Dolomiti Energia Trento strengthened its position in Group B with a dramatic 91-90 overtime win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Tuesday night. 

Trento triumphs in overtime thriller against Buducnost 

Dolomiti Energia Trento strengthened its position in Group B with a dramatic 91-90 overtime win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Tuesday night. The victory lifted Trento to 6-5 and extended its winning streak to three games.

Coming off two road wins, Trento returned home with confidence and delivered a performance built on resilience and long-range accuracy. The hosts connected on a season-high 14 three-pointers, a key factor in overcoming Buducnost’s size and experience.

After a tense opening quarter, Trento seized control in the second, closing the half with a slim lead. Buducnost fought back in the third, capitalizing on defensive lapses to narrow the gap. The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, with Trento relying on timely triples to stay alive. In overtime, the Italian side showed composure and a “winning attitude,” as head coach Massimo Cancellieri described it.

“It was a tough game. I’m happy with how we reacted when the game looked like it was going in another direction,” Cancellieri said. “The details made the difference. We were not able to finish the game (in regulation time)… We did it in overtime, we did it with a big winning attitude that allowed us to finish this.’’

Devante Jones led Trento with 19 points, while DJ Steward added 14 and praised his team’s resilience:<br>
“I’m so proud of this group. Just going through adversity throughout the entire game, that’s a really tough team that we beat. I feel like we stuck together the entire game,” Steward said. “That is a great feeling.’’

Andrej Jakimovski contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds, Cheickh Niang scored 11 with three triples, and Matas Jogela chipped in 10.

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Buducnost, the EuroCup’s best three-point shooting team entering the game, struggled from deep, hitting just 6 of 23 after averaging 40% this season. Yogi Ferrell paced the visitors with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Nikola Tanaskovic and Oleksandr Kovliar scored 12 apiece.

Next up, Trento will try to extend its winning run at home against the London Lions in Round 12, while Buducnost hosts Turk Telekom looking to bounce back.

Game News

Italian side hits season-high 14 triples to claim 91-90 victory and move to 6-5 in Group B

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-12-16T19:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem held off a late surge to edge Cedevita Olimpia Ljubljana 84-81 in Round 11, strengthening its grip on first place in Group A thanks to 21 points on 16 free throws from Jared Harper

Harper’s heroics lift Hapoel past Cedevita in EuroCup thriller 

“I think we made some stupid turnovers at the end and made them close, but we controlled the game for about 35 minutes, then we managed to live with those mistakes, with some responsibility and high-level play,” said Yonatan Alon, moments after his Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem team survived a close battle at Arena Stozice on Tuesday night, running away with the 81-84 Round 11 victory.

Table-topping Hapoel took an early lead, before second-placed Cedevita Olimpia Ljubljana tightened the gap in the second period. However, by the time the teams split for halftime, the visitors led by 11.

The hosts stumbled out of the blocks at the restart, providing Hapoel with an avenue to widen the margin. Alon’s men looked to be in cruise control when Cedevita pushed back in the fourth, coming within a single point with under a minute left on the clock.

Despite the aforementioned errors from the Israeli team, they completed the mission. Jared Harper kept his nerve at the line when it mattered, however, finishing the contest and growing his team’s advantage atop Group A.

Harper played a major role in the win, adding 4 assists to his 21-point scoring performance, while also hitting crucial last-minute shots at the charity stripe to drag his team over the line. Despite a tough night from the field – shooting at a clip of 2-of-11 – the 28-year-old guard sank 16 of his 17 free-throws, shouldering the responsibility without flinching.

Anthony Lamb added 14 points and 4 dimes and Khadeen Carrington contributed 11 points.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">שומרים על הפסגה 🔝<br><br>ובפעם הבאה שנשחק ביורוקאפ - זה יהיה בבית שלנו! <br>אין אדום שלא מגיע &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/o7DgzONarf">https://t.co/o7DgzONarf</a> <a href="https://t.co/3bwAB0P4Au">pic.twitter.com/3bwAB0P4Au</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/2001014230288678966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Austin Wiley recorded a personal best of 13 rebounds for the road team, controlling the glass throughout. His presence was huge in controlling the pace of the contest. The American big man reflected on his performance after the final buzzer.

