Need a hand in building the perfect EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge team? Or just looking for a laugh while reviewing the European basketball landscape? Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of EuroLeague.net, Sport 24's Vasiliki Karamouza have got you covered!

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Hear from Dubai's finest fantasy players

Need a hand in building the perfect EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge team? Or just looking for a laugh while reviewing the European basketball landscape? [Javier Gancedo](https://x.com/ganchetto) and [Frankie Sachs](https://x.com/MrEuroleague) of [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net), Sport 24's [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://x.com/karamouza_vas) have got you covered!

This week's episode of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast dives into all the latest EuroLeague news and fantasy strategy. Concerned about injuries to ASVEL's Nando De Colo, Panathinaikos's Omer Yurtseven or Barcelona's Toko Shengelia? Looking to pick up the latest American star to land on the Old Continent, but unsure between Spencer Dinwiddie, Bayern, Jared Butler, and Boogie Ellis. Wondering whether this is the time to signed Sylvain Francisco or Carsen Edwards? Javi, Frankie and Vasiliki discuss it all!

They also field questions and react to questions sent in by Fantasy Podcast viewers in the “Get Featured, Get Rewarded” segment and, of course, share their own fantasy teams for Round 9. Enjoy this episode, and best of luck to our fantasy friends in this week's games.

Javi, Frankie and Vasiliki weigh in on all the relevant topics to help you find EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge success

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid (2025-11-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-11-07T19:15:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Valencia Basket (2025-11-07T18:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-11-07T17:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v FC Bayern Munich (2025-11-06T20:00:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Virtus Bologna (2025-11-06T19:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv v AS Monaco (2025-11-06T20:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-11-05T19:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-11-06T17:45:00.000Z)

Dubai Basketball v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-11-06T18:00:00.000Z)

Check out the best plays of Zalgiris Kaunas guard Sylvain Francisco, the EuroLeague's MVP of the Month for October.

MVP of the Month: Sylvain Francisco highlights

Sylvain Francisco | October MVP | EL & FRIENDS MVP TALK

Sylvain Francisco’s steady rise in the EuroLeague hit a new milestone in October. The Zalgiris Kaunas guard has been chosen as the EuroLeague Basketball MVP for the Month of October presented by Motorola in recognition of his consistent excellence as he guided the Lithuanian club to a share of first place in the standings. 

Sylvain Francisco named EuroLeague MVP for October

[Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/)’s steady rise in the EuroLeague hit a new milestone in October. The [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) guard has been chosen as the EuroLeague Basketball MVP for the Month of October presented by Motorola in recognition of his consistent excellence as he guided the Lithuanian club to a share of first place in the standings. Already known for his dynamic play, Francisco elevated his impact with a blend of scoring, distribution, and leadership that helped Zalgiris emerge as one of the early contenders in the 2025–26 season.

Francisco was the engine behind Zalgiris’s 6–2 record in October, orchestrating the offense with precision and flair. He closed out the opening month of the season sharing the league lead in assists with 6.8 per game, while also leading his team in scoring at 14.9 points per game. His Performance Index Rating (PIR) of 18.9 was the second highest among all guards during the month, underscoring his all-around impact.

"Being MVP of the Month is amazing, I didn't expect it, and I am really happy. I'm dancing inside," Francisco told Olivia Harlan Dekker on the EuroLeague & Friends: MVP Talk podcast. "It means a lot because there are so many talented players. I didn't expect to be a EuroLeague MVP, all I wanted is to make sure that we are winning with the team that we have, and to be happy about the wins. I just want to go to the playoffs; that's the best part of it, that's what we want, our goal."

EuroLeague & Friends: MVP Talk with Sylvain Francisco

Francisco’s standout performance in October came in Round 7, when he posted 23 points and a career-high 10 assists in an 86–65 win over Virtus Bologna for his first EuroLeague double-double. That performance earned Francisco co-MVP honors for the round.

His numbers reflect not just volume, but efficiency. Francisco shot 54.1% on two-pointers and 40.4% from three-point range, consistently stretching defenses and creating space for teammates. He has hit at least one three-pointer in every game, scored in double figures six times, and recorded at least 7 assists in five games.

