Roll Call

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 12 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season.

Round 12: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, December 30

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (17:00 CET)

**Benka Barloschky, Hamburg head coach** 

"We are currently going through a difficult phase. Niklas twisted his ankle in the final quarter of the game against Oldenburg and won't be traveling with us. On top of that, we are unfortunately affected by a flu epidemic, like so many people at the moment. At the level we have to perform at in every game, it's all about the details and the last two or three percent. When several players are affected at the same time, it can only be compensated for in the short term. We already felt that against Oldenburg. Now it's about pulling together and getting through this phase together. The game against Istanbul is a challenge – they have a lot of quality at the top and in the depth of their squad – but we want to turn it into something positive."

**Zacharie Perrin, Hamburg center**

"The fact that we are fighting against relegation in the BBL is a completely different situation than we imagined at the start of the season. But we are facing up to reality. And that means we are facing the best teams in Europe during the week. I remember that Istanbul plays very fast. They have very strong teamwork between their point guard and their center. They also play very physically, which makes them a very difficult opponent."

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:00 CET)

**Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach**

"This winning streak means a lot to us, because we are winning our home games. Of course, we want to have this kind of streak not only at home, but also on the road. I’m happy that we’ve managed to win the last four games and we keep moving forward, because we don’t want to stop here. Every game is important, especially in the EuroCup, where the battle for the top six spots is extremely tough. The next game is against Slask Wroclaw and we really want to get our revenge and win this game, because I believe we should have beaten them on their home court and have one more win by now. We have been very focused on this game and I think we are prepared. We are waiting for our fans to come in large numbers to support us and be with us, because this is an extremely important game and we want to add another win."

**Fatts Russell, Cluj guard**

"We know they are a tough team, they have more size, especially at the point guard position. We have to be ready to fight, protect our home court and execute our game plan. In the last game they used a lot of different defenses that kind of slowed us down. We had a 16-point lead, but we gave it away, so this time we have to make sure we stay focused for 40 minutes. Looking at Group A, all the teams are very close to each other, so we are trying to create some separation and place ourselves in the top three."

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (18:15 CET)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

"We're in a great run of form and we want to keep it that way, but we'll have to be careful against this Athens team: even with changes to the squad and the coach, they have quality and can be dangerous. We need to stay focused on our team, because this home game is a real opportunity to pull ahead of a direct rival."

**Darius McGhee, Bourg guard**

"We have to be ready for this game! Making sure we are playing our basketball and protecting our home floor. We need to be focus from the start to the end!"

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost head coach**

"We know how important this game is for both teams. In these two practices, we need to get the most out of our preparation and focus more on our own game, because we know what to expect. Turk Telekom is a very strong team — they recently beat Efes in the domestic league, which says a lot about their quality and ambitions in the EuroCup. Still, we are playing at home. We need to show more aggressiveness, intensity, and toughness than in the previous games. Hopefully, with the support of our fans, we can get a win."

**Fletcher Magee, Buducnost guard**

"We know this is a big game — one of the most talented teams in our EuroCup group. I expect a high level of basketball, and we know we will be ready for the fight. It’s going to be a fast and physical game. They have a lot of talented players, especially strong one-on-one players, so we expect an intense and close matchup."

### Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. BAXI Manresa (19:00 CET)

\--

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija head coach**

"Another in a series of very demanding EuroCup games is ahead of us. Compared to our first head-to-head meeting in Ljubljana, the Aris team has further strengthened its roster with two EuroLeague-caliber players – Danilo Anđušić and Amin Noua – which clearly shows the seriousness and high ambitions of our opponents. I expect a very demanding game in a hot atmosphere, the kind that home fans know how to create. Aris is certainly at a higher level today than it was at the beginning of the season. Not all of our players have fully recovered from illness and injuries yet, but on Tuesday we will give everything we have to try to surprise the home team and fight for the win."

**Miha Cerkvenik, Cedevita Olimpija forward**

"An extremely demanding game awaits us. We know that a hellish atmosphere will prevail in the arena and that it will be extremely difficult to play. We will focus on what we can do on the court. We will give everything we have to return to Ljubljana with a win. Every game is important, and every win means a lot for the continuation of the season. We approach every game as if we are playing in the EuroCup final, and with that mentality we must step onto the court."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. London Lions (20:00 CET)

**Davide Dusmet, Trento assistant coach**

"After the game in Udine, another match comes right away, giving us the opportunity to get back on the court immediately, reset, and analyze what didn’t work on Saturday. It’s a chance to bring renewed energy and greater focus ahead of the EuroCup game. In the first leg against London we delivered an underwhelming performance, so we start again with a strong desire to show that over these months we’ve grown and that we can be much better than the version seen in London. It will be crucial to defend well in transition, control the rebounds, and manage the pace of the game. We need to start again from the willingness to help each other on defense and to be solid for all forty minutes, following our principles, which allow us to be aligned both offensively and defensively and to compete together within the game."

**Khalif Battle, Trento guard**

"It will be a very important game for us against the London Lions. London are coming off a good run of form winning against Besiktas and we lost the first meeting, so we have a strong desire to show what we are capable of. We will need to bring a lot of energy onto the court: we feel that game was within our reach, and not being able to win it gives us even more motivation to get back to winning ways. The Lions are a team with excellent players, well coached and full of confidence, qualities that make them very dangerous. We are preparing in the right way and we want to put on a great performance."

**Tautvydas Sabonis, London head coach**

"Tough game, away. Always hard to play away in EuroCup against a team coming off beating Venezia, Buducnost, Bourg, had couple of tough losses now, but in very good shape we gotta be prepared. I feel like my gentlemen are ready for the task at hand and we’ll see on Tuesday night. We have to be disciplined defensively, but when we’re in the right mindset for the game on the defensive end, our offence comes."

**Deane Williams, London forward**

"We know they’re gonna come out and play hard. Given the last result they’re not gonna be happy about that. We’ve gotta play hard, stay focused, make sure we play for 40 minutes, because in the last game we played for about 30 and in the fourth quarter they changed up their defence and gave us some problems and managed to close the gap so we have to stay focused for 40 minutes."

**London Lions injury report**: Four players are out: Morayo Soluade (knee), Joel Scott (hamstring), Kameron McGusty (hand) and Ovie Soko (hand).

## Friday, January 2

### Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Umana Reyer Venice (17:00 CET)

\--

### ratiopharm ulm vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:00 CET)

\--

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 12 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season

Round 12: Pregame quotes

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-12-30T17:15:00.000Z)

ratiopharm ulm v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2026-01-02T18:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-12-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Neptunas Klaipeda v Umana Reyer Venice (2026-01-02T16:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v London Lions (2025-12-30T19:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v BAXI Manresa (2025-12-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-12-30T18:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Slask Wroclaw (2025-12-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-12-30T16:00:00.000Z)

Two seasons after winning MVP honors in Finland, Both Gach is thriving in his EuroCup debut with JL Bourg-en-Bresse. Discover his journey from Kosovo to France.

