Name: Kabengele finishes the alley-oop! Magic Moment
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Zalgiris Kaunas ended its three-game losing slide by thrashing ALBA Berlin 73-53 on Tuesday evening at Zalgirio Arena in Round 25 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Zalgiris returns to winning ways with 73-53 blowout of ALBA

Zalgiris Kaunas ended its three-game losing slide by thrashing ALBA Berlin 73-53 on Tuesday evening at Zalgirio Arena. The hosts opened the last double-round week of the season in style, as they led from start to finish, grabbing a well-earned victory thanks to a solid defensive display throughout the game. Zalgiris improved its record to 12-13, with last-placed ALBA falling to 4-21.

Ignas Brazdeikis led all scorers with a season-high 21 points and Edgaras Ulanovas netted 10. For ALBA, Matteo Spagnolo, Matt Thomas and Yanni Wetzell scored 10 points each, with the latter completing a double-double by collecting 10 rebounds.

Game Videos

Brazdeikis opened the scoring from deep before an easy bucket by Laurynas Birutis and a triple from Arnas Butkevicius gave Zalgiris an 8-4 lead. Brazdeikis took his tally to 10 early points, including a floater that extended his team’s lead to 17-8. Four points off the bench from Lonnie Walker were followed by a dunk from Wetzell, but Bryant Dunston and Ulanovas scored inside for a 25-12 cushion after 10 minutes.

No field goal was scored by either team in the first 2 and a half minutes of the second quarter before a basket from Spagnolo made it 27-14. Lukas Lekavicius replied with a three-point play, but buckets from Spagnolo and David McCormack trimmed the deficit to 30-20. Dunston dunked and Matthew Mitchell made 2 from the line for a 37-22 lead at halftime.

Game News

Ulanovas opened the third quarter with a step-back three before a couple of free throws by Brazdeikis extended Zalgiris’s lead to 42-24. Thomas finally drilled a triple after 16 failed attempts by ALBA, with Will McDowell-White converting a three-point play to bring the visitors within 42-32. Yet, Dunston ended ALBA’s 0-8 run with a three-point play of his own before netting again inside for a 47-34 cushion. Thomas connected again from downtown, but Mitchell and Walker made 3 free throws apiece for a 55-37 lead heading into the last quarter.

Spagnolo made 2 from the charity stripe before setting up Wetzell, who netted inside to make it 55-41. But Zalgiris responded with a 10-4 run including triples by Ulanovas and Sylvain Francisco to practically finish the game off.

The hosts led throughout the 40 minutes to snap a three-game losing streak

Zalgiris Kaunas v ALBA Berlin (2025-02-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Tyler Ennis gets past his man before letting Mfiondu Kabengele fly for the dunk

Kabengele finishes the alley-oop! Magic Moment

 Tyler Ennis gets past his man before letting Mfiondu Kabengele fly for the dunk

Umana Reyer Venice v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-02-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Bolomboy stole the ball and went into the crowd to save it, then Codi Miller-McIntyre finds Nemanja Nedovic for a layup.

Bolomboy’s hustle pays dividends! Motorola Magic Moment

 Bolomboy stole the ball and went into the crowd to save it, then Codi Miller-McIntyre finds Nemanja Nedovic for a layup.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-02-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Gabriel flushes it down after a superb assist from Nunn!

Nunn and Gabriel make it happen! Motorola Magic Moment

 Gabriel flushes it down after a superb assist from Nunn!

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-02-04T19:15:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul grabbed its second consecutive home victory by downing Real Madrid 79-73 at Basketball Development Center in Round 25 on Tuesday. 


Efes stops Real at home, 79-73! 

Anadolu Efes Istanbul grabbed its second consecutive home victory by downing Real Madrid 79-73 at Basketball Development Center in Round 25 on Tuesday. Efes improved to 12-13 in the standings and took a 2-0 record on the season against Real, which dropped to 13-12. 

Elijah Bryant led the winners with 21 points, Vincent Poirier added 15 plus 8 rebounds while Darius Thompson had 12 for Efes. Mario Hezonja paced Real with 18 points, Hugo Gonzalez and Bruno Fernando each added 11 and Alberto Abalde 10 for the visitors.

