Name: Top 10 Blocks | January | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Top 10 Blocks - NOT IN MY HOUSE | January  | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Top 10 Blocks | January | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Top 10 Blocks | January  | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Top 10 Assists | January | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Basketball not only fosters physical and mental well-being but also serves as a bridge for relationships. Dolomiti Energia Trento and Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius's latest initiative exemplifies this mission, creating a memorable and groundbreaking experience for people with disabilities, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired. 

Technology and innovation make basketball more inclusive

Basketball not only fosters physical and mental well-being but also serves as a bridge for relationships. [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) and [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius/wol/)'s latest initiative exemplifies this mission, creating a memorable and groundbreaking experience for people with disabilities, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired. 

Wolves's game versus Dreamland Gran Canaria was special for a large group of children and young people with hearing disabilities. During the game, a unique touch was added as the arena cube displayed a live interpreter translating the TV commentators’ play-by-play into sign language, making the game more accessible for the fans in the crowd. The initiative aims to spark interest in basketball among the deaf community, promote an active lifestyle, and enhance social inclusion through the sport. According to Titas Servutas, Wolves's One Team program manager, the project’s societal impact is undeniable: “Sometimes, we focus too much on the general population and overlook those whom life has treated unfairly. This program is specifically designed to help these individuals integrate into basketball, foster the growth of their community, and view the game from a fresh perspective."

More recently, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, during the BKT EuroCup game between Trento and Wolves, Trento set the stage for an extraordinary event. Among the spectators, approximately 15 were blind or visually impaired fans who enjoyed the game in a way that had never been experienced before at Il T Quotidiano Arena. With the help of a dedicated radio commentary and the electrifying energy of the arena, these fans were fully immersed in the action of the game. For many of the visually impaired attendees, the event marked their first-ever live basketball game. This sentiment underscores the unique impact of the initiative, which proved that basketball is a sport for everyone, regardless of physical or sensory abilities. 

The success of this initiative has paved the way for its continuation. With the support of the Associazione Marcotti Osvaldo, Trento plans to replicate this inclusive experience in the upcoming games. The organization’s dedication to inclusion doesn’t stop here. "Through collaborations within our community and beyond, we strive to create a society that is more attentive on the field, in the arena, and in everyday life,“ stated Massimo Komatz, director of the Fondazione Aquila for Sport Trentino.  

These initiatives highlight the incredible potential of technology in enhancing accessibility and promoting inclusion in sports. By combining innovative tools, Trento and Wolves have set a benchmark for how sports can bring people together regardless of their physical or sensory abilities. Both teams' efforts demonstrate that basketball is more than just a game – it’s a vehicle for inclusion, empowerment, and connection.  

Trento and Wolves have made their games more accessible to fans

Tuesday night saw two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague clubs make it into the semifinals of their domestic cups, with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Paris Basketball both securing quarterfinal victories. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne also made it into the last eight.

### Turkiye: A comfortable night for Fener

Fenerbahce eased to an 87-56 win over BKT EuroCup side Bahcesehir College Istanbul in the Turkish Cup, setting up a semifinal meeting with archrival Galatasaray Istanbul.

Nigel Hayes-Davis led Fenerbahce in scoring with 14 points, while Tuesday night also marked the second game back from injury for Wade Baldwin, who had 7 points and 7 assists. Nicolo Melli and Errick McCollum were Fenerbahce's other double-digit scorers, netting 12 and 10 points, respectively. For Bahcesehir, Tai Odiase had 15 points and Marko Simonovic finished with 10.

Fenerbahce held a commanding 22-7 lead at the end of the first quarter after going on a 15-3 run in the final six minutes of the period. From that point on, Bahcesehir was always playing catch up. Saras Jasikevicius's men extended their advantage to 20 points (34-14) midway through the second quarter, then went up by as many as 27 at 45-18 with 2:55 minutes to go before halftime. At the break, Fenerbahce led 49-25.

