Roll Call

The BKT EuroCup Draw for the 2025-26 regular season was completed on Friday afternoon at the Mediapro headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, where the 20 teams were divided into two groups.

2025-26 EuroCup Draw in the books: Check out the two groups

The BKT EuroCup Draw for the 2025-26 regular season was completed on Friday afternoon at the Mediapro headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, where the 20 teams were divided into two groups.

Group A will consist of:

- Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem
- BAXI Manresa
- U-BT Cluj-Napoca
- Bahcesehir College Istanbul
- Umana Reyer Venice
- Aris Midea Thessaloniki
- Neptunas Klaipeda
- Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
- Veolia Towers Hamburg
- Slask Wroclaw

Group B is made up of:

- Turk Telekom Ankara
- Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse
- ratiopharm Ulm
- Besiktas GAIN Istanbul
- Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
- Panionios Athens
- Lietkabelis Panevezys
- Dolomiti Energia Trento
- NINERS Chemnitz
- London Lions

The schedule for the BKT EuroCup Regular Season can be downloaded [here](https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/69e463ff-d768-4c8b-8380-24ecceb165b2.pdf).

Fourteen of the 20 EuroCup clubs featured in the competition last season. The London Lions, Neptunas Klaipeda, Panionios Athens and Slask Wroclaw return to the EuroCup, while BAXI Manresa and NINERS Chemnitz will play in the EuroCup for the first time.

Each group will feature 18 rounds, with every team playing the other nine twice. The top six teams will advance to the playoffs, with the top two earning berths in the first round and going directly to the quarterfinals. Opening night of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season is set for Tuesday, September 30.

The 20 teams competing in the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup have been divided into two groups

For its first signing of the summer, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has reeled in playmaker Oleksandr Kovliar on a two-year deal

Buducnost bags playmaker Oleksandr Kovliar

For its first signing of the summer, [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/) has reeled in playmaker [Oleksandr Kovliar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/oleksandr-kovliar/profile/013247/) on a two-year deal.

Kovliar (1.91 meters, 23 years old) comes off a fantastic first season in the BKT EuroCup with Lietkabelis Panevezys. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.7 assists and 0.9 steals. Kovliar scored in double figures in 11 of his 15 EuroCup appearances and ranked eighth in the competition in assists. Those numbers rose to 13.6 points, 5.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 45 Lithuanian League games.

Best of Oleksandr Kovliar: 2024-25

Kovliar began his career in with Khimik Yuzhny in his native Ukraine. He went abroad at age 19 to play for Tartu Ulikool and then to BC Kalev/ Cramo Tallinn, both in Estonia. Kovliar also played one year in Spain for Obradorio before joining Lietkabelis last season. He has been a regular with the Ukrainian national team in recent years, too.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Aleksandar Kovilar novi plejmejker Budućnost Volija! ✍️<a href="https://t.co/etX595UPOE">https://t.co/etX595UPOE</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> <a href="https://t.co/qQijPeaf0U">pic.twitter.com/qQijPeaf0U</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1941533217540194398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Buducnost news

The Ukrainian comes off a stellar debut season in the EuroCup with Lietkabelis

Turk Telekom Ankara continued a busy week of roster building by signing forwards Andrejs Grazulis and Yavuz Gultekin 

Turk Telekom adds Andrejs Grazulis, Yavuz Gultekin

[Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/) continued a busy week of roster building by signing forwards [Andrejs Grazulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrejs-grazulis/005738/) and [Yavuz Gultekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yavuz-gultekin/007653/) on Saturday.

Grazulis (2.02 meters, 31 years old) brings a wealth of EuroCup experience with him from a season with Ventspils and two with Dolomiti Energia Trento. He averaged 12.3 points on 39.5% three-point shooting and 5.2 rebounds in 17 EuroCup games two seasons ago. Last season Grazulis made his EuroLeague debut with Virtus Bologna and posted 5.0 points in 21 games. He finished the season in Spain with Joventut Badalona.

