EuroCup Round 9: Top 10 plays

Check out the best plays of Round 9 and see who made the best of them

BAXI Manresa-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

BAXI Manresa v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-12-05T19:45:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-12-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul-Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-12-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-12-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Lietkabelis Panevezys-London Lions | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Lietkabelis Panevezys v London Lions (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

NINERS Chemnitz-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

NINERS Chemnitz v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm ulm-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

ratiopharm ulm v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Slask Wroclaw | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Slask Wroclaw (2025-12-04T17:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul-Neptunas Klaipeda | Round 9 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Neptunas Klaipeda (2025-12-04T16:00:00.000Z)

Top 10 Plays | November | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Top 10 Blocks | November | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Top 10 Assists | November | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Top 10 Dunks | November | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Check out the best plays of BKT EuroCup Round 8 and see who had the best of them.

EuroCup Round 8: Top 10 plays

Umana Reyer Venice - BAXI Manresa | Round 8 | EuroCup 2025-26

Umana Reyer Venice v BAXI Manresa (2025-11-19T19:00:00.000Z)

London Lions - Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 8 | EuroCup 2025-26

London Lions v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-11-19T19:30:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana - Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 8 | EuroCup 2025-26

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-11-19T17:30:00.000Z)

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens - Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 8 | EuroCup 2025-26

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-11-19T17:30:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara - Besiktas GAIN Istanbul | Round 8 | EuroCup 2025-26

Turk Telekom Ankara v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-11-19T16:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento - NINERS Chemnitz | Round 8 | EuroCup Basketball 2025-26

Dolomiti Energia Trento v NINERS Chemnitz (2025-11-18T19:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica - ratiopharm ulm | Round 8 highlights | EuroCup 2025-26

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v ratiopharm ulm (2025-11-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Slask Wroclaw- Bahcesehir College Istanbul| Round 8 highlights | EuroCup 2025-26

Slask Wroclaw v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-11-18T18:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem | Round 8 highlights | EuroCup 2025-26

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (2025-11-18T17:00:00.000Z)

Latest Videos

Round 9

Look back at all the action in Round 9 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 9

Look back at all the action from Round 9 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Veolia Towers Hamburg have added an offensive weapon to their roster, signing Ross Williams for the remainder of the season. 

Hamburg signs scorer Ross Williams

Veolia Towers Hamburg have added an offensive weapon to their roster, signing Ross Williams for the remainder of the season. Williams (1.78 meters, 25 years old) arrives as the leading scorer in the Czech League, where he averaged 21.6 points and 4.5 assists per game for Basket Brno.

Williams signed his contract late Thursday evening and was in Hamburg by Friday morning — barely 12 hours later. Just two days earlier, he played his final game for Brno, capping a stint in which he showcased his scoring prowess and leadership.

“We took the time to find the right player for our situation,” said Hamburg head coach Benka Barloschky. “Ross gives us qualities that complement LJ. He’s a point guard with a scorer’s mentality, a constant threat with his speed, and his pull-up three is a weapon we didn’t have before. Beyond his skills, his attitude and determination really impressed me.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Moin Ross! 🏀<br>Wir nehmen mit Ross Anthony Williams den aktuellen Topscorer (21,6 PpS) der tschechischen Liga für den Rest der Saison unter Vertrag. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> 📸 FIBA<a href="https://t.co/TjhpZ41kci">https://t.co/TjhpZ41kci</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1996902319070597370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Basketball runs deep in Williams’s family. His stepfather, Willie Green, is a former NBA player and two-time champion as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. From him, Williams learned the mantra: play every game like it’s your last, but always enjoy it. That mindset fueled his steady rise through five years of college basketball, from NAIA and NCAA Division II programs to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where he reached the prestigious March Madness tournament.

Williams turned pro in 2023 with Swiss powerhouse Fribourg Olympic. Initially signed on a short-term deal, he quickly became the league’s best sixth man and helped secure a championship. In his second season, he debuted in international competition, guiding Fribourg to the FIBA Europe Cup quarterfinals. This year, he took on a starring role in Brno.

More Hamburg news

The guard was the top scorer this season in the Czech League

Joseph Girard III remembers the 2011 NCAA Tournament like it was yesterday. Brigham Young University stormed into the Sweet 16 with one of the most thrilling players in the country, Jimmer Fredette, who had captivated the United States. And Girard was one of his biggest fans. 

Joseph Girard carrying on tradition from Jimmer Fredette 

[Joseph Girard III](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joseph-girard-iii/013856/) remembers the 2011 NCAA Tournament like it was yesterday. Brigham Young University stormed into the Sweet 16 with one of the most thrilling players in the country, [Jimmer Fredette](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jimmer-fredette/009842/), who had captivated the United States. And Girard was one of his biggest fans. 

Fifteen years later, Girard is playing for [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) in the BKT EuroCup and carrying on the tradition of Fredette, as they are the only two players to have their numbers retired from Glen Falls High School in New York. 

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Girard has had his moments in his first EuroCup season, most notably his 16-point outburst in Cedevita’s Round 3 home victory over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. The 25-year-old is averaging 7.8 points while shooting 38.9% on three-pointers to go with 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.  

“Obviously this is a big jump and I knew that,” Girard told David Hein when asked about his move from Nevezis Kedainiai last season in Lithuania to Cedevita in the EuroCup and Adriatic League. “No matter if it's the EuroCup or ABA League, it's always going to be a tough opponent. So each game brings something different, but it'll always be a tough game. And you have to be mentally ready each and every night.”

