BAXI Manresa-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

ratiopharm ulm-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-London Lions | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Neptunas Klaipeda-Slask Wroclaw | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Bahcesehir College Istanbul-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

NINERS Chemnitz-Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul-Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

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

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

Latest Videos

Round 10

After winning a championship in Mexico, the veteran forward wasted no time in signing with BAXI Manresa and returning to the BKT EuroCup for the first time since 2017, which he discussed with Javier Gancedo

Pierre Oriola: 'All the factors were positive for my return to Manresa'

Pierre Oriola’s basketball journey has come full circle. Eight years after playing in the EuroCup Finals with Valencia Basket, the Spanish big man is back in the competition wearing the colors of BAXI Manresa, a club he knows well and calls home. His return comes after a whirlwind few months that saw him lift the Mexican League trophy with Fuerza Regia Monterrey before boarding a flight to Spain just two days later.

“It was from one day to the next,” Oriola told Javier Gancedo. “They told me what they wanted from me, what they expected I could contribute, and I didn’t think about it. Being close to my family, my wife and my son, being in a place that I consider like my home, where I started my sports career, and starting a third stint with the team… all the factors were positive for my return.”

**Congratulations on the win. I suppose that after four consecutive losses, Manresa needed a win to get back on track and that's what you did. How important was that?**

"Regardless of whether the opponent was in a bad or good situation, we wanted to win in front of our fans, get back to winning ways, regain the feeling of the game and we did it. I think we played a very serious game. The first quarter was even, but from there, I think we dominated in all aspects of the game and we were able to win, which brings us a little closer to the top six teams. We are now in fifth place, despite the fact that there are many teams tied, but we are within the \[playoffs\] cut and that's a bit what we want, we want to keep adding wins, especially when we play at home, and try to finish as high up as possible."

 

**I guess you didn't need a lot of adaptation under a club you know, or a place you know, or two leagues you played in before. You arrived in good shape, too. How did it all help you play great right away?**

"It was very easy, as you say, because I came from a three-month stint in Mexico, and in the end, it's not about being at home and training on your own, it's about the rhythm of the competition. I know the ACB very well, I also played the EuroCup with Valencia a few years ago, and also with Baloncesto Sevilla, so it was an extra motivation I had to be in Manresa, a club I know, a club I'm in for the third time. I was very excited to be able to play the double competition and play the EuroCup, because I hadn't played it for many years, and it is very competitive now."

Pierre Oriola joined BAXI Manresa right after winning the Mexican League title with Fuerza Regia Monterrey. 

Oriola powers Manresa's frontcourt

**How was it to play in Mexico and win the league?**

"The experience was very good, on a life level and on a human level. I got to know a country I probably wouldn't have known. I would have rarely thought I would have ended up in Mexico, unless I had gone to Cancun or Los Cabos on vacation, but I wouldn't have imagined being able to live three months in Mexico. So, on a human level and on a life level, it was very good. On a basketball level, very different from what I'm used to, a very physical league, not on a physical level, but on a contact level. A much more American basketball, with eight Americans on the roster, where one-on-one is played a lot, so it's not my style of play, but I adapted very well and, in the end, we were rewarded by winning the league."

 

**I suppose you have a bit of a grudge against the EuroCup after losing Game 3 of the 2017 EuroCup Finals against Unicaja. How excited are you to return to the EuroCup?**

"It makes me very excited, because right now I think the EuroCup is at a very high level of teams and it's very, very competitive. Any of the 10 teams in the group we are in are strong. Hamburg is not doing well this year, but last year they were one of the teams that was fighting to qualify, too, and it was a solid team, so I think it is a very competitive league. And I do have that pending issue. I have it because I think we were the best long-term team during the whole competition \[in 2017\], but when the time came, we couldn't materialise it and Malaga was better, both in the second game and in the third."

