Name: EFC Podcast Episode 1: Is Mike James worth picking?
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

EFC Podcast Episode 1: Is Mike James worth picking?

Check out the full first episode from season two of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, featuring [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)'s Frankie Sachs and Sport 24's Vasiliki Karamouza, below.

AS Monaco guard Mike James is a game-time decision heading into Round 1 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, so what advice did fantasy experts Frankie Sachs and Vasiliki Karamouza give to managers in the first episode of season two of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge podcast?

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of the second week of action in the BKT EuroCup.

Round 2: Pre-game quotes and injury reports

## Wednesday's games

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

**Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach**

"It's our first official home game. Nothing has changed in our approach. We're playing in front of our fans for the first time, and we are very excited. Our motivation must always be high, especially when facing such a strong team like Turk Telekom. So, in order to be competitive, we need to stay fully focused for the full 40 minutes. We have to try to extend our good  periods during the game so that, with the support of our fans, we can fight for a positive result."

**James Banks, Aris Midea Thessaloniki center**

"We know that Turk Telekom is a very strong team. It will be a very tough game, but we want to win it. We know that we can improve in certain areas, and each of us can become better. We know which parts of the game we are good at and which need improvement. The coach has a specific plan for us that we need to follow. The key for tomorrow's game will be to play tough and take as many rebounds as we can. We must not allow them to score easy points and we need to play together on both defense and offense."

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica head coach**

"This is an important game for us, and I think we need to show a reaction after the first round. We showed it on Saturday \[in the ABA League\], so we need to keep it going. Gran Canaria is always a tough opponent, with good athleticism, aggressiveness, and strong individual players. So, we expect a difficult task ahead, along with some issues we are dealing with, but we have to grit our teeth and, with the support of our fans, try to win our first home game. Gran Canaria has kept the core of their team, especially Albicy, who is the engine of the team. They brought in Thomasson and Homesley at the two and three spots, who are really strong scorers. Under the basket, there's Tobey, whom we know from the region, and Conditt. We must not forget Shurna, a tricky, atypical player. They are an experienced team, but we have our own task to do, and we will do everything we can to win."

**Rasheed Sulaimon, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica guard**

Well, first of all, we've got to respond. I thought we did a great job of responding last game, but this is the next EuroCup game, so we have to respond again. It's another big-time team, but we have to protect our home court. I’m expecting a strong reaction from the team, good energy from the fans, and hopefully, we’ll get it done.

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"We want to launch the Eurocup season at home in the best way, we are focused and ready, it's up to us to impose our game."

**Xavier Castaneda, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse guard**

"I am happy with the state of the team. We are focused on our upcoming opponent, Cluj who we know is a really good team. All Eurocup games involve great competitiveness and we have to be ready for Cluj tomorrow."

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach**

"We will play against the team that reached the finals last season. They are one of the favorites to win this group and even the BKT EuroCup. They play an aggressive type of basketball and they started this season very well. Unfortunately, we do not have the results we want so far, but we will try to play or chance. We will fight for a victory and we want to show better-quality basketball."

**Patrick Richard, U-BT Cluj-Napoca guard**

"We are ready to get back on the floor. We dropped the first two games of the season, so we want to bounce back. We are going to a tough place to play and win, especially in the last years. We continue to build, continue to improve and get better. We are taking it one game at a time. We are eager to get back on the court and we want to get a win on the road."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Trefl Sopot

**Eigirdas Zukauskas, Dolomiti Energia Trento forward**

"We will play our first home game against Sopot and we hope that many fans will come to support us, even though it is a midweek game. Sopot is a quality team, as demonstrated by their excellent performance against Ulm, where they lost only in overtime. They have a deep roster, with players capable of playing under the basket and outside the 6.75 line, making their game very dangerous."

**Zan Tabak, Trefl Sopot head coach:**

“They played their first game at Gran Canaria and were really close to winning on a difficult court. We really expect them to play fast and aggressive. We have to be able to control the defensive transition. They are a dangerous team to play.”

