Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo's tips for the eighthfinals include Anthony Brown of Turk Telekom Ankara, Nico Brussino of Dreamland Gran Canaria, Anthony Cowan of Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius,  Jonah Mathews of Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul and De'Shawn Stephens of U-BT Cluj-Napoca 

Javier Gancedo's fantasy tips for the EuroCup Eighthfinals

The BKT EuroCup season returns after a break and so does the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! From now on, unlimited trades will be allowed before each round until the end of the season. With fewer teams to choose from, getting the right players is more important than ever to reach high in the overall standings and in your private leagues. Here are five players I recommend this week:

[**Anthony Brown, Turk Telekom Ankara (14.2 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/)

Turk Telekom and Buducnost are experienced teams and this is a hard game to predict. Brown is the logical choice because both teams need their stars to rise to the expectations. Brown essentially took Turk Telekom to the postseason by averaging 18.3 points and 4.2 rebounds for a PIR of 16.9 in 18 games. I'll roll with him again.

[**Nico Brussino, Dreamland Gran Canaria (10.5 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/)

Gran Canaria needs its most experienced players to step up if it wants to beat a talented Reyer team. Brussino offers a lot more than just experience: deep shooting range, great versatility and a solid option in crunch time. At 10.5 credits, he has an outstanding price value. Brussino is ready to lead Gran Canaria on Wednesday.

Anthony Cowan, De'Shawn Stephens, Nico Brussino, Jonah Mathews and Anthony Brown are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Eighthfinals

[**Anthony Cowan, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (15.2 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25)

Wolves faces Cluj in the only game on Tuesday, so having players from these two teams is critical in this round. Cowan is the obvious choice, a super scorer with deep shooting range and great consistency. He has had double-digit PIRs in his last 11 games and is averaging 19.1 for the season. A must-have player in the eighthfinals.

[**Jonah Mathews, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (11.6 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/)

Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic is a specialist in these single-round, do-or-die games: he's won five of them over the last three seasons. He knows how to make the most out of his shooting guards, too. Remember Andrew Andrews with Bursaspor? Mathews is playing well and has averaged 18.6 points and a PIR of 17.4 in the last five games.

[**De'Shawn Stephens, U-BT Cluj-Napoca (12.2 credits)**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/de-shawn-stephens/006618/)

We are assuming everyone will buy Mfiondu Kabengele of Reyer at center, so trying to get a T1 big man is a calculated risk: We like Stephens because he has been very good recently. In his last two games, Stephens averaged 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 blocks for a PIR of 25.5. Simply fantastic!

Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo shares some tips for the eighthfinals

Dreamland Gran Canaria hosts Umana Reyer Venice in the fourth and final single-game eighthfinal matchup on Wednesday, March 5 at 21:00 CET. 

Title contenders Gran Canaria, Reyer go head to head in eighthfinals clash

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) hosts [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) in the fourth and final single-game eighthfinal matchup on Wednesday, March 5 at 21:00 CET. Reyer overcame a 2-5 start to qualify to the playoffs right at the end of the regular season, while Gran Canaria punched its postseason ticket way in advance, but a couple of late losses prevented the team from getting a bye to the quarterfinals. 

Both coaches know each other well and that will have an impact in the series. Reyer boss Neven Spahija coached Jaka Lakovic in the 2001-02 season, when the current Gran Canaria head coach played for Krka Novo Mesto. At age 23 and under Coach Spahija's guidance, Lakovic had a career-defining Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, averaging 20.9 points and 3.8 assists in 14 games. In just his second-ever EuroLeague game, Lakovic led Krka to an 87-98 road win against Real Madrid with 38 points, 7 assists and a PIR of 55. 

Top Performances, 2001-02: Jaka Lakovic, Krka Novo Mesto

Gran Canaria has an incredibly experienced roster in the competition. It won the EuroCup title in 2023 and five of its current players are still with the team: Andrew Albicy, John Shurna, Nico Brussino, Jovan Kljajic and Miquel Salvo. Mike Tobey is also a EuroCup champion with Valencia Basket in 2019. 