 

**And in the meantime, eight tears have passed and you've had a lot of success: Spanish League champion with two different teams, Spanish Copa del Rey champion, even World Cup champion with Spain and EuroLeague finalist with FC Barcelona. How does it feel to return to Manresa and the EuroCup with such incredible experiences in your basketball bag?**

"A lot of good things have happened to me, I mean, it's been eight years, I have had a lot of experiences. I have also had an injury that kept me away from basketball for a few months and it was hard for me to get my level back and so on, but well, I think it's both experiences and learning that life gives you and, in this case, basketball. I would tell you that since I left, a lot of good things have happened, most of them good. As I said, it was a shame not to win the EuroCup and at the same time, on this path, I had the opportunity to play two EuroLeague Final Fours and lose a Championship Game, which I think is also one of those little thorns that I will have in my career. But also if I look back, years ago or when I started, I would have never imagined that everything I have done so far would have happened. And I think that's the important thing at the end."

'Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu gives us a spectacular highlight every day'

**Your new teammate Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu could easily be one of the most athletic players we have seen at any level. You have played with a lot of people, have you seen anything similar to Kao?**

"No. He is one of the most spectacular players in terms of jump timing, explosiveness, highlight plays... one of the best I have seen, if not the best! It is spectacular how high he jumps and the timing he has. He still has to improve his decision-making, especially when he goes to the hoop, they throw the ball up, he wants to finish right away and many times it would be good for him to catch the ball and not to try to finish it right away because many times there is a previous contact and he gets out of balance, but the truth is that it's amazing to see him and every day he gives us a spectacular highlight, whether it's with a big block or a huge dunk. He is incredible."

 

**What about Hugo Benitez? He has been incredibly consistent so far, but has been a bit unnoticed until now... For a pick-and-roll player like you, having Benitez in the team must be a blessing.**

"I want to be honest. He is the one who has surprised me the most of all. He seems to me a player with huge talent who can play at the highest level. Added to the talent he has, his court vision when it comes to passing, when it comes to playing, and the character he shows when he plays is amazing. He is 24 years old, but he has been playing for five or six years in the EuroCup with Bourg and this year in Manresa, and you see him with personality, you see him with character, you see that his pulse does not tremble at any time when it comes to making decisions, when it comes to wanting the ball in important moments. It is my humble opinion, that of Pierre Oriola, it is a matter of time before EuroLeague team bets on him, and I think it will go very well, because he is a point guard for the present, which he already is, but also for the future."

Hugo Benitez is 'a player with huge talent who can play at the highest level.'

**Your next game is against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Its sports director, Chechu Mulero, signed you at Valencia and almost a decade later, here you go again, him in Ljubljana and you in Manresa. What will be the key to the game?**

"First things first, I am very thankful to Chechu. Him and Pedro \[Martinez\] were the people who took me to Valencia, and they gave me that leap in my career. Without them, everything that followed would probably never happened, so I am very thankful. I was able to play with the national team, I was in Barca, so he is one of those people who gave me the opportunity, and obviously, I did the work, I took advantage of it, but I thank him a lot.

"About the game, I think we have to be solid. Cedevita is a team with a lot of experience, with a lot of talented players, a team that leads our group standings. We face a team designed to go through rounds and to be at the top of the EuroCup. Being us, especially at home, we have to play with our identity, run the break as many times as we can, try to dominate the rebounds, and above all, give a high pace to the game. I think that when we are able to dominate that high pace, to pass the ball from one side to the other, it is very difficult for the teams to play at the pace that we set in the game, and those are more options of victory for us."

 

**It took you just a few hours to sign for Manresa after lifting the trophy in Mexico? Did everything click, or were you talking about it already?**

"It was from one day to the next. I mean, this was not much talked about before or anything, but I finished on Monday, and on Wednesday I was talking with both with \[general manager\] Biel Corominas and \[head coach\] Diego Ocampo on the phone. They had just finished the game in Romania against Cluj and they called me. They told me a little bit about what they wanted from me, what they expected that I could contribute, and I didn't think about it. Being close to my family, my wife and my son, which is very important for me, being in a place that I consider like my home, where I started my sports career, and starting a third stint with the team. So, let's say that all the factors and everything were positive for my return, and I think it was the moment, after coming from an experience like this, and with this positive energy that I had for winning the Mexican League, I think it was the perfect scenario. We signed it as soon as possible, and just the next day I was flying to Spain."

