Dolomiti Energia Trento clearly took advantage of the national team break to reenergize itself, coming out with two strong road wins – the second being a major shock as the Italian outfit routed Group B leader Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse. 

Jakimovski, Trento make statement with win at Bourg: 'We’re not gonna stop here'

[Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) clearly took advantage of the national team break to reenergize itself, coming out with two strong road wins – the second being a major shock as the Italian outfit routed Group B leader [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/). 

Trento shrugged off a nightmare start to the game and showed its mental strength with a 73-91 victory to hand Bourg its first home loss of the season. 

The visiting team's fans must have been watching the first five minutes and Bourg’s 21-5 lead and had more nightmares from the disaster at home in Round 1, when Trento lost 48-79 loss against the French side. But this is a different team than the one on October 1, responding with a 2-23 run to take the lead, with the cushion growing to 14 points in the second quarter. 

Bourg scored 13 consecutive points in the third quarter and the lead was down to one point at 48-49. Trento had taken the hosts' punches, but it did not break and never handed over the lead. Massimo Cancellieri’s men even began to pull away in the fourth quarter, with a 21-point margin at one point. 

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

“We were solid. The reaction from Bourg came. We were sure. We stayed poised and we were waiting for our time. I’m happy that the whole team participated in this,” said Cancellieri, whose team is now 5-5 in Group B with a 4-2 mark on the road.

Bourg handed over its lead in the standings with an 8-2 record – including 4-1 at the Ekinox. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul tops Group B as it beat Bourg in the first half of the regular season. 

"We are happy because Besiktas was the only team to beat them. So we are the second, and we are proud of this result. The season will finish when it finishes. Now we have to enjoy this and get some confidence for the next game,” said Cancellieri.

The coach talked about the difference of his team from that Round 1 game. 

“That was our first shock of the season. We had the pre-season and the Super Cup against Italian teams. And then we show up ready, steady, go in the EuroCup against the most athletic team that we could face. We weren’t terrible, we were like ghosts,” he said. 

“From there we started the process. It’s not finished but I think what we did today is a little bit closer to what we have to do for the EuroCup level. The players have to be proud of what they are doing, the commitment and the attitude that they have. But this is not history. We are in December.” 

Cancellieri credits the FIBA break for some of the team’s stronger play. 

“The national team break gave us a little bit more energy. We gave them some days off. And they refreshed a bit mentally. We took advantage of that. But now we have to work to keep doing this,” he said. 

<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/DSDoDi5jOue/?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 Aquila Basket Trento (@aquilabaskettrento)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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The biggest key to Trento scoring 91 points against the number one defense in the EuroCup was [Andrej Jakimovski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrej-jakimovski/009429/). 

The 24-year-old is playing his first full professional season in Europe after a college career in the United States. The forward tied his career high with 30 points and added 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 10 fouls drawn for an index rating of 43. His PIR of 43 set a Trento record in the EuroCup, topping the previous best of 41 by Gary Browne in 2020-21. 

“I am happy about the team. I am proud of the team. We showed resilience, we showed amazing effort. We came back. We had an awful start. But I am happy about this win. We’re not gonna stop here. We’re going to keep going. We’re getting better. It’s an incredible win,” Jakimovski said.  

While Trento is celebrating a big upset, Bourg will now look for answers. 

"I am disappointed that we lost but Trento played very well so they deserved to win. We played five good minutes in the first half and five good minutes in the second half and that is not enough to win a game,” Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux said after the game, as his team made just 33.3% of its two-pointers. 

Game News

The Italian side has won back-to-back road games after the national team break

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

“It’s going to give us a lot of confidence going forward and I’m very proud of these guys,” said Rodrigo Pastore, whose NINERS Chemnitz team fought back to defeat Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens on Tuesday night.

Amadou Sow stars as no-quit Chemnitz comes back to beat Panionios

“It’s going to give us a lot of confidence going forward and I’m very proud of these guys,” said Rodrigo Pastore, whose [NINERS Chemnitz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/) team fought back to defeat [Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/panionios-cosmorama-travel-athens/nio/) on Tuesday night.

Pastore’s team took an early lead but couldn’t grab the opportunity to widen the gap substantially. Panionios went ahead in the second quarter and was able to hold on to the advantage quite comfortably until the final few minutes, when Chemnitz put together a gutsy comeback run. With just over a minute remaining, [Corey Davis Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/corey-davis-jr-/013890/) drained a corner three to put the hosts ahead. NINERS managed the game professionally in the closing moments, securing the 73-68 victory.

