Excitement is building ahead of the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign for everyone at Virtus Segafredo Bologna. On Thursday, the club's supporters got a first chance since last spring to see their team's players, new and old, as the Virtus training camp started at Porelli gym. In a commendable decision by the club, Virtus opened its doors to let fans attend the first training session. Their appreciation was more than clear as a robust crowd of 1,000 packed the gym and sang their club songs as the players entered the court to get training camp underway!

 Virtus opens training with 1,000 fans on hand! 

Excitement is building ahead of the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign for everyone at [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/games/vir/?season=2023-24). On Thursday, the club's supporters got a first chance since last spring to see their team's players, new and old, as the Virtus training camp started at Porelli gym. In a commendable decision by the club, Virtus opened its doors to let fans attend the first training session. Their appreciation was more than clear as a robust crowd of 1,000 packed the gym and sang their club songs as the players entered the court to get training camp underway!

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are back 😍 <a href="https://t.co/e0UtUwuOMM">pic.twitter.com/e0UtUwuOMM</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1694733618705301910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### World Cup absentees

Virtus head coach [Sergio Scariolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/scariolo-sergio/?season=E2023) is away with the Spanish national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, as are new signings [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-inks-swingman-ognjen-dobric/) (Serbia) and [Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/achille-polonara-returns-to-italy-with-virtus-bologna/) (Italy). Elsewhere, [Isaia Cordinier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaia-cordinier/009549/) (France), [Tornike Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) (Georgia) and [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/) (Italy) will also be representing their nations at the tournament, so they were not present for the first day of training camp.

Nevertheless, the Virtus fans in attendance were able to get a glimpse of new signings [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/jaleen-smith-signs-for-virtus-bologna/), [Devontae Cacok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/devontae-cacok-heads-to-the-euroleague-with-virtus/) and [Bruno Mascolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-reels-in-guard-bruno-mascolo/), in addition to returning players such as veterans [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/) and [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/), guard [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/) and forwards [Awudu Abass](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/awudu-abass/003527/) and [Jordan Mickey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-mickey/008847/).

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🙌🏼❤️ <a href="https://t.co/b3uxIQCMrW">pic.twitter.com/b3uxIQCMrW</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1694763796819034590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### EuroLeague encore for former champs

Virtus returned to the EuroLeague last season after a 15-year absence and finished with a 14-20 record, but there is plenty of hope in Basket City heading into the new campaign. As a two-time former continental champion, in 1998 and 2001, there are always big goals at Virtus. And with that in mind, Coach Scariolo and his team will be determined to do whatever it takes to make the second year of the club's EuroLeague return a success, ideally with a spot in the playoffs.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna news

If Spain captures another gold medal, Real Madrid's swingman Rudy Fernandez would become the first player in basketball history to win the World Cup three times. Fernandez doesn't need a third World Cup title to cement his legendary list of honors, but a third such medal would put him in a league of his own.

 At World Cup, Rudy Fernandez aims for the unprecedented 

Spain heads into the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup as the defending champion with a chance to become the fourth team to win back-to-back titles after Brazil (1959, 1963), Yugoslavia (1970, 1974, 1978; 1998, 2002) and the United States (2010, 2014). If Spain captures another gold medal, Real Madrid's swingman [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/carousels/rudy-fernandez/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_PLAYER%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22bmt%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=RUDY%20FERNANDEZ) would become the first player in basketball history to win the World Cup three times.

Just 18 players have won the competition twice, and the list includes basketball greats such as Sergei Belov, Kresimir Cosic, Vlade Divac, Dejan Bodiroga, Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose and Marc Gasol, the latter of whom won it alongside Fernandez in 2006 and 2019.

Fernandez doesn't need a third World Cup title to cement his legendary list of honors, but a third such medal would put him in a league of his own.