When it comes to Gran Canaria, home-court advantage matters. Gran Canaria is 107-29 (78.7% wins) at home in EuroCup history. It is 6-2 in single-game elimination showdowns in the last three years. Reyer made it to the single-game eighthfinals in 2022 and 2023, losing both games on the road against Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, respectively. 

Dreamland Gran Canaria made it to the eighthfinals with a 12-6 record.

2024-25 EuroCup Regular Season highlights: Dreamland Gran Canaria

Reyer has plenty of reasons to be optimistic, too. Mfiondu Kabengele is the best rebounder in the competition (9.5 RPG) and has impressed everyone with his all-around skills, averaging 15.9 points on 42.1% three-pointers, 1.1 steals and a PIR of 23.5. Reyer has had a lot of injuries this season, particularly in its backcourt. Tyler Ennis (13.4 PPG, 4.6 APG) and Xavier Munford (5.0 PPG) have combined for 19 missed games but are now healthy and ready to help their team. On the other hand, Gran Canaria is missing playmaker Carlos Alocen, who is out with a severe knee injury. 

Amazingly, Alocen was one of 10 players averaging over 5.0 points per game, all led by Caleb Homesley (12.4 PPG). Coach Lakovic has plenty of clutch options if the game goes down to the wire, with Homesley and Joe Thomasson (7.2 PPG) opening the floor from downtown, but counting on experienced shooters like Brussino (8.8 PPG) and Shurna (7.9 PPG). 

Umana Reyer Venice reached the eighthfinals with a 10-8 record.

2024-25 EuroCup Regular Season highlights: Umana Reyer Venice

Stats are as balanced as they can be, with both teams shooting the ball with similar percentages (Gran Canaria 56.4% 2FG, 33.3% 3FG, 79.2 FT%; Reyer 54.6% 2FG, 33.1% 3FG, 76.8% FT). Reyer scores (82.2 PPG) and rebounds (37.2 RPG) a bit more than its opponent (79.3 PPG, 35.7 RPG). 

There is a difference in the game pace, however. Reyer takes 38.4 two-pointers per game (5th overall) and Gran Canaria ranks 17th at 35.3 attempts per night. Gran Canaria attempts more three-point shots (26.3) than Reyer (22.8). On the other hand, Reyer goes a lot to the foul line (22.8 free throws per game) and Gran Canaria is last in the standings (16.6). 

Reyer beat Gran Canaria twice in the 2021-22 season, in which is both teams' only previous matchups. None of that will matter on Thursday, as only the winner will advance to the next round! 

Game News

The 2023 champs meet a team made to compete against anyone – only one of them will advance to the next round

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-03-05T20:00:00.000Z)

Will Dusan Alimpijevic add another playoff road triumph to his record when Beşiktaş takes on Cedevita Olimpija in the last 16 of the EuroCup?

Dusan Alimpijevic out to haunt Cedevita Olimpija in the playoffs… again 

It’s funny how things work in sports. An endless number of storylines are created each week, but often the best ones are those that include a bit of history, an opportunity for revenge.

For [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/), its last-16 meeting with [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/) in the 2025 BKT EuroCup Playoffs will see an old foe on the opposing sideline at Stozice Arena – [Dusan Alimpijevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/alimpijevic-dusan/). For those who don’t know, the Serbian tactician has a bit of history against Cedevita.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">🗣️ DUSAN! DUSAN! <a href="https://t.co/oQclufCZPZ">pic.twitter.com/oQclufCZPZ</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Fibabanka (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1889767710017593582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Back on April 27, 2022, one of the most memorable EuroCup games in recent times took place between Cedevita and Alimpijevic’s Frutti Extra Bursaspor. Everything looked good for Bursaspor at the half of their quarterfinal clash, leading 36-50, but Cedevita had reduced the gap to three points (64-67) after 30 minutes to set up a thrilling fourth quarter.

An impressive road win for Bursaspor beckoned with 1:17 minutes remaining, up 78-85, though five straight points by Cedevita’s Yogi Ferrell cut the visitors lead to two points (83-85) with 27 seconds left. And then, with the final shot of the game, Jacob Pullen made a contested three-pointer off the glass… but he hadn’t got his shot off on time. There was ecstasy in the stands at Stozice Arena, followed by complete despair.

