Leading the way for Serbian in its 66-107 win over Puerto Rico in the Olympic Games was Olympiacos Piraeus big man Filip Petrusev, who finished the game with 15 points and 9 rebounds

Serbia’s Filip Petrusev had his Olympic star turn against Puerto Rico

Serbia claimed an impressive first win at the Olympic Games on Wednesday by crushing Puerto Rico 66-107 at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. All 12 Serbia players scored, but leading the way for the winners was Olympiacos Piraeus big man [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/), who finished the game with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

The numbers were impressive, especially considering his 7 for 9 shooting. Petrusev posted a PIR of 20, which was second on the team to NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. What makes those numbers stand out even more is the fact that Petrusev did it all in just 16 minutes, which were  the fourth-fewest among the Serbians.


Petrusev was active from the start, securing a defensive rebound on the game’s first possessions and taking a Jokic pass for a second-chance score for the game’s first points. He had 8 points in the game’s first 3 minutes as Serbia went ahead 4-10 and would add yet another bucket before taking his first rest.

The big man added a jumper and a free throw late in the second quarter to help Serbia take a commanding 35-52 halftime advantage. Petrusev scored once more in the third quarter before taking a seat for good. He was not needed at all in the game’s final quarter and a half.

Serbia has one more game remaining against South Sudan in Group C on Saturday night and Coach Pesic knows he can count on Petrusev to deliver again when needed.

The Olympiacos big man led his team in scoring on Wednesday

FC Barcelona completed the remake of its frontline with the signing of Youssoupha Fall for the 2024-25 season. 

Barca rebuilds frontline with Youssoupha Fall

FC Barcelona completed the remake of its frontline with the signing of [Youssoupha Fall ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/youssoupha-fall/006568/)for the 2024-25 season. Fall (2.21 meters, 29 years old) arrives from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, where he spent the past three seasons. He averaged 8.8 points on 61.3% shooting and 6.6 rebounds over 31 EuroLeague games last season. Fall was fourth in the league in rebounds per game. He joins Chimezie Metu, who was signed earlier in the week, as the newest members of the team. They will join Jan Vesely, Willy Hernangomez and James Nnaji to form an intimidating frontcourt for the Blaugrana.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔵🔴 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐮𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜̧ 𝐝’𝐚𝐥𝐜̧𝐚𝐝𝐚 <br><br>✅ El pivot senegalès, de 29 anys i 2.21 metres, signa per una temporada<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/CpLaJzuLLf">https://t.co/CpLaJzuLLf</a> <a href="https://t.co/5xqkxlxwkH">pic.twitter.com/5xqkxlxwkH</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1818663571447746886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A native of Senegal, Fall moved to France at the age of 17 to join the junior team at Le Mans. He made his professional debut there and also played for Potiers and Strasbourg before making his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 2019. He would spend two seasons with Baskonia before joining ASVEL. 
Fall, who scored his 1,000th EuroLeague point last season, is 13th all-time in two-point shooting accuracy at 64.7%. His trophy case includes winning the French League once each with Le Mans and ASVEL as well as the Spanish League once with Baskonia. Fall also won the French Leaders Cup with Strasbourg. 


Best of Youssoupha Fall: 2023-24

More Barcelona news

The towering center enters his sixth season in the EuroLeague

The AS Monaco guard stepped up twice to keep Les Bleus undefeated


Strazel's late heroics keep France undefeated 

In a Group B back-and-forth battle on Tuesday, France and Japan exchanged leads for the best part of the opening 39 minutes. Japan rallied for a 77-80 edge with over a minute left and led 84-80 with 16.4 seconds remaining.

The game seemed to be over, but [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) had other ideas.

When Rudy Gobert found Strazel beyond the three-point line, instead of taking the shot, Strazel looked at the game clock, dribbled left and shot over Kawamura's defense, drawing a foul and hitting a three-pointer that turned Pierre Mauroy Stadium upside down. Strazel sank the and-one free throw which allowed France to force overtime against all odds.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄.<br><br>Matthew Strazel with an absolutely crazy shot to save the day for France! 🇫🇷<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Vyvyr0Cgo">pic.twitter.com/2Vyvyr0Cgo</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818335444083380478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Strazel was not done, however. France led all the way in overtime but Japan managed to get within 90-92 in the final minute. France needed a reliable free throw shooter and Strazel stepped up again. He drew a foul with 6 seconds left and calmly made free throws to seal the outcome.