A 29-point lead was established just over two minutes into the third as Fenerbahce held a 56-27 advantage, and a pair of free throws by Hayes-Davis made it a 31-point game at 65-34 with 3:10 minutes left in the quarter. A Tarik Biberovic triple ended the period with a new game-high 32-point difference at 70-38. Baldwin's jump shot turned it into a 34-point advantage at 72-38 early in the fourth, and Biberovic put Fenerbahce 35 points up at 78-43. Fenerbahce coasted the rest of the way en route to its eventual 87-56 victory.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">ING Türkiye Kupası&#39;nda Yarı Finaldeyiz! 💪<br><br>Tebrikler Fenerbahçe Beko! 👏<br><br>Maç Sonucu | Fenerbahçe Beko 🆚 Bahçeşehir Koleji: 87-56<br><br>Skor dağılımımız: Hayes-Davis 14, Melli 12, McCollum 10, Biberovic 8, Metecan 8, Baldwin 7, Birch 6, Melih 6, Guduric 6, Hall 5, Sertaç 4, Emre 1.… <a href="https://t.co/nsRaN2EywN">pic.twitter.com/nsRaN2EywN</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1889391547831165317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### France: Paris takes care of business

Paris bounced back from a slow start to beat Dijon 93-78 and advance to the semifinals of the French Cup for the first time in club history.

TJ Shorts continued his excellent performances from the EuroLeague by posting 20 points, while Collin Malcolm had 15 and Sebastian Herrera netted 11.

Despite Dijon leading 21-22 at the end of the first quarter, Paris bounced back in the second by scoring 25 points to go 46-41 at the break. Paris scored another 25 points in the third quarter to lead 71-57 after 30 minutes, then Tiago Splitter's men edged the fourth quarter 22-21 to come away with a 93-78 win.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">ON EST EN DEMI-FINALE POUR LA PREMIÈRE FOIS DE NOTRE HISTOIRE 😍 <a href="https://t.co/9zXf7loWE5">pic.twitter.com/9zXf7loWE5</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1889418330379030674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### France: ASVEL wins, will face Monaco

ASVEL reached the quarterfinals of the French Cup after beating Saint-Quentin 54-76, with a last-eight matchup against fellow EuroLeague side AS Monaco to come.

It was a contest that saw ASVEL's big men come to the fore on the offensive end, led by Ben Bentil with a game-high 15 points. Melvin Ajinca wasn't far behind on 14 and Joffrey Lauvergne added 10. Forward Andre Roberson grabbed 9 rebounds, too. Saint-Quentin's Nolan Traore, a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was held to just 3 points.

A hard-fought first quarter finished with ASVEL leading 14-20, before it held Saint-Quentin to just 8 second-quarter points as Pierric Poupet's side went into halftime with a 22-36 advantage. ASVEL erupted for 26 points in the third, winning the quarter 14-26, to go 36-62 ahead. With such a big lead, ASVEL took its foot off the gas and allowed Saint-Quentin to outscore them 18-14, but it still did enough to win 54-76.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Direction les quarts de finale de Coupe de France ! 💪<br><br>Solides et appliqués, nos Villeurbannais s&#39;imposent largement à Saint-Quentin et affronteront Monaco au prochain tour ! 🎫<br><br>🔜 Maintenant, place à la Leaders Cup dès vendredi.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDLCASVEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LDLCASVEL</a> <a href="https://t.co/DVbFJwh6G6">pic.twitter.com/DVbFJwh6G6</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1889415195354677555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was a good night for three EuroLeague teams

Domestic Cups: Fenerbahce, Paris into semifinals; ASVEL reaches last eight

Mathieu Grujicic only needed 5 minutes to decide to join Barcelona 

As far as European basketball clubs go, FC Barcelona is one of the best on the continent. So it should be no surprise that [Mathieu Grujicic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/mathieu-grujicic/012103/) jumped at the chance to leave Germany and join the Spanish powerhouse. And now he helped the club’s U18 team finish first at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Ulm, being named winner of the [Most Valuable Player](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/news/mathieu-grujicic-honored-as-nextgen-ulm-mvp-after-barcelona-title/) award.

