After years on some of Europe’s biggest stages – and a season that cast doubt on his future in the spotlight – Augustine Rubit returned to the BKT EuroCup with something to prove. And in Lietkabelis Panevezys’s opening-round win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul, he delivered a performance that reminded everyone why his name still carries weight in European basketball.

Augustine Rubit marked his EuroCup return in style

After years on some of Europe’s biggest stages – and a season that cast doubt on his future in the spotlight – [Augustine Rubit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/augustine-rubit/006477/) returned to the BKT EuroCup with something to prove. And in [Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/)’s opening-round win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul, he delivered a performance that reminded everyone why his name still carries weight in European basketball.

Rubit, now 34, didn’t just fill a role, he imposed himself on the game when it mattered most. Coming off a quiet first half with just 5 points, the veteran forward erupted after the break to finish with 17 points and a game-high PIR of 22. He anchored a crucial 15–0 third-quarter run that flipped the game’s momentum and set the tone for [Lietkabelis’s 85–79 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/lietkabelis-secures-surprise-home-win-over-besiktas-85-79/).

Lietkabelis Panevezys-Besiktas GAIN Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

But beyond the numbers, Rubit’s poise and physical presence stood out. Facing a rugged Besiktas frontcourt featuring Ante Zizic and Ismael Kamagate, Rubit used quick footwork, smart positioning, and the kind of composure that only comes with experience. He drew fouls, found angles, and kept the offense steady down the stretch. In short, he looked like the leader Lietkabelis needed – and the player many wondered if they’d see again.

Rubit’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. After launching his European career in Germany with Walter Tigers Tubingen, ratiopharm Ulm, and Brose Bamberg, he climbed the ranks to reach EuroLeague prominence with Olympiacos Piraeus, Zalgiris Kaunas, and FC Bayern Munich. At his peak in Munich during the 2022–23 season, he was named EuroLeague MVP of the Month for January, only to suffer a serious Achilles injury shortly after.

His move to Kuwait last season led many to believe his time at the top level in Europe might be over. But Rubit saw things differently. Signing with Lietkabelis this summer, he made his EuroCup return after an eight-year absence and immediately showed he still belongs.

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After the game, Rubit spoke about what made the difference in the second half. Not his own play, but the team’s unity.

"I like the way we start together, come out and fall together," he said. "I think we gotta learn from that. That was the biggest thing – togetherness in the second half.”

Lietkabelis head coach Nenad Canak emphasized the importance of the win, but Rubit’s individual performance may prove even more significant in the long run. With his combination of experience, skill, and leadership, he gives the team not just a frontcourt presence, but an identity.

Augustine Rubit didn’t just return to European basketball – he made a statement. And if his opening performance is any indication, his story in this competition is far from finished.

Game News

The veteran forward played an integral role in Lietkabelis grabbing its first win of the season

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento endured a tough night offensively in Wednesday’s EuroCup opener, falling 48-79 to Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse in a cagey, hard-fought contest. The Italian side never found its rhythm, with head coach Massimo Cancellieri attributing the loss to inexperience in handling the physicality of the competition.

Trento struggled with EuroCup physicality in tough loss to Bourg

[Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) endured a tough night offensively in Wednesday’s EuroCup opener, [falling 48-79 to Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bourg-blasts-past-trento-48-79/) in a cagey, hard-fought contest. The Italian side never found its rhythm, with head coach Massimo Cancellieri attributing the loss to inexperience in handling the physicality of the competition.

“What we need to understand quickly is the level of physicality in this competition,” Cancellieri said post-game. “I don’t think we struggled with our basketball, we struggled with how to approach this kind of game. It was the first one, so no worries for now, but this is a big lesson for us.”

Dolomiti Energia Trento-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

With just a week to prepare for their next clash against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, Cancellieri is hoping the lesson sinks in, though he’s not pushing the panic button just yet.

“For many of our players, it was their first time playing in this competition. We need to bring a different attitude, and that only comes from experience at this level.”

Trento managed just 48 points on the night, unable to cope with Bourg’s aggressive defense. Costly turnovers and a lack of composure allowed the game to slip away early. Even more frustrating for the hosts, Bourg weren’t at their offensive best — but it didn’t matter.

