Geoff Gillingham explains why he can envisage Bahcesehir College beating CB Gran Canaria and making the EuroCup Finals.

Why Bahcesehir College can win Game 3

Home-court advantage, baby. There's a reason why topping the group mattered so much during the regular season, and [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) is about to reap the full rewards.

In a decisive Game 3, a game that determines whether Bahcesehir's European journey continues or comes to an end, it's the little things that count: the players sleeping in their own bed; a familiar routine at the arena; knowing the best spots on the floor to get shots up; and being able to receive the support of the home crowd.

No team in the BKT EuroCup has enjoyed playing at home as much as Bahcesehir. The Turkish team is 11-0 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall this season and it has already beaten Dreamland Gran Canaria twice there – once in the regular season and then in Game 1. It's only natural that it extends that run to 12-0 (and 3-0 versus Gran Canaria) on Wednesday night.

It will be a battle, though. Bahcesehir ranks first in team defense (74.3 PPG) and Gran Canaria is second (76.2 PPG), so defense will be the name of the game. Still, it has plenty of talented players who can make their mark on the offensive end of the floor, with big man [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/) averaging a team-high 15.0 PPG in the series so far.

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH3jaM_t7gR/?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/reel/DH3jaM_t7gR/?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; 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Plenty of the Bahcesehir players who had off nights in Game 2 will be able to rely on home comforts this time around. [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/), Simonovic, [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/), [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/) and [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) all scored fewer points in Game 2 than they did in Game 1, but one positive for coach Dejan Radonjic was that [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) and [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/) did the opposite. The hope will be that they do even better back in Istanbul, as their experience and talent will be needed in Game 3.

Even then, Gran Canaria needed a miracle three-point play by [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) to even be in this position. Otherwise, we would have been talking about a sweep. All four games between these two clubs this season have been won by the home team, which puts the wind in the hosts' favor in this one.

Bahcesehir is just one win away from a EuroCup Finals matchup against either Valencia Basket or Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. Heading into Game 3, it just needs to stay calm and keep doing what it has been doing all season, then the result it wants will almost certainly arrive.

Game News

Geoff Gillingham explains why he can envisage the Turkish side making the EuroCup Finals

Why Bahcesehir can win Game 3

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Geoff Gillingham steps in for Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo to offer his recommendations for Game 3 of the 2025 EuroCup Semifinals.

EuroCup Fantasy tips for Game 3, semifinals: Four players to consider

The two series in the BKT EuroCup Semifinals are tied at 1-1, so Wednesday night will determine which teams make it to the EuroCup Finals. As such, [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/11) managers have to figure out which players they want to call upon in Game 3.

This week, I am covering for Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo, and my goal is to select four players – one from each team – but not including [Javier’s five picks from before the semifinals got underway](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/javier-gancedos-fantasy-tips-for-the-eurocup-semifinals/). The players Javier chose were: Jean Montero and Matt Costello of Valencia Basket, Marcus Foster of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, Axel Bouteille of Bahcesehir College Istanbul, and Mike Tobey of Dreamland Gran Canaria.

To make this more interesting, I am not going to pick the most picked players on any of the four semifinalist teams, too, so that rules out Johnathan Motley, Semi Ojeleye, Jaleen Smith and Nico Brussino. Without further ado, here are my four recommended picks for the two Game 3s on Wednesday night.

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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; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHxyWQ_ogvv/?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 BKT EuroCup (@eurocup)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Marko Simonovic, Bahcesehir College Istanbul (10.0 points)

Back on Bahcesehir’s home floor in Istanbul, I’m expecting Marko Simonovic to have a performance like the one we saw in Game 1. That night, he posted 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for a 29 PIR, but in Game 2 – on the road in Gran Canaria – he was held to 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and a 9 PIR. Simonovic has what it takes to dominate against Gran Canaria’s bigs, and I think he’ll have a telling impact on what happens in Game 3.