Grujicic tallied 22 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal drew 8 fouls for a performance index rating of 20 in Barcelona’s 91-89 win over U18 Zalgiris Kaunas in the first-place game. For the tournament, Grujicic averaged 18.5 points on 47.4% shooting from the outside, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 steals in collecting a PIR of 19.8.

“I couldn't have done it without my teammates. I think I stepped it up in the second half against Zalgiris and we kept working,” said Grujicic, who finished the tournament third in scoring and fifth in PIR.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crowned in 🇩🇪<br><br>Mathieu Grujicic is the Adidas <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextGenEuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextGenEuroLeague</a> Ulm Qualifier MVP⭐️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasbasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasbasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/tfdfkcd1aN">pic.twitter.com/tfdfkcd1aN</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1888679326549410033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Barcelona head coach Carlos Marin praised the player he sees as one of his leaders.

“He’s able to produce in a lot of ways. He can shoot threes off the dribble, off screens, one-on-one situations, he can share the ball, he can create assists. He has really improved his defense a lot too. It’s great to have him,” said the coach, who is spending his second season with the versatile wing.

Marin made the jump from Barcelona youth assistant to head coach just as Grujicic had come to the club. Grujicic was born in Arles, France - located between Montpellier and Marseille in the south of the country. His father is Serbian and mother is French and they moved to Berlin in 2012 because his mother was working in the French embassy in the German capital. 

Grujicic’s first NextGen experience came in 2022-23 with U18 ALBA Berlin in Munich. Later that season, Grujicic helped ALBA win the German U16 JBBL league title with 52 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals in 46 minutes of a 93-85 double-OT victory over Eintracht Frankfurt / Fraport Skyliners in the Final to take home Final Four MVP.

In the summer, Grujicic averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals in helping Germany finish fifth at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 to help the country qualify for the FIBA U17 World Cup for the first time.

"Barcelona is without a doubt the biggest club in Spain and probably in Europe. So for me, it wasn't a hard decision at all."

Then in September 2023, it was time to decide on his future.

“When I found out I had the opportunity to go to Barca, I had 24 hours to think about it. And I remember exactly that after five minutes, I called and I said, 'No, for me, there's nothing to think about.' Because that's something that I've always wanted to do: play in Spain, play at one of the big clubs in Spain. And Barcelona is without a doubt the biggest club in Spain and probably in Europe. So for me, it wasn't a hard decision at all,” Grujicic recalled.

Since moving to Spain, Grujicic feels he has progressed both on and off the court.

“I really think I developed as a player, but also as a human. I perfected an additional language. I met so many new friends and new people that now I can call my family,” said Grujicic, who speaks fluent French, German, English and Spanish and added: “My Serbo-Croat can get a little better.”

Grujicic then last season helped Barcelona win the NextGen Belgrade qualifying tournament while averaging 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists. The team returned to the NextGen Finals in Berlin and opened the tournament with an emphatic 118-46 win over ALBA with Grujicic picking up 8 points against his former team.

Mathieu Grujicic highlights from NextGen EuroLeague Ulm

In the second game, Barcelona wasted a 14-point lead and ended up losing 102-98 to U18 Overtime Elite. And then Grujicic and co. could not stop Nolan Traore in the third game as the U18 CFBB INSEP Paris star scored a NextGen Finals record 45 points to go with 6 rebounds and 9 assists for an index rating of 50 in INSEP’s 101-96 victory.

This season, Grujicic is one of the main leaders of Barcelona’s second team in the fourth division with 14.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. And he helped Barcelona show why it was considered one of the favorites in Ulm.

“We came here to win this thing, not just to participate. And in the end, we did it. We knew it wasn't going to be an easy game, there aren’t any easy games. Every game is difficult. But we stuck to our game plan,” he said.

Now Grujicic is looking forward to his first trip to Abu Dhabi where he knows the challenge will be even greater at the NextGen Finals.

