kind of role you envisioned when you joined Trento, maybe a bigger role than what you had in Ljubljana with Cedevita Olimpija?**

“I definitely wanted more responsibility, but not just as a scorer. I knew I could make plays at a high level, so having the ball in my hands has been a big part of my role. I’m one of those guards who can do a little bit of everything – score, pass, defend, rebound. Trento’s done a great job of letting me showcase my abilities on both ends of the court. This year, I've been asked to step up as a scorer more often, which is fine with me because my teammates trust me to take those shots.”

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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/DQPynIhDsyR/?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 3 (@devante.jones_)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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**Q: Let's talk about a couple of your teammates. First, Cheickh Niang, one of the youngest players in the league. His brother already plays in the EuroLeague and for the Italian national team. How do you see his potential?**

“Cheickh reminds me a lot of Bilal Coulibaly, the kid from the \[Washington\] Wizards – both are very athletic, great defenders, and just have a lot of potential. I really like Cheickh. He’s always working hard, getting extra shots in, and putting in the work before and after practice. I’m always trying to keep him focused and pushing him to improve. The sky’s the limit for him.”

**Q: And then there’s the veteran, Toto Forray, a Trento legend. How important is it to have someone like him in the locker room, showing the new guys what it means to be part of this team and city?**

“Toto is huge for us. He’s one of those leaders who just brings people together effortlessly. He’s always cracking jokes, making sure everyone feels comfortable, not just with basketball but with life in Trento. He helps us get acclimated to the city and the culture. We’ve got a group chat where he’s always checking in, making sure everyone has what they need. On the court, he’s a great player too. He’s always hustling, always showing what it means to play the ‘Trento way.’ Having him around is like having a cheat code.”

**Q: You spent your first season in Europe with Victor Wembanyama at Metropolitans 92. What do you remember from that experience, and how was it playing with him?**

“It was great. I wish I’d been able to take full advantage of that experience because it went by so fast! But I got really close with Victor, and we still talk today. Playing with him was amazing. From getting police escorts to every game to seeing him work before and after every game, his work ethic is unbelievable. Not only as a player but as a person – he’s really humble and down-to-earth. It was awesome watching him grow, and now seeing him do well in the NBA, it’s amazing. Everything about that year was great.”

**Q: You and Victor stay in touch, do you think he follows your games, or the EuroCup and EuroLeague games in general?**

“Yeah, I think he’s been watching some of my games this season. I’ve talked to him about coming out to one whenever he has the chance, so hopefully he’ll make it to a game. We’re still talking about it, trying to figure out when it works for both of us. So, I’m hoping to have him in Trento soon!”

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**Q: This is your second EuroCup season after Ljubljana. Does the experience from last year help you settle in more comfortably this time around?**

“Definitely. Having a season under my belt makes a big difference. I know what to expect from the players, the refs, the physicality, and the crowds. So, it’s much easier to adjust this time. And it’s also fun for me because I can help the younger guys understand what to expect. They’re learning the difference between the EuroCup and the Italian League, so it’s been a lot of fun so far.”

**Q: Up next is Lietkabelis, a must-win game if you want to keep your playoff hopes alive. Is that the mentality you’re bringing into this game?**

“Absolutely. It’s the same mentality we had going into the Panionios game. They’re kind of struggling, but they’ll give us their best shot. This is a crucial game for us, just like the last one. In EuroCup, sometimes it comes down to one game or even one point for the playoffs. So, it’s huge. We’ve got to bring our best, and I know they’ll be coming at us hard, too. I can’t wait for it.”

**Q: Trento is in its 10th EuroCup season, and you’ve also experienced basketball in Ljubljana. How are you enjoying the opportunity to experience different basketball cultures?**

“I’m really enjoying it. Experiencing different basketball cultures is a blessing. The guys around me are open to sharing their cultures, and it’s just a great feeling to learn new things every day. Getting closer with the team and seeing the brotherhood form is something special. It’s an experience I’ll always treasure.”