**Aaron Best, Trefl Sopot guard:**

“Trento is a tough, very talented team. We are going to have our work cut out for ourselves. We’re going dive into the film and travel up there and get ready for the next challenge. We have to play our brand of basketball. Be physical and tough, dictate the tempo from the defensive end the best we can and try to stick to our game plan.”

**Injury report**: Trefl Sopot reports that all player are ready to play.

### Valencia Basket vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg

**Hamburg injury report:** Zsombor Maronka (ankle joint injury), Jared Grey (broken arm), Niklas Wimberg (broken leg).

## Tuesday's games

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

**Yonatan Alon, Hapoel Jerusalem head coach:**

"We are coming in very focused. The way we played against Valencia is still on our minds and we don’t want to perform like that in the EuroCup. We will face a tough and determined opponent who knows us very well, but we are coming with the goal of getting the job done. We must be sharp and win all the 50-50 balls, especially in the rebounding aspect, and offensively, we need to get good shots."

**Noam Dovrat, Hapoel Jerusalem guard:**

"Last week’s loss is on our minds and we are determined to correct the impression. It won’t be easy against a talented team with a home-court atmosphere, but as long as we implement everything we learned from the last loss, I believe we can win and bring some comfort to our dear fans who are supporting us from afar."

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul

**Dejan Radonjic, Bahcesehir College Istanbul head coach:**

“It is going to be our first EuroCup game at home. Beşiktaş is a good team and they showed it in their first game against Buducnost at home. They are an aggressive team on both ends of the floor and we have to respond to their aggressiveness. It will be a tough game. We practiced well and we have to focus for all 40 minutes.”

**Jaleen Smith,** **Bahcesehir College Istanbul guard:**

“This game is going to be tough. Besiktas is an aggressive and tough team. We need to limit their transition plays and figure it out on the offensive end to get the win.”

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Joventut Badalona

\--

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius

**Stefanos Dedas, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach:**

“Wolves is our first game at home in a competition that we want to do great things this season. It’s a difficult and crucial game. We want to react and show character after the first tough game in Badalona. So it’s an opportunity to win, gain confidence and continue working as a team. We are a new team with good players and winning this game is going to give us time to continue building and connecting the players and hopefully we will be able to give our fans a first win.”

**Bar Timor, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv forward:** 

"We all know how important the next game is for our journey in the EuroCup and we want to show that we can play better as a team and win. We still have a long way to go this season and we will do everything we can on the court and hope the fans can be proud of us."

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Umana Reyer Venice

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

"We are going to Ljubljana to face Olimpia Ljubljana, which plays much better than what the results suggest. In Cluj-Napoca, they showed how well they can play and how serious and organized they are as a team. Both teams lost their last game and are approaching this challenge with only one day of rest, which is very difficult under these conditions. But it is what it is, and we will do our best. Olimpia has a new roster, with a lot of talent, and like us, they are trying to find the best chemistry."

**Mfiondu Kabengele, Umana Reyer Venice center:**

"To best prepare for the game against Ljubljana, we each need to be aware that we must do our jobs to the best of our abilities. I'm not just talking about made or missed shots, but about defense, rebounding, and off-ball work. In short, doing the things that help the team win, like supporting each other."

**Injury report:** Reyer's Xavier Munford will not play, while Juan Fernandez is a game-time decision.

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of the second week of action in the BKT EuroCup

Valencia Basket v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2024-10-02T18:30:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Trefl Sopot (2024-10-02T18:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-10-02T17:30:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Turk Telekom Ankara (2024-10-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-10-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2024-10-01T17:45:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm v Joventut Badalona (2024-10-01T17:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Umana Reyer Venice (2024-10-01T18:00:00.000Z)

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2024-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2024-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is back for Season 2 with production upgrades and a new co-host! Vasiliki Karamouza of Sport 24 in Greece will join Frankie Sachs and Javier Gancedo of Euroleague.net as a regular host to share her insights on everyone’s favorite EuroLeague companion contest.