“These Finals are always tough to really have a favorite. There are no bad teams, they're all the best teams in Europe. So I wouldn't really call us a favorite. I would call us one of the favorites,” he said.

Barcelona has been waiting for some time to finally hoist its second NextGen EuroLeague trophy - with the only one in club history coming in 2016.

“That would be amazing, man. I would be so happy if I could make it happen for my teammates, for the coaches. That would be an amazing accomplishment for our head coach. In his second year already, two Finals appearances and one championship. We're just trying to make him proud, the whole staff. So yeah, it would mean a lot.”

And it would be another confirmation of why it was an easy decision to move to Barcelona back in 2023.

The German-French forward has taken many steps forward since joining the Spanish club

Top 10 Assists - CREATIVE MOMENTS | January | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

Top 10 Assists | January | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

Panathinaikos AKTOR announced on Tuesday that it has terminated Kostas Antetokounmpo’s contrast

Panathinaikos parts ways with Kostas Antetokounmpo

Panathinaikos AKTOR announced on Tuesday that it has terminated [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/)’s contrast. The center played a key role off the bench last season when he appeared in 31 games, including both games at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four as the Greens won the championship. However this season, injuries have limited Antetokounmpo - the younger brother of global superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo - to just four EuroLeague games during which he has averaged 2.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 7:55 minutes.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει τη λύση της συνεργασίας της με τον Κώστα Αντετοκούνμπο. <br><br>Ο Κώστας αποτέλεσε μέρος της ιστορικής περσινής χρονιάς της ομάδας μας συνεισφέροντας στην επιστροφή της στην κορυφή της Ευρώπης. <br><br>Τον ευχαριστούμε για την προσφορά του και του… <a href="https://t.co/ZL0tdnJShx">pic.twitter.com/ZL0tdnJShx</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1889369301863350756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In a statement released by the club, Panathinaikos said: "Kostas was part of our team's historic year last year, contributing to its return to the top of Europe. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in the rest of his life and career."

Antetokounmpo previously played a season each in the EuroLeague for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. After playing college basketball at the University of Dayton, Antetokounmpo began his professional career in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks and also played two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, with which he won the NBA championship in 2020.

With his big brother Giannis seated court-side, Kostas Antetokounmpo entered his first Final Four game ever on Friday and immediately registered a sky-walking block for a Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens team that was on its way to victory. "I didn't get to see my brothers action, because I was yelling at the crowd, but they told me it was pretty crazy," Kostas says. "There are a lot of nerves in the Final Four, but once the clock starts, everything goes away for me. Once I go on the court, I'm ready to give everything I've got."

All angles of Kostas Antetokounmpo's walk-on block

The big man helped the Greens win their sixth EuroLeague crown last season 

Panathinaikos BC won its seventh EuroLeague title by going all the way at the 2024 Final Four in Berlin, Germany.

Final Four 2024 Berlin

### Panathinaikos, Real Madrid got the job done in the semis

Back at its first Final Four in 12 years, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens rose to the occasion in its semifinal against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. The Greens held Fenerbahce scoreless for the first five minutes of the contest, during which time it went 12-0 ahead, and they ended up leading the rest of the way – despite a Fenerbahce fightback – en route to a 73-57 victory in the first semifinal at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin. All-EuroLeague center Mathias Lessort posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, while All-EuroLeague guard Kendrick Nunn had 14 points. Jerian Grant also chipped in with 13 points for the winners.

The second semifinal saw Real Madrid prevent a potential all-Greek final by downing Olympiacos Piraeus 87-76, the second time in a row that the Spanish side eliminated the Reds at the Final Four after previously coming out on top in the 2023 championship game. Real Madrid blitzed Olympiacos early to take a 28-10 lead and was up 56-37 at the break. Even though the Reds outscored *Los Blancos* in the second half, 31-39, it wasn’t enough. Dzanan Musa led Real Madrid in scoring with 20 points, followed by Mario Hezonja with 12, and Guerschon Yabusele and Vincent Poirier with 11 apiece. Facundo Campazzo dished 9 assists.