More Trento News

The guard spoke with Javier Gancedo in this week's EuroCup interview

Balancing out your rosters for Round 6 of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge may be a bit of a challenge. Here are five inexpensive suggestions who just might help your team: Matas Jogela, Dolomiti Energia Trento (8.3 credits)
Malik Osborne, ratiopharm ulm (10.0 credits)
Jordan Parks, Umana Reyer Venice (9.8 credits)
David Skara, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (7.9 credits)
Giorgos Tsalmpouris, Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (7.6 credits)


Fantasy tips, Round 6: Making the most of an unbalanced week

Balancing out your rosters in Round 6 may be a bit of a challenge. While there are four games on Tuesday and six on Wednesday, I discovered when I started preparing for this week  that the overwhelming majority of my players have Wednesday (i.e. Turn 2) games. This is especially noteworthy when choosing a captain. Eight of the top 10 players in PIR this season are playing in Turn 2 this week.

Grabbing one of those two, [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) or [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/), to be your Turn 1 captain could be beneficial. Regardless, Knowing what you will do in Turn 2 is important. I plan to use [Malachi Flynn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/malachi-flynn/013908/) as my captain – if my Tuesday choice does not hit big – because the Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem defense has allowed opposing guards to flourish and , after all, Flynn is third in the competition in PIR with 22.8 per game.

Before we go any further, let's review my picks from last week. [Nike Sibande](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nike-sibande/013889/) scored 11 and gained 0.1 credits. [Umoja Gibson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/umoja-gibson/013855/) scored 19 and gained 0.4 credits. [Berk Ugurlu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/berk-ugurlu/003783/) scored 3.3 and lost 0.2 credits. [Augustin Ubal](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/agustin-ubal/010062/) scored 21 and gained 0.5 credits. And [Jakub Urbaniak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jakub-urbaniak/012777/) scored 11 and gained 0.2 credits. If you took my advice, it helped! Let's see what Round 6 has in store. Here are five inexpensive suggestions who just might help your team:

### Matas Jogela, Dolomiti Energia Trento (8.3 credits)

Lithuanian forward [Matas Jogela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matas-jogela/006853/) is leading Trento into his home country this week, which for some might be a good enough reason to expect a good game from him. Add to that the fact that the opponent, Lietkabelis Panevezys, has allowed the most fantasy points to forwards in the EuroCup this season and now we’re talking. And Jogela is coming off a season-high PIR of 17 last week.

Has Malik Osborne just turned a corner?

### Malik Osborne, ratiopharm ulm (10.0 credits)

Has [Malik Osborne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/malik-osborne/013916/) just turned a corner? If so, now may be the time to jump on board. The center comes off a monster EuroCup game against fellow German side NINERS Chemnitz – 16 points and 14 rebounds for a PIR of 29 – and followed that up with an efficient 11-point, 6-board, 16 PIR line over the weekend in the German League. Osborne has a high floor as he ranks sixth in the league in rebounding with 7.2 per game. If he takes on a larger offensive role, he becomes a fantasy asset.  

 

### Jordan Parks, Umana Reyer Venice (9.8 credits)

[Jordan Parks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-parks/011909/) has found a home in Venice, where is now in his fourth season. He has started all five games so far in the EuroCup and seems to have found his groove recently – as well as a boost in playing time – with 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks for a PIR of 18.0 over the last two games. Reyer scored in triple figures in both of those games and could do so again against Hamburg, which has allowed 99.2 points per game this season.

 

### David Skara, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (7.9 credits)

This one is a little riskier, but for the price, he should be worth the gamble. [David Skara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/david-skara/004639/) has averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals for a PIR of 19.5 in the last two rounds, while facing the tough frontlines of Bahcesehir. Cedevita's Round 6 opponent, Cluj, has given up the most fantasy points to centers so far this season. The mitigating factor is Cedevita's signing of Will McNair over the weekend, but I expect Skara will still see plenty of minutes in Romania.

 

### Giorgos Tsalmpouris, Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (7.6 credits)

The Panionios big man was on my radar last week, but I thought it was wiser to wait and see how things shook out in the team's first game under new head coach Ilias Zouros. Then [Giorgos Tsalmpouris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/giorgos-tsalmpouris/006548/) dominated to the tune of 18 points and 6 rebounds for a PIR of 23 in 24 minutes against Trento. The matchup against Turk Telekom will be tougher, but it's also a Turn 1 game, which adds value.

Giorgos Tsalmpouris dominated in his first game under Coach Zouros. 