“Very happy,” Wiley expressed. “I like how we played on defense. I like that we faced adversity, we played to the end and we won.”

The result was tough on Cedevita’s Aleksej Nikolic, who scored a game-high 27 points. Zvezdan Mitrovic will also feel downtrodden after being ejected from the game during the final period.

With the loss, Mitrovic’s team moved to 7-4 for the season, but will have a chance to bounce back after the break, when it faces Aris Thessaloniki Betsson on December 30. Meanwhile, Hapoel will look to improve on its 9-2 record when it welcomes BAXI Manresa that same evening.

The reigning EuroCup MVP scored 21 points and made 16 free throws as Jerusalem improved to 9-2

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (2025-12-16T17:30:00.000Z)

It was not his best shooting night but NINERS Chemnitz's Kevin Yebo found plenty of ways to help his team defeat Lietkabelis in Round 11 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Yebo's energy leads Chemnitz to quality win at Lietkabelis 

NINERS Chemnitz has been on a roll lately, winning three of its last four games to climb to 5-6 in Group B and improve its chances to reach the BKT EuroCup Playoffs in its first season in the competition. On Tuesday, Chemnitz edged Lietkabelis Panevezys 79-85, protecting its paint really well for the best part of the game and finding [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) every time the team needed a go-to guy.

The 29-year-old center is in his second stint with Chemnitz, which he helped win the FIBA Europe League in 2024. He went on to play for FC Bayern Munich but things did not go as planned; Yebo averaged 2.3 points in 15 EuroLeague games. He decided to return to Chemnitz before the end of the 2024-25 season and has been showcasing his all-around skills all season long, averaging 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds for a PIR of 21.9 in 10 EuroCup games this season.

Yebo struggled from beyond the arc against Lietkabelis, making just 1 of 7 attempts from three-point range. He made sure he did everything else right, getting 16 points on 11-of-12 free-throw shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. He drew a club-record 13 fouls, which was 1 foul drawn away from the competition record, shared by Randy Duck, Andre Hutson, Armando Costa, Matt Walsh and Fatts Russell of U-BT Cluj-Napoca. Russell was the last player to do so, earlier this season against Neptunas Klaipeda on October 7.

Yebo's effectiveness allowed Lietkabelis to shoot the ball better and more often both inside the arc and from the free throw line. Chemnitz made 23 of 29 free throws (79.3%) and 19 of 29 two-pointers (65.5% 2FG). Lietkabelis finished the game shooting 19 of 44 on two-pointers (43.2%) and 11 of 17 free throws (64.7%).

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not an illusion, just Yebo 🪄<a href="https://twitter.com/ninerschemnitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ninerschemnitz</a> <a href="https://t.co/uiCIcJfrK8">pic.twitter.com/uiCIcJfrK8</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/2000996809448079426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Without the injured [Corey Davis Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/corey-davis-jr-/013890/) and [Kaza Kajami-Keane](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kaza-kajami-keane/013892/), [Nike Sibande](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nike-sibande/013889/) stepped up with a career-high scoring effort of 17 points,

"We stick together, we wanted to have fun. That's what we did and that's why we played like today," Yebo said. "Wins are always good, but how we stepped out of the losing streak and came out here with two guys down, that's where I see a big change and how we deal with the losses. It was good."

"I like the energy on the bench. It was a team performance today. Everybody contributed, even the guys that didn't step in. They stayed positive, always encouraging their teammates," Chemnitz head coach [Rodrigo Pastore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/pastore-rodrigo) said. "We saw what we wanted to see as coaching staff. A group playing basketball the right way, together. I think the basketball Gods rewarded us in the end."