### The return of the king!

Panathinaikos trumped Real Madrid 80-95 to make Ergin Ataman’s prophecy come true, as the Greens secured their seventh star and first EuroLeague championship since 2011. Despite a 36-25 first quarter in Real Madrid’s favor, Panathinaikos responded in the second frame to trim it to 54-49 at the interval. After the break, the Greens held *Los Blancos* to just 7 third-quarter points while scoring 15 to take a 61-64 lead into the last quarter. Panathinaikos then made sure of the victory by putting the game to bed in style by outscoring the defending champs 19-31. Kostas Sloukas paced Panathinaikos with 24 points, with Kendrick Nunn adding 21, Mathias Lessort netting 17 and Jerian Grant scoring 11.

[Game info](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/E2023/333/#boxscore).

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-24T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-26T18:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-26T15:00:00.000Z)

Top 10 Dunks | January | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv erased a double-digit second-half deficit to edge crosstown rival Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 95-93 on Monday at Pais Arena in the Israeli capital in the Israeli State Cup semifinals

Maccabi wins Tel Aviv derby in Israeli Cup semifinals 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv erased a double-digit second-half deficit to edge crosstown rival Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 95-93 on Monday at Pais Arena in the Israeli capital in the Israeli State Cup semifinals. The win sets up a matchup with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in the final on Thursday. 

Rokas Jokubaitis led Maccabi with 27 points and 8 assists, Roman Sorkin posted 22 points and 8 rebounds and Levi Randolph tallied 21 points and 8 boards – including the go-ahead basket in overtime. Yam Madar led Hapoel with 23 points and 8 assists, Tomer Ginat scored 19, Johnathan Motley 15 and Marcus Foster 11.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">אחרי אחד ממשחקי הדרבים הגדולים אי פעם, במעמד חצי גמר גביע המדינה ישראל קנדה, ניצחה מכבי ת&quot;א את הפועל ת&quot;א 93-95 לאחר הארכה. יוקובאיטיס בלט עם 27 נקודות, משחק נהדר למדר בצד שני. הגמר יפגיש שוב, בפעם השלישית ברציפות בין מכבי ת&quot;א להפועל ירושלים ביום חמישי הקרוב.<br><br>סיקור, קלעים וגלריה… <a href="https://t.co/HFWhk6EYKz">pic.twitter.com/HFWhk6EYKz</a></p>&mdash; איגוד הכדורסל הישראלי (@TherealIBBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TherealIBBA/status/1889068145316446273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maccabi jumped out to a 19-13 start with Sorkin pouring in 7 points. Hapoel came back to tie it at 23-23 on a Bar Timor triple and it was 27-2 after 10 minutes. Hapoel went ahead 31-32 on a Guy Palatin three-pointer. Motley took charge with a flurry of points before dishing a pretty assist to Bruno Caboclo for a three in the corner that made it 35-43. Maccabi pushed back through Sorkin and Will Rayman to get within 44-46 at halftime. Hapoel surged ahead in the third quarter behind Madar and Foster. Maccabi trimmed the gap to 1 only to see Ginat drill a three and a fastbreak layup. Madar's circus shot gave Hapoel the game’s first double-digit lead, 56-66. Sorkin revived Maccabi with a three and John DiBartolomeo finished a 9-0 Maccabi run with a triple to end the third quarter at 65-66.

Maccabi tied it on Rivero free throws to start the fourth quarter and it was tied again at 68-68 and 71-71, but Maccabi was not able to pull in front. Threes by Madar and Foster made it 72-79 with less than 5 minutes to play. Maccabi answered with a triple by Jokubaitis and an alley-oop from Trevion Williams before Jokubaitis’s fastbreak layup tied it at 81-81 with 2 minutes to play. Sorkin gave Maccabi its first lead of the second half and. Foster tied things and the game came down to the closing seconds. Randolph's put-back of Jokubaitis's miss with 6.7 seconds left gave Maccabi the lead, but left enough time for Madar to feed Motley for a dunk that tied it at 87-87. Maccabi turned the ball over and Madar's potential buzzer-beater came after time expired, sending the game to overtime. Free throws by Madar and a layup by Joe Ragland gave Hapoel a 4-point lead with 2 minutes left in the extra session. Sorkin responded with a long jumper and Randolph banked in a go-ahead three. Madar came up empty on Hapoel's last possession and Maccabi celebrated a thrilling victory.