“There was a lot of offensive power in this Greek team, which we saw in the first half especially, but to have that consciousness that we can get stops in key moments of the game is something we haven’t showed lately,” Pastore stated.

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

The Argentinian coach’s sense of pride was accompanied by a sense of relief for his team, which he believes has worked hard to earn this success. He also took the time to big up the home crowd.

“They deserve a game like today. Also, our fans were our sixth man tonight.”

[Amadou Sow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amadou-sow/012598/) played a starring role, adding 10 rebounds to his 19-point performance. His hulking physical play led to just his second-ever double-double in the EuroCup, while he finished with a PIR of 23.

“This was huge,” said Sow. “It speaks for the work ethic and what we did over the last couple of days to get ready. Our coaching staff did an amazing job and we managed to execute.”

Sow was quick to deflect any talk of his individual performance with praise for the wider Chemnitz unit.

“I give all credit to our coaching staff and my teammates. They keep believing in me, giving me the ball in the right spot, at the right time, and I’m making plays.”

The Malian big man wasn’t alone in inspiring the hosts to victory. Davis made impressive, crucial shots to serve as a catalyst for the comeback, finishing on 10 points for the night. Elsewhere, [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) and [Nike Sibande](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nike-sibande/013889/) also finished in double figures. [Jaylen Hands](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaylen-hands/013914/)’s 19 points weren’t enough to win the game for Panionios.

<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/DSDlEskACTH/?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 NINERS Chemnitz (@ninerschemnitz)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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While visiting coach Ilias Zouros was gracious in defeat, he had no doubt that his team was more deserving of the win.

“Congratulations to Chemnitz, congratulations to my players, because they played very good for 35 minutes,” said Zouros. “Unfortunately for the last 5 minutes, we lost concentration and we didn’t get the win that we deserved, because we deserved it – we played much better basketball today.”

The disappointing loss moves Zouros’s team to 1-9 in bottom place and makes it nine consecutive defeats to affirm its spot at the bottom of their group. Panionios will have a chance to bounce back when it hosts ratiopharm ulm next week. Chemnitz, which moved to 4-6 with this win, will face Lietkabelis Panevezys in a week’s time.

The German side pulled out the victory in the dying minutes of the contest

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

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul was made to sweat, but in the end it took care of business once again, closing out a 94-85 overtime win against Lietkabelis Panevezys to improve to 8-2 in Group B and stay perfect at home.

Besiktas shows late-game poise, takes OT thriller over Lietkabelis

[Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/) was made to sweat, but in the end it took care of business once again, closing out a 94-85 overtime win against [Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/) to improve to 8-2 in Group B and stay perfect at home.

“Every game is important. There are no easy games in EuroCup,” Besiktas coach Dusan Alimpijevic said before tipoff. Forty-five minutes later, it felt exactly like one of those nights.

Riding the wave of a four-game winning streak, Besiktas came into Round 10 in top form and that showed, particularly in the first half. The third quarter told a different story, however, with Lietkabelis mounting a confident run to take the lead. Late on, Besiktas leaned on its late-game character to force the extra session before flexing its muscles in overtime.

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

[Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) was at the heart of the black-and-whites’ first-half surge. The Round 9 MVP made his presence felt inside, finishing the game with 16 points and 7 rebounds. “Each guy who stepped on the court showed his character, and we are ready for the next one,” he said after the game.

Besiktas struggled with foul trouble throughout the game and lost some defensive balance in the third quarter, allowing Lietkabelis to find easy shots and take the lead, outscoring the home side 17-27.

In the fourth, Besiktas regained its defensive edge, and a roller-coaster final quarter set the stage for a tense finish. With 30 seconds left, Lietkabelis held a five-point lead, but a crucial three from [Vitto Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vitto-brown/013365/) and a steal followed by free throws by [Yigit Arslan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yigit-arslan/007914/) sent the game to overtime, where Besiktas regained control.

‘‘We showed Besiktas character, we showed that we are fighting until the last second, and we showed that we never give up,’’ said Coach Alimpijevic after the game. ‘‘Sometimes, for the character of the team and to build something, sometimes it’s better to win this kind of game than maybe \[by\] plus 10 or plus 15.’’