Poirier got Efes going with an alley-oop slam before Bryant followed a jumper with a dunk off a steal. Thompson fed Poirier for an alley-oop slam that made Real call timeout at 8-0. Abalde rescued Los Blancos with a jumper which Facu Campazzo followed with a driving layup. Hezonja scored down low and Bruno Fernando's dun brought the guests within 10-8. Poirier stepped up with a tip-in and Thompson erased Fernando's dunk with a layup. Jordan Nwora and Fernando traded layups before Thompson's three-pointer boosted Efes's lead to 20-13. Gonzalez answered from downtown, Dan Otutu finished a three-chance offense with a put-back layup before Rodrigue Beaubois hit a triple for a 25-17 Efes lead after 10 minutes. 

Gonzalez tried to change things with an acrobatic basket early in the second quarter. Andres Feliz added a fastbreak layup for a 25-21 score. After Beaubois buried a six-meter shot, Sergio Llull and PJ Dozier exchanged jumpers. Llull kept pacing Real and Walter Tavares's layup brought the visitors within 32-28. Bryant ignited the crowd with an off-balance three-point play. Tavares answered with an alley-oop dunk and Feliz's triple caused Efes to call timeout at 34-33. Nwora struck from downtown and Dennis Smith banked in a floater. Gonzalez's buzzer-beating three-pointer tied it at 38-38 as the teams headed back to the locker room.

Rolands Smits nailed a catch-and-shoot triple right after the break. Abalde fed Tavares for an alley-oop slam and improved on Poirier's floater with a bomb from beyond the arc. Poirier scored in the paint and Thompson's jumper gave Efes fresh air at 47-43. Abalde insisted from downtown and Hezonja erased Bryant's layup with a turnaround jumper. Gonzalez's follow-up layup soon gave Real its first lead, 49-51. Bryant scored again, but Fernando followed an alley-oop slam with a put-back basket for a 52-56 score. Ercan Osmani swished a turnaround jumper that Campazzo improved on with a three-point play. Oturu took over with a put-back slam before Abalde restored a 56-61 Real lead at the end of the third quarter.

Osmani and Thompson each buried a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to put Efes back ahead, 62-61. Bryant capped a 9-0 run with a floater and the free throw that came with it. Hezonja got a lucky bounce on a three-point shot before Dozier stopped the show with a huge dunk on Tavares. Dozier kept pacing the hosts and Bryant matched Hezonja's layup with a floater for a 71-66 Efes lead. Poirier stepped up with a put-back slam before Bryant made it an 8-point game with over 4 minutes left. Hezonja buried consecutive triples to bring Real back to life at 75-73. Dozier found Poirier for an alley-oop dunk before Bryant made it 79-73 with 1:24 left. *Los Blancos* was held scoreless when it mattered most, allowing Efes to cruise to a well-deserved win.

Luca Banchi got his second win as Efes head coach

Efes stops Real Madrid at home, 79-73

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Real Madrid (2025-02-04T17:30:00.000Z)

Vincent Poirier ignites the crowd with a huge put-back slam in traffic!

Poirier puts it back! Motorola Magic Moment

 Vincent Poirier ignites the crowd with a huge put-back slam in traffic!

Sirvydis feeds Dunston, who slams it home!

Dunston with a one-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment

 Sirvydis feeds Dunston, who slams it home!

Kyle Wiltjer goes up for the layup but Paulius Danusevicius says not against me.

Danusevicius swats Wiltjer! Magic Moment

 Kyle Wiltjer goes up for the layup but Paulius Danusevicius says not against me.

Marcus Weathers fakes the three-pointer and drived to finish it with a powerful slam

Weathers fakes and dunks! Magic Moment

 Marcus Weathers fakes the three-pointer and drived to finish it with a powerful slam

Trefl Sopot v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-02-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Hugo Gonzalez beats the halftime buzzer with a corner three-pointer: SWISH!

Gonzalez beats the show clock! Motorola Magic Moment

 Hugo Gonzalez beats the halftime buzzer with a corner three-pointer: SWISH!

The trade involving 2017-18 EuroLeague MVP Luka Doncic between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers has been spoken about all around the world, so this week's EuroLeague & Friends episode – featuring Deniz Aksoy from Turkiye, Milena Martin from Spain, Vasiliki Karamouza from Greece, and Shani Blatt from Israel – looked at some hypothetical trade scenarios involving EuroLeague players. 

The EuroLeague & Friends gang discuss hypothetical trade scenarios in episode No. 15 

The trade involving 2017-18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP [Luka Doncic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luka-doncic/005929/) between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers has been spoken about all around the world, so this week's EuroLeague & Friends episode – featuring [Deniz Aksoy](https://www.instagram.com/denizzaksoy/) from Turkiye, [Milena Martin](https://www.instagram.com/milenagramm/) from Spain, [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://www.instagram.com/vasiliki_karamouza/) from Greece, and [Shani Blatt](https://www.instagram.com/shaniblatt/) from Israel – looked at some hypothetical trade scenarios involving EuroLeague players. Check it out!