Girard scoring 16 points in a EuroCup game shouldn’t be a surprise given his past of putting the ball in the basket. 

Last season with Nevezis, he led the Lithuanian League in scoring with 21.0 points per game while shooting 54% on two-pointers, 41.5% on threes and 90.8% on free throws, in addition averaging to 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists, in his first professional season. 

“I was confident in what I was doing. My coaches were confident in me. My teammates were confident in me. And we had a really good team. It just didn't show up in the record,” said Girard, referring to the team’s 11-25 mark last season. 

Girard was a deadly scorer in college too, averaging at least 12.4 points in four of his five years while contributing at least 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as well. And in two seasons he knocked down at least 40% of his three-pointers. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO7EvxXAsiH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Joseph Girard III (@jg3____)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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His scoring goes back to high school, where he averaged 48.5 points per game his senior season – winning the New York state high school championship with Glen Falls on a buzzer-beater in the final. Girard even averaged 50.0 points in his junior season. 

The 1.85-meter guard ended up being the all-time leading scorer in the state of New York, no small feat when you consider all the great players who have come from the state, including those from New York City. 

“It's huge. Just talking about it, it still doesn't really hit me yet because I'm still playing,” he said. “To have that happen and to see where all the hard work went and how it all played out, it was just magical. And I'm blessed to have that kind of record.”

Girard even being the leading scorer in his high school history is a feat considering Jimmer Fredette starred in the upstate school from 2003 to 2007 and scored more than 2,400 points. Fredette then had a successful college career at Brigham Young University before spending parts of six seasons in the NBA and ultimately finishing abroad, including the 2019-20 season with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the EuroLeague. 

Girard was born in 2000 and was four or five years old when he was around Fredette’s high school team, because his father was the head coach of the girl’s basketball team. A young Joseph followed Jimmer’s entire career, with his biggest memory coming on March 24, 2011 – BYU facing Florida in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. 

“Third grade. I just have it vividly in my memory. The whole school shut down to watch his game. Every room had the game on their TV. Just watching it with my friends. Everybody rooting for them,” Girard said of Fredette scoring 32 points but losing to Florida in overtime, 83-74, in his last game for BYU. 

A couple of months later, Girard was at the Glen Falls Civic Center for the NBA Draft party for Fredette, who was in attendance at the draft itself down state in New York City. He said basically the whole city of Glen Falls came to the party to root for Jimmer, who was selected No. 10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks but traded to the Sacramento Kings. 

Another big Jimmer memory for Girard was when he, most of his family and much of Glen Falls travelled down to New York to see Fredette play against the New York Knicks. 

The best plays of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard Joseph Girard through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Joseph Girard's top plays this season

Girard has been lucky to still have a close relationship with Fredette over the years. 

“It was a fortunate thing. It's something that you can only dream about,” he remembered. “That's the guy who, when I was running around the gym and could barely reach the hoop, I was watching and trying to be like. And then, there's a time where I got pretty good at the game and he started helping me. So we would work out. He'd come home to Glens Falls for like two weeks, maybe a summer, and during that time he would help me out and go to the gym with me.” 

Fredette showed Girard what made him successful at college and then later what made him successful as a pro. 

Fredette retired from the game in April 2025 and Girard still has contact with him, in addition to seeing his parents, who still live in Glen Falls. 

“I still talk to Jimmer. He still reaches out. He'll slide up sometimes on Instagram, congratulating me on a big game or something. It's a great relationship. He's just a great guy overall, and it's helped me out a lot.”

Girard is also a sneaker head with a room full of shoes back home at his parents’ place. Among them are two pairs of Fredette’s shoes – neither of them having ever been worn. 

They will always be a reminder of how great Jimmer was and how he helped Girard become the next big thing from Glen Falls, New York.

More Cedevita Olimpija News

The Cedevita Olimpija guard went to the same high school as the former NBA star

Veolia Towers Hamburg has announced that forward Justin Edler-Davis is leaving the club after both sides agreed to terminate the contract

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis 

[Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) has announced that forward [Justin Edler-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justin-edler-davis/013933/) is leaving the club after both sides agreed to terminate the contract. The 27-year-old American played 16 official games for Hamburg during the 2025–26 season, including 8 in the BKT EuroCup. Edler-Davis averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in those EuroCup games.

“Justin was always exemplary as a person and brought great energy in practice,” said Towers sporting director Marvin Willoughby. “However, he was unable to reach the performance level and role we had envisioned. We thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future.”

Edler-Davis becomes the third player to leave Hamburg within the first third of the season, joining Eric Reed and Carlos Stewart.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">📢 In beiderseitigem Einvernehmen haben wir an diesem Wochenende die Zusammenarbeit mit Forward Justin Edler-Davis beendet.<br>ℹ️ <a href="https://t.co/jRTrQT8e4X">https://t.co/jRTrQT8e4X</a><br><br>Thank you Justin, we wish you all the best for your future! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1994738000086061359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

The latest Hamburg news

The American forward averaged 8.5 points in the EuroCup before agreeing to leave the club

Hamburg releases forward Edler-Davis

Lietkabelis Panevezys has bolstered its frontline by signing veteran Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius for the remainder of the season

Justas Furmanavicius strengthens Lietkabelis’s frontcourt depth

Lietkabelis Panevezys has bolstered its frontline by signing veteran Lithuanian forward Justas Furmanavicius for the remainder of the season. Furmanavicius (2.01 meters, 31 years old) will help fill the void left by Vytenis Lipkevicius, who could miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

He arrives from Polish side Anwil Wloclawek, where he averaged 4.0 points per game across six Polish Basketball League appearances this season. Last season Furmanavicius played in Serbia, where he averaged 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over 22 Adriatic League games for Borac Cacak.