He finished the game with 17 points on 4 of 7 three-point shooting and 3 assists for a PIR of 16. Strazel saved France and proved that on a team full of stars, he can shine as bright as anyone else, providing one of the biggest highlights of the Olympic tournament.

And then he gave his AS Monaco teammate Mike James credit for it minutes after the game on social media.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Inspired by Mr Natural 🙏🏽❤️</p>&mdash; Matthew STRAZEL (@mtwbucket32) <a href="https://twitter.com/mtwbucket32/status/1818344486889554374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


The AS Monaco guard stepped up twice to lead France over Japan


Matthew Strazel's late heroics keep France undefeated 

Spain captured its first win at the 2024 Olympic Games by defeating Greece 84-77 on Tuesday afternoon. The result left Spain 1-1 in Group A and dropped Greece to 0-2. Both teams play their final group stage games on Friday. The top two teams from each group and the two third-place teams with the best records will reach the quarterfinals.

Santi Aldama paced Spain with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid tallied 13 points and 7 assists, FC Barcelona’s Willy Hernangomez posted 11 points and 7 boards, Rudy Fernandez added 10 points and Lorenzo Brown of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens dished 10 assists for the winners.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece with 27 points and 11 rebounds, Vassilis Toliopoulos of Aris Midea Thessaloniki contributed 14 points and Nick Calathes had 8 points and 7 assists in defeat.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scream. 🗣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/wYu8SCW4fc">pic.twitter.com/wYu8SCW4fc</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818245657955627254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Greece jumped out to a 3-9 start thanks to triples form the AS Monaco duo of Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis. Giannis Antetokounmpo started to leave his mark and his steal and dish to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward Konstantinos Mitoglou made it 10-17. That’s when Spain went to its bench and Llull came in. After a Calathes three extended the Greece lead to 12-20, Llull scored 8 points in less than 2 minutes to bring Spain within 21-22 at the end of the first quarter. His next three gave Spain its first lead and he later dished assists to threes for Valencia Basket’s Jaime Pradilla, Fernandez and Brown as Spain went ahead 36-29. Alex Abrines of FC Barcelona added 2 more triples as Spain roared to a 49-35 halftime lead.

Despite strong play from Brown, back-to-back threes by Thomas Walkup and Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus sparked Greece and Antetokounmpo’s dunk made it 55-47. Willy Hernangomez restored a double-digit lead for Spain. A three-pointer by Toliopoulos on the third-quarter buzzer drew the Greeks within 62-56. Antetokounmpo scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter before Fernandez responded with a three for Spain. Antetokounmpo completed the comeback with a dunk to even things at 71-71 with less than 5 minutes remaining. However, Spain held Greece scoreless for the next 3+ minutes while Aldama started and finished an 8-0 run to regain control. Greece fought back to within 3, but Antetokounmpo missed a three-pointer and Willy Hernangomez all but iced the game from the line with 21.8 seconds to go.

Willy Hernangomez dunks for Spain against Greece. (Photo: FIBA)

### Canada improves to 2-0 by downing Australia

Canada took a big step towards the quarterfinals with a 93-83 victory over Australia. The result lifted Canada to 2-0 in Group A and saw Australia drop to 1-1. After trailing by 4 at halftime, R.J. Barrett scored 17 points in third quarter alone as Canada turned the game around and held on for good.

Barrett led the way for the winners with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks added 16 points apiece and Luguentz Dort scored 11. Josh Giddey amassed 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for Australia, former Zalgiris Kaunas star Jock Landale posted 16 points and 12 rebounds and Dante Exum netted 15 points in defeat.

Led by Giddey, Australia was ahead for most of the opening quarter, which finished 26-28 in favor of the Boomers. Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort combined on a 7-0 Canada run early in the second quarter to make it 33-31. Despite some great plays by Gilgeous-Alexander, a strong finish by Australia, including a Jack McVeigh three-pointer and a Giddey floater, made it 45-49 at the break.

Canada came out with more energy with the restart and outscored Australia 21-7 over the first 6 minutes of the second half with a red-hot Barrett scoring 9 of those points. The last of those gave Canada a double-digit lead, 66-56. Former EuroLeague star Exum revived the Boomers and a pair of McVeigh triples made it 72-70 at the end of the quarter. An 11-2 run top open the fourth quarter capped by a three by Barrett gave Canada a double-digit lead. Exum and Landale tried to fuel an Australian comeback, but Canada held firm until the final buzzer.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FRANCE 🇫🇷 SURVIVE IN THE OT ❤️‍🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/8YVHuPsx7N">pic.twitter.com/8YVHuPsx7N</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818334938929738101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### Strazel leads France to OT victory

France remained undefeated in Group B by edging Japan 90-94 in overtime. AS Monaco guard Mathew Strazel took the game to overtime with a four-point game with 10.2 seconds left in regulation. France improved to 2-0 while Japan dropped to 0-2.