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Bourg’s [Darius McGhee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/darius-mcghee/013859/) led the way, winning his individual battle with [DeVante Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devante-jones/013260/) and delivering an outstanding all-around performance. The 1.83-meter American poured in 22 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and handed out 4 assists, sparking Bourg’s early momentum and helping his team bounce back from recent domestic struggles.

“I think we had a great game overall,” McGhee said. “From the coaching staff to the players, we really focused on the game plan and execution. This was a big improvement from our last performance.”

An early road win was a welcome boost for Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux, who praised his team’s defensive intensity while acknowledging there’s still work to do on the offensive end.

“A great victory, especially away from home, which is always difficult and special,” Fauthoux said. “Defensively, we did a very, very good job. That’s our identity. Now we just need to control the game better and find higher-quality shots.”

The French side recorded a dominant 31-point victory

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-10-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Panionios Athens fans had reason to celebrate on Wednesday as the club secured its first BKT EuroCup win in nearly 12 years, defeating debutants NINERS Chemnitz 89-86. This victory not only ended a long wait but also marked Panionios’s return to the competition for the first time since 2014.

Panionios tastes first EuroCup win in 12 years with thrilling OT victory

[Panionios Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/panionios-athens/nio/) fans had reason to celebrate on Wednesday as the club secured its first BKT EuroCup win in nearly 12 years, [defeating debutants NINERS Chemnitz 89-86](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/panionios-wins-ot-thriller-in-return-thanks-to-jaylen-hands-heroics/). This victory not only ended a long wait but also marked Panionios’s return to the competition for the first time since 2014.

The last time Panionios won a EuroCup game was on December 11, 2013, when it triumphed 77-67 over Besiktas. Since then, the Greek club had been absent from the competition, but their return was nothing short of memorable.

"It’s a historic game for a historic club. Coming back to the EuroCup with Panionios after 11 years is incredibly exciting. And to start this journey with a win makes it even more special," said Panionios head coach Luka Pavicevic after the game. "We’ve been working hard to build a new team, and it was important to begin this chapter with a victory."

Panionios Athens-NINERS Chemnitz | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

The win was especially meaningful for the passionate Panionios fans who filled the arena. "We’re so happy to get the win," said [Michalis Lountzis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/michalis-lountzis/006302/), who led the team with 20 points. "We knew how much it meant to Panionios to return to the EuroCup after all these years. We wanted to make it count. We gave everything."

Lountzis, 27, was instrumental in the win, not only with his scoring but also as the team’s most experienced player in European competition. He is the only current Panionios player with prior EuroCup experience, having averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 10 games with Promitheas Patras during the 2020-21 season. Lountzis has also appeared in 52 EuroLeague games with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus.

Five Panionios players finished the game in double figures, but it was [Jaylen Hands](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaylen-hands/013914/) who stole the show. With the score tied at 86 in the final 34 seconds, Hands nailed two crucial three-pointers – his first two of the game after a 1-of-13 shooting performance – sealing the win with a game-winning shot with 6.4 seconds left.

"Jaylen hit some massive shots, and that made all the difference," Lountzis said. "It was a great team effort, but those clutch shots were huge."

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Despite his earlier shooting struggles, Hands remained confident. "It took a lot of energy, focus, and those two big shots from Jaylen to win this one," said Coach Pavicevic. "But this win is so important for Panionios, especially at this moment in time."

For Panionios, the victory represents not only a successful return to the EuroCup but also a hopeful start to what it hopes will be a promising new era in European competition.

The Greek club marked its first EuroCup victory since 2013 with 89-86 win

Panionios tastes first EuroCup win in nearly 12 years with OT victory

Panionios Athens v NINERS Chemnitz (2025-10-01T16:30:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic knew how dangerous Manresa could be if allowed to push the pace and run quick offenses. That mantra was repeated before, during, and after the game.

Cedevita Olimpija’s plan to slow down Manresa paid off

Despite holding a comfortable 15-point lead at halftime, [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/)’s head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic remained focused on one key objective: “To stop their transition – that’s our main goal today,” he told TV cameras when asked about his second-half strategy.

