Round 5 of the BKT EuroCup sees the competition’s three remaining unbeaten records come under threat, as well as a series of direct matchups between playoff hopefuls. Here’s your guide to all the action.
Big-time matchups in Round 5 could shape the playoff picture
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Tuesday, October 31
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs Wolves Vilnius
Winless Cedevita (0-4) will aim to kickstart its season with a visit from a Wolves (1-2) team that did just that last week, picking up its first victory by outlasting Besiktas in a thriller. Tre'Shawn Thurman was key to that success, taking the weekly MVP award after netting 31 points, and slowing down the dynamic guard will be a key task for Cedevita. The hosts will be missing one of their backcourt leaders, Justin Cobbs, through injury, so an even heavier burden will fall on Klemen Prepelic, who stepped up with 16 points and 12 assists on his debut last week. Game notes and facts
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs Turk Telekom Ankara
Two teams outside the playoff places need a boost as Trento (1-3) hosts Turk Telekom (1-3). Selcuk Ernak will make his coaching debut for the visitors, who have won all six of the previous meetings between the teams. Trento, which grabbed its first win of the season last week, will look for league-leading shot blocker Paul Biligha (2.5 bpg.) to protect the paint against the athletic Steven Enoch. Turk Telekom's free-scoring Tyrone Wallace (15.8 ppg.) will aim to win his backcourt duel with all-action Quinn Ellis, who netted last week's game-winner against Lietkabelis. Game notes and facts
Joventut Badalona vs Veolia Towers Hamburg
Winless Hamburg (0-4) faces a tough task in ending that sequence with a trip to ambitious Joventut (2-2), which is looking for a return to winning ways after last week’s disappointing loss at Reyer. Led by the ageless Ante Tomic (7.8 rpg.), Joventut is one of the best rebounding teams in the competition with 39.8 boards per night, whereas Hamburg is third worst in that category with only 32.5 per contest. So, the German team needs a strong night from big man Aleksander Dziewa, who averages 10.2 points per game but only managed 3 points in last week’s heavy loss to Hapoel. Game notes and facts
Wednesday, November 1
Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul vs Umana Reyer Venice
After suffering its first loss of the season last week, Wednesday’s opening tipoff will see Besiktas (3-1) look to bounce back against a Reyer team (1-3) which had contrasting emotions in Round 4, having overcome Joventut for its first win. Marco Spissu was the hero of that victory with 24 points and 6 assists, but he’ll struggle to match those numbers against a Besiktas defense which leads the league with just 72.0 points allowed per game. The Turkish team will hope Jonah Mathews continues his great form after scoring 22, 18 and 20 points in the last three games. Game notes and facts
Prometey Slobozhanske vs Paris Basketball
Unbeaten Group A leader Paris (4-0) faces a tough test with a trip to Prometey (2-2), which is aiming to stay firmly inside the playoff places. Prometey will look to make it a physical battle, coming into the game as league leader in rebounding with 43.3 rebounds per game – 10.5 of those coming from Ondrey Balvin. Paris ranks second in the league in scoring with 99.2 points per night. Although TJ Shorts (19 points and 7.5 assists per game) is always a threat, Prometey also needs to be wary of Collin Malcolm, who averages 16.2 points per contest and has made 16 of his last 21 two-pointers. Game notes and facts
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs U-BT Cluj-Napoca
A key game in the race for the playoffs will see Aris (2-2) host Cluj (3-1) for what could be a low-scoring encounter. Cluj gained its three victories by allowing its opponents to score no more than 74 points, while Aris’s two-game winning run is based on a defense which allowed just 63 and 66 points. A key matchup comes in the backcourt, where Roberto Gallinat averages 17.2 points for Aris and scored 23 last week, while DJ Seeley averages 16.5 points for Cluj but was restricted to just 8 points last week after getting into foul trouble. Game notes and facts
ratiopharm Ulm vs Slask Wroclaw
High-flying Ulm (3-1) will aim to pile more misery on Slask (0-4), the only winless team in Group B. The German champion was powered to victory last week at Turk Telekom by guard Georginho De Paula, who is becoming the team’s backcourt leader with averages of 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, while Trevion Williams is the competition’s top rebounder with 11.7 per night. Slask is the league’s second-lowest scorer with just 73.3 points per game and it will hope that guard Lukasz Kolenda can find his scoring stroke after making 1 of his 10 field goal attempts against Aris last week. Game notes and facts
Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
Bourg (3-1) hosts Buducnost (2-2) with the hosts looking to respond from suffering its first defeat of the season at Gran Canaria last week, while Buducnost is searching for its first road victory. The visiting team has McKinley Wright in excellent form, scoring at least 13 points in every game so far this season and 21 in last week’s defeat at Cluj. To counter him, Bourg can call upon the accuracy of Jeremy Morgan, who has converted 71.4% of his two-point attempts and 55% from beyond the arc in the opening four games. Game notes and facts
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys
Can anyone stop Gran Canaria (4-0)? The latest challenger to the unbeaten reigning champ is Lietkabelis (1-3), which is aiming to bounce back from last week’s heartbreaking loss to Trento. Gran Canaria has outstanding efficiency on offense, leading the league in two-point conversions (61.6% 2FG) and ranking second in three-pointers (42.6% 3FG), with John Shurna making 58.3% of his long-range shots. Lietkabelis, facing Gran Canaria for the first time since 2016, will crash the boards, ranking third in offensive rebounding with 13.3 per game, partly thanks to Gabrielus Maldunas (3.5 orpg.). Game notes and facts