 

**Manresa is a new EuroCup team and you hadn't played the competition for a long time. What are your expectations?**

"I think we are a club that in the last few years has shown the ambition that we have, despite being one of the most humble projects both in Europe and in the ACB, but I think we have an ambition that starts with our fans, who are very demanding, but at the same time they always respond both when the team is doing well and when it's not. I think we have to take one game at a time, it's a new competition for us, a new scenario against high-level opponents with a lot of talent. The EuroCup has improved a lot in the last few years and there are great teams built to win it and go to the EuroLeague the following season, so our goal is to go game by game. I personally would like to go past the regular season. I think it's doable, but to do that, we have to be strong at home. We have to win all of our home games and try to add one win on the road."

More from BAXI Manresa

After winning a championship in Mexico, the veteran forward wasted no time in signing with BAXI Manresa and returning to the BKT EuroCup for the first time since 2017

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

Round 10: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## 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/)

**Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach**

"We’re expecting a tough game against a very good team, one of the favorites to win the competition. For us, it’s a match we want to approach very seriously, even though we’ll be missing some important players. We definitely want a win in Istanbul, and we’ll try to be the best version of ourselves."

**Saulius Kulvietis, Cluj forward**

"We’re heading into a very important game against a very experienced team. Their loss in the previous round, against Neptunas Klaipeda, will definitely motivate them for this game. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re ready to fight and to win."

### [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."

**Tautvydas Sabonis, London head coach**<br>
“Confidence, our defensive ability, to believe that if we follow the game play and play as a team we can play against anybody. We’ve done a great job the last few months of doing that now we have a very good team in front of us away to show if we can really do this. They’re a very high level guard driven team. They got Sulaimon, who is a veteran in this league, certified bucket getter, Yogi Ferrell, NBA experience, certified bucket getter, Skylar Mays who played EuroLeague last year and is having a great campaign and Kolivar, both French guys are good ,but regardless they’re a very complete team, they play physical, they’re big, so we gotta be ready to answer back and get a little bit of vengeance from the first game of the season."

### [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."

## Tuesday, December 9, 2025

### [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.”

Round 10: Pregame quotes

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.

 

Stats review: Bourg, Jerusalem, and the EuroCup efficiency race

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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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

The Adidas NextGen EuroLeague returns for the 2025–26 season, carrying forward the momentum of last year’s refreshed identity. Now entering its 24th edition, the competition continues to reinforce its place within the Euroleague Basketball framework and its reputation as the leading stage for Europe’s top U18 prospects, many of whom go on to become central figures in the senior game.

2025-26 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague returns to spotlight Europe’s top prospects

The [Adidas NextGen EuroLeague](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/) returns for the 2025–26 season, carrying forward the momentum of last year’s refreshed identity. Now entering its 24th edition, the competition continues to reinforce its place within the Euroleague Basketball framework and its reputation as the leading stage for Europe’s top U18 prospects, many of whom go on to become central figures in the senior game.

As always, the season will be built around four Qualifying Tournaments held between late autumn and early spring. The winner of each event will book a spot at the 2026 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals, which will once again take place during the EuroLeague Final Four in Athens, Greece, creating a shared spotlight for both emerging and established stars.

The Next Generation Team, made up of standout players from clubs not represented in the qualifiers, will continue to feature at every stop on the calendar. Dogus Balbay, a 2021 and 2022 EuroLeague champion, will coach the team for the second consecutive season. Balbay made an impressive debut last year, guiding the U18 Next Generation Team to the Istanbul Qualifier Final and winning the Munich Qualifier. The 2025-26 Qualifying Tournaments:

### Ulm, Germany – February 6-8, 2026

The season begins with the opening qualifier hosted at Orange Campus, which is renowned across Europe for its commitment to youth development.

### Abu Dhabi, UAE – February 27-March 1, 2026

The action then moves to the second stop, where teams will compete at the state-of-the-art Space42 Arena. This marks the third occasion that the NextGen EuroLeague will be held in the Middle East, after Dubai hosted a qualifier in 2024 and Abu Dhabi staged last season’s Finals.

### Bologna, Italy – March 13-15, 2026

In mid-March, the competition continues at the historic PalaDozza, the former home of Virtus Bologna for many years. Bologna will make its debut as a NextGen host, bringing all the excitement of the tournament to a growing Italian fan base.