Grazulis started his career with Ventspils of his native Latvia and played there until 2017. He later spent time with Parma Perm in Russia, VEF Riga in Latvia, and Derthona Basket Tortona and Trieste in Italy before joining Trento in 2022. He helped VEF win the Latvian League in 2019, and also lifted the Baltic League trophy with Ventspils in 2013. Grazulis has also been a member of the Latvian national team.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Andrejs Grazulis Türk Telekom’da! ✍👏<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezonu Joventut Badalona&#39;da tamamlayan Andrejs Grazulis’i takımımıza kattık. Welcome to family Andrejs Grazulis. 🎉💙🤍 <a href="https://t.co/A6cEyWPIkj">pic.twitter.com/A6cEyWPIkj</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1941497029181751711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Gultekin (1.96 meters, 24 years old) has spent his entire professional career with Aliaga Petkim Spor. Last season he averaged 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds over 25 games in the Turkish League.

A native of Karsiyaka, Turkiye, Gultekin moved to the United States at age 17 to play high school basketball in Maryland. He then moved on to the college ranks where he suited up for Texas A&M and the University of San Diego. Gultekin will make his EuroCup debut with Turk Telekom.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Yavuz Gültekin Türk Telekom’da! ✍👏<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezonu Aliağa Petkimspor’da tamamlayan Yavuz Gültekin’i takımımıza kattık. Ailemize hoş geldin Yavuz Gültekin. 🎉💙🤍 <a href="https://t.co/4jRdTmeIIa">pic.twitter.com/4jRdTmeIIa</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1941544652131451233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The latest from Turk Telekom

The 2025 quarterfinalists continued a busy week of transactions 

After a season in which Bahcesehir College Istanbul narrowly missed reaching the BKT EuroCup Finals, it signed one of the players with the biggest role in eliminating the team. Caleb Homesley, who scored 19 points for Dreamland Gran Canaria in the do-or-die Game 3 of the semifinals, will play for Bahcesehir in 2025-26.

Bahcesehir brings scoring punch with Caleb Homesley

After a season in which [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/) narrowly missed reaching the BKT EuroCup Finals, it signed one of the players with the biggest role in eliminating the team. [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/), who scored 19 points for Dreamland Gran Canaria in the do-or-die Game 3 of the semifinals, will play for Bahcesehir in 2025-26.

Homesley (1.98 meters, 28 years old) led Gran Canaria in scoring last season with 11.9 points per game. He also starred in the quarterfinals with 21 points in 17 minutes against Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem. He now returns to Turkiye after spending the 2023-24 season with Tofas Bursa.

Best of Caleb Homesley: 2024-25

Homesley was an All-EuroCup Second Team selection in his first EuroCup season with Hamburg Towers. He finished fourth in the 2021-22 EuroCup in scoring with 17.4 points per game and led all players in three-point shots made (3.4 per game) and attempted (8.6 per game) in shooting 38.8% behind the arc. he added a team-high 4.3 assists per game. Homesley began his professional career with Erie of the G League and has also played for Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Yeni transferimiz Caleb Homesley’i tanıyalım! 👇<a href="https://t.co/rzEV3yjI73">https://t.co/rzEV3yjI73</a> <a href="https://t.co/uKeIAmOD31">pic.twitter.com/uKeIAmOD31</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1941442196076695867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Bahcesehir news

Homesley was the top scorer on last season's EuroCup runner-up

Turk Telekom Ankara added another weapon to its frontline by signing center Kris Bankston for the 2025-26 season

Turk Telekom fortifies frontcourt with Kris Bankston

[Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/) added another weapon to its frontline by signing center [Kris Bankston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kris-bankston/012760/) for the 2025-26 season.

Bankston (2.06 meters, 26 years old) returns to the BKT EuroCup after debuting two seasons ago with Aris Midea Thessaloniki. He averaged 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16 EuroCup appearances for the Greek side.

90 seconds of Kris Bankston dunking (2023-24)

Last season, Banks was worth 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in the Turkish league with Tofas Bursa and 11.4 points and 5.2 boards in the FIBA Europe Cup. After playing college basketball at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Norfolk State, Bankston began his professional career in Israel with Hapoel Beer Sheva in 2023. He moved to Aris later that season.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Kristeon Lamar Bankston Türk Telekom’da! ✍👏<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezonu Tofaş’ta tamamlayan Kristeon Lamar Bankston’ı takımımıza kattık. Welcome to family Kristeon Lamar Bankston. 🎉💙🤍 <a href="https://t.co/F3LffVnXjF">pic.twitter.com/F3LffVnXjF</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1941180915486687518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Turk Telekom news

The big man remains in Turkiye after a season with Tofas Bursa

Dolomiti Energia Trento has announced the signing of Andrej Jakimovski, who played for the University of Colorado Boulder last season.