Furmanavicius last played in Lithuania during the 2023-24 campaign with Gargzdai and Jonava. He previously suited up for Lithuanian sides Siauliai, Dzukija, Pieno Zvaigzdes and Pasvalys as well as for Greece’s Kastoria. Furmanavicius is expected to make his EuroCup debut on Thursday against the London Lions.

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More news from Lietkabelis

The veteran forward brings scoring, versatility, and experience to Panevezys

Venice has provided inspiration to many in the art world over thousands of years. Given that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one day Denzel Valentine writes a song about the Italian city. Yes, Denzel Valentine of Umana Reyer Venice – the former NBA guard who has released three full-length albums in the last five years.

Denzel Valentine living his evolution through “The Journey” and other music 

Venice has provided inspiration to many in the art world over thousands of years. Given that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one day [Denzel Valentine](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/denzel-valentine-/013930/) writes a song about the Italian city. Yes, Denzel Valentine of [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) – the former NBA guard who has released three full-length albums in the last five years.

Valentine released his latest single “Like McGrady” on September 25 of this year, a year which also saw him bring out the “Plead the 5th” single in late July, the seven-track album “Part-Time” in mid-May and even the 12-track album “The Journey” in late January. 

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The album cover for “The Journey” features Valentine in a collage of photos over the years, including wearing jerseys of the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, the NBA G League’s Windy City Bulls and Maine Celtics, Michigan State Spartans from college, as well as his high school J.W. Sexton and Italian club Trieste from last season. 

“I like to separate music and basketball, but also at the same time intertwine them,” Valentine told David Hein. “So, because I'm a realist and don’t like to lie and exaggerate stuff. ‘The Journey’ is just about my life experiences, what I've experienced to this point. And I just wanted to share that through music with everybody who wants to choose to listen to it. 

“Also, I feel like I've gotten better as well. So I just had fun with it. I just made some songs, just kind of went in the studio and did my thing and it came out. It was a great turnout.”

“The Journey” was recorded in the summer of 2024 in Chicago with his producer and engineer Kylann Griffin, with whom he has worked since 2017.

The “Part-Time” cover, meanwhile, features two pictures of Valentine in a Trieste uniform. And that was actually recorded last season in Italy. Jayce Johnson, his teammate from last season, is listed as co-writer for all seven songs. 

“Jayce actually came up with the name,” said Valentine. “We were trying to figure out a name for the project, and he was like, ‘Part-Time,’ because literally that’s what we are. We’re basketball players, but you have a life outside of it, so we’re part-time artists. So that’s why we named it ‘Part-Time.’”

He said Johnson would always be singing in the locker room and was pretty good. 

“I’m like, ‘Bro, I've got to get you in the studio.’ We went in there our first time in February, maybe. And the first song on the album is called ‘Loose’. That was his first time ever doing a song, and he was so good from day one. I said you’re a natural. And that’s how we hit it off,” Valentine remembered. 

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Valentine has three albums, two EPs and 15 singles listed on Spotify.

The other album, “517: Made Me”, includes 11 songs and references the 517 area code in the United States, designated for the area around his home city of Lansing, Michigan. And the EPs are the four-track “It’s Bout Time” from June 2024 and the November 2022 release “Life Is What You Make It” with five songs from November 2022. 

Valentine said his favorite songs are “Wreck” from “The Journey”, “Come Vibe” from “It’s Bout Time”, and “On Sight” from “517 : Made Me”.

The song that probably means the most to him, he said, is “Blackout” from “The Journey”. 

“I’ve listened to that song multiple times and shed tears to it. It’s about my journey, how I grew up, and the struggles I’ve dealt with. It’s about all the hard work and sacrifice my parents made to get me here,” he said.

Valentine started off with straight rap music but then did some R&B and the pop music. Then the influence of Johnson showed he could do some alternative, borderline rock songs.

Even though basketball is his true love, Valentine said music provides an important release as a hobby. 

“I feel like I am able to express my true feelings when I’m in the studio, and it kind of releases a dopamine,” he admitted. “I feel mentally better. It’s crazy. I always feel so much better after I go in the studio. And then the songs, they last a lifetime.”

Valentines listens to his songs and that gives him a great vibe, too. 

“It reminds you of a great time that you had and how you were feeling at the time. It kind of motivates you to succeed and keep going,” he said. “It also gives me confidence too, because I’m like,  ‘Dang, I actually made that.’ It’s kind of mixed emotions with it, but it’s all positive.”

Valentine is currently helping Reyer in the fight to make the BKT EuroCup Playoffs, with holding a 4-4 record in the national team break. And the 32-year-old is playing a strong role, averaging 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.9 assists while shooting 34.1% on three-pointers. 

That comes after a very solid campaign last year in Trieste, his first full season in Europe. 

“I was playing for something, playing for the pride of a city, playing for the pride of the league, trying to get a championship. It felt really good to improve and reinvent myself in year nine. And I wanted to take that energy into this year and have another great year,” he said. 

He now wants to leave a footprint in Europe.