Chemnitz hopes to finish 2025 style with a big challenge in front of its fans, as it hosts mighty Besiktas GAIN Istanbul in Round 12.

It was not his best shooting night but Kevin Yebo found plenty of ways to help his team


Lietkabelis Panevezys v NINERS Chemnitz (2025-12-16T17:00:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 11 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season

Round 11: Pregame quotes

Round 11 of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season will deliver 10 more games loaded with significance for the playoff race. Here’s your guide to Tuesday and Wednesday’s action across the continent.

## Tuesday, December 16, 2025

### [Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. NINERS Chemnitz (18:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/lietkabelis-panevezys-niners-chemnitz/U2025/107/)

### [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (18:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/U2025/102/) 

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija head coach**

“Already at the beginning of the season, I mentioned that Hapoel, together with Bahcesehir and Besiktas, are among the three best teams in the EuroCup. I expect a very tough game. Our opponents are in a good rhythm and very good form. Hapoel is excellently covered at all positions. At the start of the season, we took advantage of the opportunity to surprise them and turn the game in our favor after trailing. The game in Ljubljana will certainly be much more difficult than the one in Belgrade. They have all players available for the game and have also strengthened the ‘4’ position. One of the best teams in the competition is definitely coming to us, so a very tough game awaits us.”

**Joseph Girard, Cedevita Olimpija guard**

“Hapoel are among the best teams in the EuroCup, so a demanding challenge is ahead of us. In the first head-to-head game, we played very well and recorded a win. We are aware that all teams improve over the course of the season, and that applies to them as well. We will have to put in a very good performance, as a tough test awaits us, and all of us want to record another victory.”

**Yonatan Alon, Jerusalem head coach**

“It’s a very, very important game for us. First of all, we’re making sure the injured players recover so that each one can get the maximum out of his body. And we’re making the best preparation we can. We’re coming to win… It’s too early to have an impression (of Isaiah Mobley), he’s not supposed to play, but it could be that we’ll reach a situation where we’ll need to use him already here. So he’s joining in with us, we’ll bring him into things slowly, the way it should be, and he’ll give us his contribution.”

### [Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (20:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/dolomiti-energia-trento-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2025/110/) 

**Fabio Bongi, Trento assistant coach**

“We are about to face Buducnost, a team built to go all the way in this competition. We come into this game on a positive run, with good results and a strong feeling with our style of play, despite the absence of Selom Mawugbe, who is a key pillar of the way we play and compete. We move forward trying to create our own opportunities and approach this matchup with the memory of the first leg, which was very positive from a mental standpoint, as we did a good job of staying in the game for all 40 minutes. We need to build from that performance and confirm the good things we showed, knowing that it will take a solid effort from the entire team to compete against an opponent that will come in highly motivated and determined to earn the win, which is crucial for their push toward the top two spots in the group and a direct qualification to the next stage. 

"Sulaimon is Buducnost’s most important player in the backcourt, and we will need to pay close attention to his scoring ability, while being aware that they have many other weapons: Boutsiele inside the paint, and Bouteille, a very experienced EuroCup player who can score both from beyond the arc and around the basket. Mays is another key option, as is Yogi Ferrell — both are important playmakers within Buducnost’s system.”

**Khalif Battle, Trento guard**

“We are coming off a great win against Venice and now we will soon face Podgorica. The crowd on Saturday was incredible: I would love for it to be like that every game, because it gives us tremendous energy, helps us move in the right direction, and pushes us to play even harder for our community. In the first game against Podgorica I wasn’t able to play due to injury, so I’m highly motivated to do well this time. We want to keep this positive run going, and to do that we need to continue building on this good moment by playing the right way and with great energy. With the support of our home crowd, we’ll try to go out there and get the win.”