### A chance to make more history

Fernandez is already in some rare company. He's among just three players - with Belov and Bodiroga - who have won multiple EuroBasket, EuroLeague and World Cup titles. Rudy lifted EuroLeague trophies with Real in 2015, 2018 and 2023 and earned EuroBasket gold medals in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2022. If Rudy wins another World Cup, he would have reached glory in all three competitions on at least three occasions.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🤩🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/rudy5fernandez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rudy5fernandez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHAMP11ONS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHAMP11ONS</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZvwNT5ZBfb">pic.twitter.com/ZvwNT5ZBfb</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1660601400219541504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The World Cup gives Fernandez another opportunity to make history at the Olympics, too, as the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup will produce seven directly qualified national teams for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, France. Two teams will be European, and France is already qualified as the host squad.

If Spain makes it to the 2024 Olympics and Fernandez is among the players called up, he would be the first player to compete in the men's basketball tournament six times. Only seven basketball players have been to the Olympics five times, three of whom are Spanish: Fernandez, Juan Carlos Navarro and Pau Gasol. The other four players are: Teo Cruz of Puerto Rico, Oscar Schmidt of Brazil, Andrew Gaze of Australia and Luis Scola of Argentina. That would give Rudy a chance to win a fourth Olympic medal, joining Belov, Carmelo Anthony and Gennadi Volnov on that short list.

### Success is never far away from Rudy

At age 38, Fernandez is one of the most successful players in basketball history. His personal roll of honors includes six Spanish League trophies, six Spanish Cups and eight Spanish Super Cup titles, as well as the EuroCup crown with Joventut Badalona in 2008, the Intercontinental Cup with Real in 2015 (in his only appearance in that tournament) and the FIBA EuroChallenge trophy in 2006 with Joventut. A two-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection, Fernandez was also chosen as the 2006-07 EuroLeague Rising Star.

And now, Fernandez going for an unprecedented accomplishment, something that no one else has come close to since the game of basketball was invented in 1891.

Rudy Fernandez lifts the 2019 FIBA World Cup trophy with his Spain teammates in the background.

At World Cup, Rudy Fernandez aims for the unprecedented

Real Madrid and point guard Carlos Alocen will stay together for two more seasons, until 2025, the club said in announcing a contract extension on Thursday. Alocen (1.94 meters, 22 years old) did not play most of the last two seasons due to injury, but is considered a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion after the club lifted its 11th continental trophy last spring.

Real extends Alocen through 2025

Real Madrid and point guard [Carlos Alocen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carlos-alocen/010623/) will stay together for two more seasons, until 2025, the club said in announcing a contract extension on Thursday. Alocen (1.94 meters, 22 years old) did not play most of the last two seasons due to injury, but is considered a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion after the club lifted its 11th continental trophy last spring.

### Rookie starter in the Euroleague

Alocen joined Real in the summer of 2020 and proceeded to start in 16 of the 28 game in which he appeared during his rookie EuroLeague season. He posted 3.9 points, 2.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds in a little more than 13 minutes per game, matching his high of 6 assists in the Game 4 home victory that kept Real alive in its best-of-five playoff series against eventual champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">✨ 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ ✨<br>🪄 <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalocen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CarlosAlocen</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aloc%C3%A9n2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alocén2025</a> <a href="https://t.co/fBvA9QfEv5">pic.twitter.com/fBvA9QfEv5</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1694703803290050838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Knee injury has kept Alocen out

Alocen mostly came off the bench for nine more games in the 2021-22 season before suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a Spanish League game. He has been sidelined him since. All told, Alocen already has 37 EuroLeague games under his belt despite the long-term knee injury. In those, he has averaged 3.6 points, 2.1 assists and 1.4 rebounds in under 13 minutes per game. 

"I'm very happy and excited to continue together with this club and all those who are part of it," Alocen posted to social media after the extension was announced. "Thank you for continuing to have confidence in me and for supporting me 100 percent during this process. I can't stop stop thinking about the moment when I will return to the court and reciprocate that trust."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Muy feliz e ilusionado por seguir junto a este club y todas las personas que lo forman. Muchas gracias por seguir confiando en mi y haberme apoyado al 100% durante este proceso. No puedo dejar de pensar en el momento de saltar a la cancha y poder devolver toda la confianza. 🤍 <a href="https://t.co/J4zZdHBhKo">https://t.co/J4zZdHBhKo</a></p>&mdash; Carlos Alocen (@carlosalocen) <a href="https://twitter.com/carlosalocen/status/1694697627680481498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Alocen turned pro at 15

Alocen turned professional two months shy of his 16th birthday, playing in the Spanish League his hometown club Zaragoza. He rose to play 20 minutes per game for Zaragoza, averaging 7.3 points, 3.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds while still a teenager in 28 Spanish League games before signing at the end of the 2019-20 season with Real. 