“I feel like the new challenge is to show Europe and the world who Denzel Valentine is and what I can bring to an organization and a team. And that's winning, good vibes, and just the joy of basketball. And I think I have a platform to do that now with the opportunity that this team has given me,” he said.

And the added bonus of making music on top. 

When asked if Venice has inspired him, he answered: “Oh, definitely. Music videos are coming: water taxis, gondolas, all that. I’ve got some stuff planned, for sure.”

The top plays of Umana Reyer Venice guard Denzel Valentine through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Denzel Valentine's best plays this season

More Reyer News

Reyer’s former NBA guard has released three full-length albums since 2020

Every competitor wants a career full of titles. Cassius Winston is no different, and he hopes to finally get a league crown in Europe with Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem – especially now that the team can play the BKT EuroCup at home. 

Cassius Winston wants to finish job with Jerusalem, now with home fans 

Every competitor wants a career full of titles. [Cassius Winston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/cassius-winston/011940/) is no different, and he hopes to finally get a league crown in Europe with [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/jer/) – especially now that the team can play the BKT EuroCup at home. 

Jerusalem has found its groove in the EuroCup with a five-game winning streak going into the national team break. And Winston has been a big part of the Israeli side racing out to a 6-2 mark, good for a three-way tie atop Group A. 

“We like our position. It’s a long season, but I feel like we're getting better as a team and hitting a pretty good stride right now. So it's just about being consistent and just keeping at it,” Winston told David Hein. “There is still got a lot more season to go, but I like our chances.”

The 27-year-old point guard has shined in his first season in the EuroCup, averaging 15.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that the 1.85-meter guard is playing well. 

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After a stellar college career which included winning a Big Ten Conference championship with Michigan State University, Winston spent the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons trying to make the NBA, playing predominantly in the G League. 

He left the United States for Europe and made his continental debut in the EuroLeague with FC Bayern Munich in 2022-23, where he averaged 11.0 points and 3.4 assists. Winston moved onto Tofas Bursa in Turkiye the following season and spent the 2024-25 campaign in Italy playing for Reggio Emilia. 

Winston played internationally the last two seasons in the Basketball Champions League – both times losing in the quarterfinals of the playoffs to a Spanish club. 

This off-season he was attracted to the move to Israel and Jerusalem. 

“It was just a great opportunity, a legendary club. I knew they were trying to do some really special things. And I just wanted to be a part of that; I wanted to be a part of something that can be that major,” he said. “I definitely wanted to come and play with all this talent and just see where I could impact the game and help the team out.”

Jerusalem would love to get to the EuroLeague, and Winston wouldn’t mind being there again, too. Each season since leaving Bayern, he has been able to measure himself against two EuroLeague teams in his domestic leagues: Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkiye, and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Virtus Bologna in Italy. 

“It's always the goal to play at the highest level possible and go there and contribute, and show that you can compete at that level, too. So, it's a great opportunity and a great situation to help this team and help myself in the process,” he said. 

When asked how motivated he feels to get back to the EuroLeague, Winston answered: “It's up there. I just want to play at the highest level and whatever is best for me. I know the EuroLeague is filled with really good players and really good competition. So if I get an opportunity, I would love to challenge myself against the best, always.”

Through his time in Europe, this season with Jerusalem is the first opportunity for Winston to play with someone for a second time. Winston and [Austin Wiley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/austin-wiley/013278/) played together at Tofas and really provided a strong point guard-big man combo. 

“We had a really good year in Tofas – just our chemistry and how we played together. And it carried over into this year, just reading each other, knowing each other's spots, just going out there playing with somebody that dominant. It always helps make the game easier on us as guards,” Winston said.

The top plays of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem guard Cassius Winston through the first eight rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Cassius Winston's best plays this season

Wiley had joined Jerusalem after that year at Tofas while Winston went to Italy. And Winston said he talked to Wiley about a move to Israel.

“I talked to him just to see how things were, how he liked the coaches and the game and the play style. And he loved it. He told me I would enjoy it and that I would do well here, so it was nothing but good things to say.”

While things have gone well with Wiley and the rest of the team, one thing Winston hasn’t experienced yet is the home crowd for a Jerusalem game in the EuroCup. Games in the EuroCup have not been played in Israel since October 2023, but that will change on December 9 when Jerusalem hosts Veolia Towers Hamburg. 

"Oh, man. It's super exciting. I've seen how the fans get here for our \[Israeli League\] home games, so I know they're going to show up for those games too, and it's going to be cool to add that environment to the EuroCup games,” he said. 

“It's kind of hard going out there and playing in empty gyms with no fans. So to have that extra support, an extra teammate with us, it's going to be a huge lift for us.”

Jerusalem has already shown it can challenge for the EuroCup title, but Winston believes EuroCup games at home in Israel will make a major difference. 

“I think it changes the whole dynamic. You don’t have to travel. You can be at home, prepare for the games on a more normal normal schedule. I can only imagine how much this will help us as a team from top to bottom,” he said. 

Winston captured a Big Ten regular season crown and Big Ten Tournament title with Michigan State. And he helped Bayern win the German Cup and Jerusalem secure the 2025 Israeli Super Cup. But there is still that elusive league crown on the European continent, as well as a possible EuroCup championship, to fight for. And that push will become stronger now that Jerusalem's home fans are back at EuroCup games. 

More Hapoel Jerusalem News

The guard is still looking for his first league title in Europe

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If you want to succeed in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, you need to find the hot players at the right prices. Here are five to consider this week.