From Finland to France: Both Gach’s EuroCup breakthrough

BC Nokia wasn’t expected to contend for the Finnish League title in 2023–24. But the team defied predictions, captured its first championship, and [Both Gach](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/both-gach/013900/) emerged as the leader—winning season MVP and Finals MVP honors. That magical run still fuels his confidence today.

Now, Gach is making his EuroCup debut with [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/), helping the French club climb to the top of Group B. The 26-year-old forward is averaging 12.5 points through 11 games and embracing the rhythm of continental competition.

“I’ve enjoyed playing multiple games a week. It’s better than playing once a week,” Gach said. “The EuroCup has been fun. Our team has been doing really well. I enjoy every minute of it.”

Best of Both Gach (Rounds 1-11, 2025-26)

### Starting small: Kosovo to Finland

Gach’s European journey began in Kosovo in November 2022 after his NBA hopes out of Utah didn’t materialize. He joined Sigal Prishtina, averaging 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

“Kosovo was a unique experience because it was my first time in Europe,” he said. “I honestly didn’t care where in Europe I was going to go. I told my agent you could send me to probably the worst country in Europe and I’d go play basketball. Because at the end of the day, I just knew at some point I’d get to the level I wanted to get to because I believe in my game, my confidence and my talent.”

That belief paid off when he moved to Finland and joined Nokia — a team projected to finish last. Instead, they finished second in the regular season and stormed through the playoffs, winning the title in seven games against defending champion Helsinki Seagulls.

“It was very magical,” Gach said. “In the preseason, they had us finishing last. But we had a really good coaching staff and teammates. Everyone was bought in.”

“I honestly didn’t care where in Europe I was going to go. I told my agent you could send me to probably the worst country in Europe and I’d go play basketball. Because at the end of the day, I just knew at some point I’d get to the level I wanted to get to because I believe in my game, my confidence and my talent.”

Gach averaged 21.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists during the season and 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in the Finals. He delivered when it mattered most: 28 points and 14 rebounds in Game 6 and 29 points and 13 rebounds in Game 7.

“I spent a lot of time putting in extra work in the gym,” he said. “Whenever you’re doing that, plus getting confidence from teammates and coaches, the sky’s the limit.”

### Lessons from Turkiye

After Finland, Gach stepped up to Darussafaka Istanbul in Turkiye. Despite averaging 11.1 points, the season ended in disappointment as the club was relegated.

“The biggest lesson was just never get too comfortable,” he said. “Circumstances were changing all the time. You’ve just got to keep a positive mindset and not let any of that stuff affect your game.”

<center>
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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/reel/DQ2XsC7DZM1/?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 Both Gach (@lankyboy11)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Thriving in Bourg

Gach has found stability — and success — at Bourg. He’s scored 18+ points in four EuroCup games, including 22 points and a PIR of 30 against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in [Round 9](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gach-greatness-boosts-bourg-over-buducnost/).

And it all traces back to Finland, where confidence and opportunity converged.

“I wanted to get to that next level really, really bad,” Gach said. “That season showed me what’s possible when you put in the work.”

More from JL Bourg

Two years after a historic title with Nokia, Gach is powering JL Bourg’s EuroCup charge

This is a tricky round in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. There are plenty of great choices and a lot of players doing really well lately, so it's an exciting time to write this, right at the end of 2025. Here are this week's recommendations, brought to you by me, Javi Gancedo, ranked 688th overall.

Fantasy tips, Round 12: Smart picks for a round bridging 2025 and 2026

This is a tricky round in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. One of the games was played in advance, so all players from [NINERS Chemnitz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/) and [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/roster/bes/) are getting average scores, including two of the competition's best centers, [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) and [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/). There are plenty of great choices and a lot of players doing really well lately, so it's an exciting time to write this, right at the end of 2025. Here are this week's recommendations, brought to you by me, Javi Gancedo, ranked 688th overall.

### Mark Smith, ratiopharm ulm (12.3 credits)

All of a sudden, [Mark Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mark-smith/013969/) is a great choice in the game. Over the last three games, Smith has averaged 19.3 points on 14-of-23 two-point shooting and 6-of-11 on three-pointers, plus 4.7 rebounds for a PIR of 21.0. He roared for 29 points and 9 boards for a PIR of 39 in a victory in the German League over the weekend. Ulm plays at home against high-paced Lietkabelis on Friday, so everything seems to be clicking for him right now.

### Agustin Ubal, BAXI Manresa (9.3 credits)

[Agustin Ubal](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/agustin-ubal/010062/) was already having a strong EuroCup debut season and he has taken things up a notch lately. He comes off a career-best performance with 21 points - with just 1 missed shot, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for a PIR of 31. Ubal also amassed a PIR of 18 in 17 minutes in Spanish League action this weekend.

Stefan Djordjevic, Ky Bowman, Agustin Ubal, Mark Smith and Aleksej Nikolic are featured in this week's article. 

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 12

### Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (12.6 credits)

Right at the prime of his career, [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) has become Cedevita's floor general and leader. It is a bold statement, but the numbers back it up as Nikolic is averaging 16.1 points on 92.1% free-throw shooting this season, including scoring in double digits in all 11 games. His last performance? 27 points and a PIR of 34 PIR against Jerusalem!

### Stefan Djordjevic, Slask Wroclaw (11.9 credits)

He started the season quietly but [Stefan Djordjevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-dordevic/006977/) has been a beast over the last five games, averaging 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds and a PIR of 19.4. Djordjevic has had double-doubles in Slask's last two games: 18 points and 12 rebounds against Neptunas, 12 points and 12 rebounds against Manresa. What's not to like?

### Ky Bowman, Umana Reyer Venice (11.0 credits)

Reyer comes off a huge come-from-behind win over Bahcesehir in which [Ky Bowman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ky-bowman/013928/) did a little bit of everything: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block for a PIR of 24. He had 21 points and a PIR of 21 in Reyer's previous game against Aris. When a player is in shape, you have to go for him!s

Javier Gancedo has some ideas to help your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge teams this week

This game could be crucial in settling head-to-head advantage, so Buducnost will be aiming for a win of 8 points or more to counter Turk Telekom’s 79-72 victory in Ankara in October. That game featured a decisive contribution from the Turkish team’s backcourt leader Kyle Allman (16 points on 9-of-12 free throw shooting), so Buducnost will ask livewire Yogi Ferrell – who has multiple steals in three of the last six games – to minimize his influence. Buducnost ranks second in the competition in three-point accuracy (38.7%), so hopes the likes of Axel Bouteille (11.4 points per game on 48.1% for threes) can spark a key win.