Walter Tavares of Real Madrid added his name to a long list of superstars in May when he was named the MVP of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. The winners of the Final Four MVP trophy are a who's who of EuroLeague greats. Since the turn of the century, only four players have achieved that feat more than once. Vassilis Spanoulis did so three times and Dejan Bodiroga, Dimitris Diamantidis and Vasilije Micic were each two-time winners. Below is a gallery of all the modern era EuroLeague Final Four MVPs.

 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four MVP Gallery 

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) of Real Madrid added his name to a long list of superstars in May when he was named the MVP of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. Tavares posted double-doubles in both games at the Final Four in Kaunas and in doing so became the first player with three double-doubles in the modern era of the Final Four.

The winners of the Final Four MVP trophy are a who's who of EuroLeague greats. Since the turn of the century, only four players have achieved that feat more than once. [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/profile/juo/) did so three times and Dejan Bodiroga, [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/profile/jko/) and [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/profile/002580/) were each two-time winners. Below is a gallery of all the modern era EuroLeague Final Four MVPs.

Sarunas Jasikevicius - Maccabi Tel Aviv - Final Four Moscow 2005

Theo Papaloukas - CSKA Moscow - Final Four Prague 2006

Dimitris Diamantidis - Panathinaikos Athens - Final Four Athens 2007

Trajan Langdon - CSKA Moscow - Final Four Madrid 2008

Vassilis Spanoulis - Panathinaikos Athens - Final Four Berlin 2009

Juan Carlos Navarro - FC Barcelona - Final Four Paris 2010

Dimitris Diamantidis - Panathinaikos Athens - Final Four Istanbul 2011

Vassilis Spanoulis - Olympiacos Piraeus - Final Four Istanbul 2012

Vassilis Spanoulis - Olympiacos Piraeus - Final Four London 2013

Tyrece Rice - Maccabi Tel Aviv - Final Four Milan 2014

Andres Nocioni - Real Madrid - Final Four Madrid 2015

Nando De Colo - CSKA Moscow - Final Four Berlin 2016

Ekpe Udoh - Fenerbahce Istanbul - Final Four Istanbul 2017

Luca Doncic - Real Madrid - Final Four Belgrade 2018

Will Clyburn - CSKA Moscow - Final Four Vitoria-Gasteiz 2019

Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Cologne 2021

Vasilije Micic - Anadolu Efes Istanbul - Final Four Belgrade 2022

Walter Tavares - Real Madrid - Final Four Kaunas 2023

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four MVP Gallery

Sylvain Francisco of France and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Yago Dos Santos of Brazil and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, Justus Hollatz of Germany and Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Dimitris Moraitis of Panathinaikos Athens, Ziga Samar of Slovenia and ALBA Berlin, and Matteo Spagnolo of Italy and ALBA are all 25 years old or younger and all headed to their EuroLeague debuts in October by way of the World Cup.

 Rising rookies join EuroLeague point guard tradition at World Cup 

It would be a rare elite international tournament that didn't feature EuroLeague Basketball point guards as focal points, but the upcoming FIBA World Cup presents fans with something rather unique – a new generation of floor leaders who will follow up that showcase by debuting in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague just a few weeks later.

[Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/bayern-munich-adds-france-international-sylvain-francisco/) of France and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, [Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/yago-dos-santos-makes-jump-to-euroleague-with-zvezda/) of Brazil and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, [Justus Hollatz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/anadolu-efes-grabs-talented-point-guard-justus-hollatz/) of Germany and Anadolu Efes Istanbul, [Dimitris Moraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/greens-tab-playmaker-dimitris-moraitis-on-3-year-deal/) of Panathinaikos Athens, [Ziga Sama](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ziga-samar/007550/)r of Slovenia and ALBA Berlin, and [Matteo Spagnolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/alba-signs-promising-guard-matteo-spagnolo/) of Italy and ALBA are all 25 years old or younger and all headed to their EuroLeague debuts in October by way of the World Cup.