Mitrovic knew how dangerous BAXI Manresa could be if allowed to push the pace and run quick offenses. That mantra was repeated before, during, and after the game.

His patience paid off, as Cedevita executed their game plan perfectly in Round 1 of the new BKT EuroCup campaign, [securing a 76-69 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-olimpija-gets-past-manresa-76-69/). The home team forced 22 turnovers and limited Manresa to just 10 fast-break points, while converting 26-of-29 free throws – compared to Manresa’s 9 of 16 from the line.

“I think it’s a very important victory, especially against Manresa and for our first game,” Mitrovic said with satisfaction. “I’m pretty happy about it.”

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-BAXI Manresa | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

Cedevita’s success came from disrupting Manresa’s ball movement, minimizing easy baskets, and controlling the tempo with a deliberate, slower pace. An early 11-0 run helped establish a 42-27 halftime lead.

“Our defense, especially in the first half, was the deciding factor today,” Mitrovic explained. “We stopped their transition game. The second half wasn’t as easy, but we maintained our advantage throughout and absolutely deserved this win.”

Cedevita pushed the lead to 21 points early in the second half at 48-27, nearly putting the game out of reach. However, Manresa refused to fold and fought back, cutting the deficit to just five points, 71-66, entering the final minute.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Ob glasnem navijanju s tribun so zmage še slajše! <br><br>Hvala za podporo, Ljubljana, se vidimo spet v nedeljo!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/yoiYSvIpbP">pic.twitter.com/yoiYSvIpbP</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1973472670688878912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A crucial three-pointer from [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) then “shot the lights out,” allowing Cedevita to capitalize on their defensive effort and close out the win.

“Definitely, it was a bit ugly in the second half,” [Thomas Kennedy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/thomas-kennedy/013973/) admitted after the game. “But what’s important is that we controlled their pace. They’re a very high-tempo team, and from the jump ball, we were able to dictate the pace. They found a bit more rhythm in the second half, but a win is a win. It’s important to get that first one.”

The home team held the Spanish side under 70 points and forced 22 turnovers

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v BAXI Manresa (2025-10-01T16:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul ground out a hard-fought 90-98 win at Romanian outfit U-BT Cluj-Napoca after a concerted team effort saw the visitors prevail in an electrifying atmosphere, with player of the game Malachi Flynn draining 24 points and pulling down 7 rebounds.

Malachi Flynn and roster depth carried Bahcesehir past Cluj

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) ground out [a hard-fought 90-98 win at Romanian outfit U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/strong-finish-sees-bahcesehir-beat-cluj-90-98/) after a concerted team effort saw the visitors prevail in an electrifying atmosphere, with player of the game [Malachi Flynn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/malachi-flynn/013908/) draining 24 points and pulling down 7 rebounds.

Flynn had rock solid support from a deep Bahcesehir roster as all 10 of the visiting team’s players who got minutes on the court made the scoresheet, with [Hale Hunter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hunter-hale/013909/) adding 16 points while [Ismet Akpinar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ismet-akpinar/004056/) netted 13.

The experienced [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/), still fresh from winning a silver medal with Turkiye at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, chipped in with 11 points, including a pair of clutch three-pointers which ultimately forced the hard-fighting Cluj into submission.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

Just as importantly, Bahcesehir’s bench netted almost a half of the team’s points tally, with the visitors thoroughly dominating the paint as they racked up 34 rebounds. A staggering 17 of them came on the offensive end, giving the Turkish team a massive advantage in the paint as Cluj only collected 25 boards and a mere 6 on offense.

Bahcesehir’s head coach Marko Barac felt this team’s performance left something to be desired, but he had no complaints about a sterling effort which helped the Turkish outfit come out on top.

“This team still has a lot of room to improve and I am sure we will grow,” Barac said in a postgame interview. “It’s a completely new roster and much like everybody else, we had a couple of injuries during the preseason. 