### Caleb Homesley, Dreamland Gran Canaria (9.9 points)

Call me crazy, but Caleb Homesley is ready for a breakout game. Gran Canaria’s leading scorer this season netted 9 and 6 points, respectively, in Games 1 and 2, and only finished with a PIR of 6 and 3 in those contests, yet he was the hero in Game 2 as his three-point play with 1.1 seconds to go levelled the series at 1-1. Now heading back to Istanbul, I think Homesley could be a good wildcard selection for any Fantasy Challenge managers worth taking the risk… it could pay off big time.

### Chris Jones, Valencia Basket (13.6 points)

Experience is key in Game 3 situations, and Chris Jones is definitely ready for the moment. He had a good performance in Game 1, finishing with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and zero turnovers for a 19 PIR, but Hapoel did a good job of keeping him under wraps in Game 2, limiting him to 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a 4 PIR. But this is Game 3 and Valencia is back at La Fonteta, so Jones is ready to lead his team to the EuroCup Finals.

### Antonio Blakeney, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (11.4 points)

Shooters gotta shoot. For Antonio Blakeney, staying involved in the offense and going to the line were two main differences between his performance in Game 1, when he had 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 block and a 5 PIR, and Game 2, when he amassed 22 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a 20 PIR. Blakeney didn’t shoot a free throw in Game 1 but went 9 for 10 in Game 2, and his ability to catch fire will be a huge weapon for Hapoel as it looks to reach the EuroCup Finals. If Hapoel is to succeed in Game 3, it’ll need Blakeney to step up again, making him a good option in the Fantasy Challenge.

Geoff Gillingham steps in for Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo to offer his recommendations

Valencia Basket v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-04-02T18:30:00.000Z)

Everything is to play for between Gran Canaria and Bahcesehir College, which will battle in Game 3 for a place in the EuroCup Finals.

Gran Canaria will be ready for another intense battle at Bahcesehir in Game 3

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) has extended its BKT EuroCup season for at least one more game and now has set up a winner-take-all Game 3 with Bahcesehir College Istanbul – a matchup which the Spanish side expects to be another battle. 

Gran Canaria evened the semifinal series 1-1 with [a 69-68 home victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-still-alive-after-69-68-win-over-bahcesehir-thanks-to-homesley-heroics/) in a showdown of the best two defenses in the EuroCup. That came after [Bahcesehir took Game 1 at home, 74-66](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-overpowers-gran-canaria-74-66-in-game-1-of-semifinals/). 

So far, all four games between the two teams this season have been won by the home team. Gran Canaria prevailed 66-63 in early October while Bahcesehir registered a 73-65 home win in December as the two teams were together in Group A. 

And the 2023 EuroCup champion Gran Canaria is expecting a similar contest in Game 3 on Wednesday in Istanbul. 

“It was a difficult game, just like the other three games with Bahcesehir because it is a great team. We are happy that we stayed alive in the series. Now we are going for the final game in Istanbul. We’ll be ready,” Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic said after the Game 2 win. 

And looking ahead to the third game, the play-caller added: “It will be the same type of game. Very physical and hopefully we can get our (shooting) percentages better and win the defensive rebounding like today.”

Protecting the defensive glass was a massive problem in Game 1 for Gran Canaria, which allowed 20 Bahcesehir offensive rebounds that resulted in 16 second-chance points. Bahcesehir managed just 7 offensive rebounds in the second game.  

“We fought hard. We deserve a third game,” said Gran Canaria big man [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/). “We know that the job is not finished. We need to go to Türkiye with the mentality that we want to win. We are very excited. It’s always cool to win a game like that. But the guys are locked in. They know we have one more game if we want to go to the finals.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">aún superando los últimos cinco segundos de anoche… 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/qaZI0fknrD">pic.twitter.com/qaZI0fknrD</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1905966873616777704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tobey knows what it takes to win the EuroCup. He helped Valencia Basket win the championship in 2019. And he is expecting it to be a tough fight in Game 3.

“We know it’s going to be another physical game. Do or die, so both sides will be giving it everything they got. Kind of like today – a super physical game. We’re really excited.”