### Belgrade, Serbia – March 20-22, 2026

Belgrade, a familiar and longstanding stop on the NextGen circuit, will host the final qualifier at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade taking on hosting duties.

Over the years, the competition has seen many of today’s biggest names pass through its ranks, including [Luka Doncic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/nge/players/luka-doncic/005929/), [Nikola Jokic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/nikola-jokic/004740/), [Victor Wembanyama](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/wembanyama-victor/009553/), [Kristaps Porzingis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/kristaps-porzingis/003695/), [Domantas Sabonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/domantas-sabonis/004485/), [Milos Teodosic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/milos-teodosic/jdr/), [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/vasilije-micic/002580/), [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), [Dario Saric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/saric-dario/003112/), [Jonas Valanciunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/jonas-valanciunas/000898/), [Omri Casspi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/omri-casspi/jfo/), [Luigi Datome](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/luigi-datome/ccd/), and [Goga Bitadze](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/nge/players/goga-bitadze/006809/), among others. The 2025-26 season aims to add new names to that list as Europe’s next generation steps into the spotlight.

Ulm, Abu Dhabi, Bologna and Belgrade will host the Qualifiers

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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. 

EuroCup Round 10: Top 10 plays

A stunning individual performance in a huge road win saw Andrej Jakimovski of Dolomiti Energia Trento earn Round 10 MVP honors with a PIR of 43, the highest index rating ever recorded by a Trento player in the BKT EuroCup.

Round 10 MVP: Andrej Jakimovski, Dolomiti Energia Trento

A stunning individual performance in a huge road win saw [Andrej Jakimovski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrej-jakimovski/009429/) of [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) earn Round 10 MVP honors with a PIR of 43, the highest index rating ever recorded by a Trento player in the BKT EuroCup.

Jakimovski led Trento to a 73-91 road victory over Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse with 30 points on 8-of-10 two-pointers, 2-of-5 three-pointers and 8-of-9 free throws, adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 10 fouls drawn for a PIR of 43, the highest in Round 10. Jakimovski earned MVP of the Round honors for the first time in his career, and he is the fifth Trento player to do so, after Dominique Sutton, Dustin Hogue, Alessandro Gentile and Luke Maye, the last Trento player to secure MVP of the Round honors in 2021.

[Michael Flowers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/michael-flowers/014159/) of Lietkabelis Panevezys amassed a PIR of 35 in his team's 94-85 overtime road loss against Besiktas GAIN Istanbul. Flowers finished the game with 27 points on 4-of-8 two-pointers, 3-of-6 three-pointers and 10-of-11 free throws, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 6 fouls drawn.

[Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones/012621/) of Aris Thessaloniki Betsson inspired his team to a 90-86 home victory over Umana Reyer Venice with 20 points on 7-of-14 two-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn, good for a PIR of 33.

[Kadre Gray](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kadre-gray/013921/) of Slask Wroclaw and [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/trevion-williams/012604/) of Bahcesehir College Istanbul each amassed a PIR of 28. Williams was dominant in his team securing an 84-72 home win over U-BT Cluj-Napoca with 22 points on 9-of-17 two-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn. Gray had 24 points on 7-pf-11 two-pointers and 10-of-13 free throws, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 12 fouls drawn in his team's 103-87 overtime road loss against Neptunas Klaipeda.

### Individual highs: Trevion Williams, Bahcesehir, 15 rebounds

Andrej Jakimovski was this week's top scorer with 30 points. Fatts Russell of Cluj is the competition's top scorer with 22.0 points per night.

Trevion Williams led all rebounders by pulling down 15. Zacharie Perrin of Veolia Towers Hamburg leads the overall standings with 8.2 rebounds per game.

Bryce Jones dished 12 assists, more than anyone else in Round 10. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas tops the assists charts with 7.4 dimes per contest.

Jaylen Hands of Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens, Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom Ankara and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana’s DJ Stewart each collected 4 steals to lead this round's standings. Odzemiroglu is also first overall with 2.8 steals per night.