Meanwhile, Alimpijevic and his Bursaspor players celebrated like crazy. They knew that they’d got lucky. Very lucky. Still, Bursaspor went on to down MoraBanc Andorra in the semifinals – the third straight road game it had won in the playoffs – to seal a place in the final against Virtus Segafredo Bologna. The team’s fairy-tale run came to an end there, but a period of postseason austerity started for Cedevita that fateful night against Alimpijevic and co.

Bursaspor stuns Cedevita! | Quarterfinals, Highlights | 2022 EuroCup Playoffs

That certainly cannot be said of Alimpijevic, who has become a master at navigating playoff series. Last season, his first in charge of Besiktas, he guided the team to road victories at reigning champ Dreamland Gran Canaria and a strong Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in the last 16 and quarterfinals, respectively, meaning Alimpijevic has been responsible for five of the 12 road wins in 38 single-elimination playoff games over the last three seasons. Impressive stuff.

One player who has been right alongside Alimpijevic for the past four seasons is 34-year-old guard [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/). The veteran American is completely in tune with his passionate, hard-nosed coach, and the results have been clear to see, taking Bursaspor to the 2022 EuroCup Final before Besiktas’s run to the EuroCup Semifinals last season.

The best plays of Derek Needham over the last four years in the BKT EuroCup, which have come with coach Dusan Alimpijevic at Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul.

Derek Needham's top plays under Coach Alimpijevic

Needham is one of six Americans on Besiktas’s roster, with five – including Needham – averaging 10.2 points or more. [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) (15.2 PPG) was integral to Besiktas’s semifinal finish last season and he has been just as good, if not better, this season. Slowing him down has to be the priority for Cedevita, but there are several other weapons to be wary of, notably [Kelan Martin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kelan-martin/013255/) (11.3 PPG), [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/) (10.5 PPG), [Dustin Sleva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dustin-sleva/011927/) (10.2 PPG) and Canadian big man [Conor Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/conor-morgan/009680/) (9.2 PPG). The mid-season addition of [Uros Plavsic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/uros-plavsic/006240/) (7.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG) has made Besiktas stronger, too.

That is not to say that it will be easy. Besiktas has the Alimpijevic factor and a very talented roster, but Cedevita can feel good about its chances. After all, it has a head coach in [Zvezdan Mitrovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/mitrovic-zvezdan/) who lifted the EuroCup trophy with AS Monaco in 2021. On the floor, Cedevita can call upon the high-flying [Devin Robinson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/) (14.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG), scoring guard [Brynton Lemar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brynton-lemar/013261/) (14.7 PPG), ball handlers [DeVante' Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devante-jones/013260/) (10.0 PPG, 3.9 APG) and [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) (9.8 PPG, 3.6 APG), as well as young prospect [Joan Beringer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/joan-beringer/012996/) (4.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG). In short, there’s a lot of talent there, plus Cedevita will be playing on its home floor.

Playoff games involving Alimpijevic are always worth tuning in for, and this contest is no different. Next Wednesday night (19:30 CET), we will find out if Alimpijevic can work his magic again or if Mitrovic’s experience will make the difference, with a quarterfinal matchup with Bahcesehir College Istanbul the prize for the winner.

The Serbian coach’s Besiktas squad are hoping for another deep postseason run

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2025-03-05T18:30:00.000Z)

With the BKT EuroCup Playoffs almost on our doorstep, it's time to show that you are smarter than the rest by taking part in the EuroCup Bracket Challenge via the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge website/app.

EuroCup Bracket Challenge: Predict the playoff series winners and win prizes!

With the BKT EuroCup Playoffs almost on our doorstep, it's time to show that you are smarter than the rest by taking part in the [EuroCup Bracket Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/11/bracket) via the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge website/app.

The task is simple: create your bracket by picking the winner from each game until the EuroCup Finals, including the MVP. Once you submit your bracket, you will be eligible to win one of three incredible prizes, so long as your bracket ends up coming true.