"The most important thing for me as a coach, however, is to find a way to win even when we’re not playing our A game. Our team’s character made the difference because Cluj are known to be an aggressive team and playing in this kind of atmosphere is never easy.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">💎 İşte galibiyetin 𝐌𝐕𝐏’si! <br><br>🔑 U-BT Cluj Napoca galibiyetimizde anahtar rol oynayan oyuncumuz; 24 sayı, 7 ribaund, 4 asist, 32 verimlilik puanı performansıyla Malachi Flynn oluyor!<br><br>❤️💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CatchYourDreams?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CatchYourDreams</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/fNrf484Lkl">pic.twitter.com/fNrf484Lkl</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1973454651631747318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Flynn was at the heart of the success as he mixed delightful layups with sound mid-range shooting and a pair of telling efforts from downtown, adding 4 assists for good measure. The 26-year-old American, who joined Bahcesehir during the off-season after five years in the NBA, was appreciative of the good work his teammates had put in.

“It feels great to win in a tough environment and it’s a great start for our team,” he said. “It was a big team effort as every player came in, guys came off the bench and contributed and you never know with our team who’s going to step up to the plate. I think it will be like that throughout the season.”

The defeat left a bitter taste for Cluj head coach Mihai Silvasan, who conceded that his team got punished ruthlessly for being second best in the paint, as well as for poor offense in crunch time.

“We were closing the game for three quarters but in the end we committed some sloppy turnovers and missed some easy shots,” Sivasan said. “We also gave away 17 offensive rebounds to them and it killed us. Obviously we don’t like it, but we need to move forward and focus on the upcoming games.”

The visitors also benefited from an avalanche of offensive boards in a thrilling contest

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Starting its BKT EuroCup season strong by securing an 85-79 home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul in Round 1, Lietkabelis Panevezys set the tone for the campaign ahead, with Augustine Rubit and Kristian Kullamae standing out.

Rubit, Kullamae stepped up for Lietkabelis against Besiktas

Starting its BKT EuroCup season strong by securing [an 85-79 home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/lietkabelis-secures-surprise-home-win-over-besiktas-85-79/) in Round 1, [Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/) set the tone for the campaign ahead. 

The solid performances of [Augustine Rubit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/augustine-rubit/006477/) and [Kristian Kullamae](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kristian-kullamae/007729/) were key factors in Lietkabelis’s win. Dusan Alimpijevic’s Besiktas came in as one of the season’s favorites, but team chemistry ultimately carried Lietkabelis to victory at Kalnapilio Arena.

Against Besiktas’s two physical big men, Ante Zizic and Ismael Kamagate, Rubit used his experience to gain the upper hand on both ends of the floor. He finished the game with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for a 22 PIR. Rubit made a significant impact during Lietkabelis's 15-0 third-quarter run, contributing to his team's scoring in the paint and giving an early indication of his potential impact this season.

In the post game interview, the 36-year-old emphasized Lietkabelis's team chemistry and said: ‘‘I like the way we start together, came out and fall together. I think we gotta learn from that. That was the biggest thing, togetherness in the second half.’’

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Another key contributor to the win was Estonian guard Kullamae. He added 17 points on offense while being impactful on defense, finishing the game with 7 defensive rebounds and showing strong court vision for a guard. In pick-and-rolls with Rubit, he also set up his teammate effectively. 

Kullamae hit back-to-back triples in the fourth quarter at crucial moments, helping Lietkabelis extend the lead. One of the game’s Magic Moments came when Kullamae hit a three-pointer off an assist from Rubit. Yet, it was [Paulius Danusevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/paulius-danusevicius/013512/)’s touch pass that stood out on that play. 

Following Rubit and Kullamae, Danusevicius emerged as another key contributor for Lietkabelis in the game. Danusevicius was highly effective in the paint, finishing with 13 points and making an impact on both ends of the floor.

The duo were key in the Lithuanian outfit getting off to a 1-0 start

In what was a low-scoring affair at the BTS Arena, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse earned a 31-point road victory against Dolomiti Energia Trento, downing the Italian side 48-79. A shellshocked Trento will have to regroup after failing to make it to the 50-point mark in a brutal opening-round loss.

