Andy West previews Round 16 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season
At a glance: The race for the playoffs is reaching boiling point
Game Preview
7 Mins read
With just three rounds remaining, Round 16 of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season will play a major role in shaping the postseason picture. This is what we can look forward to on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday, January 27
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (17:00 CET)
Turk Telekom (10-5) will attempt to maintain its challenge for the top two by overcoming eliminated Lietkabelis (3-12). The visiting team has been improving without getting the reward of victories in recent weeks, and will play with a chip on its shoulder after losing on the final buzzer against Trento last week. Big man Fardaws Aimaq powered that performance with 18 points and 9 rebounds, and he will have to stay strong in the paint against center Kyle Alexander (10.4 points and 6 boards per night). Turk Telekom has won three straight and hammered Panionios by 45 last week, as well as thrashing Lietkabelis on the road, 74-100, in Round 7, so will be confident of adding another victory.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. NINERS Chemnitz (19:00 CET)
A key matchup in Group B’s playoff race will see fourth host sixth as Buducnost (9-6) welcomes Chemnitz (8-7). Buducnost boasts an excellent 6-1 home record but is coming off a 22-point loss at Besiktas, while Chemnitz boosted its confidence by overcoming group leader Bourg last week. That victory owed a lot to the backcourt mastery of Corey Davis, with 19 points and 7 assists, and he faces a good battle against Buducnost star Yogi Ferrell, who is in fine form with an average PIR of 23.2 over the last five games. Buducnost won the Round 7 meeting between the teams 71-84, so the hosts could take a decisive two-game advantage over Chemnitz with another home win.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (20:00 CET)
Another crucial game in Group B will see fast-rising Trento (9-6) attempt to cut the distance on co-leader Besiktas (11-4). The Italian team has boosted its playoff hopes by claiming consecutive victories on the final buzzer, with DJ Steward netting a game-winning triple at Lietkabelis last week. But Besiktas is also high on confidence after making it three straight wins with a 22-point demolition of Buducnost last week, with six different players scoring in double digits. A key matchup in the backcourt will see host playmaker Devante Jones – competition-leader with an average PIR of 23.6 – confront visiting guard Berk Ugurlu, who showed his all-round effectiveness in last week’s win by providing 12 points without a miss along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Wednesday, January 28
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (17:00 CET)
Aris (7-8) will attempt to maintain its push for the playoffs by gaining a prestigious road win at high-flying Bahcesehir (10-5). The Greek side boosted its hopes with a dramatic overtime win at Slask in Round 15, powered by 20 offensive rebounds as a team and 26 points from sharpshooter Danilo Andjusic. But Bahcesehir will be ready for the challenge after winning three of its last four games, including a statement-making road triumph at group leader Jerusalem last week. Malachi Flynn was inevitably key to that triumph with 22 points, but the all-round game of Mateusz Ponitka – average PIR of 12.9 in the last seven games – is also important for the Turkish team, which can keep control of its top two destiny with another win.
Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (18:00 CET)
Group A leader Hapoel (12-3) will attempt to bounce straight back to winning ways with a trip to Neptunas (6-9). The visitors could seal a top-two finish with a win, while a home defeat could see Neptunas eliminated depending on other results. Jerusalem’s shock loss to Bahcesehir last week was partly explained by Jared Harper shooting 1-of-8 from three-point range, so he will be keen to regain his usual standards. Neptunas has lost four of the last five after last week’s last-gasp loss at Manresa, and leading a recovery of spirits from that setback will be a task for guard Arnas Velicka, who continued his great season by combining 25 points with 11 assists.
Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens vs. London Lions (18:30 CET)
Two eliminated teams will play for pride as Panionios (2-13) welcomes London (5-10). The British team suffered its fourth straight defeat in sickening fashion with a buzzer-beating tip-in by Ulm last week, while Panionios saw its recent improvement evaporate with a 45-point defeat to Turk Telekom. The Greek team must improve its three-point shooting after only converting 4 of its 31 long-range attempts in that loss, with new signing Brandon Taylor particularly keen to improve after going 0-of-7 on his debut. London’s biggest win of the season – 97-72 – came against Panionios earlier in the season, and guard Amin Adamu will look to recapture his form by drawing on memories of his 13 points from that game.
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. ratiopharm ulm (19:30 CET)
Two teams heading in different directions meet for an intriguing matchup as faltering Bourg (11-4) welcomes surging Ulm (7-8). The previously dominant French team has wobbled by losing the last two games, and can’t afford any more slip-ups if it wants to stay in the top two. Ulm, in contrast, has kept its playoff hopes alive by winning two in a row, and will be buzzing with excited energy after Mark Smith’s game-winning tip-in at London last week. The main architect of that victory was center Christian Sengfelder with a season-best 23 points and 7 rebounds, so Bourg will look to shackle him through an improved performance from Kevin Kokila, who could only manage 4 points and 2 boards in last week’s loss against Chemnitz.
Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Slask Wroclaw (19:30 CET)
Group A’s bottom two will play to avoid the wooden spoon as Hamburg (1-14) receives a visit from floundering Slask (4-11). Hamburg finally grabbed its first win of the season by overcoming Reyer last week, and slowing down Devon Daniels will be a clear priority for the visiting team after he drained 21 points in that game. Slask has lost seven in a row following the heartbreak of last week’s overtime loss to Aris, and still hasn’t fixed its defensive issues after allowing more than 100 points in five of those seven defeats. Offensively, the Polish team will hope for another scoring explosion from Blazej Cirniewicz, who netted 5 three-pointers last week after previously only scoring 2 all season.
Umana Reyer Venice vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (20:00 CET)
Reyer (8-7) will look to protect its position in the top six by overcoming a Cedevita team (10-5) still aiming for a top-two finish. The visitors have won three of the last four, with guard Aleksej Nikolic maintaining his remarkable record of double-digit scoring in every single game this season. Reyer suffered a big shock last week as its four-game winning streak was snapped by a loss against previously winless Hamburg, and will look to get back on track behind the backcourt leadership of RJ Cole, who has averaged 14.5 points in the last four games. Cedevita should come away with the head-to-head advantage even with a defeat, thanks to a thumping 93-65 home victory over Reyer in November.
BAXI Manresa vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (20:45 CET)
The week concludes with a crucial game in Group A as Manresa (9-6) looks to take a two-game lead over Cluj (8-7). The Spanish team is in top form with six wins out of seven, thanks to Louis Olinde’s thrilling game-winner over Neptunas last time out, and boasts a 6-1 record at home. Cluj has lost two of its last three but can take confidence from a 110-86 thrashing of Manresa in Round 7, led by a season-high 26 points from Trey Woodbury. He faces a good battle for backcourt control with Manresa’s recent signing Ferran Bassas, who dished 9 assists last week. The hosts rank second in the EuroCup in offensive rebounding (13.1 per night), so Cluj must be prepared for a physical battle.