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is back for Season 2!

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast is back for Season 2 with production upgrades and a new co-host! [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://x.com/karamouza_vas) of Sport 24 in Greece will join [Frankie Sachs](https://x.com/MrEuroleague) and [Javier Gancedo](https://x.com/ganchetto) of [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) as a regular host to share her insights on everyone’s favorite Turkish Airlines EuroLeague companion contest.

Vasiliki and Frankie share the mic in Episode 1 to detail the new rule changes this season, reveal how to join the podcast’s private fantasy league and, of course, give some tips on how to build your rosters. What obstacle is Frankie facing in Round 1? Who are Vasiliki’s must-have players? Get the answers to these questions and more by listening to the podcast now.

Several notable improvements have been made to the show

Bahcesehir College Istanbul is making plenty of noise in the 2024-25 EuroCup after winning its first two games, including a dominant win in the Istanbul derby against Besiktas.

Bahcesehir means business in this year's EuroCup

Bahcesehir College Istanbul has made a flying start to the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season as it [steamrolled to an 87-66 home win over its archrival Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-blows-away-besiktas-in-istanbul-derby-87-66/) in Round 2, which came after its opening 69-80 victory at Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius.

The impressive start will surely get the club’s fans dreaming of glory as Bahcesehir returned to the EuroCup for the first time in four seasons. On Tuesday, its effervescent performance saw last season’s semifinalist Besiktas get picked apart at Sinan Erdem Dome.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">📸 Galibiyetle ayrıldığımız Beşiktaş Fibabanka maçından kareler<br><br>❤️💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyHighTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyHighTogether</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eurocup</a> <a href="https://t.co/qAdicnKsIC">pic.twitter.com/qAdicnKsIC</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1841192809350537547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The visitors were unable to keep up with Bahcesehir’s torrid pace from start to finish, as the hosts thoroughly outplayed their rivals in every department. Most of all in the paint, where an athletic Bahcesehir outfit grabbed 33 boards to 22 collected by Besiktas.

The home team was also clinical from downtown as it made 6-of-10 three-pointers, forcing low percentages from Besiktas which made 10 of 27. The visitors also struggled from inside, hitting a mere 13-of-27 shots against a steely Bahcesehir defense marshalled by former Besiktas forward [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/).

The 24-year-old Montenegrin resembled a wall in his own paint in the opening three quarters and then took off in the fourth to haunt Besiktas offensively, scoring 12 of a team-high 14 points in the final 10 minutes.

Boasting several high-profile new recruits added to the roster during the offseason, Bahcesehir look well balanced and structured with the likes of [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) and [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) adding steel and experience acquired during their time in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, most recently at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

Smith dismantled Besiktas with a flawless first-half performance in which he racked up 12 points and 4 assists, while Ponitka’s tireless work at both ends of the court made sure Bahcesehir kept going at full throttle right until the end, having led by as many as 27 points (81-54) in the closing stages.

Simonovic’s energetic display, illustrated by 6-of-9 shooting from the floor to go with 5 boards and 2 blocks, personified Bahcesehir’s selfless approach which saw six players score double figures. The forward made it clear in no uncertain terms after the game that although he was elated to claim bragging rights over his former teammates, Bahcesehir would be ill-advised to get carried away.

“Besiktas is a really tough team, I know that because I was there last season,” Simonovic said in a courtside interview. “I want to congratulate my teammates and the coaching staff for this incredible win, which means a lot to me and to all of us.

“It’s just the beginning, we have to build on this and keep working hard in order to make forward progress. It’s our second win in a row and the first one at home, so we’ll be focused on our next game and keep this intensity.”

Game Videos

Bahcesehir head coach Dejan Radonjic echoed his compatriot’s words as he stressed that his players must keep their feet firmly on the ground.  “Congrats to my players for both the win and the performance,” he said. “We were outstanding at both ends but our defense was the key throughout the 40 minutes. We need to start thinking about the next practice session and the next game immediately.”