In so doing, they join a distinguished line of predecessors who have defined the virtuosity of playmaking in the European game this century.

Justus Hollatz and Matteo Spagnolo in the BKT EuroCup.

VIDEO HLs: Hollatz and Spagnolo

### Long line of iconic playmakers

The last two generations have seen the torch passed from one set of iconic floor generals – [Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/jko/), [Sarunas Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/saras-jasikevicius/adg/), [Theodoros Papaloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/theodoros-papaloukas/atw/), [Pablo Prigioni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/pablo-prigioni/cbx/) and others – to another with names like [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/), [Milos Teodosic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/milos-teodosic/jdr/), [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/), [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and [Ricky Rubio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ricky-rubio/lfw/).

All led their clubs and countries to success while synthesizing the singular style of team play that distinguishes the ever-more-admired European game.

Not forgetting that some of that old guard – [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) of Spain and Real Madrid, [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) of France and ASVEL – and some EuroLeague playmakers in their primes – [Maodo Lo ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/)of Germany and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, [Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) of Serbia and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade – remain leaders on their national and club teams, this World Cup offers EuroLeague fans a chance to glimpse a new raft of playmakers they will likely be following for years to come.

Given their ages, this sextet of EuroLeague rookies-to-be may or may not play major roles at the World Cup, but the fact is they were all chosen for both their national and club teams for reasons that go beyond potential. Dos Santos, Hollatz, Samar and Spagnolo, for instance, have all proven themselves at the EuroCup level already, showing again how that competition continues to lead to greater things.

Yago Dos Santos and Ziga Samar played for ratiopharm Ulm and Veolia Towers Hamburg, respectively, in the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup.

VIDEO HLs: Samar and Dos Santos

### More than just EuroLeague rookies in World Cup

And while those six are yet to debut in the EuroLeague, they are far from alone as young Euroleague Basketball point guards to watch in the World Cup. Due to play major roles for their countries are already-established EuroLeague playmakers like 22-year-old [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/) of Lithuania and FC Barcelona, the 2021-22 EuroLeague Rising Star Trophy winner and 23-year-old defensive ace [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/) of Italy and Segafredo Virtus Bologna. From the EuroCup, 19-year-old [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) of Spain and ratiopharm Ulm and a pair of 26-year-olds, [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/) of Dominican Republic and Joventut Badalona and [Petar Popovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/petar-popovic/007398/) of Montenegro and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, will be at the controls for their national teams, too.

Needless to say, knowing that these young playmakers have studied their iconic predecessors over the years, if they can come close to emulating them, too, both their countries and clubs will have new household names with the ball in their hands very soon.

Rising rookies join EuroLeague point guard tradition at World Cup

Saski Baskonia is the fifth Turkish Airlines EuroLeague club to get its training camp underway, following a season in which it had an 18-16 record and narrowly missed out on making the playoffs. Headlined by returning guard Markus Howard, the Baskonia players are already preparing for what could be a very promising season under second-year head coach Joan Penarroya.