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

**Player Records against Opponent**

Yogi Ferrell posted his career high in Defensive rebounds with 6 for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana against Turk Telekom Ankara on april 19, 2022.

Oleksandr Kovliar posted his career high in 3-pointers made with 3 for 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys against Turk Telekom Ankara on december 4, 2024.

Skylar Mays posted his career high in 3-pointers made with 3 for Buducnost VOLI Podgorica against Turk Telekom Ankara on october 14, 2025.

Skylar Mays posted his career high in Free throws made with 6 for Buducnost VOLI Podgorica against Turk Telekom Ankara on october 14, 2025.

James Thompson posted his career high in Total rebounds with 5 for Buducnost VOLI Podgorica against Turk Telekom Ankara on october 14, 2025.

James Thompson posted his career high in Offensive rebounds with 5 for Buducnost VOLI Podgorica against Turk Telekom Ankara on october 14, 2025.

Yogi Ferrell posted his career high in Total rebounds with 6 for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana against Turk Telekom Ankara on april 19, 2022.

Skylar Mays posted his career high in Steals with 3 for Buducnost VOLI Podgorica against Turk Telekom Ankara on october 14, 2025.

**Season Rankings**

Juwan Morgan is ranked eighth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Steals with 1,5 per game.

Yogi Ferrell is ranked fifth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 3-pointers % with 50% per game.

Axel Bouteille is ranked seventh among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 3-pointers % with 48,1% per game.

Fletcher Magee is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 3-pointers % with 47,4% per game.

**All-time Rankings**

Axel Bouteille is ranked eighth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 1330 points for his career.

Fletcher Magee is ranked second on the all-time EuroCup charts with 91,67% free throws % for his career.

Yogi Ferrell is ranked sixth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 90,18% free throws % for his career.

Axel Bouteille is ranked 10th on the all-time EuroCup charts with 184 3-pointers made for his career.

Axel Bouteille is ranked fifth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 513 field goals made for his career.

Game Videos

### Turk Telekom Ankara

**Player Records against Opponent**

Jaleen Smith posted his career high in Time played with 39:44 for Bahcesehir College Istanbul against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on january 8, 2025.

Marko Simonovic posted his career high in Assists with 4 for Turk Telekom Ankara against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on october 14, 2025.

Kyle Alexander posted his career high in 2-pointers made with 8 for Turk Telekom Ankara against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on march 5, 2025.

**Season Rankings**

Kyle Alexander is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Total Rebounds with 6,6 per game.

Kris Bankston is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Offensive Rebounds with 2,5 per game.

Kyle Alexander is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Defensive Rebounds with 4,3 per game.

Dogus Ozdemiroglu is ranked first among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Steals with 2,7 per game.

Kris Bankston is ranked eighth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Blocks with 0,9 per game.

Kris Bankston is ranked seventh among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers % with 75% per game.

Berkan Durmaz is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average 2-pointers % with 71,4% per game.

Kris Bankston is ranked third among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Field goals % with 73,8% per game.

Kyle Alexander is ranked eighth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Field goals % with 65,5% per game.

Kris Bankston is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average True Shooting % with 73,3% per game.

Kyle Alexander is ranked eighth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average True Shooting % with 66,4% per game.

Berkan Durmaz is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average Assist-Turnover ratio with 350% per game.

**All-time Rankings**

Kyle Alexander is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 77 blocks for his career.

Kyle Alexander is ranked second on the all-time EuroCup charts with 66,79% 2-point % for his career.

Kyle Alexander is ranked fourth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 63,8% field goal % for his career.

Kyle Alexander is ranked seventh on the all-time EuroCup charts with 64,6% true shooting % for his career.

Game News

A key battle takes place in Group B between the teams currently tied for third place, Buducnost (7-4) and Turk Telekom (7-4).

Game Facts: Buducnost vs. Turk Telekom

With one game from Round 12 of the BKT EuroCup already in the books, this week contains a bunch of key matchups in the race for the playoffs. Here’s your guide to all the action.

At a glance: Nine games this week to end Round 12

With one game from Round 12 of the BKT EuroCup already in the books, this week contains a bunch of key matchups in the race for the playoffs. Here’s your guide to all the action.

## Tuesday, December 30

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (17:00 CET)

Anything other than a comfortable home victory would be a major surprise as top two chasing Bahcesehir (7-4) welcomes winless Hamburg (0-11). But the Turkish team has struggled in recent weeks, losing three of its last four games despite the ongoing excellence of Malachi Flynn, who netted 31 points in last week’s loss at Reyer. Bahcesehir committed 18 turnovers in that game so needs to take better care of the ball against a Hamburg team that has its own free-scoring guard in the form of Devon Daniels, who has averaged 16.8 points in his four games for the team. But Hamburg ranks last in the EuroCup in four different defensive categories, so needs to show stiffer resolve to grab an upset win.

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:00 CET)

Cluj (6-5) is looking to strengthen its push for the top to in Group A with a visit from a Slask team (4-7) in danger of getting cut adrift. The Polish team is still looking for its first road win of the season and also suffered a big setback with last week’s home loss to Manresa, despite big man Stefan Dordevic grabbing his second successive double-double. Cluj will look to neutralize him through the power of Dusan Miletic, who recorded 12 points and 8 boards to help his team overcome Neptunas last week. The Round 3 meeting between the teams was a thriller, taken 94-93 by Slask partly thanks to grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, so Cluj will be keen to better protect its backboard this time around.

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (18:15 CET)

Group B leader Bourg (9-2) will attempt to strengthen its grip on first place by inflicting more pain on struggling Panionios (1-10). Bourg shrugged off a rare Round 10 loss by fighting back into winning ways last time out with a battling victory at Turk Telekom, when Will McDowell-White showed his ability to control the backcourt by combining 14 points and 7 assists, while the Greek team suffered a tenth consecutive loss with a crushing 25-point home loss to Ulm. This season’s first meeting between the teams was a low-scoring affair, taken 56-66 by Bourg, and forcing the French team into a similarly slow-paced encounter is probably Panionios’s best bet of ending its losing sequence.

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)

A key battle takes place in Group B between the teams currently tied for third place, Buducnost (7-4) and Turk Telekom (7-4). This game could be crucial in settling head-to-head advantage, so Buducnost will be aiming for a win of 8 points or more to counter Turk Telekom’s 79-72 victory in Ankara in October. That game featured a decisive contribution from the Turkish team’s backcourt leader Kyle Allman (16 points on 9-of-12 free throw shooting), so Buducnost will ask livewire Yogi Ferrell – who has multiple steals in three of the last six games – to minimize his influence. Buducnost ranks second in the competition in three-point accuracy (38.7%), so hopes the likes of Axel Bouteille (11.4 points per game on 48.1% for threes) can spark a key win.

### Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. BAXI Manresa (19:00 CET)

Group A leader Hapoel (9-2) will attempt to halt the march of fast-rising Manresa (6-5) in a key matchup. The Spanish team has won three games in a row thanks to excellent offensive production, netting 96, 99 and 99 points in those wins. New signing Eli Brooks played a major part in the most recent of those at Slask last week, pouring in 19 points on his debut, so Manresa will hope he can be the x-factor in ending Hapoel’s eight-game winning run. In addition to the seemingly unstoppable Jared Harper, Hapoel will hope to receive more inspiration from Austin Wiley, who has averaged 10 rebounds over the last five games. His battle with Manresa veteran Pierre Oriola could be crucial.

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)

Another vital game in Group A’s playoffs race takes place between joint-fourth Aris (6-5) and joint-second Cedevita (7-4). Aris has won three out of the last four and is a much-improved unit from the team that suffered an 80-59 mauling at Cedevita earlier this season, when four triples from sharpshooting guard Joseph Girard helped set up an easy win. That was before Amine Noua had joined Aris, and his importance was again underlined last week with 14 points and 10 rebounds to help seal a hard-fought win at Hamburg. Cedevita has lost two in a row and will attempt to emerge from that slump through an intense defense which has forced more turnovers than any other team in the competition (15.6 per game).

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. London Lions (20:00 CET)

Two teams who earned dramatic, narrow victories look to build more momentum as Trento (6-5) hosts London (5-6). It’s a key battle in the jostle for playoffs positions, and London is well-placed to take the head-to-head advantage after beating the Italian team 87-71 in October. A key architect of that triumph was playmaker Tarik Phillip with 15 points and 7 assists, so Trento will look to slow him down through its own backcourt dynamo Devante Jones, whose 19 points were instrumental in last week’s overtime thriller over Buducnost. London will also be confident after shocking Besiktas in Round 11 – also in overtime – thanks to last second free throws from fit-again Shavar Reynolds, and this game has all the ingredients to go down to the wire.

## Friday, January 2

### Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Umana Reyer Venice (17:00 CET)

Another key matchup between direct rivals will see Neptunas (5-6) and Reyer (5-6) break their current tie for seventh place. The Italian team is very much in control of head-to-head advantage after winning by 20 when the teams met in October, and boosted its confidence with an impressive victory last over Bahcesehir behind 30 points from all-action forward Jordan Parks. Neptunas needs to improve its defense after allowing 118 points at Cluj last week, but will hope for more offensive inspiration from Rihards Lomasz after he averaged 19.8 points in the last four games. Neptunas is the third-highest scoring team in the competition so is likely to score plenty, but clamping down on Reyer at the other end could be decisive.

### ratiopharm ulm vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:00 CET)

Ulm (5-6) will attempt to climb into the Group B playoffs places by overcoming a Lietkabelis team (2-9) which is falling fast out of contention. The German team was mightily relieved to end a four-game losing slump by thrashing Panionios last week, and will hope that backcourt star Mark Smith can stay hot after scoring 20, 17 and 21 points in the last three games. Lietkabelis has lost three in a row despite the consistency of Kristian Kullamae, who has drained seven triples in the last two games. Ulm has the added advantage of knowing that it has already beaten the visitor once this season, winning a 94-98 thriller in Round 3 behind 26 points from Christopher Ledlum, who is fit again after six weeks out.

## Tuesday, December 23

### NINERS Chemnitz 97-95 Besiktas GAIN Istanbul

Chemnitz secured an impressive 97-95 home win over Besiktas at MESSE Chemnitz, improving to 6-6 in Group B while Besiktas dropped to 8-4. Chemnitz controlled most of the game, but Besiktas mounted a strong response in the fourth quarter, erasing a 14-point deficit to tie the score at 95-95. In the final moments, Amadou Sow proved decisive, scoring with 32 seconds remaining to give Chemnitz the lead and seal the win.

Chemnitz was led by Sow, who posted a career-high 27 points and 4 rebounds. Nike Sibande added 13 points, Kevin Yebo contributed 11 points and 4 assists, while Ty Brewer chipped in 10 points. For Besiktas, Ante Zizic posted 23 points and 10 rebounds, Jonah Mathews added 20 points, and Vitto Brown finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds.

The first game from this round, Chemnitz vs. Besiktas, took place last week

NINERS Chemnitz v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-12-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Ilias Zouros submitted his resignation as Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens head coach on Saturday following the team’s 80-66 loss to Iraklis in the Greek League

Ilias Zouros steps down as Panionios head coach

Ilias Zouros submitted his resignation as Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens head coach on Saturday following the team’s 80-66 loss to Iraklis in the Greek League. Nikos Karagiannis, the head coach of the Panionios basketball academy, will serve as the interim head coach.

Panionios failed to take flight under Zouros, losing all seven of their EuroCup games to fall to the bottom of Group B at 1-10. The team is second-bottom in the Greek League at 2-9. Panionios visits group leader Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse in their next game on Tuesday.

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Karagiannis will become the fourth coach to lead Panionios this season. Luka Pavicevic served as head coach for the team's first three EuroCup games and Chris Chougkaz was the interim head coach in Round 4 before Ilias Zouros took the reins.

Zouros, 59, started his coaching journey in 1989 with Panionios’ junior team and later served as an assistant with the senior squad. He returned to Nea Smyrni in October, but that partnership lasted just two months.

More from Panionios

The resignation came after a loss in the Greek League on Saturday

Harrison Cleary’s career changed after a shoulder injury in Spain. Four years later, he’s proving his resilience as a key contributor for Neptunas Klaipeda in the BKT EuroCup.

Harrison Cleary turns career-defining injury into EuroCup opportunity

A single dive for a loose ball changed everything for [Harrison Cleary](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/harrison-cleary/012030/). On November 20, 2021, while playing in Spain’s third division, Cleary collided with an opponent and suffered a separated shoulder. Lying on the court, he wondered if his professional basketball dream had just ended.

That injury forced Cleary to miss the rest of the season, but it also became the turning point in his career. The time away gave him clarity and a renewed determination to prove he belonged at the highest level he could reach.

Four years later, Cleary is doing exactly that as a key contributor for [Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/neptunas-klaipeda/kla/) in the BKT EuroCup. The 1.85-meter guard is averaging 5.6 points on 44.4% three-point shooting through his first 11 games, showing the resilience that brought him from Spain’s lower leagues to Europe’s second-tier competition.

Curiously enough, his top performance of [13 points and 3 assists](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/arnas-velickas-defensive-stand-helped-lift-neptunas-over-hamburg/) came against [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) - the club where the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, native came back to Europe and provided him his first chance to play in the EuroCup.