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu of BAXI Manresa was Round 10's top shot blocker, rejecting 4 attempts. Balsa Koprivica is the competition's leader in blocks with 1.7 per game.

Williams (22 points, 15 rebounds), Jones, Djordjevic (18 points, 12 rebounds), Nighael Ceaser of Cluj (11 points, 11 rebounds), Kris Bankston of Turk Telekom (15 points, 13 rebounds), and Amadou Sow of NINERS Chemnitz (19 points, 10 rebounds) each registered a double-double in Round 10.

Umana Reyer Venice might actually be Bryce Jones’s favorite opponent. After introducing himself to Aris Thessaloniki Betsson fans with a dominant display away at the Italian side in the opening round of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season, the 31-year-old guard stood out again on Wednesday evening, leading his team to a 90-86 victory at Palais des Sports.

Bryce Jones produces career night as Aris smashes season averages to beat Reyer

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) might actually be [Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones/012621/)’s favorite opponent. After introducing himself to [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki-betsson/ari/) fans with a dominant display away at the Italian side in the opening round of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season, the 31-year-old guard stood out again on Wednesday evening, leading his team to a 90-86 victory at Palais des Sports.

Jones kicked off the campaign with a complete outing that saw him record 26 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in [an 81-85 victory at Reyer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bryce-jones-bryn-forbes-showed-they-mean-business-for-aris/). Just over two months later, he registered a career-high 12 assists as Aris opened the second half of the season by sweeping the Italian team.

Reyer hit the ground running and took an early 13-17 lead courtesy of 11 quick points from [Ky Bowman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ky-bowman/013928/), who went 3 for 3 from beyond the arc.

But Aris fired on all cylinders from deep to respond with a 20-2 run that allowed the hosts to grab a 33-22 lead heading into the second quarter.

After managing its best first-quarter scoring output in EuroCup history, the Greek side went on to break a club record for the most points netted at halftime by getting 56 before the break, with Jones thriving on the floor. The Aris guard had already set a new personal record in assists by bagging 9 to go with his 10 first-half points.

Reyer did bounce back and tightened up its defense, holding Aris to just 14 points in the third quarter. A bucket from [RJ Cole](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rj-cole/013929/) cut the difference to 82-81 with less than 3 minutes to go, but Jones stepped up on the offensive end with a mid-range jumper and an assist for [Amine Noua](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amine-noua/006068/), who made it 86-81 from the line.

Having absorbed Reyer’s last comeback push, the hosts maintained their lead to secure a huge victory in their hunt for a playoff spot.

As for Jones, he didn't hesitate to hail his coach, Igor Milicic, for putting him to the test ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

“Shoutout to Coach for challenging me this week,” Jones said after the game. “He said some things that got me going, that got me fired up. I am a player who is always going to do my best to respond.”

By halftime Aris had already recorded 15 assists, better its season average across 40 minutes (14.2 apg.). With 1:26 to go in the third quarter, it had grabbed 34 rebounds – just over their season average of 33.8 boards.

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Despite coming into the game against Reyer averaging a league-low 9.0 offensive rebounds, Aris ended the game with as many as 15 – its joint-highest mark this season.

Meanwhile, the Greek side had a season-high 44 rebounds and registered a club-record 24 assists, half of which were produced by an outstanding Jones.

The hosts also protected the ball well on the offensive end, as they had 10 turnovers – more than 6 less than their season average.

And as Jones stressed after the game, practicing well ahead of a game leads to delivering on the court.

“Coming from a tough loss \[at home to U-BT Cluj-Napoca\], you just want to always bounce back, have the right mentality, just being positive moving forward,” he added. “I just want to shout out my teammates for just having a great week of practice. And you know, when you practice good, you play good and we came out with the win.”

Having secured the head-to-head advantage over Reyer, Aris will look to climb up the standings in the remainder of the season. And with Jones balling as he did on Wednesday night, clinching a playoff spot should be considered a highly realistic target.

Game News

The Aris guard ended the game with 20 points and a career-high 12 assists

BAXI Manresa played arguably its best game so far in this BKT EuroCup season, downing Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 99-82 at Nou Congost to get its fifth win in 10 games. 