Saski Baskonia comes back for training camp with renewed vigor

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz is the fifth Turkish Airlines EuroLeague club to get its training camp underway, following a season in which it had an 18-16 record and narrowly missed out on making the playoffs. Headlined by returning guard Markus Howard, the Baskonia players are already preparing for what could be a very promising season under second-year head coach Joan Penarroya.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🎙️ &quot;Es un mes de conocernos, aprender los unos de los otros y construir esa conexión de equipo&quot; <br><br>🙌 Al habla <a href="https://twitter.com/MaikKalev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaikKalev</a> en el primer entrenamiento de la temporada ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/2dfqvxRQaI">https://t.co/2dfqvxRQaI</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/EThS657iUK">pic.twitter.com/EThS657iUK</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1694293994124042670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fans always love to see new faces through the door, and even more so when a player such as Darius Thompson has departed, with the American guard joining Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Baskonia has made five signings so far this summer, and four of those – Nico Mannion, Codi Miller-McIntyre, Chima Moneke and Khalifa Diop – were present during the first day of training camp. The other, forward Nikos Rogkavopoulos, is away with the Greece national team for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡Primera toma de contacto con su NUEVO HOGAR! 🏡♥️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShowGoesOn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShowGoesOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/1TmEYyVNcZ">pic.twitter.com/1TmEYyVNcZ</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1694292144083837093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Baskonia last made the EuroLeague Playoffs in the 2018-19 season, so Coach Penarroya will be hoping that this training camp will see the team build on its impressive chemistry from the last campaign and take another step forward. Only time will tell, but with a youthful roster, Baskonia will no doubt be one of the teams to once again keep an eye on in the coming EuroLeague season.

More Baskonia News

New Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz signing Chima Moneke sits alongside guard Markus Howard during the team's first training session of the new season.

Baskonia comes back for training camp with renewed vigor

Real Madrid: 2023-24 games to watch

For Real Madrid, last season couldn’t have gone much better. En route to becoming the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion for an 11th time, which came in Chus Mateo's first year as head coach, the team showed the Real Madrid DNA that has often been associated with the club's soccer team in recent years. Time and time again, particularly in the playoffs, Los Blancos defied the odds by returning from the dead to grab a big victory. Heading into Year Two under Coach Mateo, the goal will be what it always is at Real: to lift the EuroLeague title once again.

[Real Madrid's full regular-season schedule](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/games/mad/?season=2023-24)

### The first Clásico of the season

[Round 5: Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-fc-barcelona/E2023/40/#comparison)

As is the case for fans on both sides of the Clásico divide, one of the first fixtures that Real supporters seek out is the team's first matchup with archrival FC Barcelona. Last season, Los Blancos lost 75-73 at Palau Blaugrana in Round 2 before winning 91-86 in overtime in Round 21 at WiZink Center. Then, at the Final Four, Real advanced to the championship game after downing Barca 66-78 in the semifinals. While Real has been able to add Facu Campazzo to a championship-winning roster, without having lost any of its main pieces, this is a very different-looking Barca that will come to Madrid in Round 5, which should make for a very fascinating contest.

It's a clásico semi for the second season in a row. Barça hope to count on strong Kaunas support thanks to Head Coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius, yet Real's remarkable comeback in Game 5 against Partizan suggests the 10-time champions are unlikely to be intimidated.

FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid - Semi-Final - Highlights

### Pablo Laso returns home

[Round 14: Real Madrid vs. FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-fc-bayern-munich/E2023/119/#comparison)

Pablo Laso spent 11 years as Real head coach, winning two EuroLeague titles (2015, 2018) and reaching five championship games, as well as seven Final Fours out of a possible 10. In his first post since departing Los Blancos in the summer of 2022, Laso returns to his former home, WiZink Center, with his new FC Bayern Munich side. The Spanish tactician has been tasked with trying to turn Bayern into a EuroLeague force, and his new-look group will look to upset Real in this Round 14 clash. Laso will not only come up against some of his former players but also his former assistant, Chus Mateo, who has been Real's head coach since last season. Coach Laso should get a good reception from the crowd, but will he have the last laugh?

Real Madrid coach Pablo Laso gives us an in-depth look at what it takes to coach at the highest level.

Focus On: Pablo Laso

### Two Final Four contenders lock horns

[Round 22: AS Monaco vs. Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-real-madrid/E2023/195/#comparison)

Whenever Real and Monaco come head-to-head, fireworks tend to follow. The French side grabbed its first win over the Spanish giant last season, winning 94-95 in overtime at WiZink Center after some heroics by Mike James in the final stages, but Real still leads the all-time series 3-1 after Mario Hezonja exploded for 30 points in a 91-95 Round 23 triumph last year. Nevertheless, to this point it has always been an incredibly close battle whenever the two teams have played each other, with the largest margin of victory being eight points. Both Real and Monaco made it to the 2023 Final Four, and they once again have aims of repeating that feat. A couple of big-name signings will play in this fixture next season, too, following Monaco's signing of Kemba Walker and Real's move for Campazzo.