The EuroLeague & Friends discuss hypothetical trade scenarios in episode No. 15 

The EuroLeague & Friends gang discuss hypothetical trade scenarios

After last year’s great success, the Hoop District strikes back with more content creators, more involved cities and more fun for those who love basketball, the urban culture and disruption! 

The Hoop District is back!

[After last year’s great success](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLC0QCPhlxc&ab_channel=EUROLEAGUEBASKETBALL), the Hoop District strikes back with more content creators, more involved cities and more fun for those who love basketball, the urban culture and disruption!

In the previous edition, six teams (each represented a content creator) competed in a qualifying round to get two spots for the Final in Berlin and a 10.000€ prize. This season, the tournament is even bigger with Turkish Airlines entering as the presenting partner and with nine teams led by their respective content creators in three different cities that will host two qualifiers and The Finals.

Bologna (February 22nd) and Athens (March 15th) will be hosting the preliminary rounds while Barcelona (April 12th) will be the city to witness the Finals. And some of the names that already have confirmed their participation are [Tresco](https://www.instagram.com/tresco_ball/) (as the defending champion), [aledellagiusta](https://www.instagram.com/aledellagiusta/), [margauxnonato,](https://www.instagram.com/margauxnonato/) [zacxcviii](https://www.instagram.com/zacxcviii/) or [totochegang](https://www.instagram.com/totochegang/) among others (full list below). They will all fight again for the championship but also for the bonus 5,000€ prize for the creator that generates more engagement.

[The competition format this year](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/hoop-district/) will see four teams participating in each qualifier with two tickets to be taken to the Finals in Barcelona, where they will have to beat the reigning champ in a series of battles between the squads that anticipates a lot of fun and drama for those watching it online and on-site!

This is also an important new feature to be aware of: this year, everyone will be welcome to attend for free any of the tournaments so remember not to miss it ([register here for Bologna](https://euroleague.tbits.me/tb_app/518045)) because, besides thrilling basketball games between some of the top digital content creators, the Hoop District will also offer parallel activities in each tournament for all those attendants to enjoy.

Each venue will be transformed in a neo-retro city, divided into dynamic districts, each representing a distinct lifestyle theme where brands, fans and influencers will be able to interact more closely than ever. The games will be played at the already known octagonal cage with its Turkish Airlines VIP courtside seats ready to be enjoyed but, around it, there will be live DJs, breakdance shows, dunk contests, a basketball challenge sponsored by Motorola, a visit to the past with the BKT retro-trophy tour on a wink to the EuroLeague’s 25th anniversary and many, many more making this an unforgettable season for basketball fans and culture enthusiasts alike.

The Hoops District is back to give those trend-conscious what they ask for. From live highlights of the thrilling matches to behind-the-scenes glimpses of player interactions. Basketball games with disruptive rules, pop culture, music, street style and the opportunity to see your favorite creators in action.

Don’t want to miss it? [Find out more here](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/hoop-district/) and stay tuned for the latest news about this second edition of the Hoop District!!

Full list of content creators:

**Bologna Qualifier:**

**-Team Bologna - [@aledellagiusta](https://www.instagram.com/aledellagiusta/)**

**-Team London - [@lukeytroytrotman](https://www.instagram.com/luketroytrotman/)**

**-Team Manila - [@margauxnonato](https://www.instagram.com/margauxnonato/)**

**-Team Sevilla - [@espe](https://www.instagram.com/espe/)**

**Athens Qualifier:**

**-Team Munich - [@zacxcviii](https://www.instagram.com/zacxcviii/)**

**-Team Athens - [@george_lntz](https://www.instagram.com/george_lntz/)**

**-Team Paris - [@totochegang](https://www.instagram.com/totochegang/)**

\-**Team Istanbul - [@alperbicen24](https://www.instagram.com/alperbicen24/)**

**Barcelona Final:**

**-Team Barcelona - [@tresco_ball](https://www.instagram.com/tresco_ball/)**

The 3x3 content creators tournament strikes back full of new features

Round 18: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, February 4

### Trefl Sopot vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (19:00 CET)

**Jaka Lakovic, Dreamland Gran Canaria head coach**

"Sopot has changed several players, and in recent days in BKT EuroCup, and in the Polish league, they compete very well. They beat Wolves in Lithuania, they were 18 points ahead here at home against Bahcesehir...They were in the game against Besiktas until the last quarter. A tough rival awaits us, who competes well right now. We have to be very focused, prepared, and without any type of relaxation because our objective is to compete very well, try to put ourselves in a position to win the game and improve our chances of finishing second, although we know that this does not depend only on us."