Manresa's next-man-up mentality pays off against Cedevita

[BAXI Manresa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/baxi-manresa/man/) played arguably its best game so far in this BKT EuroCup season, downing [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) 99-82 at Nou Congost to get its fifth win in 10 games. 

Cedevita arrived at Nou Congost on a four-game winning streak and Manresa still has to find a replacement for Alfonso Plummer, who parted ways with the team. Plummer had buried 20-of-39 three-pointers (51.3% 3FG) so far this season, with the rest of the team combining for 56 of 204 until now (27.5% 3FG), so it would have made sense for his absence to be felt.

It gets better. [Pierre Oriola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pierre-oriola/005917/) and [Hugo Benitez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/) had combined for a PIR of 53 in [Round 9's home victory over Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/pierre-oriola-becomes-manresas-x-factor-in-round-9/). Both Oriola and Benitez picked up two quick fouls and were already on the bench in less than 6 minutes of action. Neither player regained their rhythm against Cedevita, combining for 7 points and a PIR of 8. Benitez was limited to just 11 minutes due to a hamstring injury, which gave 17-year-old prospect [Gerard Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gerard-fernandez/013498/) the chance to make his EuroCup debut.

Good teams turn adversity into an opportunity, and this is exactly what Manresa did as several players stepped up to make Manresa keep a safe lead most of the way. 

[Gustav Knudsen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gustav-knudsen/009359/) surprised Cedevita with a great performance. Before this game, Knudsen averaged 1.0 points on 0-of-6 three-pointers in seven games, good for a PIR of 0. Knudsen came off the bench and soon knocked down a couple of bombs from downtown. He finished the game with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 3 rebounds and a PIR of 12 in just 15 minutes. [Marcis Steinbergs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marcis-steinbergs/013848/) had a season-high 13 points on 3-of-5 three-pointers, 5 rebounds and a PIR of 17.

Gustav Knudsen has a career-high 11 points to help BAXI Manresa beat Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 99-82

Knudsen gives Manrresa a boost in Round 10

"We are very proud of our players. All of them are using the opportunity to improve and play very well, to play with character," Coach Ocampo said after the game. "I think we are improving every week. The thing is that we need players, because Hugo \[Benitez\] had a hamstring injury, we will see what happens, and in the end, you have less players and the risk is higher."

When Benitez got into foul trouble, [Retin Obasohan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/retin-obasohan/011938/) knew his number would be called and played one of the best games of the season. Obasohan needed just 20 points to get 16 points on 5-of-6 two-pointers (missing what would have been the biggest dunk of the season), 3 assists, 10 fouls drawn and a PIR of 17.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝟰𝗤<br>✅✅✅✅<br><br>99 🔴 𝗕𝗔𝗫𝗜 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗮<br>82 🇸🇮 <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKCedOL</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOMHIManresa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOMHIManresa</a> <a href="https://t.co/NNTvrAYAU4">pic.twitter.com/NNTvrAYAU4</a></p>&mdash; BAXI Manresa (@BasquetManresa) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasquetManresa/status/1998874618678096240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

"I think that for us, it is important to play all 40 minutes. That's usually what we want to do, that's our philosophy, our mentality. We just want to make sure, especially as the season goes on, our capacity to play good basketball keeps increasing," Obasohan said after the game. 

"These wins helps us have more confidence. I think that we play, we compete and try to get better every single minutes, whether it is in practices or games, so to get a win while we are focused on improving, that definitely gives us a boost of confidence to believe in what we are doing."

Manresa led 46-38 at halftime and soon boosted its margin to 56-38 after the break, keeping a safe margin the rest of the way. It outrebounded Cedevita 25-14 in the second half, finishing the game with 16 offensive boards, 12 of them after the break. It also limited Cedevita to really low percentages (47.4% 2FG, 28.0% 3FG), dishing 21 assists against just 11 turnovers.

Despite its injury problems, Manresa is finding ways to be effective and win games at home. The next step is winning on the road, where Manresa only collected one victory against Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. It will get another chance to do so right away, as Manresa visits Slask Wroclaw in Round 11.

Coach Diego Ocampo's team overcame adversities and foul trouble to grab its fifth win