Expectably, Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic was unhappy with his team’s effort, which came as quite a shock to most fans and pundits after a smooth 94-76 home win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in Round 1. 

“Bachesehir absolutely deserved to win while we have to work on our mistakes because we did not leave a good impression with this kind of performance,” he said.

In Round 3, Bahcesehir faces a stern test of its newly found credentials with a visit to Dreamland Gran Caaria, the competition’s 2022-23 winner, while Besiktas has an equally tough task at home against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in another heavyweight clash.  

Game News

Bahcesehir College Istanbul's Tai Odiase looks to score against Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in Round 2 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

If the opening two rounds in the EuroCup are anything to go by, Bahcesehir has every chance of being the surprise package of the season

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Jaka Blazic came up with a masterful and crucial showing in helping Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana win its first home game of the season - and climbed on the BKT EuroCup’s all-time scoring list in the process. 

Jaka Blazic jumped to eighth on all-time scoring list with strong second half

[Jaka Blazic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaka-blazic/003452/) may be 34 years old, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all. The veteran came up with a masterful and crucial showing in helping Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana win its first home game of the season - and climbed on the BKT EuroCup’s all-time scoring list in the process. 

Blazic tallied 15 of his 17 points in the second half of Cedevita’s 87-82 victory over Umana Reyer Venice to go with 1 rebound and 5 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 15. 

Blazic, who is playing in his seventh season in the EuroCup - the fifth season with Cedevita, has now totaled 1,229 points, moving past Sammy Mejia’s 1,214. Next up in seventh place on the list is Valencia Basket legend Rafa Martinez with 1,240 points.

Blazic pulled even with Mejia with Cedevita’s first two points of the game on free throws. But he didn’t score again until his output was really needed. 

Reyer had started to pull away a bit early in the third quarter, opening a 42-50 lead 2 minutes into the second half. Blazic knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to get Cedevita back moving offensively. 

Blazic, who previously played in the EuroCup with Crvena Zveda Belgrade, MoraBanc Andorra, and since 2019 with Cedevita, struck again with 6 minutes left in the game as he buried a three-pointer from the right wing and converted the bonus free throw for a four-point play as Cedevita opened a 73-66 cushion. 

Jaka Blazic's big night against Reyer

Blazic’s heroics were needed again minutes later with a big three-point play for a 78-73 margin with under 3 minutes to go. 

The veteran leader was again there when it mattered most in the game-deciding play. Devin Robinson grabbed the defensive rebound inside the final 30 seconds and passed ahead to Blazic along the left sideline. He did a great job catching the pass and staying inbounds before feeding Derek Ogbeide, who passed ahead to DJ Stewart for a big dunk to make it 84-77 with 20 seconds remaining.

Cedevita nearly threw the game away but managed to hold on and make sure that Jaka Blazic’s big night was not for naught. 

The shooting guard finished with 17 points to pace Cedevita against Reyer

Patrick scored 11 of his team’s last 16 points to lead Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv to the win over Wolves Vilnius

Patrick Beverley came up clutch to lead Hapoel to first win

Patrick Beverley was unable to celebrate in his return to the competition that named him the MVP more than a decade ago. He and his team were defeated in Badalona, Spain, by 78-75 in the season opener last week. Beverley drained 4 threes and scored 14 points overall, but his shooting was not remarkable, as he finished 5-of-16 from the field.

In Round 2 against Wolves Twinsvet Vilnius, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv was dominating at halftime 53-41 with Beverley scoreless and making only a limited impact on the game. It didn’t look like his team needed him until the Lithuanians rallied at the end of the third period and even took the lead early in the fourth, 73-77.

"For most of the parts, we were better," said Hapoel head coach Stefanos Dedas in the post-game press conference. "But in the last minutes of the third quarter and in the beginning of the fourth, Wolves took momentum… We didn't play with a clear mind, we played with big, big pressure when we started losing the momentum… We were afraid to shoot the ball when open, but I took a timeout and explained to them that it was just to enjoy, play basketball… in some moments pressure comes too much to our heads."