Zalgiris’s October wins came against top-tier opponents including AS Monaco, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, FC Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Virtus, and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, with Francisco playing a central role in each.

This marks Francisco’s first MVP of the Month award, and he becomes just the fifth Zalgiris player to earn the honor, joining [Marcus Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marcus-brown/aht/) (December 2007), [Paulius Jankunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jankunas-paulius/bwi/) (December 2017), [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/) (April 2018), and [Marius Grigonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marius-grigonis/002328/) (October 2020). He also becomes the fifth French player to win the award, alongside [Thomas Heurtel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-heurtel/klt/) (February 2017), [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) (January 2015, February 2016, January 2018), [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (January 2022, and [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) (December 2024).

Francisco joined Zalgiris in the summer of 2024 and has quickly become one of the most impactful guards in the league. His leadership and consistency have helped Zalgiris emerge as a serious playoff contender, and with the season still young, expectations are only growing.

Zalgiris will look to build on its early momentum as the EuroLeague season continues, with Francisco expected to remain a driving force in the team’s pursuit of postseason success.

More Sylvain Francisco News

The Zalgiris Kaunas guard led his team to the top of the standings with elite playmaking and scoring

Step inside last week’s Istanbul derby as Anadolu Efes Istanbul guard Shane Larkin was mic’d up during the team's Round 6 showdown against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. From locker room moments to on-court intensity, hear how Larkin led, motivated and sparked his team in one of the season’s most charged atmospheres. Get closer to the emotion, the competition and the sound of the game in this second episode of Mic’d Up.

Mic’d Up: Efes star Shane Larkin in the Istanbul derby

Step inside last week’s Istanbul derby as [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) guard [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) was mic’d up during the team's [Round 6 showdown against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/reinforcements-help-fenerbahce-to-local-derby-victory/). From locker room moments to on-court intensity, hear how Larkin led, motivated and sparked his team in one of the season’s most charged atmospheres. Get closer to the emotion, the competition and the sound of the game in this second episode of Mic’d Up.

You can watch the first episode of Mic'd Up now, [which featured Justin Anderson in Dubai Basketball's first-ever EuroLeague game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/micd-up-justin-anderson-in-dubais-euroleague-debut/).

More Efes News

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-10-24T17:30:00.000Z)

Top 10 Plays | Round 8 | 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season

Round 8: Top 10 plays

Check out the action from Thursday and Friday, and see who had the best play of Round 8

Olympiacos Piraeus-Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv | Round 8 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Olympiacos Piraeus v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-10-31T19:15:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-FC Barcelona | Round 8 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v FC Barcelona (2025-10-31T19:30:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Round 8 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-10-31T19:30:00.000Z)

Will Clyburn knocked down a deep, deep three-pointer at the end of the shot clock, which proved to be the game-winning basket.

Clyburn wins it! Motorola Magic Moment

AS Monaco-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Round 8 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

AS Monaco v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-10-31T18:00:00.000Z)

Collin Malcolm rejects Tyler Dorsey on one end and then dunks on the other after Chris Jones’s no-look dish!

Malcolm delivers on both ends! Motorola Magic Moment

Tyrique Jones bends the iron with a hoodie dunk after collecting a neat pass from Duane Washington!

Jones violates the rim! Motorola Magic Moment

Mamadi Diakite stops Shane Larkin with a perfectly timed block!

Diakite's big block! Motorola Magic Moment

Nikola Milutinov rolls and throws down a ferocious dunk – and one!

Milutinov smashes the rim! Motorola Magic Moment

Markquis Nowell sends a really good pass to Mamadi Diakite for a high-flying, fast-break slam.

Nowell finds Diakite! Motorola Magic Moment

Collin Malcolm connects with Dan Oturu, who slams it home!

Oturu skies for the alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment

 Collin Malcolm connects with Dan Oturu, who slams it home!

Tyrique Jones gets up sky-high to swat away Joel Parra’s layup - "Not in my house," he says!

Tyrique Jones rejects Joel Parra! Motorola Magic Moment

 Tyrique Jones gets up sky-high to swat away Joel Parra’s layup - "Not in my house," he says!