More EuroCup Fantasy Challenge News

Frankie Sachs offers fantasy managers some recommendations for this week's games

Umana Reyer Venice v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-11-05T19:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm ulm v London Lions (2025-11-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v Slask Wroclaw (2025-11-05T18:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-11-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Neptunas Klaipeda v BAXI Manresa (2025-11-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (2025-11-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-11-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v NINERS Chemnitz (2025-11-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-11-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-11-04T16:00:00.000Z)

Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup features big battles at the top of both groups, with the race for the playoffs starting to take shape. Here’s your overview of this week’s action.

At a glance: Big tests await for the two group leaders

Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup features big battles at the top of both groups, with the race for the playoffs starting to take shape. Here’s your overview of this week’s action.

## Tuesday, November 4

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (17:00 CET)

In-form Turk Telekom (3-2) will look to continue heading in the right direction with a visit from struggling Panionios (1-4). The host has won three in a row, most recently triumphing at London behind backcourt duo Kyle Allmann and Jaleen Smith combining for 40 points. Kyle Alexander also grabbed a double-double in that game – 15 points and 10 rebounds – and he will try to dominate the paint against visiting center Nate Watson, who had 20 points and 6 rebounds in a losing effort against Trento last week. Panionios, which has lost four straight, must improve a perimeter defense which has allowed opponents to convert 38.6% of three-point shots so far.

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (19:00 CET)

A key battle in Group B will see third-placed Buducnost (3-2) attempt to topple group leader Besiktas (4-1). The Turkish team is coming off a mightily impressive 30-point thrashing of Bourg, powered by a big double-double of 15 points and 14 boards from Ante Zizic, so Buducnost big man Jerry Boutsiele (11 points and 8 boards in last week’s win over Lietkabelis) will have to be at his best to help his team secure a third straight win. These are the joint second-best long-range shooting teams in the competition, both converting 38.4% of three-pointers, so the quest for supremacy from beyond the arc between Axel Bouteille (60%) and Connor Morgan (55.6%) will be crucial.

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. NINERS Chemnitz (19:30 CET)

Bourg (4-1) will attempt to return to winning ways with a visit from resurgent Chemnitz (2-3). The French team lost its perfect record by suffering a 30-point thumping at Besiktas last week, with only forward Ricardo Lindo scoring more than 10 points, so needs a major collective improvement especially in taking care of the ball after committing 18 turnovers in that loss. Chemnitz, on the other hand, boosted its confidence with a home triumph over Ulm, and will continue to run its offense through outstanding big man Kevin Yebo, who has an average PIR of 26 in the last three games. Another key is the backcourt battle between home team leader Darius McGhee and visiting Corey Davis Jr, who poured in 23 points last week.

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (20:00 CET)

Trento (2-3) will attempt to take its first home win of the season with a visit from Lietkabelis (1-4). The Italian team grabbed a road win at Panionis in Round 5 as backcourt leader Devante Jones scored 20 points for the third time this season, and will look for more long-range shooting from Matas Jogela after he went 5-of-9 from deep in the last two games. Lietkabelis is coming off four straight losses and needs defensive improvement after allowing 98, 93 and 98 in the last three. However, optimism comes in the form of Michael Flowers, who made a great debut by scoring 20 points in last week’s loss to Buducnost.

## Wednesday, November 5

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (18:00 CET)

A big battle is guaranteed as Cluj (3-2) faces Cedevita (3-2) in a battle of two teams currently tied for second place in Group A. The home team leads the competition in rebounding (38.6 per game so will look to dominate physically against a Cedevita team that ranks last in that category (31.4 per night). Cluj’s main rim protector is Dusan Miletic, who tops all rebounders with 9.0 per game, while Fatts Russell maintained his magnificent season by pouring in 26 points in last week’s easy win over Hamburg. Cedevita has lost two in a row but has guard Aleksej Nikolic in great form after scoring at least 14 points in every game this season.

### Neptunas Kleipeda vs. BAXI Manresa (18:00 CET)

Neptunas (2-3) will attempt to keep hold of that winning feeling as it looks to climb level in the standings with Manresa (3-2). The Spanish team is looking for a return to the win column following last week’s loss against Bahcesehir despite another strong game from young guard Agustin Ubal – who has scored in double digits in four straight games. Neptunas boasts the EuroCup’s best rebounding unit, averaging 38.6 boards per night led by Martynas Pacevicius with 6.0 boards per game. Maintaining that physical presence will be important against a Manresa defense which ranks second in the league (78.4 points per game allowed) and will lean on the rebounding of Grant Golden (5.4 boards per game).