Bourg blasts past Trento, 48-79

In what was a low-scoring affair at the BTS Arena, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse earned a 31-point road victory against Dolomiti Energia Trento, downing the Italian side 48-79. A shellshocked Trento will have to regroup after failing to make it to the 50-point mark in a brutal opening-round loss.

Darius McGhee led the way for Bourg, scoring 22 points to go along with 5 boards, 3 dishes and 2 steals. Assemian Moulare played his part too, making momentum-swinging plays on his way to 11 points.

Game Videos

McGhee expressed his excitement coming into this contest and he backed it up almost immediately. The American guard opened scoring with consecutive threes to run out to an early 6-0 Bourg lead, before following up with a smooth floater to build on the visitors’ advantage. The French team played swarming defense on the other end, which Trento struggled to break down. Turnovers hurt the hosts, who finished the opening period down by 13.

The second quarter began in similar fashion; Bourg controlled the pace of play and Massimo Cancellieri’s men struggled from the field. After six misses from beyond the arc however, Khalif Battle and Davante Jones attempted to ignite Trento with deep makes of their own. Despite narrowing the margin with improved offense, the Italian side couldn’t contain the dynamic play of McGhee and Vincent Mitchell. As the teams split for the break, Bourg held a 30-40 lead.

It started to feel like it just wasn’t Trento’s night as the third period got underway. Multiple shots rimmed out, wasteful turnovers were committed and the decision-making dropped in quality. Frederic Fauthoux’s team weren’t exactly in full-flow themselves, but they did enough to extend the lead through confident transition buckets from Jordan Bayehe and commanding interior play from Kevin Kokila, who dominated the glass. Logging just eight points in the third, Trento saw the contest slipping away heading into the final frame.

The home fans saw a familiar story unfold in the fourth; Trento desperately scrambled for scoring opportunities but couldn’t get through Bourg’s defensive wall. McGhee kept the momentum going for the visitors, capping off his performance with a contested three-pointer. The atmosphere flattened down the stretch and when the final buzzer sounded, Bourg had gotten its EuroCup campaign off to an emphatic start.

Darius McGhee played the starring role in an impressive team performance, as Bourg dominated a struggling Trento team

Panionios Athens celebrated its BKT EuroCup return with a thrilling comeback victory in overtime after losing a big lead to beat debutant NINERS Chemnitz 89-86 at home. The Greek side, which was playing in its first EuroCup game in 11 years and eight months, wasted a 17-point lead but managed to rally from 13 points down late in the third quarter. 

Panionios wins OT thriller in return thanks to Jaylen Hands's heroics 

Panionios Athens celebrated its BKT EuroCup return with a thrilling comeback victory in overtime after losing a big lead to beat debutant NINERS Chemnitz 89-86 at home. The Greek side, which was playing in its first EuroCup game in 11 years and eight months, wasted a 17-point lead but managed to rally from 13 points down late in the third quarter. 

Jaylen Hands buried two three-pointers in the final 34 seconds, including the game-winning triple with 6.4 seconds to go. Michalis Lountzis paced five Panionios players in double figures with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals while Giorgos Tsalmpouris had 15 points. Hands and Markel Starks both scored 11 points. For Chemnitz, Corey Davis scored 26 points and John Newman had 22 points.

Starks hit a three-pointer to open the scoring for the hosts and it was 5-0 when Newman drained a triple for Chemnitz’s first-ever EuroCup points. Lountzis was unstoppable early on with two triples among his 12 points for a 20-7 lead. Thanks to six triples, Panionios’ cushion extended to 17 points 30-13 after 10 minutes.

Davis knocked down three triples for the guests to pull within 34-26. Two Nate Watson dunks helped Panionios push the margin to 44-30. Chemnitz was unfazed and continued to get closer with a 5-15 surge to make it 49-45 at halftime.

Chemnitz scored the first basket of the second half and allowed only one basket in the first nearly 4 minutes but could only make it 51-49. Panionios was leading 53-49 when its offense went ice-cold, as Nike Sibande and Davis scored five points apiece in a 0-17 run over more than 5 minutes for a 53-66 Chemnitz advantage. And it was 57-66 after 30 minutes.