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost head coach** 

"We’re facing a very demanding road game, and we know exactly the kind of opponent we’re playing against. They outplayed us in the first game in Podgorica. Trento is a team that plays at a high pace, relies heavily on one-on-one situations, and scores a lot of easy points in transition, which makes this a serious challenge away from home. We need to be well prepared for their fast-paced style and execute all the basic things of the game with a high level of focus — getting back quickly, protecting the paint, handling one-on-one situations and playing the pick-and-roll effectively. Those details will be decisive. Heading into this game with positive energy after strong performances in both the EuroCup and the ABA League, we are fully aware that we are facing a very athletic team with excellent shooting quality."

**Jerry Boutsiele, Buducnost center**

"I think we learned a lot from the first game. We played, in my opinion, our worst game of the season. Trento is in very good shape right now, so we know it’s going to be a tough game. We want to approach this match the same way we did against Ilirija in the ABA League and try to get a win there."

## Wednesday, December 17, 2025

### [Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (17:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/turk-telekom-ankara-cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2025/109/)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

“This is a very important game. The victory allows us to stay as high as possible in the standings. We won the first leg, but they are a strong team. Their squad has changed since then: it's larger, with a lot of talent and athleticism, especially some strong defenders. It will be a big challenge for us. We will have to fight hard and, above all, be focused to perform well.”

**Tre Mitchell, Bourg center**

“They’re a good and skilled team. We have to control the tempo and limit their actions. Our connectivity on defense will be the most important. We have to create our own energy being on the road. In order for us to remain on the trajectory we’re on, it’s a big game for us as the second ranking and them as the third. They’re going to come to win on their home court, and we must do the same on enemy territory.”

### [U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Neptunas Kleipeda (17:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/u-bt-cluj-napoca-neptunas-klaipeda/U2025/105/)

**Mihai Silvașan, Cluj head coach**

"It is certainly an extremely important game for the final configuration of the standings. From our experience in recent EuroCup seasons, at this point no game is decisive, but it can weigh heavily in a potential finish within the top six. We really need the support of our fans; we need them to support us and push us forward if we go through difficult moments, because, once again, this is a tough game against a team that scores a lot of points. In the last four games they have played, they scored over 100 points. They have very good shooters and rely heavily on this aspect, so overall they are a very good team. Our goal is to lower their efficiency, and for that we need to defend very aggressively. We saw in the game against Bahcesehir what can happen if they are allowed to play their game and shoot freely, when they made 18 three-pointers and won in a dominant manner. The idea is to place a very strong emphasis on defense, make their efficiency drop, secure the rebounds, and run in transition, where we have an advantage."

**Iverson Molinar, Cluj guard**

"Our expectations are to come in and play hard, playing as a team. We know Neptunas is a great offensive team, they scored a lot of points in their last games. We come after a tough loss in Istanbul, but we are professional players. We know when it’s a bad game, we just gotta regroup and keep going. We watched the game, we learned, we regrouped, and we are ready for the next game. We’ll be playing six games in front of our fans, so it’s important to win tomorrow. We gotta protect our home court."

### [Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens vs. ratiopharm ulm (18:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens-ratiopharm-ulm/U2025/108/)

### [Slask Wroclaw vs. BAXI Manresa (19:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/slask-wroclaw-baxi-manresa/U2025/101/)

### [Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (19:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/veolia-towers-hamburg-aris-thessaloniki-betsson/U2025/103/)

**Igor Milicic, Aris head coach**

"We compete against a team that hasn’t won in EuroCup so far, but is very dangerous, as it showed last Sunday, beating Alba Berlin. There are no easy games in the EuroCup and we have to be very focused and determined from the start, to get the result we want. We have to control the pace of the game and not allow Hamburg to run and score easy points. From our side, we are getting better as times goes by, but every game is a different situation and we have to be serious to continue with our development." 

**Jake Forrester, Aris center**

"After two important wins last week, in BKT EuroCup and the Greek League, we have a crucial game ahead of us. Many people might see that Hamburg has zero wins this season, but is a good team that will cause damage if you don’t respect them. We have to follow out coach’s plan and be focused for 40 minutes, to get the win we need so much, so that we climb to the standings, in a group that is very open and competitive."