“It's extremely high level. It's a privilege to be able to play at that level. Not many guys will get that opportunity. I did have my stint in Hamburg, but the situation was definitely different. I wasn't a fully rostered player of Hamburg. It was a bit of an odd situation to where now I'm obviously a full member of Neptunus and have a larger role here than I did in Hamburg. So it's been great to play in this competition and play against some of the highest-level guards in Europe and seeing where you match up and putting your skills to the test,” said Cleary.

Harrison Cleary getting buckets

Rewind to 2021. The 1.85-meter guard was playing for Carbajosa in Spain and having a solid start to the season. He averaged 15.1 points on 46% three-point shooting to go with 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists in seven games.

That came after a real disappointment in his first season after finishing a wildly successful college career at the D2 University of Minnesota Crookston.

Cleary was unfortunate to graduate at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and declined an initial offer to play in the Spanish third division. After a long wait, he signed a two-month contract with Spanish second division side TAU Castello in October to fill in for an injured point guard. The player was not out nearly as long as expected and Cleary received minimal playing time when he returned.

Cleary left after his two months were up and in January 2021 landed at Almansa, which was also in Spain’s second division. But the club was asking him to be a true point guard and not be a scoring option. This for a player who averaged more than 22 points and between 2.3 and 4.2 assists over his four years in college.

Add to that the fact that Cleary really hadn’t played a major role in a game in nearly a year and he decided to leave after just four games and return home in February 2021.

"I remember the first thought in my mind when I was on the court was: ‘Oh wow, I'm gonna have to find a job and figure out what's next.'" 

Cleary went down a level to the third division for the 2021-22 season with Carbajosa and was trying to get his footing again before the injury against Ponferrada in November 2021.

“I remember exactly what happened. It was a loose ball under the basket. I dove for it. My right arm was outstretched. He came from the right side. My shoulder just completely came out, and I remember the first thought in my mind when I was on the court was: ‘Oh wow, I'm gonna have to find a job and figure out what's next. I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen because I knew what my resume looked like from my rookie year. And I didn't know at that point the extent of the injury. But it felt bad,” he remembered.

“But once that initial shock goes away and I figured out what was wrong and we were going to go the surgery route and all that stuff, it was just like, okay, let's do it. And I'm going to figure it out one way or another and fight uphill to get back to where I think I belong.”

Cleary had shoulder surgery in late December and was back working with his basketball trainers around April.

Cleary called that injury the defining moment in his career thus far.

“It showed me how much I was willing to do for this and get where I thought I belonged. It directed me in a certain way to get to where I'm at now. If I play that whole season (in the third division), I would have finished it out as well as I had started it. And who knows what would have happened with my career. I probably would have stayed in Spain. I had a Spanish agent at the time, and that was kind of the route we were headed. It was just kind of this Spanish pipeline a little bit. Just a lot of things transpired at that time, mentally and career-wise, where it kind of redirected me in a different way.”

Cleary scored 19 points for Hamburg in the 2023 EuroCup Eighthfinals

Cleary landed in Germany in 2023 at the third division club Rist Wedel, which has a cooperation with pro side Veolia Towers Hamburg and the coach of whom actually was interested in him from his time at college in Crookston.

Cleary ended up splitting time with Wedel and Hamburg and played four games in the German League as well as eight games in the EuroCup, including pouring in [19 points against Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/prometey-kos-hamburg-87-79-to-advance/) in the EuroCup Eighthfinals.

That experience and leading the German third division in scoring with 23.9 points per game helped him jump to Lahti Basketball in Finland for 2023-24, where he led the league in scoring at 22.9 points per game while also averaging 6.5 assists. Then last season, he stayed in northern Europe and played with Latvian side VEF Riga in the Basketball Champions League and the Latvian/Estonian League.

Those two seasons resulted in Cleary getting signed by Neptunas to play in the EuroCup. And he has an entirely different level of value and respect for the competition this time around. Much of that stems from the shoulder injury he suffered four years ago. A day he remembers vividly.

More Neptunas news

Cleary’s journey from Spain’s third division to the EuroCup is a testament to resilience and belief

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson big man Jake Forrester played for crosstown rival PAOK Thessaloniki last season and knows the magnitude of that rivalry 

Jake Forrester values both sides of the Thessaloniki derby 

Ask European basketball fans about city derbies and many will mention the Belgrade battle between Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, the clashes between Greek giants Panathinaikos Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus, or even one of the showdowns in Istanbul. Ask [Jake Forrester](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jakob-dwight-forester/014038/) and there is no way he will not bring up the Thessaloniki derby.

That shouldn’t be surprising because the [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki-betsson/ari/) big man played for crosstown rival PAOK Thessaloniki last season and knows the magnitude quite well.

“It's wild. People might sleep on it, but I think it's one of the biggest in Europe for sure, that rivalry between these two. It's a big city, but just how close the teams are and how there's so many people that support different teams,” said Forrester of Thessaloniki, home to about 1 million people.

“One side of the city supports one team and the other side supports the other. The gyms are close and everything, and just to have the amount of people that can pick what side they want to be on.”

Dwight Forrester highlights: Rounds 1-11 (2025-26)

Panathinaikos and Olympiacos have collected 32 of the last 33 Greek League titles with AEK Athens breaking up the run in 2001-02. Aris’s 10th and final crown came in 1991 (ending a seven-year reign over the country) while PAOK’s second championship came in 1992.

That makes the meaning of the Thessaloniki derby even bigger.

“It's like a championship in itself. It's the bragging rights to beat one of the other teams,” he said.

Forrester has lost two of the three city derbies he has played in thus far. Both teams won their home games last season and PAOK beat Aris on the road 78-73 on November 1.

“They got us at our home gym, actually. But it was our second game with the new head coach (Igor Milicic). Still, you got to give them some respect when it comes to that. They got a win in our home court, which is really hard to do, especially in the rivalry.”

Forrester got a real taste of being on the hated side of the rivalry as he switched sides in the off-season.

“It was a bold move. Going from the FIBA Europe Cup to EuroCup and then coming to this team. I got a lot of backlash and everything from fans,” he admitted.

Forrester said he avoided his social media for a while after the announcement of going from PAOK to Aris. Still, he understands the rivalry and how the fans feel about the idea of him switching allegiances.

“But at the end of the day, it's a business and things got to be done,” he said.

I think the rivalry between Aris and PAOK is one of the biggest in Europe.

Forrester and the PAOK fans experienced a pretty big high last season. They reached the Finals of the FIBA Europe Cup, where they ultimately lost 154-149 in a two-game total-points to Bilbao Basket. PAOK fans had been waiting a long time for top play internationally. The Greek side reached the ULEB Cup Last 8 in 2004-05 after having previously finished runner-up in the European Cup in 1991-92 and 1995-96 and winning the Korac Cup in 1993-94.