In a highly-anticipated heavyweight bout, joint-third Monaco aim to overtake co-leaders Real Madrid, with Mike James and Dzanan Musa battling it out to further establish themselves as offensive hotshots.

AS Monaco vs Real Madrid - Round 23 - Highlights

### Going into the dragon's den

[Round 31: Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-real-madrid/E2023/273/#comparison)

In Real's penultimate road fixture of the regular season, the reigning EuroLeague champion heads to Serbia to take on Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. The two sides faced off in a memorable playoff series last season – for both the right and wrong reasons – and there will surely be an extra degree or two added to the atmosphere at Stark Arena when Los Blancos take to the floor. What's more, with there being just three regular-season games remaining after this contest, the result of this fixture could go some way towards helping better paint the playoff picture. Make no mistake, though, Partizan will be hoping to get one over Real after last season's playoff heartbreak.

Real attempt to become the first team to ever recover from 0-2 down in a playoffs series by making it three straight wins against Partizan, who are significantly bolstered by the return of backcourt-leader Kevin Punter from a two-game suspension.

Real Madrid vs Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade - Playoffs Game 5 - Highlights

More Real Madrid News

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has moved quickly to cover the injury of Dogus Ozdemiroglu, with the club signing Justus Hollatz on a one-year loan from Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Last season, he played outside of his native Germany for the first time last season, suiting up for Rio Breogan. A German international, he will back up star guards Darius Thompson and Shane Larkin at Efes next season. 

Anadolu Efes grabs talented point guard Justus Hollatz

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has moved quickly to cover the injury of Dogus Ozdemiroglu, with the club signing [Justus Hollatz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/justus-hollatz/009513/) on a one-year loan from Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Hollatz (1.91 meters, 22 years old) [joined Cedevita earlier this summer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/justus-hollatz-is-first-olimpija-reinforcement-for-2023-24/), but an agreement has been reached for him to spend the 2023-24 campaign at Efes. Last season, he played outside of his native Germany for the first time last season, averaging 7.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals for Rio Breogan in 34 Spanish League games. A German international, he will back up star guards Darius Thompson and Shane Larkin at Efes next season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">KK Cedevita Olimpija&#39;dan kiraladığımız Justus Hollatz, 1 sezon boyunca Anadolu Efes forması giyecek. ✍️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> Justus <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/HvoxrS9AEL">pic.twitter.com/HvoxrS9AEL</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1694252914334920787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### He already has European experience

In addition to representing Germany at the international level, Hollatz has also played in European competition at club level. After signing for Veolia Towers Hamburg in the 2018-19 season, he made his first-team debut in the 2019-20 campaign but had to wait until 2021-22 before playing in the BKT EuroCup for the first time. In 13 EuroCup games for Hamburg, Hollatz posted averages of 8.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals per night.

The best plays of Justus Hollatz in the 2021-22 BKT EuroCup Regular Season with Veolia Towers Hamburg.

Justus Hollatz's top EuroCup plays in 2021-22

### Testing himself on foreign shores

Last summer, Hollatz took the decision to move away from Germany as he signed for Rio Breogan. The young point guard had some notable performances last season, including a 21-point outing against Real Madrid in early April, an 8-assist night against BAXI Manresa in Round 6 and a 5-steal performance against Coviran Granada at the end of January. Hollatz's displays on the court saw him named to the Spanish League Best Young Five for the 2022-23 season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">La <a href="https://twitter.com/ACBCOM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ACBCOM</a> anuncia el mejor quinteto joven de la temporada<br><br>Justus Hollatz<br>Jean Montero<br>Michael Caicedo<br>Aday Mara<br>Khalifa Diop<a href="https://t.co/pmuoo4oNnO">pic.twitter.com/pmuoo4oNnO</a></p>&mdash; Gigantes del Basket (@GIGANTESbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/GIGANTESbasket/status/1651889574031900672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### His first shot at the EuroLeague

Next season will see Hollatz make his long-awaited EuroLeague debut, and he will do so under Efes's first-year head coach Erdem Can. As noted above, Hollatz has the opportunity to learn under the likes of Thompson and Larkin on a day-by-day basis at Efes, which will no doubt work wonders for his development. The German came up against Thompson when the American was playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the previous campaign, so he will now get to see what makes the playmaker tick up close and personal.