Andrej Jakimovski joins Trento

Dolomiti Energia Trento has announced the signing of Andrej Jakimovski on a two-year deal.

Jakimovski (2.03 meters, 24 years old) played for the University of Colorado Boulder last season, averaging 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game across 34 NCAA appearances. He previously spent four seasons with the Washington State University.

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLsRlult5t-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLsRlult5t-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLsRlult5t-/?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>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

For the Macedonian forward, his move to Trento signifies a return to Italy, where he played prior to college. He represented U18 Umana Reyer Venice in one game in the 2018-19 adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade qualifier, then played seven times for Torino in the Italian second division in 2019-20.

More Trento News

He returns to Italy after spending five years playing college basketball

Following the conclusion of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup Draw, the heads of some clubs competing in the competition shared their thoughts on the upcoming season.

2025-26 EuroCup Draw reaction: Quotes from clubs

Following the conclusion of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup Draw, the heads of some clubs competing in the competition shared their thoughts on the upcoming season.

## Group A

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

##### Chechu Mulero, sports director

"The draw has given us some familiar opponents that we have already faced last season, but we have not played three teams. We have a challenging regular season ahead of us, but we will try to take advantage of the opportunities to qualify for the playoffs, which is our main goal. Then we will see how the competition unfolds. There are challenging opponents and big clubs in both groups, which promises to be a tight competition, but we will be ready to fight for victory in every match."

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca

##### Mihai Silvasan, head coach

"At first glance, it is a strong group, extremely strong. We will meet quality teams. We know Reyer very well, as well as Hapoel. Bahcesehir is last season’s semifinalist. Overall, I would say that our group is stronger. The teams have not finalized their squads and there is still a long way to go before we can give a clear opinion about the value of each opponent. We are happy to participate in the BKT EuroCup again. We have the opportunity to evolve for another season at this level and we will do everything in our power to form a competitive team."

### Umana Reyer Venice

##### Neven Spahija, head coach

"Even though we belong to the same club group that we have already faced in the past seasons, all the Eurocup teams are - as always - very competitive: they want to give and achieve the best. And we are certainly among them. We have ambition and the desire to win. We are building a good team and the group that has been created so far is solid and I believe that we can be competitive with everyone. We have a quality roster and suitable to face the group that awaits us. It is certainly different from last season and we will have to create a new chemistry but I have no doubt that we will get some satisfaction."

##### Alessandro Frosini, sports director

"It is a high-level competition and we will be part of a balanced group, for which we will have to travel throughout Europe. Perhaps never like this year have the clubs, from both groups, had so much experience and knowledge of the tournament, precisely because of the continuity of their presence in the Eurocup: Hapoel, Cedevita, Bahcesehir - for example - in Group A and Bourg-En-Bresse, Ulm or Besiktas, in Group B. Many teams are still under construction but the competitiveness they have brought to the field in past seasons is unquestionable. In our group no match is obvious or less important, we will have to approach each day in the best possible way. We want to be competitive and we will do everything to make our fans proud."

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki

##### Lefteris Arvanitis, club vice-president

"We are very happy to participate for the third consecutive year in this great Euroleague Basketball event. Like every year, the matches will be consecutive and we will have a lot of travel. What we want is to be healthy and have a very beautiful European year. Nothing can be said about the competitive part at this stage, as the teams are now forming their rosters."

### Veolia Towers Hamburg

##### Marvin Willoughby, sporting director

"We are very proud to be in the competition again this year and have got a tough group. But that's exactly what we want. We want this tough competition and to continue to develop against strong top teams -- that's exactly why we made the decision to play internationally a few years ago. We have benefited from this in the past and are looking forward to our fifth participation in the BKT EuroCup. Our task will be to play our best Towers basketball right from the start."

## Group B

### Panionios Athens

##### Luka Pavicevic, head coach

"Panionios returns to a European competition after an eleven-year absence, and does so in a high-level and demanding tournament - something that is truly exciting for our fans, who will enjoy great basketball. For the coaching staff and the players, the 18 games represent an additional championship, which is a privilege to have in many ways. However, it is also an obligation to adjust and upscale our work and performance  accordingly, in every area of operating and competing under new demands.