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<i>Photo credit: Seffi Magriso/Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv <i>

Maccabi will face Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in the final on Thursday

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana glided into the semifinals of the Slovenian Cup on Monday night after coming out on top against Ilirija in their quarterfinal series. The BKT EuroCup side won 97-80 in Game 1 back on December 26, then secured an 86-68 victory in Game 2 on Monday.

One of the star men in Game 2 was DeVante Jones, who finished with 13 points, 8 assists and 5 steals. Ziga Daneu paired his 16 points with 8 rebounds, Rok Radovic and Jaka Blazic added 11 points apiece, Gregor Glas scored 9 points, and Joan Beringer finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds.

Blazic ended a fruitful first quarter in style for Cedevita with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give his team a 32-19 lead after 10 minutes. From there, Cedevita remained in control. Ilirija did outscore Zvezdan Mitrovic’s troops in the second and fourth quarters (8-12, 21-25), but a convincing third quarter by Cedevita (25-12) all but put the win on ice at 76-55. Cedevita will face KK Triglav Kranj in the semifinals at the Slovenian Cup Final Four.

Zvezdan Mitrovic’s men downed Ilirija in Game 1 and Game 2

Cedevita books Slovenian Cup semifinal spot after winning quarterfinal series

Adam Atamna played at his third Adidas NextGen EuroLeague tournament this past weekend and naturally, each of them have been different. One of the biggest differences for the event in Ulm is that the guard does not regularly play for U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Instead, he is playing against grown men as he decided to challenge himself this season. 

Adam Atamna showed his sky-high potential at NextGen Ulm 

[Adam Atamna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/adam-atamna/012268/) played at his third Adidas NextGen EuroLeague tournament this past weekend and naturally, each of them have been different. One of the biggest differences for the event in Ulm is that the guard does not regularly play for [U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/jas/). Instead, he is playing against grown men as he decided to challenge himself this season. 

Atamna was ASVEL’s leading force in Ulm, averaging 33.0 points for the French side which slumped to a 1-2 record in the group and ended up finishing fifth. 

“I have way more responsibilities, and I learned a lot from my two first tournaments. This is my last tournament so I try to help everybody around me,” said Atamna, who collected 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds at the 2022-23 Patras tournament. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃-𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐑🔥 <br><br>Adam Atamna averaged 33 points per game with <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LDLCASVEL</a> U18s in Ulm 🥶<br><br>He now holds the all-time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextGenEuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextGenEuroLeague</a> scroing average record🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasbasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasbasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/jwUSBjp5mZ">pic.twitter.com/jwUSBjp5mZ</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1888582578547896367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Last season he picked up 9.5 points and 2.5 rebounds at the NextGen Dubai tournament. But those stats came in just two games and Atamna was limited because of a broken hand suffered about 3-4 days before the tournament in Dubai.

“It was very frustrating. I was really disappointed to be playing only at 50%,” Atamna said. 

All of the ASVEL players from this NextGen tournament team play in the French U18 and/or U21 leagues. Atamna did that the last two seasons, tallying 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the U21 league last season. So, instead of returning to the two youth leagues, Atamna and ASVEL’s management agreed for him to play for CTC Lyon SO Basket Territoire in the French third division, NM1. 

“I decided to go play in a pro championship, because I felt ready physically and technically. I wanted to confront adults every day of the year,” Atamna said of the NM1 league, which is also where the famed French academy and two-time NextGen continental champion U18 CFBB INSEP Paris plays its games. 

“I work every day to get there and I give myself 100% for that. I don't put pressure on myself. I live in the present moment and I try to learn as much as possible,” said Atamna, who is contributing 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in the third division. 