More Efes News

New Anadolu Efes Istanbul signing Justus Hollatz in action for Veolia Towers Hamburg in the 2021-22 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Efes grabs talented point guard Justus Hollatz

With the 2023 FIBA World Cup just a few days away, fans of both the EuroLeague and the EuroCup will be glad to know that many of their favorite players will be taking part in the tournament. In fact, across Europe's top two club basketball competitions, 77 players – 60 from the EuroLeague and 17 from the EuroCup – and three coaches will be in Manila, Philippines, for the World Cup.

Euroleague Basketball is at the heart of the 2023 FIBA World Cup

With the 2023 FIBA World Cup just a few days away, fans of both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup will be glad to know that many of their favorite players will be taking part in the tournament. In fact, across Europe's top two club basketball competitions, 85 players – 60 from the EuroLeague and 25 from the EuroCup – and three coaches will be in Manila, Philippines, for the World Cup.

Of those 85 players and three coaches, they cover 20 of the 32 nations competing at the World Cup, with these countries being: Angola, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, New Zealand, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

One of the fairy tale stories of the World Cup is no doubt going to be Cape Verde on its first-ever trip to the tournament, with Real Madrid center [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) having led the team there. Tavares is coming off another dominant season with Real, in which the club won its 11th EuroLeague title, and he will no doubt be keen to put on a show when he takes to the floor with Cape Verde.

Walter Tavares | Best Plays | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Some Euroleague Basketball clubs have more representation than others, too, with Spain and Greece leading the way with nine players apiece. Both Spain and Greece also have a EuroLeague head coach guiding the teams, with Virtus Segafredo Bologna's **Sergio Scariolo** in charge of the former and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's **Dimitris Itoudis** leading the way for his native Greece. When it comes to just EuroLeague players, France joins Spain and Greece in having eight players from Europe's premier club basketball competition.

### EuroLeague Basketball players at the FIBA World Cup

Below, these are the 85 Euroleague Basketball players and three coaches that will be taking part in the World Cup in Manila. (Final rosters may change before play begins on Friday, September 25.)

#### ANGOLA

- **Kevin Kokila** - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse
- **Silvio De Sousa** - Aris Thessaloniki

#### BRAZIL

- **Yago Dos Santos** - Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
- **Raul Neto** - Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
- **Bruno Caboclo** - Umana Reyer Venice
- **Georginho De Paula** - ratiopharm Ulm

#### CANADA

- **Kevin Pangos** - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- **Kyle Alexander** - Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv

#### CAPE VERDE

- **Walter Tavares** - Real Madrid

#### DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

- **Andres Feliz** - Joventut Badalona
- **L.J. Figueroa** - ratiopharm Ulm
- **Angel Delgado** - Besiktas Istanbul

#### FINLAND

- **Mikael Jantunen** - Paris Basketball

#### FRANCE

- **Terry Tarpey** - AS Monaco
- **Elie Okobo** - AS Monaco
- **Yakuba Ouattara** - AS Monaco
- **Sylvain Francisco** - FC Bayern Munich
- **Nando De Colo** - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
- **Moustapha Fall** - Olympiacos Piraeus
- **Mathias Lessort** - Panathinaikos Athens
- **Guerschon Yabusele** - Real Madrid
- **Isaia Cordinier** - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

#### GEORGIA

- **Tornike Shengelia** - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

#### GERMANY

- **Johannes Thiemann** - ALBA Berlin
- **Maodo Lo** - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- **Johannes Voigtmann** - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- **Isaac Bonga** - FC Bayern Munich
- **Andreas Obst** - FC Bayern Munich
- **Niels Giffey** - FC Bayern Munich
- **Justus Hollatz** - Anadolu Efes Istanbul