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (18:00 CET)

A mouth-watering showdown between two title candidates promises plenty of drama with unbeaten Bahcesehir (5-0) taking on Hapoel (3-2). The visitor is one of four teams currently tied for second place in Group A, and has won two games straight after thrashing Aris last week with six players scoring in double digits. The battle for inside supremacy will be crucial between two of the competition’s most effective two-point shooting teams: Hapoel leads the league with 65% of two-pointers made, with Bahcesehir fifth (58.8%). A highlight will be the backcourt battle between home team leader Malachi Flynn and visiting ace Jared Harper, who both average 17.8 points with double digits scoring in every game.

### ratiopharm ulm vs. London Lions (19:00 CET)

A pair of Group B’s direct rivals aiming for a return to winning ways meet in Germany as Ulm (3-2) hosts London (2-3). The German team ranks second in the competition in scoring (94.8 points per game), while London ranks last with just 72.8 points per night. Home team forward Christopher Ledlum is among the major threats to London’s hopes, with the forward netting at least 16 points in four games straight. This week he faces a good tussle with Joel Scott, who has averaged 15 points in the last two games but would love to improve his accuracy from deep after only making 2 of his 16 three-point attempts this season.

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Slask Wroclaw (19:00 CET)

A chance to climb up Group A’s standings is up for grabs with Slask (2-3) travelling to Aris (2-3). Both teams need to recover winning ways, with injury-hit Slask losing two straight after being outgunned by Trento last time out while Aris is on a three-game slide after failing to reach 80 points in any of those games. The Greek team will try to play in the paint after compiling a strong 58.7% two-point conversion rate, including big man Steven Enoch averaging 9.6 points on 65.4% two-point shooting. Slask, in contrast, has a competition-worst 48.8% success rate from inside the arc, so needs others to step up in support of Noah Kirkwood (13.6 points per game on 59% two-point shooting).

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (20:00 CET)

Reyer (2-3) will attempt to build more momentum with a visit from rock bottom Hamburg (0-5). The visitor is the only winless team in the EuroCup, extending that unwanted sequence with a heavy home loss against Cluj last week. In contrast, Reyer’s offense rolled to 104 points to triumph at Slask, and will hope Denzel Valentine can continue his excellent three-point shooting after netting 6 triples in that win. Hamburg’s offense can rely on productivity from guard Leonard Thorpe (15.6 points and 4.4 assists per game), but the German team must toughen up defensively after allowing a competition-high 99.2 points per game so far, with opponents converting a huge 64.5% of two-point attempts.

The action is heating up in the EuroCup as we enter Round 6

Sportsradar examines how excelling with tip-ins and stick-backs has made a difference for the Lithuanian side

Stats review: How Neptunas is translating offensive rebounds into wins

It was a chaotic week in the BKT EuroCup as seven teams claimed road victories to create an early logjam in the middle of the standings, where 14 teams have either 2 or 3 wins. [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) remained undefeated in Group A and [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/) secured [an important win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/besiktas-puts-on-a-show-to-end-bourgs-unbeaten-record/) over [Cosea JL Bourg-En-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) to draw even with them at the top of Group B, but [Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/neptunas-klaipeda/kla/) claimed perhaps the hardest fought win of the round, starting fast and holding onto a narrow lead late [to notch a victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/neptunas-hangs-on-by-a-thread-against-cedevita-in-roller-coaster-battle/) of [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) in Arena Stozice.

Neptunas has won its last two games after dropping its first three, but it has done one thing at an exceedingly high level all year: turn offensive rebounds into quick points. Neptunas's efforts there were likely the difference in a one-possession victory in Round 5 as it scored 10 or more points on put-backs for the fifth consecutive game.

At face value, the fact that Neptunas leads the EuroCup in put-back scoring is not a major surprise; it also ranks first in total offensive rebounds through 5 games and is fourth in offensive rebound percentage - the proportion of available rebounds it has secured on that side of the floor. However, the percentage of those rebounds that it turns into immediate points ranks among the better marks in recent history and the 11.4 points scored on put-backs per game is exactly double this season’s average.

While a little less than half - roughly 45% - of all offensive rebounds in the EuroCup result in an attempted tip-in or stick-back layup, Neptunas’s offensive rebounds result in an immediate score 58% of the time. It not only wins the battle on the glass consistently, but the rebounding edge it maintains has materialized on the scoreboard. 