Round 11 fantasy tips: Uncovering value

The secret to success in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) is maximizing value. That means getting points from your cheapest players, picking up others when they are hot and getting the superstars that you can afford. As we head into Round 11, there are players who fit those criteria available. Before you finalize your team, consider these options.  

[Kamar Baldwin, Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) (11.0 credits) – It looks like Kamar Baldwin has found his groove. The combo-guard, who in playing his first EuroCup season, missed a pair of games early in the season and only posted a PIR of double figures once in his first five appearances. Since then, however, Baldwin has averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals for a PIR of 19.7 over his last three games. He is now the go-to guy in the Trento backcourt. 

[Sam Dekker, London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) (15.1 credits) – This is a calculated risk. When healthy, Dekker is a dominant fantasy – and real life – force. Since his return from injury, Dekker has played limited minutes (12:44 per game) and as a result, his fantasy price has dropped by 0.7 credits. He played nearly double that in the British League on Friday and was in uniform for 14 more minutes in domestic action on Sunday. This week London plays Hamburg, which has allowed the most points in the EuroCup this season (96.9 ppg.). This may be the time to invest in Dekker. 

EuroCup Round 11 Fantasy tips

[L.J. Figueroa, ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lj-figueroa/012603/) (11.8 credits) – Here are three encouraging facts about LJ Figueroa. He is coming off his best game (20 points, 23 PIR). His previous best game came against this week’s opponent, Dreamland Gran Canaria, in Round 2 (19 points, 20 PIR). His last three games have been his best three-game stretch of the season with averages of 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, PIR 17.3. Is it Figueroa time? 

[Marvin Jones, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marvin-jones/010248/) (9.4 credits) – Marvin Jones’s role in the Buducnost offense has grown in recent weeks. He has averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for a PIR of 22.5 over his last two appearances. Jones has taken at least 10 shots in both of those games after not attempting more than 7 in any previous game this season. Jones struggled against this week’s opponent, Turk Telekom Ankara, in Round 2 with a PIR of -2, however, this is a home game and Jones, Buducnost and Turk Telekom are in different places today than they were in early October. 

[Jovan Kljajic, Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jovan-kljajic/007560/) (4.6 credits) – One of the best cheap options in the game is Jovan Kljajic, who has continued to offer very good production for his price in recent weeks. Since Round 8, he has averaged 7.7 points and a PIR of 8.3. The outside shots have not been falling; Kljajic is shooting just 17.4% from downtown. Imagine what might happen if he heats up? Plus, Kljajic plays on Tuesday this week, so there is little risk. 

Round 10 at a glance

The second half of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season gets underway on Tuesday and Wednesday, and here’s your full guide to the action in Round 10.

## Wednesday, December 10, 2025

### [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (18:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/besiktas-gain-istanbul-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2025/100/)

Second in Group B welcomes second-last as Besiktas (7-2) targets a victory over struggling Lietkabelis (2-7). The Turkish team has won three in a row, most recently breezing past Panionios on Friday behind a double-double from Round 9 MVP Ante Zizic (18 points, 13 rebounds). Slowing him down is the task for Lietkabelis center Paulius Danusevicius, who impressed with 13 points and 7 boards when the Lithuanian team shocked Besiktas at home in Round 1. But Lietkabelis has only won once since then, with its offense misfiring again in last week’s home loss to London, and the host hopes that its long-range shooting prowess (40.3% from deep, second-best in the competition) will help set up another win.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🦅 Bugün <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F%C4%B1nMa%C3%A7%C4%B1Var?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeşiktaşınMaçıVar</a><br><br>🏆 BKT EuroCup 10. Hafta<br>🆚 Lietkabelis Panevezys<br>⏰ 20.00<br>📍 Beşiktaş GAİN Spor Kompleksi<br>📺 TRT Spor <a href="https://t.co/N2nK2pzPIX">pic.twitter.com/N2nK2pzPIX</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş GAİN (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1998286531778551973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2025/94/)

It’s top against bottom in Group A as Hapoel (7-2) attempts to take another step towards the postseason with a visit from winless Hamburg (0-9). The hosts, who will be playing the first EuroCup game in Israel since October 2023, have won six straight games after blitzing Reyer by 32 points last week, behind 18 points and 9 assists from offensive leader Jared Harper. Hamburg’s latest loss came despite 20 points from big man Zacharie Perrin at Manresa on Friday night, and it would be a big surprise if Hapoel doesn’t repeat the 15-point victory it achieved in Hamburg, led by 19 points from Khadeen Carrington, in the opening week of the season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">בוקר טוב הפועל 🔴<br>היום משחק אירופי ראשון בישראל 🇮🇱<br>לכרטיסים &gt; <a href="https://t.co/7WWYcTFSoL">https://t.co/7WWYcTFSoL</a><br><br>עדכון: רועי הובר נקע את הקרסול נגד קריית אתא ולא ייטול חלק במשחק הערב נגד המבורג. <a href="https://t.co/oUqid9XIeI">pic.twitter.com/oUqid9XIeI</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1998306960173904102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [NINERS Chemnitz vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/niners-chemnitz-panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens/U2025/99/)

A pair of Group A strugglers aiming to bounce back from heavy losses meet as Chemnitz (3-6) welcomes Panionios (1-8). The Greek team has lost eight in a row, with its only victory coming against Chemnitz in Round 1. That victory, 89-86, came via a pair of last-minute three-pointers from Jaylen Hands, who needs to rediscover his range after going 1-of-8 from deep in the last two games. Chemnitz has just one win in the last four, and was thrashed by 24 points at home last week by Turk Telekom. Centers Amadou Sow and Kevin Yebo were the only bright spots with 16 points apiece, so the hosts will look to use their physicality to dominate the paint.