The FIBA Europe Cup playoffs were pretty crazy and the atmosphere at the PAOK Sports Arena was amazing, Forrester remembered.

"The environment was crazy for the championship game. It's wild. Even if it was FIBA EuroCup, they treated it like it was the EuroLeague final there because that's how much they wanted to win. The people and the passion behind it were crazy,” he said.

Going through the experience of winning the final game of the FIBA Europe Cup but not claiming the trophy still hurts for the 26-year-old.

“That was an awful feeling. You never want to feel that feeling again,” he said. "So the next time I'm in a championship, I for sure have to get the win because that was an awful feeling. I still think about to this day. Just the feeling that you don't want to feel.”

Aris is poised to go deep in the EuroCup Playoffs and even challenge for the semifinals in the Greek League. But there is always the return leg of the Thessaloniki derby on March 14 at PAOK.

More Aris Thessaloniki news

The Aris big man played with crosstown rival PAOK last season

Being Saliou’s younger brother is not a problem for Cheickh Niang

It will take a while before [Cheickh Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/cheickh-niang/013756/) is not asked about his older brother. But the [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) guard does not mind talking about Virtus Bologna’s [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saliou-niang/012687/). Cheickh is proud of what Saliou has done.

Cheickh Niang is well on his way to making his own name as the 17-year-old has become an integral part of Trento’s rotation in his first full season with the pro team. Cheickh is averaging 6.8 points and 1.6 rebounds through his first 10 games in the BKT EuroCup.

The 1.95-meter guard started the EuroCup season like a house on fire with 9.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in the first five games, including 15 points against London Lions and 14 points versus Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. Niang was limited to a combined 5 points and 3 rebounds in the following three games from rounds 6 to 8.

“At the beginning, opponents didn’t know me, so it was easier. Now teams are scouting me more, which makes things more difficult. But I feel I’m growing and improving in the way I’m playing,” he said.

Niang sounded like a seasoned vet when talking about those other three games.

“I was trying to do other useful things on the court - not just scoring. Now that teams know me, I’m focusing on helping in other ways: passing the ball, getting rebounds, defending, doing all the little things instead of relying only on scoring.”

3 minutes of magic from Cheickh Niang

Niang came out of the national team break similar to the beginning of the season with 6 points in Round 10 against Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse and 11 points with 3 of 3 on three-pointers in Round 11 versus Buducnost.

Cheickh says he has received quite a bit of help and advice from his brother Saliou, who made his EuroCup debut in 2023-24 with Trento and then played a much bigger role in the team last season.

“He gives me a lot of suggestions,” Cheickh said of his brother, who is four years older. “He tells me to stay focused on defense and to get more rebounds — because he knows I can do more. And to give 100 percent on both ends of the court, staying fully focused.”

Saliou was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 58th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft and this season, joined Virtus Bologna. In his EuroLeague debut season with Virtus, Saliou is averaging 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Cheickh said he still has a great relationship with his brother.

“The relationship is the same; nothing has changed. We still talk, but of course a bit less than before because we no longer live together,” he said “When we talk, it’s more about life in general. He still gives me suggestions about basketball, but most conversations are about life.”

Cheickh said it was tough seeing his brother leave for Bologna, but they still play Fortnite online together.

"It was a dream come true. I was really excited to play against my brother."

One of the biggest dates for the Niang family was November 1, 2025 when Trento hosted Virtus. The brothers’ parents - who arrived in Italy from Senegal about 20 years ago looking for work - were in the stands watching.

Saliou collected 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 18 minutes while Cheickh tallied 2 points and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes.

"It was a dream come true. I was really excited to play against him,” Cheickh said. “Before the game, I felt anxious and nervous. But once the game started, I just wanted to go at my brother and compete.”

The two were on the court at the same time for about 5 minutes and they got to defend one another multiple times.

“It was for sure emotional,” Cheickh said.

There really wasn’t much trash-talking though, according to Cheickh.

“I said: ‘Now we see what we can do.’ And I was asking if he was going to play short roll or post-up or something like that. And he didn’t answer.”

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This season has been like a dream altogether for Cheickh, who only played with Trento’s youth teams last season. He had a spectacular Italian League debut on October 5, hitting 2 three-pointers and scoring 15 points to go with 6 rebounds and 1 steal against Cantu.

“I didn’t expect it at all, but I was really happy. During the pre-season, I realized I was playing a lot of minutes. It was unexpected, but I worked really hard for it, so I’m definitely happy,” said Niang, who is averaging 4.2 points on 39.1% three-point shooting and 1.7 rebounds in the Italian League.

“I expected a big gap. The biggest challenge has been the physicality. I’m still trying to figure out what I need to compete at this level.”

Cheickh also knows he landed in the right spot at Trento when he arrived from Vis 2008 Ferrara in 2023.

“Trento is one of the few clubs that lets young players play in the first league or in Europe. I believe there are many young players with talent who just need a chance to show it, and Trento gives that chance early,” Niang said.

Cheickh knows that part of the attention he gets comes from being Saliou’s younger brother.

“It doesn’t change anything. Being Saliou’s brother is not a problem,” he said. “I’m really happy to see my brother playing at this level.”

But that is where Cheickh’s allegiance stops. “I don’t support Virtus - only my brother.”

More Trento news

The teenage Trento guard is already making a name for himself

NINERS Chemnitz said farewell to 2025 with a 97-95 statement win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul on Tuesday night, delighting its fans and moving to 6-6 in Group B. Chemnitz led most of the way, but the closing minutes turned tense before the hosts held on for the victory.

Chemnitz holds off Besiktas to close out the year in style

[NINERS Chemnitz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/) said farewell to 2025 with a 97-95 statement win over [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/) on Tuesday night, delighting its fans and moving to 6-6 in Group B. Chemnitz led most of the way, but the closing minutes turned tense before the hosts held on for the victory.

[Amadou Sow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amadou-sow/012598/) set the tone for Chemnitz, delivering a career night with a game-high 27 points. The Malian center dominated the paint for most of the night and provided plenty of offensive energy when the game reached its decisive moments.

‘‘It feels great. It was a collective work,” said Sow after the game. ‘‘We keep staying strong, we keep believing in each other, in the coaching staff and the things that we work on. We just gotta keep doing what we are doing and keep believing and trusting each other. Everything is gonna work out. The season is up and downs, peaks and valleys, and we are making the best out of it right now.’’

NINERS Chemnitz-Besiktas GAIN Istanbul | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Chemnitz leaned on its perimeter shooting throughout the night, finishing 53.6% from beyond the arc, well above its season average of 30.2%. Drawing on their depth, the hosts received three-point contributions from eight different players over the course of the game.

The offensive rhythm carried over into a season-best home performance, as the German side reached 97 points in front of its fans for the first time this season.