Tobey scored 11 points in the Game 2 win and another strong performance by him and the team around the basket will be key. Gran Canaria made 62.5% on two-pointers in Game 2, which was much higher than the 51.3% that Bahcesehir had been allowing heading into Friday night, the second-lowest percentage in the competition.

Everything is set for the winner-take-all contest in Istanbul on Wednesday

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-03-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Both Hapoel Tel Aviv and Valencia Basket will have learned valuable lessons from Game 2 as they head into Game 3 next Wednesday.

Game 2 showed what Hapoel Tel Aviv, Valencia need to address in Game 3

After two games, there’s nothing to separate [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) and [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) in 2025 BKT EuroCup Semifinals. The series is tied 1-1 and after Wednesday night, one of the clubs will find itself in the finals.

Looking ahead to Game 3 at La Fonteta, both sides will have learned plenty of lessons from Games 1 and 2. Friday night’s battle in Samokov, Bulgaria, certainly will have given Pedro Martinez and Dimitris Itoudis plenty to think about.

Itoudis was the happier of the two coaches after seeing his team come away with [a 96-91 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-tel-aviv-forces-game-3-with-96-91-win-over-valencia/), a victory that kept Hapoel’s season alive. There were excellent performances by [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) (21 points, 8 rebounds), [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) (21 points, 9 assists) and [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/) (22 points), who combined for 69 of their team’s points on the night, while [Tomer Ginat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tomer-ginat/010550/) was another who came close to a double-double with 12 points and 8 boards.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;I just wanted to come out, shoot my shots and go down swinging!&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/Moneymot5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Moneymot5</a> 🗣️<br><br>Johnathan Motley delivered a big time performance for <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HapoelTLVBC</a> to force Game 3 in the Semifinals! <br><br>26 PTS | 8 REB | 32 PIR<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/h6xpjb3Epf">pic.twitter.com/h6xpjb3Epf</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1905713819206496729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yet, it wasn’t a headache-free night for the Greek play-caller. Hapoel led for the final 28:36 minutes of the contest and was up by a game-high 17 points (74-57) five and a half minutes into the third period having outscored Valencia 20-9 in the quarter. But then Hapoel took its foot off the gas and almost paid the consequences.

In those final 4:30 minutes of the third frame, Valencia poured in 14 points and held Hapoel to just 2, making it 76-71 heading into the fourth. Suddenly, Valencia’s tails were up and it looked like a nervy finish was on the cards.

Madar and Blakeney made sure that was not the case, though, by coming up with some huge buckets in the first 7 minutes, then Ginat’s three-pointer with 2:21 to go extended Hapoel’s lead to 96-85, which would prove to be unassailable.

That lapse in concentration, or whatever you want to call it, in the latter stages of the third quarter could have been costly for Hapoel, but it found a way to keep the series alive. Still, Coach Itoudis will be drumming home the point that a similar thing happened in Game 1, with his team leading 36-46 late in the second quarter before going on to [lose 91-82](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-outlasts-hapoel-at-home-91-82/). In Game 3, Hapoel will need to be focused for the entire 40 minutes; not 39, not 38, and definitely not 35.

Valencia, however, had some positive things to take away from Friday’s game, despite losing. Big men [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-costello/010444/) (21 points) and [Nate Reuvers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nathan-reuvers/012738/) (13) both put up decent numbers again, the second game in a row they have got into double figures, and veteran playmaker [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) made a positive impact off the bench (11 points, 5 assists).

But more needs to be demanded of Valencia’s usual go-to scorers. [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/), who scored 24 points in Game 1, was held to 10 in Game 2. Perhaps aware it wasn’t his night, he became more of a playmaker by dishing 9 assists. At halftime, Montero, [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-jones/010568/) and [Brancou Badio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brancou-badio/007527/) had 2 points between them.

Much of Valencia’s scoring comes from Montero and Jones, yet they sat on 4 points apiece after 30 minutes. They are two of the best guards in the EuroCup and, even if Hapoel played good defense on them in Game 2, Valencia needs them to shine. A similarly slow start for Montero and Jones in Game 3 could provide Hapoel with a ton of confidence.