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (20:00 CET)

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"We come into this game on a negative streak, but we must not let that affect us. We are playing the most important game of our European season at home, and everyone is ready. We have the full roster available, and we will do our best to win. Lietkabelis is a better team than their results suggest, and we will be prepared."

**Kyle Wiltjer, Umana Reyer Venice forward**

"This is a game that will require a lot of energy and focus from the start. We know what we need to do, and we need everyone's support. We must stay positive and give everything we have. It won’t be easy, just like every EuroCup game."

## Wednesday, February 5

### Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach**

"We started the BKT EuroCup months ago and we arrived at the final game that is incredibly important for both teams. We are facing one of the teams that, now, is in the best shape in order of confidence, performance, and results in the ABA League and BKT EuroCup. They play physical basketball and share the ball. It's nice to watch them playing. For us, it's a very important test but we feel blessed to be able to arrive at the last game and have a basketball game with that level of importance."

**Regimantas Miniotas, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius player**

"The stakes for this game are massive, knowing how much is on the line. But everything is in our hands, so we are happy to have the opportunity to play such an important game. We will face a team that has found a great rhythm, winning 13 of their last 14 games. We understand the level our opponents are at right now. We are preparing, and staying focused. To win, we must maintain concentration throughout the entire game, stick to the game plan, and bring great energy."

### Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)

**Selom Mawugbe, Dolomiti Energia Trento center**

A difficult match awaits us against a strong and physical team, which is fighting for a place in the playoffs. We want to end our EuroCup adventure in the best possible way and to do so we will have to put in a great performance for all forty minutes of play.

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (19:00 CET)

**Ty Harrelson, ratiopharm Ulm head coach**

"We absolutely have to reduce our turnovers - this is the only way we can be more efficient offensively. Another focus will also be on the rebound duel, which has to be won. If we take these things into account, I think we have a good chance of winning."

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"We're facing a team that has demonstrated its quality throughout the season. Ulm plays a fast-paced game and has depth in every position, with at least two high-caliber players at each spot. They bring size, shooting, pick-and-roll efficiency, athleticism, post-game presence, and full-court pressure. They’re a highly competitive team and lead the league in scoring off screens—especially their two left-handed players, Jessup and Plummer, who excel in these situations. They’re very effective coming off screens, and we need to be prepared for that.

We understand how important this game is for them, just as it is for us. That’s why we are preparing with full focus. It’s going to be a tough challenge—Ulm is a dangerous team- but this game will be a strong test of where we stand right now."

**Antonio Blakeney, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard**

"Obviously, we’re coming in to compete and hustle. This is a big game for us and it's also a big game for Ulm. They need it just as much as we do, so we have to stay focused and be fully prepared."

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (19:00 CET)

\--

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)

**Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach**

"I expect that Cedevita Olimpija will arrive very motivated because there is still a lot at stake for them in the table. You won't want to fall into the trap of slipping out as our favorite at the end of the season. In the last few games they have played with a lot of energy as a team, they are very athletic and fast. We have to pay particular attention to their fast breaks. They try to provoke turnovers and go straight into the transition game even after missed throws. We have to be very focused so as not to let them get going. They can be dangerous from the three-point line, but not too much."

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach**

"It’s the last game of the regular season, and everyone is talking about how important it is, as a win secures home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. You can sense that the team is somewhat fatigued, especially mentally, as we’ve played a significant number of games in January. We’re heading to Hamburg after Saturday’s crucial \[ABA League\] victory over Split. We’re in good rhythm, and most likely, Andrija Stipanovic will return to the court, as he is feeling much better. His presence on the court is vital for us. We’ll try to deliver a strong performance."

**Joan Beringer, Cedevita Olimpija center**

"This is an important game for us as it’s the last test of the regular season. We need to beat a solid Hamburg team because we know what a victory means. We have to give our best to return to Ljubljana with a win."

### Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:30 CET)

\--

### Valencia Basket vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (20:30 CET)

**Nate Reuvers, Valencia Basket forward**

"Every match is important, regardless of whether or not it has relevance in the classification. But especially after losing our last game away from home \[in the Spanish League\], we need to come together, play well with our rhythm and get our game back. I hope a lot of people come to the game and cheer us on like they normally do, giving us the energy to play well at home. Rebounding is something we've been a little weaker at lately and we're trying to improve, especially attacking offensive rebounds. I couldn't play against Bourg in the first part of the season, so I'm looking forward to playing against them now here at home."

**Injury report**: Ethan Happ is injured long-term.

### Joventut Badalona vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (20:30 CET)

**Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach**

"I ask the team to give the best possible image and work to improve and learn. We have to do a lot of things better, we are building, and we are positive on the way to compete better and better. Tomorrow we have to work and bring productivity to the game. Obviously, we will have specific goals. It's an opportunity we have to improve things. We must approach the game with the utmost responsibility and give the best possible image in front of our people. We are now looking for Michael Ruzic to enter into a dynamic and rhythm. We believe that in order to be more competitive we have to extend the rotation of players."

**Injury report**: Miguel Allen is out, club announced on its website.

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 18 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Valencia Basket v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

2024-25 EuroCup regular season retrospective

Only one round remains in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup regular season before the second midseason break that will pave the way for the playoffs.

This was a fascinating stretch with some powerhouses confirming their status by playing beautiful basketball of the highest order and perhaps some unexpected challengers emerging along the way. The MVP race remains less monopolized than last season while there are many youngsters who can lay their hands on the Rising Star award.

Valencia and Bahcesehir have shown they are made of different stuff.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1780506/2024-25-eurocup-regular-season-retrospective/).

Ahead of Round 18, let's look back on the season so far

It’s rare for a EuroLeague club to proceed through an entire campaign without some roster changes, either due to necessity and to fix offseason mishaps or to further enhance an already strong outfit and take it to the next level. Let’s take a look at a few midseason signings that made a championship difference to their teams.

Highly impactful midseason signings in EuroLeague history

In the span of one week, Real Madrid made two of the most impressive midseason additions of 2024-25 so far by signing former NBAers Dennis Smith Jr. and Bruno Fernando in January.

It was a pair of moves that many considered to be essential for a Real Madrid team that needed an injection of quality and depth. While the Spanish powerhouse has turned its campaign around after a 6-9 start, they still lacked the looks of a true contender – something that Smith Jr. and Fernando were brought in to change.

It’s rare for a EuroLeague club to proceed through an entire campaign without some roster changes, either due to necessity and to fix offseason mishaps or to further enhance an already strong outfit and take it to the next level. Let’s take a look at a few midseason signings that made a championship difference to their teams, starting with the most recent one of them all.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1780508/highly-impactful-midseason-signings-in-euroleague-history/).

These players came in and changed the course of their teams' seasons

There are two rounds of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague action to be played this week before the February break and Frankie Sachs of Euroleague.net and Vasiliki Karamouza of Sport 24 are here to break it down for you on Episode No.19 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast.

Get ready for February’s double week with the Fantasy Challenge Podcast

There are two rounds of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague action to be played this week before the February break and [Frankie Sachs](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FMrEuroleague&data=05%7C02%7Cigor.petrinovic%40euroleague.net%7Cb2533c9e9ca64c20166108dd444aaf10%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638741809733032903%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Hw51x3JtrkCYSdJS3TiQ2X6FgHzD8RBrNXk6f2ROCFA%3D&reserved=0) of [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) and [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fkaramouza_vas&data=05%7C02%7Cigor.petrinovic%40euroleague.net%7Cb2533c9e9ca64c20166108dd444aaf10%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638741809733089838%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cJcCYDlr61Yi%2F5O1d8CRo5qq4YFgYtPrG2nUmEphBy8%3D&reserved=0) of Sport 24 are here to break it down for you on Episode No.19 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast. Get ready for the games of Rounds 25 and 26 with two of your favorite fantasy experts.

Amon the topics discussed this week were FC Bayern Munich’s frontline after the reported injury to Devin Booker, which underpriced players they have their eyes on (Roman Sorkin? P.J. Dozier?) and the difficulty in settling on coaches in Round 25 (Frankie went with Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Vasiliki chose Andrea Trinchieri).

Check out the moves Frankie and Vasiliki have made ahead of Round 25, including who they have as captains – and what performance is needed from Turn 1 captains before turning to Sasha Vezenkov in Turn 2! This week’s action tips off on Tuesday at 18:30 CET when Real Madrid meets Anadolu Efes Istanbul, so be sure to finalize your rosters by then. Good luck, fantasy fans!