''Our fans were exceptional. They pushed us from the first minute to the last. They were the sixth man on the floor today,'' said head coach Rodrigo Pastore after the win.

"This team already went through adversity. We know what it is like to be down, and we made a strength out of that. We've come from a long way, I am very excited about what is in front of us, with everybody healthy and playing the second part of season hopefully with a complete team.’’

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The home side opened the game with aggressive defense and controlled the first-half momentum with efficient scoring both inside and from the perimeter. Chemnitz struggled at times in the third quarter, particularly in containing [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) around the basket, but timely outside shooting allowed the hosts to enter the final minutes of the fourth quarter with the lead.

[Nike Sibande](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nike-sibande/013889/) emerged as a key contributor for the hosts after the break, scoring 13 of his points in the second half and knocking down 3 crucial three-pointers. [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) was another important presence, finishing with 11 points and 3 triples while providing energy on the offensive end.

Besiktas pushed back in the second half behind Zizic, who posted 23 points and 10 rebounds, with [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) and [Vitto Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitto-brown/013365/) adding 20 points each. The visitors tied the game at 95-95 in the final quarter, but it was not enough.

Next up in Round 13, Chemnitz will hit the road to face the London Lions in their first game of the new year, while Besiktas will host ratiopharm ulm at home.

Amadou Sow led his team with a career-high 27 points to secure the win

Turk Telekom Ankara has one of the most exciting players in the BKT EuroCup in Kris Bankston. And the center loves energizing his team and its fans. But he’s really only taken the game seriously for a few years, promising for plenty of upside in the future.

Turk Telekom energizer Kris Bankston didn’t take basketball seriously until fifth year of college

[Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/) has one of the most exciting players in the BKT EuroCup in [Kris Bankston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kris-bankston/012760/). And the center loves energizing his team and its fans. But he’s really only taken the game seriously for a few years, promising for plenty of upside in the future.

Bankston has been a major part of Turk Telekom’s success this season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks in 11 games as the team ranks third in Group B with a 7-4 record after losing its first two games.

“I feel like at the beginning of the year, we didn't really have an identity as a team and our chemistry wasn't all the way there,” the 26-year-old big man told David Hein. “So we built up that chemistry and we started learning our roles and what we can bring to the team as individual players. I feel like that really helped us a lot into building us to what we are now.”

The best plays of Turk Telekom Ankara center Kris Bankston through the first 11 rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Kris Bankston's top plays this season

Bankston is in his second season in the EuroCup after he contributed 6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 16 games in 2023-24 for [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki-betsson/ari/).

That was an eventful season for Bankston. He started the campaign on the roster of Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva, but then left the team in October due to the political turmoil in the country. For his rookie professional campaign, he landed at Aris.

“It was an eye-opener,” he said. “The fans were completely different from what I was used to in America. I had to get used to that and also the way the game was played – the different rules. But I really enjoyed it.

“Some things I used to do in college are taught differently overseas, and it actually works better for how the game is played.”

Aris ended up having too many foreigners and Bankston was the odd man out late in the season, so for the final month of the season he returned to Israel and finished the campaign with Be'er Sheva.

Bankston then moved to Turkiye last season and signed with Tofas Bursa, with the team losing to eventual champion Bilbao Basket in the Basketball Champions League Quarterfinals. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in the competition.

Bankston had come quite far in the game already, especially considering he was a late starter to the game.

The Arkansas native started his sports journey with baseball, playing the important positions on the diamond of shortstop, center field and sometimes pitcher. Then in the summer after ninth grade, when he was 13 years old, he had a major growth spurt from 1.75 meters (5-foot-9) to 1.98 meters (6-foot-6).

“After that, that's when I realized I should try to play basketball,” he admitted.

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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/DRuPVYNjPLA/?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 Kris Bankston 🏀🎈 (@kristhefuture)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Bankston really never played much organized basketball so he had his beginning at age 14. And while he started playing the game, he never really watched much basketball on his own. In essence, he wasn’t really interested in basketball.

“It took me a while to really understand that I actually have to watch basketball and understand it to learn and get better at it,” he said.

It was only when he was a freshman at college at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock that he picked up on studying the game more because he saw some of the team’s star players doing so.

But it took even longer for him to really know the game and understand and appreciate it. That came when he left his home state of Arkansas to attend Norfolk State University in Virginia.

“I was away from home and everything about my life was basketball at that point. I feel like that’s when I really started to appreciate the game more,” he said of his two seasons at NSU from 2021 to 2023.

A big part of his game already back in college was his powerful dunking. And it remains one of his favorite things about the game.

“I like playing for the crowd. The crowd reacts to dunks, and I like getting everyone hyped,” said Bankston, who finished off the Round 10 win over ratiopharm ulm with a windmill reverse slam just before the final buzzer.

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It really shouldn’t be a surprise who Bankston’s player was: Blake Griffin, a dunking machine in his own right.

“Watching him during the \[Los Angeles Clippers'\] Lob City era really got me into dunking,” he said.

But Bankston enjoys playing defense, too. And he plays a big part in Turk Telekom’s defense, which is ranked second in the league in fewest points allowed at 74.8 per game and is top in lowest opponent’s index rating at 68.5 PIR.

The team had a great run of defense coming out of the national team break, allowing only 63, 61 and 53 points in a span of three road games – including Rounds 9 and 10 in the EuroCup.

“\[Coach Erdem Can\] actually loved the way we played defense. He was saying our defense is really good, and that's the reason why we've been winning games. I agree. Because if a team can't score, then they can't win,” Bankston said.

He really prides himself on his defense, saying: “Defense to me is one of the most important things of the game. Everybody can score, everybody can put the ball in the hoop, but can you stop your man from doing that? I understand that there are pros who get paid to score, but if you can stop that guy, it'll give you a better chance of winning.”

When asked which he would rather have: a dunk to win the game or a block to secure the win, Bankston’s answer was: “A block. It means you’re playing defense, hustling, working harder.”

And if that game-winning block comes at home or on the road: “At home – to hype the crowd up.”

There it is, that energetic Kris Bankston who is really still new to the game.

More Turk Telekom News

He still has plenty of potential at 26 years old

See how the teams got on in Round 12 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Game Center: Round 12

## Tuesday, December 30

### [Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (17:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/bahcesehir-college-istanbul-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2025/113/)

Anything other than a comfortable home victory would be a major surprise as top two chasing Bahcesehir (7-4) welcomes winless Hamburg (0-11). But the Turkish team has struggled in recent weeks, losing three of its last four games despite the ongoing excellence of Malachi Flynn, who netted 31 points in last week’s loss at Reyer. Bahcesehir committed 18 turnovers in that game so needs to take better care of the ball against a Hamburg team that has its own free-scoring guard in the form of Devon Daniels, who has averaged 16.8 points in his four games for the team. But Hamburg ranks last in the EuroCup in four different defensive categories, so needs to show stiffer resolve to grab an upset win.