Neptunas has [James Karnik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/james-karnik/013884/) and [Martynas Pacevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/martynas-pacevicius/013883/) to thank for that.  While they rank fifth and 11th in total offensive rebounds respectively, they currently sit second and third in put-back points per game while shooting a combined 16-of-21 on their attempts.  That duo not only does a good job chasing boards, but they often carve out good enough position to score when they crash.  With point guard [Arnas Velicka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/arnas-velicka/006326/), forward [Donatas Tarolis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/donatas-tarolis/005860/), and reserve [Zane Waterman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zane-waterman/014079/) also chipping in, a group effort has been key to their overall production pursuing caroms. 

21-year-old [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) big man [Zacharie Perrin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zacharie-perrin/011579/) has been the EuroCup’s best individual offensive rebounder and put-back scorer in the early going with [Dusan Miletic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/) of [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/), [Kris Bankston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kris-bankston/012760/) of [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/), and [Malik Osborne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/malik-osborne/013916/) of [ratiopharm ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) also putting up impressive numbers. 

If last year is any indication, the margins around the postseason cut line this season will be razor-thin, so what teams get on the margins can be the difference between an early exit and a postseason berth.  There is no shortage of teams doing good work on the offensive glass so far this season, but not all offensive rebounds are created equal, and that’s had obvious implications in several close games recently.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana announced on Sunday that it has signed big man Will McNair to a two-month contract

Cedevita Olimpia signs big man Will McNair to short-term deal

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana announced on Sunday that it has signed big man Will McNair to a two-month contract. McNair (2.10 meters, 25 years old) has already joined the club and is expected to be in uniform on Wednesday when the team takes on U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Round 6 of the BKT EuroCup.

McNair has spent his entire professional career playing in the Turkish second division. He bgan the current season with Yalovaspor, where he posted 16.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in four appearances. Last season he was worth 15.3 points and 10.1 boards with Ormanspor. He recorded double-doubles in 15 of his 31 games with Ormanspor.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cedevita Olimpija will be strengthened by William McNair Jr.! 🔥 The 25-year-old, 210-cm-tall center will bring additional power and fresh energy under both baskets in the coming two months. 🐉🏀<br><br>Welcome to the Dragon family, Will! 💚🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/DLaG2HXlGS">pic.twitter.com/DLaG2HXlGS</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana - English (@KKCedOL_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL_EN/status/1984974104177279270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I feel great,” McNair said after signing his contract. “I feel that this is a great opportunity to prove myself on a bigger stage. Honestly, I haven’t been following Cedevita Olimpija this season. Two weeks ago, however, I was watching EuroCup and noticed the team in one of the games. I watched the game and later the highlights. The fans can expect excitement and energy from me.” 

A native of Philadelphia, McNair played five seasons of college basketball. He was with New Mexico State Aggies 2019 to 2022 before spending one season each with Mississippi State and Kansas State.

More Cedevita Olimpija news

The 25-year-old has could make his debut as soon as Wednesday

Veolia Towers Hamburg have signed German-Thai big man Martin Breunig for the remainder of the season. 

Hamburg bulks up by signing Martin Breunig

Veolia Towers Hamburg have signed German-Thai big man Martin Breunig for the remainder of the season. Breunig (2.03 meters, 33 years old) arrives from French squad SLUC Nancy, where he averaged 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in six French League games this season.

Hamburg will be Breunig's fifth club in the German top flight after previous stints with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg, Telekom Baskets Bonn, EWE Baskets Oldenburg and SYNTAINICS MBC. Last season, he helped MBC win the German Cup after scoring the decisive put-back basket with 2.7 seconds remaining in the semifinal against FC Bayern Munich. Breunig averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in the German League last season, his third with MBC.  

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Moin Martin!👋<br><br>Unser Neuzugang Martin <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Breunig?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Breunig</a> ist heute Nachmittag in Hamburg gelandet, morgen steht direkt das erste Training an. Let&#39;s get to work! 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/NRR5LhKRZp">pic.twitter.com/NRR5LhKRZp</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1985036636934041935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Born in Leverkusen to a Thai mother and German father, Breunig began his career in the youth ranks of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. At 18, he moved to the United States to play college basketball with the University of Washington and later the University of Montana.