Overall, Coach Martinez will like his chances of advancing to the EuroCup Finals – and of Montero and Jones bouncing back – as his squad will have the La Fonteta crowd roaring them on, but it’d take a brave person to predict who advances from this series. Either way, it’s going to be a lot of fun to see which team prevails, so make sure to tune in to EuroLeague TV on Wednesday night (20:30 CET) to find out.

The two teams meet for a do-or-die showdown in the series decider on Wednesday

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Valencia Basket (2025-03-28T17:30:00.000Z)

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Semifinals winner, Game 2

Congratulations to Kaliebe Dimitrios, our 22nd winner in the 2024-25 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Kaliebe's team, 'Juohmaru', posted a score of 175.80.

Kaliebe had the following starting lineup: Johnathan Motley of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv as team captain, then his teammate Yam Madar, Valencia Basket duo of Matthew Costello and Jean Montero, and Dreamland Gran Canaria's Nico Brussino. Hapoel's Marcus Foster was the sixth man.

The head coach of Kaliebe's team was Dimitris Itoudis of Hapoel, and the four bench players were Hapoel's Antonio Blakeney, Valencia's Nate Reuvers and Nate Sestina, and Goktug Bas of Bahcesehir College Istanbul.

The prize for finishing first in the 22nd round of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Kaliebe!

The leader in the overall standings remains Milos Mihajlovic and his squad, 'BallIsLife', which has a total of 3,651.45 points after the first 22 rounds. Trades are now open for the 23rd round, which is Game 3 of the EuroCup semifinals, and the number of trades is unlimited.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become EuroCup Fantasy Challenge's next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager, so get in the game and go for the gold!

After allowing 20 offensive rebounds in Game 1, Gran Canaria protected its defensive glass better in Game 2 by giving up just 7.

Gran Canaria lives to fight another day after protecting its defensive glass 

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) rebounded from its disappointing Game 1 loss in the semifinals by… well, rebounding better, especially on its defensive glass. And that led to the semifinal series now being tied 1-1. 

[Gran Canaria beat Bahcesehir College Istanbul 69-68](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-still-alive-after-69-68-win-over-bahcesehir-thanks-to-homesley-heroics/) in Game 2 on a [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) three-point play with 1.1 seconds left to send the series to Game 3 in Istanbul next Tuesday. The biggest difference between the first two games was Bahcesehir’s number of offensive rebounds. 

The Turkish side took the opening game 74-66 as it dominated the rebounding battle 42-27, including a massive 20 offensive boards, which led to 16 second-chance points. Gran Canaria actually won the battle of the boards in Game 2 33-33, allowing just 7 Bahcesehir offensive rebounds for 9 second-chance points. 

"It was a difficult game, just like all three games with Bahcesehir because it is a great team. We are very happy that we stayed alive in the series,” said Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic. 

Besides controlling the rebounding, Lakovic was also satisfied with his players’ mentality of not giving up. 

“They played a strong third quarter and even took the lead a couple of times but we never gave up even after they took the lead with 2 seconds to go. We kept believing,” Lakovic said referring to Bahcesehir taking the lead 66-68 with 2.0 seconds left on a [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marko-simonovic/012711/) dunk. “The players executed a great play to finish the game. These things happen in basketball. We finished the game with a win.” 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🤪🤪 <a href="https://t.co/SoNp8sRKDz">pic.twitter.com/SoNp8sRKDz</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1905756778882633878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With the season on the line, Gran Canaria finished the game with a great play. Homesley came over from the far right side of the court, only to cut back to the basket, at which point [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) delivered a perfect inbounds pass. Homesley caught it and was fouled as he hit the layup. Homesley also made the bonus free throw for the win. 

“It’s always cool to win a game like that,” said [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/), who scored 11 points for Gran Canaria. “But the guys are locked in. They know we have one more game if we want to go to the finals.”

And toughness on the defensive glass will again be a big decider in the winner-take-all game.