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### [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (19:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2025/97/)

Group B leader Bourg will (8-1) look to extend its perfect home record against dangerous Trento (4-5). The Italian team showed its potential by putting 100 points on the board to win at Ulm last week, helped by another night of inside dominance from Andrej Jakimovski, who has averaged 4.3 offensive rebounds in the last four games. Bourg will look to contain his threat through Kevin Kokila, who patrolled the paint with 10 points and 8 boards when the French team cruised to a remarkable 48-79 victory at Trento in Round 1. The Italian team has improved a lot since then and will be determined to avenge that embarrassment by grabbing a fourth road win of the season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">GAMEDAY ⚔️<br><br>🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/AquilaBasketTN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AquilaBasketTN</a> | 19h30 | Ekinox<br>🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/7Tr4zsriou">https://t.co/7Tr4zsriou</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/YJHLdLaGit">pic.twitter.com/YJHLdLaGit</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1998301592035189233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Wednesday, December 10, 2025

### [Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (17:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/bahcesehir-college-istanbul-u-bt-cluj-napoca/U2025/92/)

A key battle in Group A will see Bahcesehir (6-3) target a return to winning ways with a visit from dangerous Cluj (5-4). The teams experienced differing fortunes last week, with Bahcesehir suffering a shock home loss to Neptunas, and scoring star Malachi Flynn (17 points per game) will look to recover his usual high standards after shooting 3-of-11 from the field in that defeat. Cluj, on the other hand, boosted its confidence with a win at Aris as 27 points from red-hot Mitchell Creek led a fourth-quarter explosion. Bahcesehir won 90-98 on the road when the teams met in Round 1, so it can claim a three-win margin over Cluj with a win on Wednesday.

### [Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/neptunas-klaipeda-slask-wroclaw/U2025/91/)

Two teams currently tied on the fringes of Group A’s playoff places go head to head as Neptunas (4-5) welcomes Slask (4-5). The Lithuanian team will be high in confidence after last week’s impressive victory at Bahcesehir, and will hope to continue its three-point accuracy after netting 18 triples on 36 attempts in that win, led by 4-of-5 long-range shooting from Arnas Velicka. Slask is 0-4 on the road following last week’s blowout at Cedevita, but can take confidence from memories of its Round 1 victory over Neptunas, 95-85, powered by 21 points from Kadre Gray. A key for Slask is to slow down Rihards Lomasz, who has averaged 19 points in the last six games.

### [ratiopharm ulm vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/ratiopharm-ulm-turk-telekom-ankara/U2025/98/)

Ulm (4-5) will be desperate to end a three-game losing slide with a visit from playoff-chasing Turk Telekom (6-3). The German team needs defensive improvement after allowing 100, 101 and 96 points during its losing run, while Turk Telekom is flying high with six wins out of seven. Michael Devoe, who paired 13 points with 7 assists in last week’s victory at Chemnitz, faces a backcourt battle with Mark Smith, who was instrumental to Ulm’s Round 1 victory in Turkiye with 23 points and 7 assists. The hosts rank last in the competition in rebounding, so Turk Telekom (37.7 rebounds per night, fourth best) will look for Kyle Alexander (6-1 rebounds per night) to control the paint.

### [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. London Lions (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/buducnost-voli-podgorica-london-lions/U2025/96/)

Buducnost (6-3) will look to get back on track by overcoming a London team (4-5) fighting hard to stay in Group B’s playoff zone. Buducnost saw its five-game winning streak ended by last week’s loss at Bourg, and will be keen to recover its usual offensive potency after scoring just 73 points in that game. London boosted its confidence with a good win at Lietkabelis last week, and will look to repeat the stifling defense that held the hosts to just 61 points. A key battle will take place between Tarik Phillip, who had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists for London last week, and Buducnost dynamo Yogi Ferrell, who has double digits scoring in four straight games.

### [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/aris-thessaloniki-betsson-umana-reyer-venice/U2025/93/)

Two teams tied for fifth place in Group A meet in Greece, with Aris (4-5) hosting Reyer (4-5). The opening game of the season between the teams was a thriller, won 81-85 by Aris behind 26 points from guard Bryce Jones, who will again inevitably be a major factor after five straight games of double-digit scoring. Reyer has only won once on the road and needs more presence in the paint after allowing opponents to grab more rebounds (42.2 per game) than any other team despite the consistency of Chris Horton (7.6 boards per night). Aris will hope for another big night from recent signing Danilo Andjusic, who netted 20 points on his debut in last week’s loss to Cluj.

### [BAXI Manresa vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (20:45 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/baxi-manresa-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2025/95/)

Playoff-chasing Manresa (4-5) will aim to build more momentum by overcoming Group A co-leader Cedevita (7-2). Manresa is one of five teams tied for fifth place after ending a four-game losing streak with Friday’s easy win over Hamburg, which saw playmaker Hugo Benitez turn on the style with 17 points and 10 assists. He faces a great matchup with Cedevita star Umoja Gibson, who led his team to a fourth straight victory by pairing 19 points and 8 assists in last week’s thumping victory against Slask. The Round 1 meeting between the teams was a tight one, edged 76-69 by Cedevita, but we can expect a more high-scoring encounter on Friday.