### What are the EuroCup Bracket Challenge prizes?

- **Grand Prize:** Four EuroCup tickets for the 2025-26 regular season, for any game(s) selected by the winner.
- **Silver Prize:** One EuroLeague TV Annual Pass for the 2025-26 season.
- **Bronze Prize:** One EuroCup Spalding Basketball.

So, what are you waiting for? Predict the playoff series winners in the EuroCup Bracket Challenge and share your predictions on social media!

The postseason gets underway next week with the eighthfinals

Turk Telekom Ankara v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-03-05T16:30:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-03-04T17:00:00.000Z)

The one-and-done BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals are upon us and Wednesday’s three-game slate starts by pitting Turk Telekom Ankara against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Turk Telekom, history-seeking Buducnost clash in the eighthfinals

The one-and-done BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals are upon us and Wednesday’s three-game slate starts by pitting [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/) against [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/). These two teams have met in the recent past, but their head-to-head history might not be of much importance in this one.

Turk Telekom has won all four of its previous games against Buducnost, dating back to December 2022, but the only thing that Turk Telekom team has in common with this season’s team is head coach Erdem Can. Buducnost brings back head coach Andrej Zakelj on the bench and three important players from last season ago – the backcourt trio of [Yogi Ferrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yogi-ferrell/011281/), [McKinley Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) and [Fletcher Magee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/fletcher-magee/012630/) - while big man [Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/) is now in Turk Telekom colors.

And while those four Turk Telekom wins could be irrelevant when the ball is tipped off for this contest on Wednesday, what might matter is the location where this game is played – the Ankara Spor Salonu – where Turk Telekom will certainly try to capitalize on its home-floor advantage.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Save the date 📆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hukmora%C4%8De?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hukmorače</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bkteurocup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bkteurocup</a> <a href="https://t.co/Dy3yC8hopC">pic.twitter.com/Dy3yC8hopC</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1887871810370179457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Only three teams had better home records during the regular season than the team from the Turkish capital, which has won seven of nine home games, including each of the last four. Meanwhile, Buducnost has won only three times away from home this season and averaged 79.7 points per game on the road, way below its fantastic home-court average of 94.6 ppg. Turk Telekom averages 84.3 points on home court, exactly 9 points more than it has averaged on the road.

To use the position Turk Telekom earned by placing third in Group B, the home fans will certainly hope to see big games from their favorite team’s biggest stars. First and foremost, [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/) who is Turk Telekom’s top scorer with 18.3 points per game on 46.7% three-point shooting, along with [Braian Angola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/braian-angola/010465/) who is posting 16.8 points. The two also combine for 7.3 boards per game, a department where high-flying big men [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) and the aforementioned Makoundou star.

Alexander has averaged 7.1 boards, including 2.6 on the offensive glass, along with 8.9 points per game, while Makoundou is worth 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">BKT EuroCup&#39;ta Play-Off Heyecanı Başlıyor!🏀<br><br>BKT EuroCup’ta Play-Off eşleşmeleri belli oldu. Grubu 3. sırada tamamlayarak adımızı Play-Off&#39;a yazdırdık! 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaizen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaizen</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHereForAReason?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHereForAReason</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/VVRbymTb57">pic.twitter.com/VVRbymTb57</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1887822609955332480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

On the other end, Buducnost's centers are far less athletic, but equally productive with [Kenan Kamenjas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-kamenjas/008325/) averaging 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while veteran [Alen Omic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/alen-omic/004222/) grabs 4.3 boards per contest. Meanwhile, Buducnost’s backcourt features three double-digit scorers in [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/) (13.6 ppg.), Ferrell (12.4 ppg.) and one of the EuroCup’s most dangerous sharpshooters in Magee (11.2 ppg., 45.6% 3FG).

All of them will have to show up if Buducnost wants to pull off an upset and win its first time against Turk Telekom. It would be a historic success, marking the first time Buducnost advances in a EuroCup elimination game, as it has failed the previous six times it reached the playoffs.

Turk Telekom and Coach Can, on the other hand, will try to use both the experience of reaching the EuroCup Finals in 2023, and a home-court advantage, to extend their EuroCup journey this season. It certainly sets the stage for a memorable night in Ankara.