The Spanish side allowed just 7 offensive rebounds to even its semifinal series with Bahcesehir

CB Gran Canaria’s dreams of the BKT EuroCup Finals are still alive after Caleb Homesley’s three-point play with 1.1 seconds left gave the Spanish side a thrilling 69-68 victory over Bahcesehir College Istanbul. 

Gran Canaria still alive after 69-68 win over Bahcesehir thanks to Homesley heroics

Dreamland Gran Canaria’s dreams of the BKT EuroCup Finals are still alive after Caleb Homesley’s three-point play with 1.1 seconds left gave the Spanish side a thrilling 69-68 victory over Bahcesehir College Istanbul. The home victory evened the semifinal series at 1-1 and means Game 3 will be played in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Nico Brussino scored 18 points and delivered the pass to Homesley on the game-winner, while Mike Tobey had 11 points and 8 rebounds and Homesley finished with 6 points, all of which came in the fourth quarter for the 2023 EuroCup champion.

Bahcesehir thought it had a series sweep when Marko Simonovic threw down a dunk with 2.0 seconds to play. But the Turkish club will need one more home victory to reach the finals. Furkan Korkmaz scored 12 points and Simonovic and Mateusz Ponitka both added 10 points in the loss.

Game Videos

Bahcesehir struggled to find its rhythm on offense early on, hitting just 1 of 6 shots, while Gran Canaria regularly got to the basket for a 9-2 lead after four minutes. Bahcesehir finally started scoring and evened the game at 12-12 before pulling ahead for the first time at 15-16. Gran Canaria responded and was ahead 22-18, then finished the first quarter up 24-21. 

Joe Thomasson scored the first basket of the second quarter for a five-point gap, which the guests responded to with a 3-9 spurt as Korkmaz picked up five points to put them back up 29-30. Tobey stepped up for Gran Canaria with seven points to move ahead 41-34, and the hosts were leading 41-36 at the break.

Gran Canaria three times pushed the advantage to seven points, only to be answered by Bahcesehir. The hosts finally set a new game-high lead of eight points, 50-42, with four minutes left in the third quarter. Back-to-back three-pointers from Korkmaz and Kenan Sipahi had Bahcesehir as close as 50-48. And the score was 52-50 at the end of 30 minutes,

Bahcesehir needed more than two minutes to get onto the scoring board, but it prevented Gran Canaria from pulling away as the hosts led just 53-50. And back-to-back triples from Ponitka had the Turkish side up 55-57. Bahcesehir was feeling good with a 57-61 advantage, but Brussino converted a three-point play and hit a triple as Gran Canaria was back up 63-61 with four minutes left. CJ Massinburg responded with a triple at the other end before three Gran Canaria free throws made it 66-64. After two Simonovic free throws to tie the game, it looked like Simonovic had won the game with a dunk with 2.0 seconds to play. But Brussino sent the inbounds pass to a cutting Homesley, who converted the layup and hit the game-winning bonus free throw with 1.1 seconds remaining.

The 2023 EuroCup champion prevail in a defensive thriller

Johnathan Motley bounced back from a difficult night in Game 1 by shining in Game 2 of Hapoel Tel Aviv BC's semifinal series with Valencia Basket.

Johnathan Motley showed out in Game 2 to keep Hapoel Tel Aviv alive

When [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) travelled to Spain to take on [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) in Game 1 of the 2025 BKT EuroCup Semifinals, much was expected of [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/).

In the absence of fellow big man [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/), Motley and Hapoel ended up falling to [a 91-82 defeat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-outlasts-hapoel-at-home-91-82/) to open the series. That night, the 29-year-old Motley had 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. But in Game 2, it was a very different picture.

Back in the Bulgarian town of Samokov, Hapoel’s temporary home this season, Motley – roared on by a couple of thousand fans inside the arena – responded in style by posting 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block as the Israeli side grabbed [a 96-91 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-tel-aviv-forces-game-3-with-96-91-win-over-valencia/) to take the series back to Valencia for a Game 3 next week.