### [Umana Reyer Venice vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (20:00 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/umana-reyer-venice-bahcesehir-college-istanbul/U2025/104/)

**Neven Spahija, Reye head coach**

"After the Trento game, where our effort wasn't enough, we sent a clear message to the team: We must always play at our maximum, regardless of the final result. This mentality must be part of our DNA. We are facing one of the best teams in the EuroCup: they play high-level basketball and beat us convincingly in the first leg. Together with our fans, we want to put on a better performance and get back to winning ways. They have an extraordinary offense: to win, we'll need to be effective in limiting their many offensive weapons."

**Carl Wheatle, Reyer forward** 

"We know how important this game is. We are playing at home and want to get back to playing our brand of basketball for the full 40 minutes, bouncing back from the last two defeats. We are facing one of the strongest teams in the EuroCup, so we will need a complete performance and a contribution from everyone to get the win. We have to take away their strengths: their guards have a lot of points in their hands, and they can rely on a big man like Williams, who is having a great season. Lately, we've been giving up too many offensive rebounds: we need to control the boards because that allows us to dictate the tempo. The key will be a great defensive performance."

### [London Lions vs. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (20:30 CET)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/london-lions-besiktas-gain-istanbul/U2025/106/)

**Tautvydas Sabonis, London head coach**

“Besiktas is the number one team in Europe probably - they are 11–0 in Turkey and 8–2 in EuroCup - so we’ve got to be prepared. We’ve got to be mentally tough. If we come like this (how we did against Surrey)…no chance. I think the guys will understand the task, and they will be ready for the physicality and the mental toughness that’ll be required more this game, and be ready to play a solid game in front of our crowd, which I’m hoping there will be more people.” 

London Lions v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-12-17T19:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-12-17T19:00:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (2025-12-17T18:30:00.000Z)

Slask Wroclaw v BAXI Manresa (2025-12-17T18:00:00.000Z)

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens v ratiopharm ulm (2025-12-17T17:30:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-12-17T16:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Neptunas Klaipeda (2025-12-17T16:00:00.000Z)

Rasheed Sulaimon spoke to Javier Gancedo about his team’s title ambitions, his bond with Yogi Ferrell, and why Montenegro feels like home.

Rasheed Sulaimon on Buducnost’s Surge: ‘Our goal is to contend for the trophy’

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica is riding a hot streak in the EuroCup, winning six of its last seven games to climb to 7-3 in the standings. The latest statement came in Round 10, a dominant 94-63 victory over the London Lions. Rasheed Sulaimon was at the heart of it, delivering 16 points and 6 assists in under 21 minutes. Now in his second season with Buducnost, Sulaimon is averaging 10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while embracing life on and off the court in Montenegro. Sulaimon spoke to Javier Gancedo about his team’s title ambitions, his bond with Yogi Ferrell, and why Montenegro feels like home.

 

**Hello Rasheed. Congratulations on the win against the London Lions. Was that your team’s best performance so far this season? Do you feel like the team is improving every week?**

"Thank you. Yes, hopefully, that's definitely our goal. We know we have a very talented team but of course, to go all the way in the EuroCup is about who is playing the best at the right time, so we are hoping that the games like the last one against the Lions was a step in the right direction. But we have to continue to grow now. We have a tough game against Trento coming up, so hopefully we can build off of the last game and continue to improve."

 

**You've won six of the last seven EuroCup games, too. How has Buducnost improved this season?**

"I think it's just attention to detail. We are very confident in our roster from top to bottom. We are very confident in the players that we have. But sometimes, even if you have a good roster or a talented team, that doesn't always get the job done if you're not paying attention to the little details. And I think that was the difference between our team at the start and winning six of the last seven: just focusing on better chemistry with each other and paying attention to our coaching staff's scouting report each and every game. And I think when we do that and execute and play at a high level like that, we are a very hard team to beat."

