It downed AS Monaco in a best-of-five series in which home-court advantage was key


Paris Basketball is the French League champion! 

Paris Basketball conquered its first-ever French League championship by downing AS Monaco 99-93 in do-or-die Game 5 of their best-of-five series on Tuesday. TJ Shorts led the winners with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. Nadir Hifi added 16 points while Tyson Ward and Yakuba Ouattara each had 11 for Paris. 

Alpha Diallo led Monaco with 18 points. Jordan Loyd had 17, Elie Okobo and Terry Tarpey each added 16 while Matthew Strazel got 13 for the visitors. It all came down to the final 3 minutes. After Diallo dunked to tie it at 91-91, Hifi followed a three-pointer with a layup and then Mikael Jantunen sealed the outcome from the foul line to help Paris win the series 3-2.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">LE PARIS BASKETBALL EST CHAMPION DE FRANCE POUR LA PREMIÈRE FOIS DE SON HISTOIRE 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 <a href="https://t.co/EKbUL3dYke">pic.twitter.com/EKbUL3dYke</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1937612040283050104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Paris had the home-court advantage in the series, which proved to be critical. It won the opener 94-82 at adidas Arena behind 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists from Shorts. Coach Tiago Splitter's team took a 2-0 lead in the series by thrashing Monaco 92-67 in Game 2. Shorts was unstoppable again with 28 points. 

Monaco rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to get a 81-78 home win in Game 3. Jaron Blossomgame led the way with 26 points while Okobo added 17. Monaco went on to tie the series with an 80-74 victory in Game 4 at Salle Gaston Medecin. Strazel led Monaco with 20 points while Okobo added 19, giving their team a chance to win a third consecutive French League title. 

Paris put an end to that with a historic win to become the 2024-25 French League champion!

More Paris Basketball news

The Parisians outlasted AS Monaco to win their first league crown


Paris Basketball is the French League champion

Crvena Zvezda has confirmed the signing of Chima Moneke from Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Crvena Zvezda nets Chima Moneke

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/?season=2024-25) has announced the signing of [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) on a two-year contract.

Moneke (2.00 meters, 29 years old) arrives from Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, where he put up big numbers across two seasons. He was worth 14.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 33 EuroLeague games last season. Moneke was seventh in the league in 2024-25 with a PIR of 18.6. Only All-EuroLeague center Walter Tavares has taken more rebounds than Moneke's 423 over the past two seasons.

Despite having never played in Serbia before, [Moneke's YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@chimdoggg) has seen him become achieve plenty of popularity in the country.

This coming season will be Moneke's fourth in the EuroLeague, as he represented AS Monaco in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign before joining Baskonia that summer.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет обавештава јавност и све Звездаше да је нови члан нашег клуба Чима Монеке.<br><br>Репрезентативац је Нигерије, а бивши члан француских клубова Роан и Орлеан. Сезона којом је скренуо пажњу на себе одиграо је у шпанској Манреси 2022. године када је та екипа… <a href="https://t.co/uK9Dcwd14j">pic.twitter.com/uK9Dcwd14j</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1937524849649324186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Moneke started his professional career in the French second tier, playing for both Rouen and Denain in the 2018-19 season. He remained in the second division in France by joining Beliers de Kemper for the 2019-20 campaign before getting his chance in the top flight with Orleans in 2020-21.

However, it was in 2021-22 that Moneke really took off. Playing for Manresa in Spain, he was named the FIBA Champions League MVP and was selected to the All-FIBA Champions League First Team. A short spell with the Sacramento Kings followed before he returned to Europe, which allowed his EuroLeague dream to begin.

Moneke will now continue his EuroLeague adventure in Belgrade, where he can play in front of some of the most passionate fans in the world.

More Zvezda News

The dynamic forward penned a deal for two seasons

Crvena Zvezda nets Chima Moneke 

Dubai Basketball announced on Tuesday that it has re-signed playmaker Nate Mason for the 2025-26 season

Dubai re-signs playmaker Nate Mason

Dubai Basketball announced on Tuesday that it has re-signed playmaker Nate Mason for the coming season.  

Mason (1.88 meters, 29 years old) joined Dubai last summer and averaged 11.1 points and 4.3 assists over 35 games in the ABA League. He starred with 17.3 points per game in the playoffs quarterfinals as Dubai eliminated Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and poured in a season-high 26 points along with 6 assists in a Game 2 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the semifinals.