Big 4th-quarter plays by Patrick Beverley against Wolves

At that moment, Hapoel trailed 73-77, and it was then that Beverley, who had just made an off-the-glass three-pointer, took over. He made his second three right after to make it a 1-point game and followed with his third and his fourth a few offenses later to cap a 13-3 run in 4 minutes that got his team back in charge for good.

"We have some bad moments," Dedas continued. "\[It was\] not because the players don't try, or they don't want. Like we say in Greece, heavy legs, or not clear mind. In the last minutes we shot the ball with confidence, even if we missed open, we kept shooting. Patrick obviously made some big shots and this is what basketball game is all about. Who makes the big shots in the end and the crucial stops wins."

Even though Beverley would end up missing his last two three-point attempts -finishing 4-of-6 from behind the arc, he showed up again in the last minute to secure the win from the line. He scored 11 of his team’s last 16 points, proving his experience and determination can help Hapoel beat pressure when the opponents get big.

"It was a very good game," he celebrated. "It’s a tough team. I think they were without one of their main players, so we were fortunate tonight… You know, we're going to get everyone's best punch. Everyone's going to play us real hard. Everyone's going to play us strong because of the names we have on the team. No game is easy There is no such thing as an ugly win or a pretty win, its only wins or losses and we were fortunate to get this one."

The former EuroCup MVP scored 11 points in the last 7 minutes.

Nelson Weidemann and Ben Saraf both came to the fore in the closing quarter to allow ratiopharm Ulm to beat Joventut Badalona on Tuesday night in the EuroCup.

Ulm’s Weidemann, Saraf stepped up late to beat Joventut

Despite Joventut Badalona trying to impose its low-tempo game on ratiopharm Ulm, the hosts were in control from the tip and maintained the lead throughout regulation. Yet, Joventut stayed close, with Devon Dotson nailing a triple from deep to beat the third-quarter buzzer-beater and bring his team within 59-52. Enter Nelson Weidemann and Ben Saraf, both of whom came to the fore in the closing quarter to allow Ulm to clinch its second consecutive victory.

Weidemann and Saraf netted 13 points each, scoring all but 2 of Ulm’s 28 points in the last quarter. Joventut pushed for a comeback, with a Dotson triple and an Ante Tomic basket trimming the deficit to 64-60 with 7 minutes remaining. Yet, Weidemann responded by drilling one from beyond the arc to extend Ulm’s lead to 9 points and forced Joventut head coach Daniel Miret to call a timeout.

Weidemann, Saraf step up in 4th to beat Joventut

The visitors reacted, with Tomic adding another 3 points to his tally, but it was time for Saraf to step up. The 18-year-old guard scored a bucket that was followed by a three-pointer and Ulm restored a 74-66 lead with 4 minutes to go. When Kassius Robertson reduced the difference to 4 points in crunch time, an audacious Saraf drove to the basket, netted the layup, drew a foul and converted from the charity stripe to extend Ulm’s lead to 7 points and practically put the game to bed.

“A solid team game for us overall,” Ulm head coach Ty Harrelson said in the post-game press conference. “It’s nice to be able to take care of the home court. Credit to our players who stick to the plan and trust what we are doing here.”

The prodigious guard stood out for the second game in a row after recording a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists in Ulm’s season opener against Trefl Sopot. This time, he combined his 13 points in the last 6 minutes of the game against the Spanish side with 2 assists that led to 2 Weidemann triples which offered Ulm a cushion in their bid to clinch the home victory.

Having improved its record to 2-0, Ulm is now set to play three tough road games in a row at Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul and Dreamland Gran Canaria. Yet, Weidemann and Saraf – despite his young age – proved on Tuesday that Ulm’s roster boasts several players with a strong personality to carry their team on their shoulders when most needed.

The guard duo combined for 26 fourth-quarter points

Pustovyi spins and pulls off a two-handed monster dunk! 

 Magic Moment of the Night: Pustovyi dunks with force! 