Rasheed Sulaimon is in his second season with Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Best of Rasheed Sulaimon. Rounds 1-10

**You have been strong at home and only lost against Trento, which is your next opponent. How much extra motivation is that?**

"Every game is very important and I think that's one of the games that regrettably we will look back and say 'that's a game that we should have tried not to let slip away'. But Trento is a very talented team. They play a very, very fast-paced brand of basketball. So, again, I know our coaches are going to have a great scouting report for us. We have to control the tempo of the game and can do that by taking good shots, not turning the ball over and getting back in transition defense. And like I said, they are going to be a great test."

**What do you like about playing alongside Axel Bouteille?**

"Having guys like Axel is a great luxury. I played against Axel a lot since I have been in Europe and this is the first time we are on the same team. So, when you have guys like him on your side, it just gives you all the confidence in the world. But I think that's the thing that's special about our team. It's not just guys like Axel Bouteille or Jerry Boutsiele. We have guys like Yogi Ferrell, Sasha Kovliar, Skyler Mays, I have to go on and on... Juwan Morgan. We are very confident in our team and I think we have great players. At the end of the day, basketball is a team sport, so we are just trying to figure out the best way to get that chemistry between all of us. And we know if we do that, we have the individual talent to contend for this title."

 

**I have to ask you about Yogi Ferrell. When we last spoke, you told me that you two were rivals in high school and even before. Now that you have been playing together for a year, how strong is your friendship?**

"Yogi is like my brother. Like you said, we have known each other for a very long time. This is the second year in a row I have been playing with him, so we just kind of had an unspoken bond. Sometimes he can look at me or I can look at him and we know exactly what the other one is thinking. I think that's definitely a luxury, playing at this level, having somebody that you have 100% confidence in. Even when your confidence goes low, he will be there to pick you up, he will be there to help you out. That's definitely the bond and relationship I have with Yogi. I'm very honored, very blessed and lucky to have another teammate that has the talent and the caliber of a player that he is to play alongside me and help me out."

"Yogi Ferrell is like my brother."

**How good is this for the team's chemistry? Because this is a very unusual situation.**

"It's definitely great. Not just between me and him, but I think that's the special thing about our team, dating back to last year. We have a few different guys, but the core of the team is pretty much the same. I think that's the reason why we had success last year and hopefully why we have success this year. It's not just the chemistry that we have on the court, but off the court as well. Everybody is a good guy. Everybody wants to win. Everybody works hard. I think when you have that foundation, anything is possible. I think we have all the intangibles, all the ingredients to have a successful team. Now we are just hoping that we can work hard and put it together and hopefully get some games to go our way."

 

**I wanted to ask you about Montenegro. You seem to be very happy there. I saw your kids on social media with Montenegrin flags. How special has this step in your career been, to be two years in Montenegro and embrace its culture?**

"It's very special. Like you mentioned, this is my second year here. It's actually the first time in my career that I stayed two years at the same spot back-to-back. Not only am I enjoying it, but like you mentioned, my kids, my family, we're really enjoying Montenegro as well. Great country. Very beautiful country. They love basketball, so that's a plus for us, too, coming from the States. They value basketball very highly here and they create great atmospheres. Just all in all, on the court, off the court, it's a special place. Hopefully, I can extend my stay here for many years to come."

 

**At 7-3, Buducnost has earned the right to dream big and be ambitious. What will it take for your team to go all the way or at least challenge for the title?**

"That's definitely our goal. We have already dropped some games that we thought we should have won, but I think we are still in a good position at 7-3 and still have a long way to go. We still have eight more games to go. So, right now, we are just focused on one game at a time, trying to give ourselves the best position as possible. Hopefully, when the next round starts, it will be about just taking one game at a time and trying to go as far as we can go."

More Buducnost news

From big wins to family life in Montenegro, Sulaimon opens up about Buducnost’s ambitions

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

Fantasy tips, Round 11: The Big Man Bazaar

At times it seems like the BKT EuroCup is a competition where guards shine. The EuroCup MVP has been a point guard in each of the last three seasons (Jared Harper, T.J. Shorts, Jerian Grant) and joined a long list of star guards to claim that award, too. But no great team in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge can be built without star power at other positions, too. This week I will share with you some big men who I believe everyone should give some consideration for their teams, too.