Tsalmpouris hit Panionios’s first five points and Hands buried a triple to finish the 9-0 start to the fourth quarter to tie the game 66-66. Chemnitz finally got on the board after 3 minutes for the next five points. Lountzis responded with six points and Starks’s three-pointer put the Greeks back ahead 75-73 with under 2 minutes to play. Lountzis added two free throws with 37 seconds left for a 77-73 cushion. Davis answered with a layup and then Yordan Minchev knotted the game 77-77 with two free throws with 4.0 seconds remaining. Both teams failed to convert and the game went to overtime.

Neither team could really get going in the extra session, with missed free throws and turnovers as both ends. Davis and Sibande converted layups for Chemnitz for an 81-85 lead with 76 seconds to play. Tsalmpouris followed with two free throws before Hands’s heroics. The guard tied the game with a three-pointer with 35 seconds to go and won it with a long, long triple with 6.4 seconds remaining.

The Greek team's guard hit the game-winner three-pointer with 6.4 seconds to play

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana enjoyed a sweet BKT EuroCup debut when it defeated visiting BAXI Manresa 76-69 at Arena Stozice on Wednesday evening. The hosts improved to 1-0 while the visitors start their debut campaign with a defeat.

Cedevita Olimpija gets past Manresa, 76-69

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana enjoyed a sweet BKT EuroCup debut when it defeated visiting BAXI Manresa 76-69 at Arena Stozice on Wednesday evening. The hosts improved to 1-0 while the visitors start their debut campaign with a defeat.

An 11-0 opening run allowed Cedevita to build a solid double-digit lead at halftime, 42-27, that went above 20 points in the second half. A late rally by Manresa cut the deficit to 5 points in the last period, but a three by Aleksej Nikolic with 27 seconds left secured the home win. 

Nikolic paced the winners with 17 points and 6 assists, Thomas Kennedy posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards, and Nikos Chougkaz added 10 and 9. Alex Reyes led Manresa with 16 points, Louis Olinde had 11, while Grant Golden and Hugo Benitez contributed 10 apiece for the losing side.

The hosts had a perfect start as they easily built an 11-0 lead in less than 3 minutes. Manresa couldn’t find momentum, struggling on offense while going 0 of 2 from the field and committing 3 turnovers. The visitors found some relief when Dani Perez and Reyes came off the bench, as they connected three times from downtown to make it 23-13. Cedevita held off Manresa's comeback attempt by using the free-throw line to perfection, closing the first period with a solid 29-18 advantage.

Although Olinde opened the quarter with an early three-pointer, the overall momentum remained unchanged. Kennedy extended the lead to 35-21 after 13 minutes by converting free throws. DJ Stewart contributed a three-point play, followed by additional free throws from Chougkaz, allowing Cedevita to maintain firm control at 40-25 midway through the second quarter. Manresa experienced a scoring drought lasting over five minutes, and by the time Olinde broke it with a basket inside, Cedevita held a commanding 42-27 advantage at halftime.

Manresa offensive woes continued after the break, as Jaka Blazic converted a corner three-pointer and Chougkaz completed a three-point play to extend the lead beyond 20 points at 48-27. Reyes provided some relief, with Golden assisting to narrow the deficit to 52-36. Steinbergs’s successful three-pointer offered Manresa additional momentum, and another interior basket from Golden brought the score to 54-43 after 17 minutes. However, further progress was curtailed by a pair of free throws from Skara and a timely three-pointer by Joseph Girard, which helped Cedevita enter the last stanza dominating 61-49.

Neither team established a consistent scoring rhythm early in the final quarter. Girard scored the only basket for Cedevita during this period, while Agustin Ubal and Retin Obasohan combined for 4 points, narrowing the gap to 63-53 with five minutes remaining. Olinde came big with a monster block, after which he made a three-pointer and Benitez added a layup to bring the score to 66-60 entering crunch time. Despite Umoja Gibson responding with a three-point shot, turnovers prevented Cedevita from securing the win sooner. Olinde cut the deficit to 69-64 with a strong slam, but Nikolic made a three-pointer with 27 seconds left to seal the outcome.

Aleksej Nikolic and Thomas Kennedy starred for the Lithuanian side