Victor Wembanyama, formerly of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, led the winners with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Strazel added 17 points, Evan Fournier had 14 while Guerschon Yabusele of Real Madrid got 13 for France. Yuki Kawamura led Japan with 29 points. Rui Hachimura added 14 and Josh Hawkinson 16.

Hachimura stepped up early, giving Japan a 7-5 lead. Wembanyama followed a jumper with his second three-pointer to put France in charge, 7-12. Rudy Gobert and Fournier stepped up for Les Bleus, then Yabusele sank back-to-back triples to boost the French margin to 18-27. Virtus Segafredo guard Isaia Cordinier singlehandedly kept France ahead, 25-32, after 10 minutes. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens center Mathias Lessort dunked twice and added a layup for a 34-40 French lead midway through the second quarter. Japan used an 8-0 run that Hachimura capped with a fadeaway jumper to take a 42-40 lead. Fournier and Strazel provided answers on offense, making France regain a 44-49 edge at halftime.

Kawamura and Hawkinson each struck from downtown for a 55-51 Japanese lead soon after the break. Strazel and Yabusele rescued France and Gobert's dunk fixed the score at 64-69 after 30 minutes. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne kept France in charge, 72-77, with 6 minutes left. Yakamura and Hawkinson fueled an 8-0 run that made Japan regain an 80-77 lead. Fournier struck from beyond the arc and Kawamura hit 4 of 4 free throws in the final minute for a 84-80 game. With the game of the line, Strazel sent the crowd to their feet with a wild four-point play off the dribble that tied it at 84-84 with 10.2 seconds left. Kawamura missed almost at the buzzer. Wembanyama had the game's next eight points, allowing France to get a 84-92 lead. Japan rallied within 90-92 but Strazel sealed the outcome from the foul line.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No trouble for Germany 🇩🇪<br><br>World Champs secure the quarter-finals of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> with a win over Brazil! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/lqScDHw6rh">pic.twitter.com/lqScDHw6rh</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818390956368183766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### Germany wins again in Group B

Germany remained undefeated and set a do-or-die game for first place in Group B by topping Brazil 73-86 on Tuesday. Germany and France face each other on Friday. Both teams locked their quarterfinals spot, and the winner will be the first-ranked team in the group. Brazil faces Japan and only the winner will have chances to reach the next round. 

Dennis Schroeder paced the winners with 20 points. Franz Wagner added 17, former FC Bayern Munich forward Isaac Bonga had 15 while Andreas Obst of Bayern got 14 for Germany. Yago dos Santos of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade led Brazil with 18 points. BKT EuroCup champion Vitor Benite added 17. 

Obst struck twice from downtown and added a three-point play in a 2-13 run that gave Germany its first double-digit lead, 6-17. Bonga followed a triple with a layup to boost his team's lead to 10-22 after 10 minutes. Bruno Caboclo, dos Santos and Benite brought Brazil back to the game and Gui Santos's three-pointer complete his team's comeback, 31-30. Schroeder and Franz Wagner allowed Germany to tie it again, 40-40, at the break. 

Schroeder and Franz Wagner kept pacing Germany after the break, restoring a 42-49 lead. Bonga dunked twice and Schroeder scored again to boost the German lead to 51-60 at the end of the third quarter. Germany kept excelling on defense early in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Bonga and Obst each hit one from beyond the arc to break the game open, 56-70, with 7 minutes remaining, as Germany kept full control of the game until the final buzzer. 

Spain, Canada, France and Germany grabbed respective wins in a busy Tuesday in Lille, France. 

Spain tops Greece; Canada, France, Germany improve to 2-0

Real Madrid's Sergio Llull provided the spark for Spain to take control en route to an 84-77 victory that lifted his team to a 1-1 record at the 2024 Olympic Games. 