This is an important moment for the club, which is growing stronger, evolve and pursue the standard and importance that has already been built into its history and DNA. We want to be ready for this exciting season, with respect for the club, ourselves, our fans, our opponents, and of course, the competition itself."

##### Nikos Gkikas, team captain

"It’s truly great that Panionios has returned to European competitions, and even more so on the 50th anniversary of the club’s very first European game! The EuroCup is a demanding competition. It’s essentially playing in a second league, as we’ll have a minimum of 18 games. For us players, it’s a huge motivation to compete in such a high-level tournament, and the same goes for the fans, who will have the chance to enjoy top-quality games and thrilling basketball. We want to be ready to meet the demands."

### Lietkabelis Panevezys

##### Jonas Maciulis, general manager

"We are happy to have the opportunity to compete in a tournament of this level, the BKT EuroCup. We got a fairly tough group, but our opponents are definitely beatable. We will have to fight with everyone. We hope that the fans will have missed European basketball after the summer and will actively support us in the battles against really solid teams. The most important thing for us now is to do our summer work well and prepare for the season."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento

##### Luigi Longhi, club president

"We are very proud to participate in the EuroCup. We have been placed in a very stimulating group, which includes many European clubs of great importance. We will face teams that we already know very well, such as Buducnost Podgorica, Ulm, Bourg-en-Bresse, Besiktas, Lietkabelis and London, but we will also have the opportunity to measure ourselves against teams that we have never met before, such as Chemnitz and Panionios Athens. We can't wait to start this adventure, in our tenth participation in the EuroCup!"

##### Rudy Gaddo, sports director

"This year, too, the EuroCup draw anticipates a season full of fascinating challenges and top-level opponents. Having the opportunity to measure ourselves against organizations of this caliber represents an opportunity for great growth and unparalleled professional satisfaction for both the club and the players and staff. We are therefore approaching the competition with enthusiasm and a great desire to do well, giving our boys a showcase that we are certain they will honor with their talent and commitment."

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse

##### François Lamy, sporting director

"The EuroCup this season is more even, with Hapoel Tel Aviv and Valencia having moved up to the EuroLeague. But this will create renewed ambition among clubs capable of significantly increasing their sports expenditure budget. The three Turkish clubs, Hapoel Jerusalem, and Buducnost Podgorica, are clubs capable of investing a few million more if they see a chance of joining the EuroLeague. Our Group B will therefore include three clubs who will be investing three, four or five times more than our wage bill in their teams (Turk Telekom, Besiktas and Buducnost), but the rest of the group is fairly evenly matched, even if the teams in the lower echelons of Group A are weaker than in our group, where Chemnitz is a rising club which knows how to win, in a small, passionate venue; Panionios Athens and London should present ambitious means for their comeback; and Ulm and Trento are two very strong sides in Germany and Italy. Nevertheless, we must be ambitious, and our aim will be to qualify for the Playoffs in the best possible position. Economic logic puts us between 4th and 6th place, so it's up to us to try and outperform this rationale."

### ratiopharm Ulm

##### Thorsten Leibenath, sporting director

"We are one of the teams with the most games all-time in this top-class competition, so we are delighted that at least 18 more will be added this season. I think both groups are very evenly matched and promise a lot of excitement right up to the playoffs. Personally, I'm looking forward to meeting Chemnitz, Panionios Athens and London, three teams we haven't faced in the EuroCup before. Trento, Besiktas Istanbul and Buducnost were our opponents last season. I'm also looking forward to meeting Lietkabelis, Turk Telekom and Bourg-en-Bresse again."

Check out the thoughts of the clubs' leaders after the draw

The draw will be held according to seeds.

· The 20 qualified teams will be divided into 10 seeds with two teams in each, in accordance with the Club Ranking elaborated for this purpose.

· The performance of teams in Euroleague Basketball competitions during a three-year period will be used. Each club will get 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie or loss from the Regular Season onwards. 2 bonus points are allocated for reaching the last 16, 2 bonus points are allocated for reaching the last 8, 1 bonus point is allocated for reaching the last 4, 1 bonus point is allocated for reaching the Finals. The Club Ranking consists of the sum of the club coefficients from the last three years. The results of the worst performing team from each country/League will be added together every year to create a position for that country/League in the Club Ranking. This is the lowest possible position that any club from that country/League can occupy in the draw.