Game Center: Lietkabelis ahead at Besiktas entering 4Q; leads for Jerusalem, Chemnitz; Bourg-Trento underway

BAXI Manresa v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-12-10T19:45:00.000Z)

ratiopharm ulm v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-12-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v London Lions (2025-12-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-12-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Neptunas Klaipeda v Slask Wroclaw (2025-12-10T17:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-12-10T16:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-12-09T18:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-12-09T18:30:00.000Z)

NINERS Chemnitz v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-12-09T18:00:00.000Z)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-12-09T17:00:00.000Z)

As we enter the second half of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, one might think we know plenty about the best players for the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. I say, "think again". 

Fantasy tips, Round 10: Four overlooked options 

As we enter the second half of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, one might think we know plenty about the best players for the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. I say, "think again". There are new players arriving every week who are making impact. There are others who have been overlooked and are still underpriced. While I won’t say which of the players below are on my final roster, let’s say that all were given serious consideration and I think they should be considered for your teams.

### John Newman, Chemnitz (9.2 credits)

A EuroCup newcomer, one could be forgiven for not seeing something special in [John Newman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/john-newman-iii/013891/)’s rather average averages (10.2 ppr., 11.8 PIR). But dig a little deeper and you see a monster Round 1 game (22 points, 24 PIR) before an injury, 10 minutes played in his return game, another strong outing (18 PIR) and a subpar effort as his team was blown out. He's had PIRs of 16 and 21 in his last two German League games, too, and now faces Panionios at home.

Yovel Zoosman

### Yovel Zoosman, Jerusalem (9.2 credits)

Jerusalem's number 50 has found his groove recently. [Yovel Zoosman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yovel-zoosman/006625/) has posted a PIR of at least 17 in three of his last four games. This week, Zoosman leads Jerusalem into a clash with Hamburg, which should make for a high-scoring affair as the team plays in front of its fans for the first time all season. Seems like a nice time to grab Zoosman.

### Egidijus Mockevicius, Neptunas (7.7 credits)

Big man [Egidijus Mockevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/egidijus-mockevicius/002333/) jumped right into the Neptunas lineup and made an impact with 8 points and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes to help his team upset Bahcesehir. He outplayed Trevion Williams (4 PIR), who is the second-most expensive center in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. Rebounding is Mockevicius's calling card, so he should always have a safe floor. Now is the time to pounce.

### Jamel Morris, Lietkabelis (6.6 credits)

There is something wild about [Jamel Morris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jamel-morris/011931/)'s stats this season and it does not seem sustainable. He has had four games with negative PIRs. He has shot poorly and is second in the league in turnovers with 3.8 per game. However, he has scored in double figures in two-thirds of his games and averaged a PIR of 14.5 in his last two. Moreover, he is Lietkabelis’s top scorer in the Lithuanian League (18.5 ppg.), where he has a PIR of 16.1. There’s a lot to like here for this price.

Jamel Morris

Frankie Sachs has some ideas to help your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge teams this week

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 10 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season

Round 10: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, December 9, 2025

### [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (18:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/besiktas-gain-istanbul-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2025/100/)

### [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2025/94/)

Kenneth Ogbe will not travel to Israel as he recovers from a hip flexor injury.

### [NINERS Chemnitz vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/niners-chemnitz-panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens/U2025/99/)

### [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (19:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2025/97/)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

"Trento is a solid team, especially on the offensive boards. They play at a fast pace, so we'll need to be focused. They've improved a lot and are in the top six, so this is a game we have to take very seriously. We have the advantage of playing at home, and our fans will be there to cheer us on." 

**Kevin Kokila, Bourg center**

"We expect a different match than the first. They're a team that has improved since the first leg, but so have we, so we're ready to take on this challenge and start the second half of the season with a crucial home win to solidify our position at the top of the table."

**Fabio Bongi, Trento assistant coach**

“We have only a few hours to prepare for the game against Bourg after playing on a difficult court like Milan’s, where we showed both positives and negatives. We need to correct what didn’t work: the final possessions on offense and our defense in the opening minutes. This is all part of our growth process, and the game against Bourg represents another important step. We are aware of our strengths and we know which areas we must keep improving: with time, I’m sure we will find our best balance. This game marks the start of our EuroCup return round: in the first meeting, we played a poor game against a team with great experience and physicality. Today, however, we are a group with more chemistry, balance, and mutual understanding. We want to be competitive and put together an effort that allows us to fight for the win.”

**Andrej Jakimovski, Trento forward**

“Bourg-en-Bresse is one of the strongest teams in the entire competition: in the first game, we struggled a lot, but now we have a clearer idea of what it takes to try to counter their physicality and talent. They are a team that plays very well together, and we will need to deliver a performance full of energy and focus for all 40 minutes. We don’t have much time to prepare for this matchup, but I am sure we will show up ready and give 100% in our attempt to bring home the win.”

## Wednesday, December 10, 2025

### [Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (17:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/bahcesehir-college-istanbul-u-bt-cluj-napoca/U2025/92/)

### [Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/neptunas-klaipeda-slask-wroclaw/U2025/91/)

### [ratiopharm ulm vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/ratiopharm-ulm-turk-telekom-ankara/U2025/98/)

### [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. London Lions (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/buducnost-voli-podgorica-london-lions/U2025/96/)

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost head coach**

"We have to play better than we did in the last EuroCup game, with more focus and toughness. London is playing much better than at the beginning of the season, They added three new players, which makes them a significantly stronger team now. They are an athletic team, very aggressive and physical, and we must be ready for that. We’re playing in front of our home crowd, and I hope for strong support from our fans, but it’s on us to respond with toughness. It’s essential that we know how to react in every situation — focus, energy, and rebounding will be key. We need to play with a lot of running and confidence."