An All-Big Ten selection in college at the University of Minnesota, Mason started his professional career playing 3x3 basketball. He then went on to play for the Texas Legends in the G League, Hapoel Eilat in Israel, Avtodor in Russia, Guangzhou Loong Lions in China, Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico, Le Mans in France, and Yukatel Merkezefendi in Turkiye. He led the Turkish League in assists with 7.1 per game in 2023-24. 

<center> *Photo: ABA League j.t.d. / Dragana Stjepanovic*

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nate is staying - And we&#39;re ready for more of his magic 🪄<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DubaiBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DubaiBasketball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/1City1Team?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#1City1Team</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YallaDB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YallaDB</a> <a href="https://t.co/5gmwo8Oup5">pic.twitter.com/5gmwo8Oup5</a></p>&mdash; Dubai Basketball (@dubaibasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/dubaibasket/status/1937420261814387194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The dynamic guard will make his EuroLeague debut with Dubai

After narrowly missing out on the Final Four in his first two seasons in the EuroLeague, Bonzie Colson moved north and blasted through that barrier with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to become a EuroLeague champion

Tribute to the Champs: Bonzie Colson

After narrowly missing out on the Final Four in his first two seasons in the EuroLeague, [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) moved north and blasted through that barrier with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to become a EuroLeague champion. The 29-year-old was one of only two Fenerbahce players (joined by Nigel Hayes-Davis) to play in all of the club's EuroLeague games this season and with his energetic playing style was able to take on whatever strategic roles Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius had up his sleeve.

Colson started in 35 of his 39 appearances – including both games at the Final Four in Abu Dhabi. He had games where he played more than 30 minutes and others where he played less than 10. In whatever minutes he was on the floor, Colson gave everything; he fought for every loose ball, battled hard on the glass at both ends and stretched the floor with his outside shooting.

Best of Bonzie Colson: 2024-25

The biggest contributions Colson made at the Final Four were in Fenerbahce’s strong start to the semifinal against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, which included an early three-pointer and then a steal and an assist that led to a Devon Hall layup. When he came out to rest after 7 minutes, Fenerbahce already led by 4. In his minutes during the game, Fenerbahce outscored Panathinaikos by 6 points, which proved to be the final margin. Even though Colson played a minor role in the championship game two days later, he was a worthy celebrant when the parties started with Fenerbahce as the 2025 champion. 

More Fenerbahce News

The forward celebrated becoming a champion in just his third EuroLeague season 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens added another weapon to its backcourt with the signing of Greek national team guard Vassilis Toliopoulos, who arrives from Aris Midea Thessaloniki

Panathinaikos pens Vassilis Toliopoulos to three-year deal

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) added another weapon to its backcourt with the signing of Greek national team guard [Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/), who arrives from Aris Midea Thessaloniki.

Best of Vassilis Toliopoulos: 2024-25

Toliopoulos (1.87 meters, 29 years old) signed for three years with the Greens. He averaged 13.7 points, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal in 15 BKT EuroCup games last season. Toliopoulos started his career with Panionios Athens, and also played for Ikaros Kallitheas, VAP Kolossos Rhodes and Olympiacos Piraeus before joining Aris for the first time in January 2019. Toliopoulos went on to play for AEK Athens, Ionikos and PAOK Thessaloniki. He joined Aris for a second time ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

Toliopoulos played a total of 15 EuroLeague games over three seasons with Olympiacos between 2015 and 2018. He helped AEK win the Greek Cup in 2020 and claimed the Greek League crown with Olympiacos in 2016. Toliopoulos has also been a member of the Greek national team and played at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">𝑻𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 💚☘️<br><br>Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Βασίλη Τολιόπουλου για τα επόμενα τρία χρόνια. <br>________________________________________<br><br>Panathinaikos BC AKTOR is pleased to announce the signing of Vassilis Toliopoulos on a… <a href="https://t.co/KS1u8MQ4XX">pic.twitter.com/KS1u8MQ4XX</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1937134090718748802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The latest Panathinaikos news

The mercurial guard shined with Aris the past three seasons

Zalgiris Kaunas is on the look for a new boss after parting ways with Coach Andrea Trinchieri by mutual consent at the end of the team's domestic season

Zalgiris parts ways with Coach Trinchieri 

Zalgiris Kaunas is on the look for a new boss after parting ways with Coach Andrea Trinchieri by mutual consent at the end of the team's domestic season. Trinchieri, 56, first joined the club in December 2023 and in his time with Zalgiris led it to two Lithuanian Cups and the 2025 Lithuanian League championship.