 

### Ante Zizic, Besiktas (14.3 credits)

I am a little late to the [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) party, but wanted to shine a light on him in case you have overlooked him as well. Zizic has averaged more fantasy points than any other center (22.63) and he’s done it with a mix of offensive efficiency and great rebounding. Over the last two weeks, he's averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds while missing just 4 field goals combined for an average PIR of 30.5. Against London in Round 2, he posted 17 points and 5 boards for a PIR of 26. If you can afford Zizic, I recommend him.

Ante Zizic

### Zacharie Perrin, Hamburg (11.0 credits)

For a more modest option at center, there is [Zacharie Perrin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zacharie-perrin/011579/). He was recommended here earlier in the seasons, but back then it was as an inexpensive talent with upside. The 21-year-old has become much more than that – and his price has risen accordingly. Over his last four games, Perrin has posted 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for an average PIR of 20.8. He grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in Round 2 against Aris, his opponent this week.

 

### Andrej Jakimovski, Trento (9.9 credits)

Another player I wished I had on my team a few weeks ago already is [Andrej Jakimovski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrej-jakimovski/009429/). Even though I didn’t get him when he was 7.1 credits, that’s no reason not to take him now. The Trento forward has scored 30 points twice in his last three appearances and was, of course, the MVP of Round 10. While I don’t expect that every week, the 24-year-old is grabbing more rebounds and drawing more fouls, all of which make him an interesting target, even against the Buducnost frontline this week.

 

### Amadou Sow, Chemnitz (8.8 credits)

Another player whose production has been spiking lately is [Amadou Sow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/amadou-sow/012598/). His numbers have gotten better in four successive rounds with averaged of 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the last two games, with a PIR of at least 20 in both. He also comes off a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double in the German League. If you want to cut corners and save at center, but still get a stud capable of big numbers, Sow could be your man.

Amadou Sow

Sportradar's Matt Kamalsky examines the guard play that has helped Jerusalem and Besiktas claim the top spots in their respective groups

Stats review: Jerusalem, Besiktas and their climbs to first place

There are new teams in first place in both Groups A and B following Round 10 of the BKT EuroCup.  With multiple teams jumping into the playoff picture, the stars appear to be aligning for plenty of drama around seeding from top to bottom down the stretch.

[Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/) has emerged at the top of Group A following its [victory over Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-celebrates-homecoming-with-win-over-hamburg/), which extended its winning streak to seven games. [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-istanbul/roster/bes/) has leapt to the top of Group B, moving the ball at a high level in recent weeks to finally dislodge [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/) thanks to the tiebreaker earned with its [Round 5 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/besiktas-puts-on-a-show-to-end-bourgs-unbeaten-record/).

That pair has one key thing in common in addition to their new spots atop the standings: offensive efficiency. Hapoel ranks first and Besiktas second in overall points per possession scored through 10 games. The success of both teams on that front starts in the pick-and-roll. As the table above suggests, both have been very effective in ball screens, with Besiktas posting league-best efficiency numbers and Jerusalem ranking first in points created per game. 

With 40% of all possessions in the EuroCup originating in pick-and-rolls and those looks resulting in 0.97 points per possession, there’s no diminishing their impact on the league landscape. That is especially notable for Jerusalem, which has generated 51% of its possessions in the half-court through pick-and-rolls en route to one of the better offensive starts in the EuroCup this decade. With [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) ranking among the league’s most prolific shot creators, [Cassius Winston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/cassius-winston/011940/) thriving when it is his turn on the ball, and [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/) providing a secondary option, Jerusalem’s guards are the league’s most prolific unit looking to score off the dribble, with [Justin Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justin-smith/013276/) being the main beneficiary of that off the ball.