One of the stories of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season has been the performances of players who are six feet or smaller. First in this new series by Euroleague.net is Anadolu Efes star Shane Larkin.

Six Feet and Under Club episode No. 1: Shane Larkin

One of the stories of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season has been the performances of players who are six feet or smaller. First in this new series by [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) – called the "Six Feet and Under Club" – is [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) star [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/).

Larkin, who is 1.80 meters (5-foot-11), is 11th all-time in scoring in the EuroLeague with 3,466 points in 234 games, giving him a career average of 14.8 points per night. But how does he score so easily despite often being one of the smallest players on the court, if not the smallest? He spoke with [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)'s Javier Gancedo to explain how.

More Shane Larkin News

The Adidas NextGen EuroLeague returns for its third stop of the 2024-25 season and makes its debut in Ulm, Germany, with BKT EuroCup club ratiopharm Ulm hosting the event for the first time on February 7-9, 2025

NextGen EuroLeague makes its Ulm debut with two former champs

The Adidas NextGen EuroLeague returns for its third stop of the 2024-25 season and makes its debut in Ulm, Germany, with BKT EuroCup club ratiopharm Ulm hosting the event for the first time. The February 7-9 qualifying tournament features former champions [U18 FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-fc-barcelona/roster/jba/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm) and [U18 Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-zalgiris-kaunas/roster/jza/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm), which headline a loaded eight-team field looking to lock up a ticket to the NextGen Finals.

The 2016 continental champion Barcelona and 2003 and 2007 winner Zalgiris will face a tough challenge. Host [U18 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-ratiopharm-ulm/roster/jru/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm) hopes to make more history in front of its home fans while [U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/roster/jas/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm) and [U18 Next Gen Team Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-next-gen-team-ulm/roster/ngu/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm) have an argument to make as well. And don’t count out [U18 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-alba-berlin/roster/jbe/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm), [U18 Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-dubai-basketball/roster/jdu/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm) or [U18 Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-olympiacos-piraeus/roster/jol/?season=2024-2025%20Ulm).

The tournament winner will book a spot in the season finale at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four from May 23-25 in Abu Dhabi. The first berth went to two-time continental champion [U18 Mega MIS Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-mega-mis-belgrade/jmv/) after taking first place at the NextGen Istanbul event in December. U18 Next Gen Team Munich won the qualifying tournament in Munich in January but was not eligible to secure a NextGen Finals ticket.

The eight teams in Ulm are broken down into two groups of four. Each team plays the others in its group in a round-robin fashion. The top teams in each group will then face off in Sunday’s first-place game, with the winner of that matchup securing a spot at the NextGen Finals.

The breakdown of the eight teams is as follows: Group A has host Ulm, ASVEL, Dubai and Zalgiris while Group B features Barcelona, ALBA, Next Gen Ulm and Olympiacos.

Ulm will be hosting a NextGen event for the first time and that comes after the team made history by taking first place at the NextGen Dubai tournament last season. Ulm became the first German club to win a qualifying tournament and lock up a spot at the NextGen Finals, where it went 0-3. Ulm is competing in the competition for the eighth straight time since 2018. ASVEL also has a streak of eight straight appearances and 11 in total. The French side won the Belgrade 2022 tournament and then lost in the first place game in Patras 2023. Last season ASVEL went 2-2 in Dubai for fourth place.

Dubai will be making its second appearance after debuting as host in 2024, where it went 1-3 for eighth place - with the historic first victory coming against eventual tournament winner Ulm. Zalgiris has never missed the competition - taking part in all 23 seasons. In addiiton to the Lithuanian powerhouse's two continental titles, Zalgiris took second place in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Last season, Zalgiris lost to Ulm in the Dubai 2024 first place game.

Barcelona won the 2016 NextGen crown and reached the championship game in 2008, 2013 and 2021. The Spanish giant is making its 20th appearance and 18th in a row. Barcelona has won its last two qualifying tournaments - Zadar in 2023 and Belgrade in 2024. ALBA is on board for the 15th time, including the 11th time in the last 12 seasons. The German side went 1-3 to finish fifth at the NextGen Podgorica and then 0-3 at the Finals as host club.

Olympiacos was given a spot for the ninth time and seventh in the last eight years. The Reds went 2-2 and finished fifth in Paris last season. The Next Gen Team Ulm will try to match what the Munich selection group did and become the third team picked by Adidas to win a qualifying event.

2016 winner Barcelona and two-time champ Zalgiris headline third qualifying event this season 