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Bir Akatlar ritüeli. 🎶<br><br>🗣️ DUSAN, DUSAN! <a href="https://t.co/EzVxtyh8BQ">pic.twitter.com/EzVxtyh8BQ</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş GAİN (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1998494373869129797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) and Brown took charge for Besiktas in the second half. Mathews knocked down three vital threes on his way to 14 points, while Brown added 13, also hitting three important triples. The home team leaned on its deep roster, with every player who stepped on the floor finding their spot on the scoreboard.

For Lietkabelis, chasing just its third win of the season, [Michael Flowers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/michael-flowers/014159/) led the charge with a career-high 35 PIR and 27 points. [Kristian Kullamae](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kristian-kullamae/007729/) added 18 points, knocking down key threes, but despite its best efforts, the Lithuanian side couldn’t find a way back.

In Round 11, Besiktas will look to carry this momentum to London as it faces the Lions, while Lietkabelis will search for its third win at home against NINERS Chemnitz.

Jonah Mathews led the charge in the second half

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

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

Round 10: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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

**Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach**

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

**Saulius Kulvietis, Cluj forward**

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

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

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

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

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost head coach**

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

**Yogi Ferrell, Buducnost guard**

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

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

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

**Igor Milicic, Aris head coach**

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

**Ronnie Harrell Jr., Aris guard**

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

**Neven Spahija, Reyer head coach**

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

**Kyle Wiltjer, Reyer forward**

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

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

**Zvezdan Mitrović, Cedevita head coach**

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

**David Skara, Cedevita center**

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

## Tuesday, December 9, 2025

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

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

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

**Kevin Kokila, Bourg center**

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

**Fabio Bongi, Trento assistant coach**

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

**Andrej Jakimovski, Trento forward**

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

Round 10: Pregame quotes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fantasy tips, Round 10: Four overlooked options 

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

### John Newman, Chemnitz (9.2 credits)

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

Yovel Zoosman

### Yovel Zoosman, Jerusalem (9.2 credits)

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

### Egidijus Mockevicius, Neptunas (7.7 credits)

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

### Jamel Morris, Lietkabelis (6.6 credits)

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

Jamel Morris

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Top 10 photos from Round 9

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

A dominant individual performance in a big home win allowed [Ante Zizic](http://euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) of Besiktas GAIN Istanbul to earn Round 9 MVP honors with a PIR of 36.

Zizic led Besiktas to a 101-83 home victory over Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens with a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 two-pointers and 6-of-9 free throws, 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn for a personal-best PIR of 36. Zizic earned MVP of the Round honors for the first time in his career, becoming the fifth Besiktas player to do so after Kaya Peker, Preston Shumpert, Mire Chatman (twice) and Angel Delgado, the last player to secure this individual award in the 2023-24 season.

Mitch Creek of U-BT Cluj-Napoca had a PIR of 35 in his team's 88-98 road win over Aris Thessaloniki Betsson. He had 27 points on 8-of-9 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers and 8-of-10 free throws, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 fouls drawn.

Tarik Phillip of the London Lions reached a PIR of 32 in his team's 61-74 road victory over Lietkabelis Panevezys. Phillip finished the game with 15 points on 3-of-6 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 8 fouls drawn.

Both Gach of Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, with a PIR of 30, and Giorgos Tsalmpouris of Panionios, who reached a PIR of 29, complete the top individual performances in Round 9. Gach posted 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 fouls drawn in Bourg’s 88-73 win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, while Tsalmpouris had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 fouls drawn as Panionios lost to Besiktas.

### Individual highs: Balsa Koprivica, Besiktas, 6 blocks

Mitch Creek of Cluj was this round's top scorer with 27 points. His teammate Fatts Russell is the competition's top scorer with 22.0 points per game.

Ante Zizic of Besiktas led all rebounders by pulling down 13 in Round 9. Zacharie Perrin of Veolia Towers Hamburg ranks first overall with 8.2 rebounds per night.

Hugo Benitez of BAXI Manresa was the only player to reach double digits in assists in Round 9, dishing 10. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas Klaipeda ranks first in assists with 8.0 per night.

As many as nine players collected 3 steals apiece in this round: Fatts Russell of Cluj, Jonah Mathews of Besiktas, Juwan Morgan of Buducnost, Michael Devoe of Turk Telekom Ankara, Cassius Winston of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem, Kadre Gray of Slask Wroclaw, Miha Cerkvenik of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Malachi Flynn of Bahcesehir College Istanbul, and Jordan Parks of Umana Reyer Venice. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom remains atop the steals' standings with 2.7 per game.