#### GREECE

- **Nikos Rogkavopoulos** - Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz
- **Georgios Papagiannis** - Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
- **Kostas Papanikolaou** - Olympiacos Piraeus
- **Thomas Walkup** - Olympiacos Piraeus
- **Giannoulis Larentzakis** - Olympiacos Piraeus
- **Michalis Lountzis** - Olympiacos Piraeus
- **Ioannis Papapetrou** - Panathinaikos Athens
- **Dinos Mitoglou** - Panathinaikos Athens
- **Dimitris Moraitis** - Panathinaikos Athens
- **Eleftherios Bochoridis** - Aris Thessaloniki
- **Dimitris Itoudis** (head coach) - Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

#### IRAN

- **Mohammad Amini** - AS Monaco

#### ITALY

- **Gabriele Procida** - ALBA Berlin
- **Matteo Spagnolo** - ALBA Berlin
- **Giampaolo Ricci** - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- **Stefano Tonut** - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- **Nicolo Melli** - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- **Achille Polonara** - Virtus Segafredo Bologna
- **Alessandro Pajola** - Virtus Segafredo Bologna
- **Marco Spissu** - Umana Reyer Venice

#### LATVIA

- **Rolands Smits** - Zalgiris Kaunas
- **Andrejs Grazulis** - Dolomiti Energia Trento

#### LITHUANIA

- **Tomas Dimsa** - Zalgiris Kaunas
- **Donatas Motiejunas** - AS Monaco
- **Tadas Sedekerskis** - Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz
- **Rokas Jokubaitis** - FC Barcelona
- **Ignas Brazdeikis** - Zalgiris Kaunas
- **Deividas Sirvydis** - 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys
- **Gabrielius Maldunas** - 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys
- **Kazys Maksvytis** (head coach) - Zalgiris Kaunas

#### MONTENEGRO

- **Marko Simonovic** - Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
- **Vladimir Mihailovic** - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
- **Andrija Grbovic** - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
- **Andrija Slavkovic** - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
- **Aleksa Ilic** - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
- **Petar Popovic** - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

#### NEW ZEALAND

- **Yanni Wetzell** - ALBA Berlin

#### PUERTO RICO

- **John Holland** - Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv

#### SERBIA

- **Vanja Marinkovic** - Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz
- **Dejan Davidovac** - Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
- **Marko Guduric** - Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
- **Nikola Milutinov** - Olympiacos Piraeus
- **Aleksa Avramovic** - Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade
- **Ognjen Dobric** - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

#### SLOVENIA

- **Ziga Samar** - ALBA Berlin
- **Mike Tobey** - Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
- **Jaka Blazic** - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
- **Zoran Dragic** - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

#### SPAIN

- **Dario Brizuela** - FC Barcelona
- **Willy Hernangomez** - FC Barcelona
- **Joel Parra** - FC Barcelona
- **Alex Abrines** - FC Barcelona
- **Juancho Hernangomez** - Panathinaikos Athens
- **Rudy Fernandez** - Real Madrid
- **Sergio Llull** - Real Madrid
- **Victor Claver** - Valencia Basket
- **Juan Nunez** - ratiopharm Ulm
- **Sergio Scariolo** (head coach) - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

What's more, if you look at the World Cup rosters in general, there are a number of ex-EuroLeague and EuroCup players who are set to be among the star players in Manila. Some of the standout names in this regard are Slovenia's **Luka Doncic** (Real Madrid), Serbia's **Bogdan Bogdanovic** (Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul), Montenegro's **Nikola Vucevic** (Buducnost VOLI Podgorica), Lithuania's **Jonas Valanciunas** (Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius) and **Domantas Sabonis** (Unicaja Malaga), Italy's **Simone Fontecchio** (EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, ALBA Berlin, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz), Germany's **Franz Wagner** (ALBA Berlin) and France's **Rudy Gobert** (Cholet Basket).

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan guard Maodo Lo (Germany), Real Madrid's Walter Tavares (Cape Verde), FC Barcelona's Rokas Jokubaitis (Lithuania) and Milan forward Nicolo Melli (Italy) will all be playing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, Philippines.