Sergio Llull was the agent of change for Spain against Greece

Shortly after [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) entered the game for the first time on Tuesday, Greece took an 8-point lead, which would be its biggest of the night. Then Llull provided the spark for Spain to take control en route to an 84-77 victory that lifted his team to a 1-1 record at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Llull scored 8 points in the last 2 minutes of the first quarter to bring Spain within 21-22. His next basket was a three that gave Spain its first lead. He added 4 assists in the second quarter – including for three-pointers by Valencia Basket’s Jaime Pradilla, his longtime Real Madrid teammate Rudy Fernandez and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens’s Lorenzo Brown. Those helped Spain pull away to lead 49-35 at halftime.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sergio Llull is up to 11 PTS and 3 threes in 6 minutes 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/AAfYGF82Vc">pic.twitter.com/AAfYGF82Vc</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818216826460848514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Greece rallied late, but Llull was there when needed with an assist and a layup in the game-deciding 8-0 run.

Llull finished with 13 points and 7 assists. He was second on the team in scoring with 13 points, in assists with 7 and in PIR with 18. Llull tied for the lead in +/- with 12.

Despite being one of the older players in the Olympics at age 36, Llull had all the energy needed in addition to his wealth of experience to make the difference and to lead Spain to a much-needed win.

The Real Madrid guard came off the bench to provide an early spark

Barça Basket has confirmed the signing of Chimezie Metu, who spent last season playing for the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons in the NBA.

Chimezie Metu joins Barcelona

FC Barcelona has announced the signing of Chimezie Metu on a one-year deal.

Metu (2.08 meters, 27 years old) split last season between two franchises in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons. 

With the Suns, the American big man averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 37 games. Then, with the Pistons, he posted 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 14 appearances.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔵🔴 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐳𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐮, 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨́<br><br>✅ L’aler pivot nord-americà, de 27 anys i 2.08 metres, signa per una temporada<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/EyUzTHKwnS">https://t.co/EyUzTHKwnS</a> <a href="https://t.co/ScOFU6YU4e">pic.twitter.com/ScOFU6YU4e</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1818196434522370335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

By moving to Barcelona, Metu will make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut next season after having spent his entire career to this point in the United States.

Metu’s professional career began with the San Antonio Spurs, where he played between 2018 and 2020. During that time, he also represented the Spurs’ G League team, the Austin Spurs.

He then spent the next three years with the Sacramento Kings before splitting last season between the Suns and the Pistons.

More Barcelona News

New FC Barcelona signing Chimezie Metu in action for the Phoenix Suns in the 2023-24 NBA season.

This will be his first time playing in Europe

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and big man Jake Cohen will spend a ninth season together after they agreed to terms on a new deal.

Jake Cohen signs for a ninth season with Maccabi

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and big man [Jake Cohen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jake-cohen/005145/) will spend a ninth season together after they agreed to terms on a new deal. Cohen (2.10 meters, 34 years old) averaged 3.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 36 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season and was even more productive in the playoffs when he produced 5.6 points per game against eventual champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.

In the Israeli League, Cohen contributed 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 24 games. He won his fifth league championship with Maccabi.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">➕1⃣ <a href="https://t.co/7anWHgYpVb">pic.twitter.com/7anWHgYpVb</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1817931508763537428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cohen burst onto the scene as a two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year at Davidson College, after which he first joined Maccabi in 2013. Cohen finished his first season on loan at Maccabi Rishn Lezion and then spent a season each at Aris Thessaloniki in Greece and Maccabi Ashdod back in Israel. He returned to Maccabi in 2017 for three more seasons and then played the 2020-21 season in Spain with Obradoiro. He began his current run with Maccabi in 2021 and has been there ever since.

Best of Jake Cohen: 2023-24

More Maccabi news

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of promising guard Mantas Rubstavicius to a long-term deal of which he will spend the first season on loan at BKT EuroCup side 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. 

Mantas Rubstavicius signs long-term deal with Zalgiris

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of promising guard [Mantas Rubstavicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mantas-rubstavicius/009299/) to a long-term deal of which he will spend the first season on loan at BKT EuroCup side [7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2024-25). Rubstavicius (1.98 meters, 22 years old) has previous experience at both clubs and comes off a season in the Australian National Basketball League with the New Zealnd Breakers. He averaged 9.4 points on 43.3% three-point shooting and 61.1% two-point shooting plus 2.1 rebounds in 25 NBL games last season.

Rubstavicius began his professional career in Lietkabelis before joining Zalgiris as a 17-year-old in 2019. He spent three seasons there, playing for the club’s junior team, B team and senior team and made his EuroLeague debut in April 2021. Rubstavicius returned to Lietkabelis for the 2022-23 season before moving to New Zealand last season. He has also played for the Lithuanian national team at the junior levels and helped it win the silver medal at the 2022 European U20 Championship.