Breunig began his professional career with Ludwigsburg in 2016. Then came three seasons in Bonn and two more in Oldenburg before his move to MBC. After playing for Germany's youth national teams at the U16 and U18 levels, he choice to represent Thailand at the senior level.

More Hamburg news

Hamburg bulks up by signing Martin Breunig 

Look back at all the action in Round 5 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 5

Look back at all the action from Round 5 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Jordan Bayehe was just 14 years old when he went to a P-Square concert in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé. Little did Bayehe know that the aftermath of the Nigerian R&B duo's concert would be the start of a basketball career that brought him to Italy and the BKT EuroCup. And that is mainly thanks to his sister’s cellphone. 

Trento big man Jordan Bayehe can thank his sister’s phone for the start of his career 

[Jordan Bayehe](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordan-bayehe/006724/) was just 14 years old when he went to a P-Square concert in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé. Little did Bayehe know that the aftermath of the Nigerian R&B duo's concert would be the start of a basketball career that brought him to Italy and the BKT EuroCup. And that is mainly thanks to his sister’s cellphone. 

Bayehe at that time was only interested in football, but he was spotted by a basketball coach after the show. The coach asked the young Jordan for his number.

“I didn’t have a phone, so I gave him my sister’s number,” Bayehe recalled. “He called her after three months, during the summer, and brought me to the court for the first time. My first day was tough because I used to play football. But he kept pushing me, came to my house to talk to my parents, and believed in me when nobody else did – not even me.”

Fast-forward 12 years and Bayehe has become a major part of the game plan for [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) inside the paint. The 2.04-meter center is spending his second year in Trento and has averaged 8.0 points on 63% shooting on two-pointers to go with 4.0 rebounds in 18 minutes as the club’s backup center. 

“Every day is one step forward for us because we are a young team. We have to improve every single day,” said Bayehe, who turned 26 in mid-October. 

The best plays of Dolomiti Energia Trento center Jordan Bayehe through the first five rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Jordan Bayehe's top plays so far this season

Bayehe said he has made a big step forward from last season when he made his debut in the EuroCup, averaging 3.9 points and 4.1 rebounds, in addition to collecting 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in the Italian League. 

“Now I’m a different player. I have more confidence. I can play facing or back to the basket. I shoot more and I’m more versatile. Last year I was mostly a pick-and-roll player; now I have more options. My goal is to become a multidimensional player,” Bayehe said. 

He worked out this past summer after talking with his individual development coaches as part of his preparations for the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 in August.

“I decided what kind of player I want to be. With the national team coach, we discussed adding pick-and-pop to my game. When I returned to Trento, my coach also shared his vision for how I could impact the team.”

Bayehe played a big role in Cameroon’s strong performance at AfroBasket 2025 in Angola, averaging 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds as the country reached the semifinals for the first time since 2009.

“I think we deserved to win AfroBasket. We lost against Angola at the last second. It was a crucial moment. Then we lost the third-place game to Senegal – they deserved to win,” said Bayehe.

“We’re top four in Africa right now. Our goal is to become the best team in Africa. With NBA players joining, we can make history in African basketball.”

<center>
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Bayehe’s bond to his home country remains strong since leaving for Italy at age 16. He landed at the famed academy Stella Azzurra and stayed in Rome for six years. After spending the next two years in the Italian second division with the Roseto Sharks, Bayehe joined top-flight club Cantu in 2020. 

The club failed to stay in the league and were relegated to the Serie A2. Bayehe stayed with the team for the 2021-22 season, however – a decision which helped him in his development as a 22-year-old. 

“I signed a two-year contract, and I didn’t play much in my first year in Serie A. Going to the second division with the goal to go up again to the first division, I had the opportunity to play for a big team in A2 and play a lot. I was young, and for me, playing a lot was the best,” said Bayehe, who averaged 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds that season. 

“I learned that every game counts because everybody expects a big team like Cantu to win in the second division. There’s full pressure from fans and the club, which made me more focused on the court,” he said. 

Cantu ended up reaching the 2022 semifinals of the second division playoffs but lost in Game 5 to Scafati to miss out on promotion. 

“It was so bad for me because everybody in Cantu thought we could go up. But at the end, in basketball, the details count. In Game 5 we played away – it’s not easy to win a Game 5 on the road. We lost by 13 points, but they deserved to win.” 