· If two or more teams have the same Club Ranking, the tie will be resolved by the total number of wins during the three-year period. Should a tie persist, the final standings in the EuroLeague and if necessary EuroCup from the previous season will be used to break the tie. Should a tie persist, the final standings in the Domestic Championship from the previous season (after the playoffs) will be used to break the tie. Should a tie persist, a draw will be used to break the tie, with the Company determining the method for the draw.

· The first two teams from the Club Ranking participating in the Regular Season will be 1 Seeds, the next two 2 Seeds, the next two 3 Seeds, the next two 4 Seeds, and so on until the 10 Seeds are completed.

### GROUP DRAW RESTRICTION

The restriction when drawing the teams into groups is the following:

· Two teams from the same domestic league cannot coincide in the same Regular Season group, except when there are more than two teams from the same domestic league participating in the Regular Season. In this case, the draw will try to balance the amount of representatives in each Group until it is physically impossible to preserve the Group Draw Restrictions without blocking the draw.

### GROUP DRAW PROCEDURE

· Teams will be drawn one by one from an urn containing only teams in the same Seed, from the 1 Seeds through to the 10 Seeds, until all 20 teams have been selected.

· The first team drawn will be allocated in the Group A and therefore, the other team in the seed will be allocated in Group B.

· In case of a country restriction, either team can be directly allocated in one Group so the other team in the seed will be allocated in the other Group.

· A team may be placed directly into a Group to follow the restriction mentioned above.

Drawing the teams as explained above will eliminate all possibilities of a blocked situation.

### CALENDAR DRAW

A random computer draw will determine the final position of teams within their group.

· The Regular Season calendar draw will allocate numbers from 1 to 10 to the teams in each group. This will establish the match-ups for the entire Regular Season.

· The Regular Season games will be held according to the following chart:

Non-coincidence numbers: (when one team plays at home, the other plays away):

1 with 6; 2 with 7; 3 with 8; 4 with 10; 5 with 9.

### CALENDAR DRAW RESTRICTIONS

· Non-coincidence numbers will be allocated to teams that play in the same city/arena, so that when one team plays at home the other will play away.

Check out the draw criteria and procedure below

2025-26 BKT EuroCup Draw: Watch live! 

Bahcesehir brings back guard Ismet Akpinar

Bahcesehir College Istanbul is bringing back a familiar face, announcing the signing of experienced guard [Ismet Akpinar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ismet-akpinar/004056/) for the upcoming season. Akpinar (1.93 meters, 30 years old) arrives from Turk Telekom Ankara where he averaged 5.3 points in BKT EuroCup action last season, as well as 7.8 points on 40.4% three-point shooting in 35 Turkish League games.

Akpinar returns to Bahcesehir, where he played in the 2020-21 campaign, team's first in the EuroCuip. During his career, Akpinar has taken part in seven EuroCup seasons, appearing in a total of 85 games with ALBA Berlin, ratiopharm Ulm, Bahcesehir and Turk Telekom averaging 6.3 points, 1.4 assists and 1.2 rebounds.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">𝐈̇𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐊𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑, 𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐜̧𝐞𝐬̧𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐫 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐢’𝐧𝐝𝐞!<br><br>🤝 2020-2021 sezonunda kadromuzda yer alan ve son olarak Türk Telekom forması giyen eski oyuncumuz İsmet Akpınar, 2025-2026 sezonunda takımımızın başarısı için ter dökecek!<br><br>❤️💙Ailemize yeniden hoş geldin,… <a href="https://t.co/TbFPEha17j">pic.twitter.com/TbFPEha17j</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1941069741331747297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Akpinar started his career in his hometown Hamburg and also played for German clubs SC Rist Wedel, ALBA Berlin, ratiopharm Ulm and FC Bayern Munich, as well as Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Galatasaray Istanbul of Turkiye. His brother Mutlu Akpinar also played 10 seasons for Turk Telekom, including four in the EuroCup.

Akpinar won the Turkish League with Fenerbahce in 2022 and lifted the German Cup with ALBA in 2014 and 2016. He has also been a member of the German national team.

Experienced guard is set for his eighth season in the EuroCup

One of the top performers of the previous season has switched sides with the news that Turk Telekom Ankara signed Jaleen Smith for the 2025-26 campaign

Jaleen Smith moves from Bahcesehir to Turk Telekom 

One of the top performers of the previous season has switched sides with the news that [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2025-26) signed [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) for 2025-26.