Pustovyi spins and pulls off a two-handed monster dunk!

Magic Moment of the Night: Pustovyi dunks with force!

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv had to wait till the last minutes of the game on Tuesday before wrapping up an 89-84 win over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius at Samokov Arena. 

Hapoel survives Wolves rally to clinch first win, 89-84

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv had to wait till the last minutes of the game on Tuesday before wrapping up an 89-84 win over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius at Samokov Arena. Despite dominating 59-45 right after the intermission, the hosts saw Wolves return to the game and take a 73-77 lead with 7 minutes to go. Patrick Beverley showed up then with 11 points in a 15-5 run that turned the tables and fueled Hapoel to the victory.

Jonathan Motley paced Hapoel on offense with 16 points, 6 boards and 6 assists, followed by Beverley and Tomer Ginat with 14 points apiece. Ish Wainwright provided 13 points and Joe Ragland had 11 for the winners. Tre’Shawn Thurman led all scorers with 29 points - including 5 three-pointers, while Anthony Cowan chipped in 11 and Garrison Brooks produced 10 in the losing effort.

The hosts showed up with remarkable poise, scoring in each of their three first offenses to build a 7-0 advantage in less than 90 seconds. On the other side, Wolves needed 4 free throw attempts to score for the first time in the game. Hapoel kept finding easy points inside through Motley, but the visitors reacted strongly with back-to-back triples by Daniel Baslyk to even things 13-13 midway through the first quarter. Wainright and Bar Timor pushed Hapoel ahead 18-13 right before both teams shifted to their second units, which slowed the scoring pace a little bit. Ragland took over then to allow the hosts to finish the first period leading 26-20.

With its star Cowan scoreless so far, the visitors survived thanks to an incredible offensive spurt by Thurman, who erupted with a block and 11 points in a row - including three shots from behind the arc - to keep the visitors close, 35-33, after 14 minutes. But Hapoel prevented the opponent from completing the rally playing with patience in offense and gearing up in defense. A three by Timor after a great ball movement and a couple of fastbreaks to rapidly recover control, 46-37. Despite Cowan finally making a couple of buckets, Ginat and Wainright fueled Hapoel to a double-digit advantage at halftime, 53-41.

Hapoel started the third quarter the opposite it did the first; missing all offenses in the first 90 seconds. A free throw by Wainright broke the trend to keep the hosts comfortably in charge, 54-45. Beverly’s first three returned a 12-point lead to Hapoel, but the hosts’ woes from the free-throw line stopped them from digging it deeper. Thurman struck back again from deep, scoring 9 points in a row to bring Wolves within 60-53. Andrews joined then, forcing Hapoel to call for an urgent timeout with the margin reduced to just 5 points. Despite Ragland’s efforts to get the home team going, Wolves kept rocking, this time using Blazevic inside, to make it 66-65, soon after. The rally continued, as a four-point play by Thurman finished the third quarter with a 69-69 tie on the score.

Things got even worse for the hosts early in the last period when Matas Jogela and Cowan exploited Hapoel’s turnovers to combine for 8 points and put Wolves ahead for the first time in the game, 73-77. An off-the-glass three-pointer by Beverley started a shooting contest that finished when the visitors stopped the game still leading 79-80 with 5 minutes to go. Wolves had to call for another timeout just 2 minutes later, when Beverley returned the lead to Hapoel with a three. The American guard turned into an unstoppable force at that moment on both ends, hitting another one and stopping Cowan in defense to help Hapoel build an 86-80 edge entering the last minute. Wolves' efforts to come back again proved useless then, with Beverley hitting twice again from the line to seal the outcome.

The visitors blew a 14-point advantage and trailed 73-77 in the fourth before taking charge late

ratiopharm Ulm-Joventut Badalona | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana picked up its second victory in as many games of the BKT EuroCup by fending off Umana Reyer Venice 87-82 at home. 