### [U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/u-bt-cluj-napoca-slask-wroclaw/U2025/111/)

Cluj (6-5) is looking to strengthen its push for the top to in Group A with a visit from a Slask team (4-7) in danger of getting cut adrift. The Polish team is still looking for its first road win of the season and also suffered a big setback with last week’s home loss to Manresa, despite big man Stefan Dordevic grabbing his second successive double-double. Cluj will look to neutralize him through the power of Dusan Miletic, who recorded 12 points and 8 boards to help his team overcome Neptunas last week. The Round 3 meeting between the teams was a thriller, taken 94-93 by Slask partly thanks to grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, so Cluj will be keen to better protect its backboard this time around.

### [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (18:15 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse-panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens/U2025/118/)

Group B leader Bourg (9-2) will attempt to strengthen its grip on first place by inflicting more pain on struggling Panionios (1-10). Bourg shrugged off a rare Round 10 loss by fighting back into winning ways last time out with a battling victory at Turk Telekom, when Will McDowell-White showed his ability to control the backcourt by combining 14 points and 7 assists, while the Greek team suffered a tenth consecutive loss with a crushing 25-point home loss to Ulm. This season’s first meeting between the teams was a low-scoring affair, taken 56-66 by Bourg, and forcing the French team into a similarly slow-paced encounter is probably Panionios’s best bet of ending its losing sequence.

### [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/buducnost-voli-podgorica-turk-telekom-ankara/U2025/117/)

A key battle takes place in Group B between the teams currently tied for third place, Buducnost (7-4) and Turk Telekom (7-4). This game could be crucial in settling head-to-head advantage, so Buducnost will be aiming for a win of 8 points or more to counter Turk Telekom’s 79-72 victory in Ankara in October. That game featured a decisive contribution from the Turkish team’s backcourt leader Kyle Allman (16 points on 9-of-12 free throw shooting), so Buducnost will ask livewire Yogi Ferrell – who has multiple steals in three of the last six games – to minimize his influence. Buducnost ranks second in the competition in three-point accuracy (38.7%), so hopes the likes of Axel Bouteille (11.4 points per game on 48.1% for threes) can spark a key win.

### [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. BAXI Manresa (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem-baxi-manresa/U2025/115/)

Group A leader Hapoel (9-2) will attempt to halt the march of fast-rising Manresa (6-5) in a key matchup. The Spanish team has won three games in a row thanks to excellent offensive production, netting 96, 99 and 99 points in those wins. New signing Eli Brooks played a major part in the most recent of those at Slask last week, pouring in 19 points on his debut, so Manresa will hope he can be the x-factor in ending Hapoel’s eight-game winning run. In addition to the seemingly unstoppable Jared Harper, Hapoel will hope to receive more inspiration from Austin Wiley, who has averaged 10 rebounds over the last five games. His battle with Manresa veteran Pierre Oriola could be crucial.

### [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/aris-thessaloniki-betsson-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2025/114/)

Another vital game in Group A’s playoffs race takes place between joint-fourth Aris (6-5) and joint-second Cedevita (7-4). Aris has won three out of the last four and is a much-improved unit from the team that suffered an 80-59 mauling at Cedevita earlier this season, when four triples from sharpshooting guard Joseph Girard helped set up an easy win. That was before Amine Noua had joined Aris, and his importance was again underlined last week with 14 points and 10 rebounds to help seal a hard-fought win at Hamburg. Cedevita has lost two in a row and will attempt to emerge from that slump through an intense defense which has forced more turnovers than any other team in the competition (15.6 per game).

### [Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. London Lions (20:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/dolomiti-energia-trento-london-lions/U2025/116/)

Two teams who earned dramatic, narrow victories look to build more momentum as Trento (6-5) hosts London (5-6). It’s a key battle in the jostle for playoffs positions, and London is well-placed to take the head-to-head advantage after beating the Italian team 87-71 in October. A key architect of that triumph was playmaker Tarik Phillip with 15 points and 7 assists, so Trento will look to slow him down through its own backcourt dynamo Devante Jones, whose 19 points were instrumental in last week’s overtime thriller over Buducnost. London will also be confident after shocking Besiktas in Round 11 – also in overtime – thanks to last second free throws from fit-again Shavar Reynolds, and this game has all the ingredients to go down to the wire.

## Friday, January 2

### [Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Umana Reyer Venice (17:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/neptunas-klaipeda-umana-reyer-venice/U2025/112/)

Another key matchup between direct rivals will see Neptunas (5-6) and Reyer (5-6) break their current tie for seventh place. The Italian team is very much in control of head-to-head advantage after winning by 20 when the teams met in October, and boosted its confidence with an impressive victory last over Bahcesehir behind 30 points from all-action forward Jordan Parks. Neptunas needs to improve its defense after allowing 118 points at Cluj last week, but will hope for more offensive inspiration from Rihards Lomasz after he averaged 19.8 points in the last four games. Neptunas is the third-highest scoring team in the competition so is likely to score plenty, but clamping down on Reyer at the other end could be decisive.

### [ratiopharm ulm vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/ratiopharm-ulm-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2025/119/)

Ulm (5-6) will attempt to climb into the Group B playoffs places by overcoming a Lietkabelis team (2-9) which is falling fast out of contention. The German team was mightily relieved to end a four-game losing slump by thrashing Panionios last week, and will hope that backcourt star Mark Smith can stay hot after scoring 20, 17 and 21 points in the last three games. Lietkabelis has lost three in a row despite the consistency of Kristian Kullamae, who has drained seven triples in the last two games. Ulm has the added advantage of knowing that it has already beaten the visitor once this season, winning a 94-98 thriller in Round 3 behind 26 points from Christopher Ledlum, who is fit again after six weeks out.

## Tuesday, December 23

### [NINERS Chemnitz 97-95 Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/niners-chemnitz-besiktas-gain-istanbul/U2025/120/)

Chemnitz secured an impressive 97-95 home win over Besiktas at MESSE Chemnitz, improving to 6-6 in Group B while Besiktas dropped to 8-4. Chemnitz controlled most of the game, but Besiktas mounted a strong response in the fourth quarter, erasing a 14-point deficit to tie the score at 95-95. In the final moments, Amadou Sow proved decisive, scoring with 32 seconds remaining to give Chemnitz the lead and seal the win.

Chemnitz was led by Sow, who posted a career-high 27 points and 4 rebounds. Nike Sibande added 13 points, Kevin Yebo contributed 11 points and 4 assists, while Ty Brewer chipped in 10 points. For Besiktas, Ante Zizic posted 23 points and 10 rebounds, Jonah Mathews added 20 points, and Vitto Brown finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds.

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