Among his teammates at Lyon SO is [Noah Manet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/noah-manet/010333/), who played two seasons of the NextGen competition for ASVEL – in 2020-21 and 2021-22. 

There also is Junior Zero, who played the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons at second division ProB side Aix-Maurienne Savoie Basket. One of Zero’s teammates was Karim Atamna, Adam’s father. 

Karim Atamna played the game more than 20 years in France – more than 10 of those seasons in the second division – before retiring in 2021.  

“I can remember a lot of things about his career,” Adam said. “I never missed one of his games. I remember his MVP title at the NM1 Final Four (in 2016). It’s maybe one of my favorite memories from his career,” Adam said of his father, who helped Aix-Maurienne earn promotion to the second league in 2016. 

Karim Atamna is now working as an individual coach and is in Ulm with the ASVEL team. 

“My relationship with my dad didn’t change since I became a pro. He just gives a lot of advice about the pro world. We’ve always talk a lot about basketball, nothing really changed,” Adam said. 

The best plays of U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne star Adam Atamna at the 2024 Adidas NextGen Ulm tournament.

Adam Atamna's top plays at NextGen Ulm

There is a younger Atamna brother, the 2009-born Zaki Atamna, who in July signed with Olympique Lyonnais as a football player. Zaki already stands 6-foot-7 and plays as a goalkeeper.

“My little brother is playing football. He never wanted to play basketball, but he is really good at basketball. Honestly, he’s a better shooter than me without practicing. I think he could be a really good stretch four,” said Adam, who himself did two years of karate but always loved basketball.

Adam’s talent was not lost on the French youth national team coaches though as he played at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023. He helped his country take third place with 6.3 points to go with 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He said his biggest memory was scoring 21 points in the Round of 16 win over Montenegro.

Atamna suffered a major disappointment a summer later as he was not named to France’s team for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024.

“I was under shock a little bit. I couldn’t realize it the first week. But it was just another motivation. I took this time to work on my body, on my game, realize that I had to work harder for the moment,” he said.

Working harder, just like challenging himself against adults and not playing with his fellow youth players.

More U18 ASVEL News

The ASVEL talent moved to the third division this season to push forward his development 

Top 10 Dunks | January | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Top 10 Dunks - HIGH FLIES | January | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Starting at the Quarterfinals phase, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jersualem will host all its home games at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, while Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv will continue playing its home games at Samokov Arena in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem to host remaining EuroCup home games in Belgrade

Euroleague Basketball has approved [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/)'s proposal to play its remaining home games of the 2024-2025 BKT EuroCup season in Belgrade, Serbia.

Starting at the Quarterfinals phase, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jersualem will host all its home games at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, while [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) will continue playing its home games at Samokov Arena in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Euroleague Basketball will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation, while staying in contact with all related parties, and will announce any modifications regarding the above decisions in the case that the situation in the region returns to normal.

Ulm Qualifier 1st-place Game Highlights I U18 Zalgiris Kaunas vs U18 FC Barcelona

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas v U18 FC Barcelona (2025-02-09T15:45:00.000Z)

Tickets for the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi officially go on sale on February 26 at 09:00 CET (12:00 ADT), giving fans the chance to experience the unique atmosphere of Europe’s premier club basketball showdown.

Tickets for the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi go on sale February 26!

For the first time ever, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four [will be held in Abu Dhabi at the state-of-the-art Etihad Arena](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/abu-dhabi-to-host-2025-turkish-airlines-euroleague-final-four/) from May 23 to May 25, 2025. Basketball fans will have the opportunity to witness the thrilling conclusion of Europe’s top club competition.

Tickets officially go on sale on February 26 at 09:00 CET (12:00 ADT), giving fans the chance to experience the unique atmosphere of Europe’s premier club basketball showdown in Abu Dhabi. All ticket information and sales will be available exclusively online at [www.f4tickets.com](http://www.f4tickets.com) and Abu Dhabi Event Tickets in Etihad Arena.