Cedevita fights past Reyer 87-82, improves to 2-0 

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana picked up its second victory in as many games of the BKT EuroCup by fending off Umana Reyer Venice 87-82 at home. Devin Robinson and Jaka Blazic both scored 17 points and Aleksej Nikolic added 12 points and 5 assists - plus 2 free throws to ice the game with 7.3 seconds left. Reyer fell to 1-1 despite Tyler Ennis flirting with a triple-double as he collected 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists while Mfiondu Kabengele chipped in 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

“It feels good. It’s EuroCup and we’re competing, a tough competition. It’s a great feeling. We just have to keep pushing, but this one was a big one for our home fans to show that we are here to play,” said Robinson, who added 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the victory. “I wish we would have finished his game earlier. It was tough. It was up and down. It was a fight. This game is about ups and downs and highs and lows, but you can’t give up. That’s what we showed tonight.”

Davide Moretti opened the scoring with a three-pointer for the visitors. A steal and dunk by Rok Radovic gave Cedevita its first lead, 7-5, and his three-pointer made it 12-9. Moretti and Jordan Parks both hit triples and Reyer led 15-17. Devante Jones drained a long ball at the other end as Cedevita finished the quarter on a 6-0 surge for a 21-17 lead.

Jones added another score to push the cushion to 23-17. Reyer however forced a couple of turnovers and scored 7 straight points to move back ahead 23-24. DJ Stewart started taking charge for the hosts with 5 points in a run of five lead changes for a 32-29 advantage. Reyer had the stronger finish to the first half with Ennis converting a three-point play and Kyle Wiltjer and Davide Casarin both knocking down three-pointers in a 7-15 run to send the visitors into the locker room up 39-44.

Kabengele started dominating early in the second half with three baskets as the Reyer cushion grew to 42-50. Blazic answered with back-to-back three-pointers - the first one pushing him into eighth place on the EuroCup’s all-time scoring list as he passed Sammy Mejia’s 1,214 points - to make it 48-51. Reyer followed with the next 6 points to establish the biggest lead of the game at 48-57. Cedevita was unfazed with a 10-0 surge thanks to back-to-back triples from Robinson for a 58-57 lead. Reyer nosed back ahead and led 60-61 after 30 minutes.

Wiltjer’s triple to start the final period increased the gap to 4 only to have Cedevita respond with the next 7 points for a 67-64 advantage. Blazic’s four-point play had the hosts up 73-66 with 6 minutes to play. Reyer trimmed the deficit to 2, but Blazic converted a big three-point play for a 78-73 margin with under 3 minutes to go. Stewart threw down a big dunk for an 84-77 Cedevita lead with 20 seconds left. The visitors gave Cedevita a scare in the closing seconds with a three-pointer by Aamir Simms and layup from Ennis to pull within 2. But Nikolic iced the game with free throws with 7.3 seconds to go. 

The Slovenian side becomes first to 2 wins in Group B

Derek Ogbeide collects the ball and moves it ahead to DJ Stewart for the massive dunk. 

Magic Moment: Stewart with the massive dunk! 

 Derek Ogbeide collects the ball and moves it ahead to DJ Stewart for the massive dunk. 

Tyler Ennis gets past his man and tosses it up to Mfiondu Kabengele, who does a good job catching it and throwing down the alley-oop.

Magic Moment: Kabengele finishes tough alley-oop!

Aleksej Nikolic feeds the pass to the rolling Derek Ogbeide, who throws down the big dunk.

Magic Moment: Ogbeide with the big stuff!

 Aleksej Nikolic feeds the pass to the rolling Derek Ogbeide, who throws down the big dunk.

ratiopharm Ulm celebrated its second victory of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by beating Joventut Badalona 87-83 at Ratiopharm Arena on Tuesday. 

Ulm beats Joventut, 87-83, for second straight win

ratiopharm Ulm celebrated its second victory of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by beating Joventut Badalona 87-83 at Ratiopharm Arena on Tuesday. The hosts were in control of the game from the off and managed to maintain their lead throughout. Following its first win on home soil this season, Ulm now has a 2-0 record, with Joventut dropping to 1-1.