For Besiktas, it is how selective its secondary ball handlers are that stands out. With its group of guards using the second-lowest percentage of their possessions, but scoring with near-record efficiency, the likes of [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/), [Berk Ugurlu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/berk-ugurlu/003783/), and [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/) have made the most of their opportunities in the two-man game, even if none of them are especially prolific. With Ugurlu and [Devon Dotson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devon-dotson/013285/) doing a lot of the distributing within this offense and four big men who all finish consistently as rollers, Besiktas has gotten a lot done by committee.

The success of both clubs scoring out of ball screens has keyed their rise to the top of the standings.  How they fare from here will be a point of interest in the coming week as Jerusalem will take on the team that it leapfrogged to the top of Group A in [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/U2025/102/), while [Besiktas visits London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/london-lions-besiktas-gain-istanbul/U2025/106/) in Group B. 

BAXI Manresa has added a key piece to its roster, announcing the signing of American guard Eli Brooks for the remainder of the season

Manresa adds Eli Brooks amid backcourt injury concerns

BAXI Manresa has added a key piece to its roster, announcing the signing of American guard Eli Brooks for the remainder of the season. Brooks (1.85 meters, 27 years old) joins the Spanish club from Gladiators Trier, which sits in first place in the German League.

The combo guard has averaged 15.3 points and 4.8 assists through 10 games, helping Trier to an 8-2 record. He has been worth a further 20 points and 6.0 assists in the German Cup games.

Brooks played college basketball at the University of Michigan and made his professional debut in the G League with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in 2022. The following year he came to Europe for the first time with Palacanestro Trieste in Italy and spent last season in Germany with EWE Baskets Oldenburg before moving to Trier.

The signing comes on the heels of starting point guard Hugo Benitez exiting last week's EuroCup game with a hamstring injury, which Coach Diego Ocampo later said could cause him to miss several games.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔏 𝗘𝗹𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, 𝗡𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗫𝗔𝗧𝗚𝗘!<br>🪵 Més fusta per al joc exterior! Arriba Eli Brooks del líder de la lliga alemanya. 🙌 Welcome to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manresa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manresa</a>, Eli!<br><br>👨‍🍳 &#39;Combo&#39;📏 1,85m<br>🇺🇸 USA🪪 27 anys 🛬 Gladiators Trier<br> <br>📊 17,2 PTS 2,6 REB i 6,2 ASS<br>🔗<a href="https://t.co/eT7zvb48Xj">https://t.co/eT7zvb48Xj</a> <a href="https://t.co/c2vyApOe88">pic.twitter.com/c2vyApOe88</a></p>&mdash; BAXI Manresa (@BasquetManresa) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasquetManresa/status/2000152412028616989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Manresa news

Combo guard joins from German League-leader Trier to reinforce roster after Hugo Benitez setback

After missing seven BKT EuroCup games earlier this season, Veolia Towers Hamburg guard Osaro Rich will again be unavailable due to a broken middle finger on his left hand

Hamburg's Osaro Rich out with broken finger

After missing seven BKT EuroCup games earlier this season, [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) guard [Osaro Rich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/osaro-rich/011256/) will again be unavailable due to a broken middle finger on his left hand. Rich, 27, who has been with the club since 2017, is expected to undergo surgery on Monday.

The shooting guard appears to have sustained the injury earlier and played the last two games with it despite the pain before a medical examination on Thursday revealed a fracture. Rich first suffered a fracture in his right arm on the opening night of the EuroCup season and missed nine weeks. He has averaged 5.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in nearly 15 minutes in three EuroCup games this season.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Unser Guard Osaro Rich zog sich während des Auswärts-Minimarathons einen Bruch am linken Finger zu und wird am Montag operiert.<br><br>Wir wünschen dir eine schnelle Genesung und ein starkes Comeback, Osaro! 💪🖤<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> <a href="https://t.co/I8Gb8JDz2J">https://t.co/I8Gb8JDz2J</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/2000163603870364005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Hamburg news

This marks the second significant injury sustained by the shooting guard this season