Smith (1.90 meters, 30 years old) comes off an outstanding first season in the BKT EuroCup with Bahcesehir College Istanbul. He helped the club reach the semifinals by averaging 12.4 points, 5.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He was fourth in the competition in assists and named to the [All-EuroCup First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bkt-all-eurocup-2024-25-first-team/).

Best of Jaleen Smith: 2024-25

He has spent the three previous seasons in the EuroLeague. Smith debuted in the EuroLeague with ALBA Berlin in 2021 and spent two seasons with the club. He helped the team to win the German League and Cup double in 2022. Smith then split the 2023-24 season between Virtus Bologna and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

After playing college basketball at the University of New Hampshire, Smith started his professional career with USC Heidelberg and also played for Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany before joining ALBA. He was chosen as the 2020-21 German League MVP with Ludwigsburg. Smith has also been a member of the Croatian national team.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Jaleen Smith Türk Telekom’da! ✍👏<br><br>Geçtiğimiz sezonu Bahçeşehir Koleji&#39;nde tamamlayan Jaleen Smith’i takımımıza kattık. Welcome to family Jaleen Smith. 🎉💙🤍 <a href="https://t.co/AvMsa3kK8D">pic.twitter.com/AvMsa3kK8D</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1940817815478444402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The guard was an All-EuroCup First Teamer last season

ratiopharm Ulm signed guard Len Schoormann on a two-year deal, the club announced on Thursday. Schoormann (1.92 meters, 22 years old) arrives from a fellow German side EWE Baskets Oldenburg, where he spent the last two seasons.

Ulm inks scoring guard Len Schoormann

ratiopharm Ulm signed guard Len Schoormann on a two-year deal, the club announced on Thursday. Schoormann (1.92 meters, 22 years old) arrives from a fellow German side EWE Baskets Oldenburg, where he spent the last two seasons.

Schoormann averaged 11.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists over 34 appearances in the German League last season. Although still 22 years of age, he already has 161 appearances in the Germany's elite basketball competition.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝘿𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙀𝙧𝙛𝙖𝙝𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙜! 🏀<br>Len Schoormann wird Uuulmer und bringt 161 BBL-Spiele mit.<br><br>Zweijahresvertrag beim Vizemeister – willkommen in Ulm, Len! 🧡<br><br>👉 Zur kompletten News: <a href="https://t.co/2vEGQ0MN0G">https://t.co/2vEGQ0MN0G</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> | 📸Dmitrij Zibart <a href="https://t.co/bPFP1KzZG7">pic.twitter.com/bPFP1KzZG7</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1940757351533105256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I'm very excited to become part of the Orange Family", Schoormann said for the club website. "Ulm has developed into one of the top clubs over the past few years and has shown many other clubs how it can be done. I hope to take the next steps here and become part of an ambitious team with big goals."

Schoormann made his professional debut for Fraport Skyliners as a 17-year-old in the 2019-20 season, and it didn’t take long for him to carve out a place in the rotation. He stayed there until 2022, when he went on loan to Hamburg, then after a year there went on to play for Oldenburg. He has also been a member of the German national team.

This will be Schoormann's second season in the EuroCup

The 2024-25 BKT EuroCup champion is now known as Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv defeated Dreamland Gran Canaria 2-0 in their best-of-three finals series.

After winning 74-65 in Game 1 in Samokov, Bulgaria, Hapoel triumphed 94-103 in Gran Canaria behind 27 points from Antonio Blakeney and 26 points from Johnathan Motley. Yam Madar also added 16 points in Game 2, while Tomer Ginat had 10 points.

Dimitris Itoudis, the Hapoel play-caller, has become the fourth coach to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and EuroCup, joining the late Dusan Ivkovic, David Blatt and Ergin Ataman.

In Game 2, Hapoel set a pair of EuroCup Finals records: for the most points scored and for the most threes made.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">הפועל תל אביב. <a href="https://t.co/Hy5I0UFFW6">pic.twitter.com/Hy5I0UFFW6</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1910800959267099030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Game News

The Israeli side swept Gran Canaria in the Finals

Hapoel Tel Aviv is the 2024-25 EuroCup champion!

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-04-11T19:00:00.000Z)

News