Nelson Weidemann paced Ulm with 17 points and Ben Saraf added 15, with the two Ulm guards scoring 13 apiece in the last quarter. Alfonso Plummer registered 13 points and Isaiah Roby added 10. As for the visitors, Ante Tomic had 18 points, Kassius Robertson recorded 17, Devon Dotson netted 16 and Artem Pustovyi scored 12.

Justinian Jessup started where he finished off last week against Trefl Sopot by drilling a triple to open the scoring, but Joventut responded with baskets from Yannick Kraag and Dotson to take a 3-4 lead. A Philipp Herkenhoff triple was followed by Guillem Vives’s first bucket of the game, but Isaiah Roby put Ulm back in front by hitting 2 free throws, 10-8. Then, Herkenhoff completed a three-point play before youngsters Michael Ruzic and Noa Essengue exchanged triples to make it 18-13. Ulm’s 17-year-old forward finished the first quarter with a three-point play of his own and the hosts extended their lead to 25-17 heading into the second quarter.

Tobias Jensen opened his account from inside before Plummer nailed back-to-back triples to give Ulm a 33-19 cushion. Round 1 MVP Tomic responded with two baskets inside, but Nicolas Bretzel and Jensen netted on the other end, with Ulm maintaining a 37-23 lead midway through the second quarter. Yet, Kraag’s bucket off an offensive rebound was followed by a Robertson three-point play to trim the deficit to single digits, 37-28. Then, Tomic, Pustovyi and Robertson netted a basket each before Roby drilled a triple, with Ulm leading 43-36 at the break.

Ulm went on a 7-0 run to kick off the second half, as a jumper from Saraf was followed by 5 points from Jessup to extend their team’s lead to 50-36. Joventut was held scoreless for almost 3 and a half minutes before Robertson scored a bucket from inside and then hit 2 free throws to reduce the deficit to 51-40. Yet, Ulm replied with Marcio Santos and Plummer knocking down a triple each for a 57-42 lead. But Pustovyi responded with 7 points and Dotson drilled a triple from deep to beat the third-quarter buzzer-beater, 59-52.

Dotson sandwiched triples around a Weidemann three-point play before Tomic and the Ulm guard traded baskets from inside to make it 66-60. Tomic made 3 of 4 from the line to respond to another Weidemann three-pointer before Robertson nailed one from deep to reduce the deficit to 71-66. What followed was an exchange of blows from behind the arc before a Tomic three-point play kept Joventut within 77-72 with 3 minutes to go. Then, Robertson nailed a layup, but Saraf responded with a three-point play on the other end to extend Ulm’s lead to 81-74 and practically finished the game.

Ban Saraf came alive late to keep Ulm perfect on the season

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem got its first BKT EuroCup win, not only this season but in nearly seven years as it downed 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 74-94 on Tuesday night. 

Jerusalem hit from downtown in long-awaited win

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem got its first BKT EuroCup win, not only this season but in nearly seven years as it downed 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 74-94 on Tuesday night. Jerusalem returned to the competition this season for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, and its last win came against none other than Lietkabelis, a 93-81 decision in November 2017 in Jerusalem.

On this night in Lithuania, Jerusalem's most dangerous weapon was its three-point shooting. The team finished the game making 12 triples on 25 attempts, good for 48.0%. Those threes came from five different players, most of all from Yovel Zoosman, who was 5 for 6 in the game, but 4 for 4 in the first half. It was his long-range daggers that got Jerusalem back to the game after falling behind by 13 points in the opening quarter.

In the second half, however, it was Chris Johnson and Speedy Smith who stepped up to the plate. Both players hit twice from long range in the final two quarters, with Johnson hitting a buzzer-beating shot to end the third quarter and make it 56-60. Then, Speedy Smith hit three-pointers on each end of a 2-12 run which turned a 62-62 score into a 64-74 Jerusalem advantage and paved the way to its first Group B win.

It leaned on the threeball to grab a Round 2 win