As in previous seasons, a pre-sale window will open on Tuesday, February 25, for season ticket holders of EuroLeague clubs who participate in this initiative, EuroLeague TV subscribers, and previous Final Four ticket purchasers.

### World-class basketball in a premier destination

The 2025 EuroLeague Final Four will bring its signature excitement to Abu Dhabi, a global hub for world-class sporting events known for its passionate basketball fans, cutting-edge infrastructure, vibrant culture, and unique attractions. The Etihad Arena, located on the city’s entertainment hub of Yas Island, will provide the perfect stage for the competition.

The Final Four will start on Friday, May 23, with semifinal showdowns taking place at 19:00 and 22:00 local time, while the EuroLeague Third-Place Game will tip off on Sunday at 18:00 local time, before the EuroLeague Championship Game takes center stage at 21:00 local time, with one team set to become the 2024-25 EuroLeague champion.

### Ticketing options

General public tickets provide access to all four games (two on Friday and two on Sunday) and are available in the following price categories, ranging from €74.75 per game (€299 total) to €187.25 per game (€749 total).

Also, VIP hospitality packages and ticket + hotel bundles will be available starting February 26, offering fans and businesses exclusive benefits to enhance their Final Four experience. Full details are available at [www.f4tickets.com](http://www.f4tickets.com). For further inquiries, please contact [f4tickets@euroleague.net](mailto:f4tickets@euroleague.net).

Don’t miss your chance to witness one of the biggest sporting events of the year in Abu Dhabi, the home of basketball in the Middle East!

The semifinals take place on May 23 before the third-place game and championship game on May 25

Tickets for the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi go on sale February 26

Ulm Qualifier 3rd-place Game Highlights I U18 ratiopharm Ulm vs U18 NextGen Team Ulm

U18 ratiopharm ulm v U18 Next Gen Team Ulm (2025-02-09T13:30:00.000Z)

Mathieu Grujicic claimed the Most Valuable Player award as he helped U18 FC Barcelona to take the title at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Ulm tournament. 

Mathieu Grujicic honored as NextGen Ulm MVP after Barcelona title 

[Mathieu Grujicic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/mathieu-grujicic/012103/) claimed the Most Valuable Player award as he helped U18 FC Barcelona to take the title at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Ulm tournament.

Grujicic tallied 22 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 8 fouls received for a performance index rating of 20 in [Barcelona’s 91-89 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/news/barcelona-edges-zalgiris-89-91-in-nextgen-euroleague-ulm-final/) over U18 Zalgiris Kaunas in the first-place game.

Grujicic was joined on the All-Tournament Team by [Adam Atamna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/adam-atamna/012268/) of U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, U18 Next Gen Team Ulm’s [Davi Remagen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/davi-remagen/013648/), [Endurance Aiyamenkhue](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/endurance-aiyamenkhue/012987/) from U18 ratiopharm ulm and [Dovydas Buika](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/dovydas-buika/011330/) from Zalgiris.

Grujicic averaged 18.5 points on 47.4% shooting from the outside, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 steals in collecting a PIR of 19.8. He finished third in scoring and fifth in PIR.

Buika totaled 26 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists for a PIR of 30 in the loss to Barcelona. For the tournament, he averaged 20.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals for a PIR of 22.2. The Lithuanian was second in scoring and fourth in PIR.

Atamna put together a record-breaking performance with 33.0 points on 48.6% three-point shooting, 7.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.2 steals for a PIR of 36.8. He broke the mark for the highest scoring average in NextGen history. Atamna was first in scoring, first in PIR and second in steals.

Remagen collected 15.8 points on 53.8% three-point shooting, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for an average index rating of 17.2. The German was seventh in scoring.

Aiyamenkhue was excellent all tournament with 16.0 points on 78.1% shooting, 11.8 rebounds with 4.2 offensive rebounds and 1.2 blocks for a PIR of 25.8. The Ulm big man’s PIR was second, he was fifth in scoring and first in total rebounds and offensive rebounds.

The U18 FC Barcelona forward took home the award for the top individual player 