**Yogi Ferrell, Buducnost guard**

"I’m expecting a very intense, high-energy game. They put a lot of pressure defensively, they run the floor, and we have to bring energy from the very start. We can’t let them play their game, we need to make everything difficult for them, and then we’ll have a great chance to win. They play well together, move the ball, and can score at a high level. So we just have to put pressure on them and trust each other defensively, knowing we’ll have each other’s back."

### [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/aris-thessaloniki-betsson-umana-reyer-venice/U2025/93/)

**Igor Milicic, Aris head coach**

"There is no easy game in the EuroCup; every matchup is the most important one. Reyer is a strong and athletic team. They play fast basketball, but we need to improve compared to the way we performed in our last game. We have to play our own game and fight for the win."

**Ronnie Harrell Jr., Aris guard**

"It’s a very important game for us, and we need to step on the court and be ourselves. We have to follow our game plan and our coach’s strategy. We’re facing a very good team, so we can’t underestimate them. What matters most is to show on the court everything we’ve been working on in practice. In our previous game, we made defensive mistakes, and we’ve been working hard in training to avoid repeating them."

**Neven Spahija, Reyer head coach**

"We need to react after the last loss in Belgrade. I believe our team is better than the performance we showed in the last EuroCup game: we have to play, show up, and compete. Aris is a good team: they changed their coach and now they play differently. They have talent, and in front of their home crowd, they are even stronger. We will need to play a mature game, performing to the best of our abilities on both defense and offense."

**Kyle Wiltjer, Reyer forward**

"I expect an amazing atmosphere: my dad played for Aris and I know well how much their fans can impact the game. We need to be ready. We are doing well in the Italian league and we need to use this momentum to get wins in the EuroCup as well. It is fundamental that we continue playing at a high pace, playing our best basketball and playing for each other. Taking care of the ball will be decisive. If we protect the ball well, our level of defense improves too, so it will be important to limit turnovers."

### [BAXI Manresa vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (20:45 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/baxi-manresa-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2025/95/)

**Zvezdan Mitrović, Cedevita head coach**

"We prepared well for our first matchup with Manresa in the EuroCup and we showed an excellent performance. At the end of the game we had some problems, because they are a young and aggressive team. There were several changes to their roster, but despite that, our opponents still play very fast and aggressively, so we can definitely expect an intense game with a lot of running. Manresa plays much better at home, which is evident from their number of wins at home. It is definitely not easy to play there. We must be ready for fast and aggressive play. The information from the first game helps us as well, since our opponents have not changed their playing system despite the addition of new players. We expect a tough game."

**David Skara, Cedevita center**

"Our next opponent in the EuroCup is Manresa. On Tuesday we trained well and prepared in Ljubljana. We want to show a good performance, because we know that Manresa is a very talented and excellent team that will play in front of their home fans, so the game definitely won’t be easy. Despite that, we want to extend our winning streak."

Sportradar's Matt Kamalsky breaks down how Bourg and Hapoel lead the pack in a season defined by contrasting styles and tight margins

Stats review: Bourg, Hapoel Jerusalem, and the EuroCup Efficiency Race

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/) notched its fourth straight win to claim the top point differential in the BKT EuroCup through the first half of the season and ascend to the top of Group A. [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/), in contrast, has held steady atop Group B with only a single loss, but heads into the second half with only the third-best point differential in its group. Things are complicated throughout the EuroCup landscape with plenty of teams still having a chance to make some real headway before the calendar turns to 2026.

The graph above plots every team in the EuroCup in terms of how far above or below average they have performed in offensive and defensive efficiency. The teams with the two best efficiency differentials are pretty apparent on first glance as [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/) and Bourg have been the class of the league on paper early on. While both teams have built impressive resumes on opposite ends of the floor, neither has shown the two-way dominance that characterized some of the more easily predictable title runs of the EuroCup’s last decade.   

That duo is also an intriguing litmus test for how sustainable great offense and defense can be over the second run through Group play. It will be fascinating to see which team can maintain its near-record offensive and defensive efficiency. 

While Group A has more parity than Group B at the moment, Group B features three other teams that have played at an above-average level on both ends of the floor through the early part of the season. [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/), [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/), and [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/) all have some key markers of success, with Turk Telekom thriving on the road, Besiktas remaining undefeated at home, and Buducnost having a favorable schedule the rest of the way.  Even with Bourg on a record pace defensively, its efficiency differential sits only marginally ahead of the strong cluster of quality teams chasing it.

In Group A, the fiercest competition at the end of the year may wind up being closer to the cut line, but the quality of the teams around that line seems like they’ll have an impact on the top of the standings as well. [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/)’s recent losses align with that theory as it started the year 6-1 before falling to a pair of teams outside of the top six in back-to-back weeks. There are very few easy wins in Group A and that presents a real challenge for the teams angling for a bye to the quarterfinals when the postseason rolls around.

The second half of the regular season has a chance to be a roller coaster ride, and while Cedevita is the hottest team in the league right now, a team that gets hot towards the end of the season may have a chance to make a run.

 

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