Trinchieri has coached 10 seasons for four clubs in the EuroLeague. He debuted with Cantu in 2011 and later coached Brose Bamberg and FC Bayern Munich for three years each. Trinchieri started his head coaching career with Vanoli Soresina of his native Italy. He has also coached Pepsi Caserta, Primo Veroli and Pallacanestro Cantu in Italy, UNICS Kazan in Russia, Brose Bamberg in Germany, Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, as well as the Greek national team.

He helped UNICS win the Russian Cup and reach the EuroCup Finals in 2014. That season he was also named EuroCup Coach of the Year. Trinchieri led Bamberg to three consecutive German championships from 2015 to 2017 plus the German Cup in 2017. He won Serbian Cups with Partizan in 2019 and 2020. During his time with Bayern, he also guided it to German Cups in 2021 and 2023.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zalgiris Kaunas and head coach Andrea Trinchieri have parted ways. Along with Andrea Trinchieri, assistant coach Massimiliano Menetti is also leaving the club. Thank you for your work and wish you success in future careers. 🙏🏻 <a href="https://t.co/wvwhZjuqVq">pic.twitter.com/wvwhZjuqVq</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1937083660265521516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More news from Zalgiris

Trinchieri spent a season and a half with the Kaunas club

Zalgiris Kaunas is the Lithuanian League champion for the 25th time after holding off archrival Rytas Vilnius 76-69 on Saturday to win their best-of-five series 3-2

Zalgiris captures Lithuanian League crown

Zalgiris Kaunas is the Lithuanian League champion for the 25th time after holding off archrival Rytas Vilnius 76-69 on Saturday to win their best-of-five series 3-2. After losing in the finals a year ago, Zalgiris prevailed in what many are calling the best Lithuanian finals series ever.

Rytas won the series opener in double-overtime in Kaunas before Zalgiris took Game 2 in the Lithuanian capital. Rytas won again on the road in Game 3 and led by 14 in the fourth quarter at home in Game 4 before Zalgiris stormed back to win on Sylvain Francisco's late three-pointer.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">These moments will last forever! 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/FTLuqmwv0o">pic.twitter.com/FTLuqmwv0o</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1936485921177883086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Game 5, Rytas led by double figures in the third quarter and went into the fourth quarter up 5. With the game on the line, Ignas Brazdeikis scored 8 points in a 14-4 run to finish the game and lift Zalgiris to the championship. Francisco led Zalgiris with 15 points and 7 assists in Game 5 and was named Finals MVP after averaging 22 points and 5.4 assists for a PIR of 23.2 in the series.

Brazdeikis finished the series-decider with 14 points and Edgaras Ulanovas added 13. Ązuolas Tubelis and Parker Jackson-Cartwright paced Rytas with 16 points apiece.

Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas spoke to the media after the announcement that the EuroLeague is extending to 20 clubs, with Valencia Basket, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Dubai Basketball joining the league.

Full transcript: Press conference with Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas 

FC Barcelona has strengthened its roster by signing Myles Cale from Dolomiti Energia Trento, the club announced on Friday. 

Barcelona brings in swingman Myles Cale

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) has strengthened its roster by inking [Myles Cale](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/myles-cale/013269/) to a one-year deal, the club announced on Friday. He will wear the No 3 jersey.

Cale (1.98 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Dolomiti Energia Trento, where he averaged 10.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18 BKT EuroCup games last season. He also helped his team win the Italian Cup. The new Barcelona signing posted 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 34 Italian League games.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">𝐌𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐜̧𝐚 💙❤ <a href="https://t.co/KxjSCNTfkY">pic.twitter.com/KxjSCNTfkY</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1936016647443431851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After finishing his college career at Seton Hall University, Cale played for the Greenboro Swarm of the G League and Hubo Limburg United of the Belgian League. He led Limburg to the Belgian Cup trophy in 2024. Cale has also been a member of the USA national team, winning a bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games. 

More Barcelona News

He is set to make his EuroLeague debut next season