The Valencia players struggled to cope with Motley from the off, with the former Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul big man combining excellently with [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/), his ex-teammate at Fenerbahce and the orchestrator of Hapoel’s offense. Madar, it’s worth noting, had a fantastic game with 21 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals.

“AB ([Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/)) played well, Yam always plays well, so I just tried to help. We’re just going to keep trying to do the same thing,” Motley humbly said afterward.

Motley knew himself that he didn’t play to his lofty standards in Game 1, but he was determined for that to not be the case in Game 2, as he showed.

“For me personally, I just wanted to be way more aggressive,” he explained. “The first game I was way too passive, so I just wanted to come out, shoot my shots and go down swinging. You can’t be so passive in a game like this.”

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Most of his production came in the first half as he sat on 17 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist at the interval, and a similar type of start at La Fonteta in Game 3 would certainly give Hapoel plenty of confidence about reaching the EuroCup Finals.

Until then, Motley and co. will be resting up and preparing for the battle that awaits in Valencia.

The American center bounced back from a difficult night in Game 1

The Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv fans will be partying into the night in Bulgaria after defeating Valencia Basket 96-91 in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals, bouncing back from a 91-82 defeat at La Fonteta in Game 1 earlier this week.

Hapoel Tel Aviv forces Game 3 with 96-91 win over Valencia

The Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv fans will be partying into the night in Bulgaria after defeating Valencia Basket 96-91 in Game 2 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals, bouncing back from a 91-82 defeat at La Fonteta in Game 1 earlier this week.

Johnathan Motley dominated for Hapoel, posting 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, while Antonio Blakeney had 22 points, Yam Madar paired 21 points with 9 assists, and Tomer Ginat finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Valencia was led by Matt Costello, who had 21 points. Nate Reuvers netted 13 points, Stefan Jovic poured in 11, and Jean Montero came close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 assists.

Madar was inspired in the early going, being responsible for all 13 of his team’s points by scoring 5 points and dishing 3 assists as Hapoel went 13-7 ahead. The Israeli guard added a couple of steals to his name, with Motley and Ish Wainwright helping swell Hapoel’s advantage to 19-10. A couple of threes by Reuvers and Costello featured during an 11-2 Valencia run to close the quarter, yet Hapoel still led 23-21 after 10 minutes.

Bar Timor struck from deep to get the home fans back into it, but Reuvers scored inside and Jovic’s three-point play tied it up at 26-26. Motley’s tip-in, Timor’s layup and Madar’s three opened a seven-point difference, 33-26, and Motley kept charging by moving to 15 points with the score at 39-32. Xabi Lopez-Arostegui and Reuvers helped make it a one-possession ballgame, 41-39. Then it was the turn of Marcus Foster to get his first points of the night, netting four points in quick succession, 50-44, but Costello scored five points inside the final 1:14 minutes to ensure it was 54-49 at the break.

Blakeney stepped up for Hapoel in the early stages of the third period, scoring 11 points inside the first three minutes as the hosts went 66-53 ahead. Motley then scored inside to make it a 15-point difference, 68-53, while the lead extended to a game-high 17 points, 74-57, when the American big man found his way to the basket again. Valencia hit back, though, by putting together a 14-2 run that included five points by Jovic to head into the fourth quarter trailing by five, 76-71.

Madar’s three-pointer got the fourth quarter off to a bang, 79-71, but Puerto and Costello both scored inside to keep it close, 79-75. Motley’s mid-range jumper was followed by a triple by Costello, 81-78, then Costello responded to a Madar mid-range jumper to keep Valencia three points behind, 83-80. Reuvers got his team within two points, 83-81, but Blakeney and Madar helped swell the lead to 93-83 with 2:47 to go. Costello, once again, scored inside, but Tomer Ginat’s three resulted in a huge roar among the fans, 96-85. Montero scored a couple of times either side of a Chris Jones layup, but it wasn’t enough for Valencia as Hapoel won 96-91.

The Israeli side led for the last 28 minutes of the game