Balsa Koprivica of Besiktas had 6 blocks, the most of any player. It is a new season high and the most since Kyle Alexander of Turk Telekom also had 6 blocks in a 74-80 road victory against Cedevita Olimpija on December 18, 2024. Koprivica is also first overall with 1.8 blocks per night.

Tarik Phillip (15 points, 12 rebounds), Ante Zizic (18 points, 13 rebounds), Hugo Benitez (17 points, 10 assists) and his Manresa teammate Alex Reyes (13 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double in this round.

Round 9 MVP: Ante Zizic, Besiktas GAIN Istanbul

In a rare BKT EuroCup home game on a Friday night, BAXI Manresa pleased its fans with a comfortable 99-72 home win over bottom-of-the-table Veolia Towers Hamburg at Nou Congost. It was Pierre Oriola's first EuroCup home game of the season and he made sure he was noticed with an all-around performance off the bench.

Pierre Oriola becomes Manresa's X-factor in Round 9

In a rare BKT EuroCup home game on a Friday night, [BAXI Manresa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/baxi-manresa/man/) pleased its fans with a comfortable 99-72 home win over bottom-of-the-table [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) at Nou Congost. It was [Pierre Oriola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pierre-oriola/005917/)'s first EuroCup home game of the season and he made sure he was noticed with an all-around performance off the bench.

After a solid season with Hiopos Lleida, Oriola opted to start the 2025-26 campaign overseas, joining Fuerza Regia Monterrey. It was a unconventional move that paid off as Oriola led Monterrey win the Mexican League title, posting solid numbers: 5.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 27 games. Oriola had 7 points and 10 rebounds in the title clinching game against Diablos Rojos del Mexico. Immediately after lifting the trophy, Oriola quickly reached an agreement with Manresa, which would see him work again with Diego Ocampo, having previously been together as player and assistant coach in Sevilla.

In his first EuroCup home game of the season, Oriola showed what he can bring to the team, especially in the second quarter, in which Manresa took off to get a double-digit lead, 50-39. He returned to the floor midway through the second quarter and made things happen with seven quick points, an offensive rebound and a block. At halftime, Oriola had seven points, three rebounds, two blocks, three fouls drawn and a PIR of 11, offering his trademark intangibles such as character, fighting spirit and experience to get Manresa fans into the game with his hustle.

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

He was far from done, however. Oriola was all over the place after the break, hustling for rebounds, drawing fouls, getting hard-fought buckets and igniting the crowd with his overall energy and commitment. When he left for the bench late in the third quarter, Oriola had 16 points on 4-of-4 two-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, seven rebounds, two blocks, six fouls drawn and a PIR of 26, receiving a standing ovation at Nou Congost. Manresa was up by 20, 72-52. He did not return to the game in the fourth quarter.

"I think we grew up and stepped up in the game. We controlled the rebounds and ran to get easy baskets. It was a good victory," Oriola said after the game. "It is a good victory to get another feeling in the team and show that we are here to compete against everybody, especially here at home. I am happy to be here, to help the team, to help the guys. For me, the most important is the win, it doesn't matter if I score or not. I always try to help everybody, that's what's most important for me, but I am happy also for my performance. I was to stay in this line and help the team."

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu of BAXI Manresa stopped the show with two huge dunks. 

Akobundu-Ehiogu's highlighr reel

As always, Manresa's backup center [Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kaodirichi-akobundu-ehiogu/013845/) provided the fireworks with three huge dunks, especially a one-handed alley-oop slam early in the game and a huge alley-oop throwdown late in the third quarter. All of a sudden, Manresa has great depth at center with three very different players: Oriola, Akobundu-Ehiogu and [Grant Golden](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/grant-golden/013849/).

[Hugo Benitez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/) gave Manresa a perfect balance with his court sense and outside shooting. He finished the game with 17 points, 10 assists and a career-high PIR of 27. In his sixth EuroCup season and after reaching the 2024 EuroCup Finals with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, Benitez has a leading role in Manresa and is making the most of it. This was his third double-double in the last four games.

In short, Oriola has been the perfect addition for Manresa. He knows the club inside out and needs no adjustment, brings in a ton of experience, arrived in shape and with his trademark hustle and great attitude. By downing Hamburg, Manresa broke its four-game losing skid and can now look to the second half of the regular season with renewed optimism.

The 33-year-old forward is set to play a key role going forward 


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