Best of Mantas Rubstavicius: 2022-23

The club will loan him to EuroCup side Lietkabelis in the first season

Here are the games EuroLeague.net staff members are most excited about in March. 

Games I am looking forward to in March 

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in March. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/), [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/), [November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-november/), [December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-december/), [January ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-january/)and [February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-february/).

Round 28: A new derby that is capable of fireworks

*Geoff Gillingham*

In what could be the beginnings of a budding rivalry, Paris Basketball takes on AS Monaco in early March. They are France’s two most aspirational clubs and met in last year’s French League Finals, with Monaco coming out on top 3-1. Monaco has been an example to follow after winning the BKT EuroCup in the 2020-21 season and going on to make the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs in each of its three seasons in the competition.

Should Paris achieve a similar level of success, this matchup could easily become France’s answer to *El Clásico*, the Derby d’Italia or the Eternal Derby. Looking more short term, it is always a lot of fun to see Paris’s TJ Shorts and Monaco’s Mike James face off – last season’s EuroCup MVP and EuroLeague MVP, respectively – while Paris’s Nadir Hifi and Monaco’s Elie Okobo are both capable of putting on a show, too. This Round 28 contest should be a lot of fun.

Paris Basketball star playmaker TJ Shorts averaged 18.5 points and a PIR of 24.0 in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Finals against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

TJ Shorts, Paris: 2024 EuroCup Finals highlights

### Round 28: A championship game rematch in Athens

*Frankie Sachs*

Whenever the last two champions meet, it is always interesting. And when it’s a rematch of the previous year’s championship game, all the more so. Add to that the fact that both Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Real Madrid have kept the cores of their teams together with strategic additions and it’s even spicier. In Round 28, with just one month remaining in the regular season and the top teams jockeying for position and home-court advantage in the playoffs… We have some must-see basketball on our hands.

*Los Blancos* are 7-1 in their last eight trips to OAKA, so you can count on the Greens faithful to create a wild atmosphere to change that trend. That said, will Real’s veteran roster be intimidated? Probably not, which for me solidifies this game as appointment viewing.

 

### Round 29: A pivotal derby in Greece

*Javier Gancedo*

This is a must-watch game: Olympiacos Piraeus hosts Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on March 14, 2025. After this game, there will be just five regular season games to be played, and that should be enough reason to set your alarm clock, clear your agenda and find a way to watch TV (on EuroLeague TV, preferably).

There's nothing like an archrivalry to inspire super plays by Turkish Airlines EuroLeague stars – and the Greek Derby is no exception. Re-live some of the top plays from recent EuroLeague battles between Olympiacos Piraeus and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens!

Inspired plays from recent Greek Derby games!

Kostas Sloukas returns to the Peace and Friendship Stadum for the first time in a EuroLeague game since winning the championship last season. He won EuroLeague crowns with the Reds in 2012 and 2013. Ioannis Papapetrou also played a couple of championship games with Olympiacos in 2015 and 2017. Luca Vildoza played for Panathinaikos last season and is wearing the red jersey now. Two of the best centers in the competition, Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos and Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos, are set to go against each other. Masterminds? You have Georgios Bartzokas on one side of the court and Ergin Ataman on the other. Fans? Believe me, the arena will be packed and the whole country will be watching.

### James, Calathes visit the Reds

*Igor Petrinovic*

Despite never meeting before November 2021, the games between Olympiacos and Monaco have quickly become EuroLeague's modern day rivalry. That's in great part thanks to their five-game playoff series in 2022 which Olympiacos won in a memorable Piraeus atmosphere. Then came their Final Four semifinals clash in Kaunas in 2023, when Olympiacos erased a 12-point halftime deficit, allowing just 2 third-quarter points. Over the past three seasons, Olympiacos and Monaco have each won six of their 12 head-to-head games, but meeting in such important games in a short period of time is what will catapult a rivalry into the sphere of derbies, and among the most anticipated duels each season. But so will the teams' ambitions.

Olympiacos Piraeus - AS Monaco | Semifinals | Highlights

Olympiacos and Monaco are perennial EuroLeague contenders, both because of their roster constructions and on-court performances. Then there is also something about the reigning EuroLeague MVP and the EuroLeague all-time leading scorer Mike James playing against a club that is responsible for depriving him of winning the EuroLeague crown – twice. And now, James has former Panathinaikos stars Nick Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis alongside him in Monaco uniforms. With the playoff and home-court places usually not decided until April, a collision between these two teams in Round 32, in Piraeus, with the playoff races peaking, is one I am looking forward to in the month of March.

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action.