The only teams with a 100% record after four games are Valencia and Bourg, both in Group B
At a glance: Things are heating up
Artículo
7 Min lectura
Round 5 of the BKT EuroCup features a number of clashes between direct rivals in the race for the playoffs, including two of the four co-leaders in Group A going head to head. Here’s your overview of the action.
Tuesday, October 22
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse
Bourg (4-0) will aim to make it a perfect five out of five as it travels to face a Lietkabelis team (0-4) still waiting for its first win. Bourg is a tough defensive nut to crack, allowing just 70.5 points per game (third best in the EuroCup), and forces more turnovers than any other team (18.3 per night). So Lietkabelis could look to run the game through its big men, especially Marko Pecarski, who averages 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the last two games. Bourg will look for another strong showing from young guard Xavier Castaneda, who has reached double digits in scoring in every game so far, as well as averaging 3.2 assists.
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Joventut Badalona
Two teams with identical records but very different emotions from last week meet in Istanbul as Besiktas (2-2) hosts Joventut (2-2). The Turkish team flexed its muscles with a mightily impressive 107-74 victory over Ulm, with six different players scoring in double digits led by Kyle Allman (16). Besiktas will look to repeat its superb shooting efficiency from that Round 3 win, after making 71% of two-point shots and 53.3% from long-range. Joventut, meanwhile, suffered a 23-point home loss to the previously winless Wolves, and will hope that backcourt leader Kassius Robertson – who averages 12.2 points but made just 2-of-9 field goals last week – can lead the way to an instant reaction.
Trefl Sopot vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius
After a stunning Round 3 triumph in Badalona to gain its first win, Wolves (1-3) will look to build further momentum as it visits winless Trefl (0-4). An outstanding shooting night from Round 4 MVP Anthony Cowan – 26 points on 6-of-8 field goal attempts – was vital for the Lithuanian team last week, while Trefl fell to defeat at Buducnost despite a stunning 33-points performance from Jaroslaw Zyskowski. To grab its first win, Trefl must tighten up a defense which has allowed an average of 87.5 points per game, while Wolves need to compete better under the boards after only grabbing 30.3 rebounds per game so far – third-worst in the competition.
Umana Reyer Venice vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg
Reyer (1-3) will aim to snap a three-game losing streak as it welcomes winless Hamburg (0-4). The Italian team will look for more inside dominance from big man Mfiondu Kabengele, who has registered three straight double-doubles and ranks second in the competition in PIR (25.8 per game). After scoring a career-high 34 points in last week’s loss at Valencia, Kyle Wiltjer will hope to stay hot against a league-worst Hamburg defense (99.3 points per game allowed). The German team needs to improve its three-point shooting after only making 3-of-26 in last week’s loss to Cluj, and will look for leadership from Brae Ivey, who has scored double digits in three consecutive games.
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. ratiopharm Ulm
Two teams sharing first place in Group A but aiming for a return to winning ways go head to head as Gran Canaria (3-1) welcomes Ulm (3-1). The Spanish team is struggling offensively, scoring just 66 points in both of the last two games, but can rely on consistency from guard Caleb Homesley (14.8 points per game on 42.1% three-point shooting). After returning from its American adventure, Ulm needs to return its focus to European matters and recover from a 33-point Round 4 mauling at Besiktas. Teenage forward Noa Essengue did emerge from that game with credit, and will look to continue his growing reputation as one of the competition’s brightest rising talents after averaging 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds so far.
Wednesday, October 23
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca
Group B high-flyer Hapoel Jerusalem (3-1) is targeting a fourth straight victory as it welcomes a Cluj team (1-3) with confidence renewed after opening its win account last week. The game will deliver a big backcourt battle between two of the EuroCup’s best guards, with Jerusalem led by Jared Harper (20.8 points and 7 assists per game) and Cluj counting on the equally exciting Zavier Simpson (17.3 points, 7.5 assists). Also expect a tough tussle inside the paint between home ace Austin Wiley (7.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game) and visiting big man De’Shawn Stephens, who averages 13.7 points and 7.7 boards over the last three games.
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Valencia Basket
Unbeaten Valencia (4-0) will aim to keep its offensive juggernaut rolling against the tough defense of Turk Telekom (3-1). The host is looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the campaign in a narrow defeat at Bourg, and will again lean on the best defense in the league (66.5 points per game allowed). Turk Telekom does also need plenty of offense, though, so will hope for another strong game from Anthony Brown after he netted 20 points last week. Valencia averages a league-best 98.8 points based on sharing the ball (23.5 assists), with forward Semi Ojeleye on a hot streak after scoring 22 and 16 points in the last two games.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Cedevita (3-1) will attempt to maintain its place near the top of Group B with a trip to dangerous Aris (1-3). The Greek team was outgunned by Hapoel Jerusalem last week but has a red-hot David DeJulius, who averages 16.2 points per game on 57.5% field goal shooting. Looking after the basketball will be crucial: Aris averages 16.3 turnovers per game, fourth-worst in the competition, while Cedevita leads the EuroCup in that category with 11 ball losses per night. Devante Jones is the key backcourt provider for the Slovenian team, averaging 11 points and 5 assists per game, while sharpshooter Aleksej Nikolic will aim to rediscover his range after missing all 5 of his three-point attempts last week.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul
A pair of Group A teams on a roll meet as Buducnost (2-2) welcomes ambitious Bahcesehir (3-1). The Turkish team set a EuroCup club scoring record last week, blasting 110 points past Trento behind another dominant performance inside the paint from highlight-reel magnet Tai Odiase, who averages 14.2 points and 6 rebounds per season. Buducnost will hope to silence him through center Kenan Kamenjas, who paired 18 points with 5 boards to overcome Trefl last week. Another key matchup will take place in the backcourt between home team star Yogi Ferrell (11.2 points per game) and Bahcesehir’s combo guard Jaleen Smith, who averages 5.8 assists with just 1 turnover.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv
Struggling Trento (1-3) needs to bounce back from a pair of heavy losses with a visit from Group A co-leader Hapoel Tel Aviv (3-1). The Italian team has lost its last two games by 21 and 40 points, and needs more than the consistency of forward Anthony Lamb – who has double-digits scoring in three consecutive games – to turn around its form. Hapoel has reeled off three straight wins through a balanced game focused on a strong inside game with the competition’s best two-point shooting conversion rate (63%). The main driving force is guard Patrick Beverley, who has scored at least 14 points in every game as well as dishing an average of 5.0 assists, and posting a competition-high 2.5 steals per night.