In the summer of 2022, Bayehe left Cantu to join top flight side Brindisi. 

“I was ready to play in the first division. Mentally, as a basketball player, I was more prepared. At Brindisi, everything was different. I knew the first division, I talked with the coach all summer – he told me what he expected from me. Our first goal was to reach the playoffs, and we did. My first year in Brindisi was easier than my first year in Cantu because I was more prepared to be a first-division player,” said Bayehe, who contributed 4.0 points and 3.6 rebounds. 

After one more season in Brindisi, Bayehe then moved to Trento in 2024 and now has his sights on taking his game to the next level. 

And when asked what he would message he would give his 14-year-old self, Bayehe said: “The best choice I did in my life was giving my sister’s number to my first coach. That decision changed my life – everything started from there.”

The 26-year-old has taken a big leap in his second season in the EuroCup

The reigning BKT EuroCup MVP is showing out again as Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem earned MVP honors for Round 5 of the EuroCup Regular Season. This marks the sixth MVP of the Round for Harper in his EuroCup career after doing so five times last season. 

Round 5 MVP: Jared Harper, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

The reigning BKT EuroCup MVP is showing out again as [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/) earned MVP honors for Round 5 of the EuroCup Regular Season.

Harper led Jerusalem to a no-doubt-about-it [103-76](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem-aris-thessaloniki-betsson/U2025/45/) home victory over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson with 18 points and 9 assists for a PIR of 36, which was the most of any player in the round. He made 1 of 2 two-pointers, 1 of 2 three-pointers and 13 of 14 free throws. Harper also collected 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 8 fouls drawn. This marks the sixth MVP of the Round for Harper in his EuroCup career after doing so five times last season. 

Kyle Allman of Turk Telekom Ankara had the second-highest PIR of the round with 34 in his team's 77-89 road victory over the London Lions. He tallied 22 points on 3-of-7 two-point shooting, 2-of-3 on three-pointers and 10-of-12 on free throws. Allman also had 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 12 fouls drawn. 

Corey Davis Jr of NINERS Chemnitz led his team to an 89-78 home victory over ratiopharm ulm with 23 points and 6 assists for a PIR of 32. Juwan Morgan of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and Ante Zizic of Besiktas GAIN Istanbul, each with PIRs of 30, completed the top individual performances in Round 5.

### Individual highs: Fatts Ruseell of Cluj, 26 points

Fatts Russell of U-BT Cluj-Napoca was this week's top scorer in the EuroCup with 26 points in his team's 76-95 road win over Veolia Towers Hamburg. He also leads the season-long standings with 24.6 points per game.

Ante Zizic of Besiktas GAIN Istanbul and Malik Osborne of ratiopharm ulm each had 14 rebounds to lead all players in Round 5. Zacharie Perrin of Hamburg is the competition's best rebounder at 10.0 per night.

Two players had 9 assists in Round 5: Jared Harper of Hapoel Bak Yahav Jerusalem and Kaza Kajami-Keane of NINERS Chemnitz. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas Klaipeda ranks first in assists this season with 8.2 per game.

Corey Davis Jr. of Chemnitz collected 4 steals, which were more than anyone else in Round 5. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom is the overall leader with 2.6 steals per game.

Nathan Mensah of Cluj and his teammate Dusan Miletic each had 3 blocks against Hamburg. Miletic, Johnathan Parks of Umana Reyer Venice and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu share the top spot for the 2025-26 campaign with 1.4 blocks per night.

Three players registered double-doubles in Round 5: Zizic (15 points, 14 rebounds), Osborne (16 points, 14 rebounds) and Kyle Alexander (15 points, 10 rebounds) of Turk Telekom Ankara.

This is Harper's first MVP honor this season

DeVante Jones: 'I’m hoping to have Victor Wembanyama in Trento soon'

Fantasy tips, Round 6: Making the most of an unbalanced week

At a glance: Big tests await for the two group leaders

Stats review: How Neptunas is translating offensive rebounds into wins

Cedevita Olimpia signs big man Will McNair to short-term deal

Hamburg bulks up by signing Martin Breunig

Top 10 photos from Round 5

Trento big man Jordan Bayehe can thank his sister’s phone for the start of his career

Round 5 MVP: Jared Harper, Hapoel Jerusalem