These two teams have met four times in just over two years, but never with the stakes this high

All eyes will be on Vilnius on Tuesday, March 4 when the BKT EuroCup postseason with BC Wolves hosting U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Wolves, Cluj to share the spotlight in eighthfinals opener

All eyes will be on Vilnius on Tuesday, March 4 when the BKT EuroCup postseason tips off. [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius/wol/) will host [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) in the first of four single-game eighthfinal matchups. The remaining three will be played on Wednesday, leaving Wolves and Cluj alone to bask in the glory of being the only high-level playoff game of note anywhere in the world that day.

Both Wolves and Cluj are teams with lofty goals who are more than capable of shining in the spotlight. Wolves was, quite literally, built for it. Founded in 2022 when it took over the license of Dzukija Alytus, from the start the plan was to create a top-tier European club in the capital of Lithuania. Former EuroLeague stars Darjus and Ksistof Lavrinovic joined as ambassadors and in the first season, former EuroLeague champ [Jeffery Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jeffery-taylor/006546/) joined the project.

Wolves, which played its debut season in Alytus, made waves in its debut season and joined the EuroCup last season, the club's second campaign. Only one win separated Wolves from a spot in the 2024 postseason. This season, Wolves not only qualified but earned the home-court advantage for its first game.

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The opponent will be the Romanian champion, Cluj, whose history dates back to 1947. Only in recent years has it started to stand out. The first of Cluj's nine league championships came in 1992, and it has now won four in a row. Before debuting in the EuroCup in 2022, Cluj had reached the Champions League quarterfinals in four of the previous six seasons, while starting to bring massive crowds to its games at Bt-Arena.

After finishing second-to-last in its regular-season group in its first EuroCup run, Cluj turned heads last season when it went 13-5 to finish second in its group and earn an automatic big for the quarterfinals, where it ran out of steam against the London Lions. On Tuesday, it will play a EuroCup postseason game on the road for the first time.

The make-up of the team's rosters has some similarities, too. They are led by their playmakers, who have been among the best in the league this season. Cluj's [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) was the regular-season leader in assists (7.5 apg.) and ranked third in both scoring (17.7 ppg.) and PIR (21.0). His counterpart, [Anthony Cowan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-cowan-jr/012003/), ranked third in assists (5.7 apg.), fifth in PIR (19.1) and sixth in scoring (15.9 ppg.).

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Alongside Cowan is [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/), who carried Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the 2022 EuroCup Finals. Simpson's passes can tee up [D.J. Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/), who has been to the EuroCup Quarterfinals three times.

Both teams have wily veterans on the wings; Wolves' 35-year-old Taylor spent seven EuroLeague seasons with Real Madrid. Cluj's 34-year-old Lithuanian forward [Gediminas Orelik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/gediminas-orelik/002012/) is in his 10th EuroCup season and played for the last team from Vilnius to reach the postseason, Rytas Vilnius.

The numbers can be twisted to tell many stories about this game. Cluj plays at a faster pace, is the more accurate shooting team and has better offensive rebounding numbers. Wolves takes better care of the ball, locks down its defensive glass and led the EuroCup in free-throw accuracy (80.3%). It almost doesn't matter.

This game could very well end up being decided by things that stats cannot always measure or predict. Like who wants the 50/50 balls more. Or as cliché as it sounds, by who plays with more heart. Because after all, it's the start of the postseason and the dream for EuroCup glory starts here.

The teams have much different histories and similar builds, but only one will advance to the quarterfinals

As the 2024-25 EuroCup heads into the knockout rounds, we reflect on what happened in the past in single-elimination contests.

A history of single-game elimination ties in the EuroCup

Just 66 of the 4,602 games in BKT EuroCup history (1.43%) have been single-game elimination showdowns, and some of them provided some of the most thrilling moments in competition history. We are taking advantage of the long break to look back at some of them. 

As many as 13 finals were played in a single-game format. Four others were played in a two-way format in 2003, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and the rest were best-of-three playoff series in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024. In five of those 13 seasons, the final was the only single-game elimination round showdown. All of those five championship games were played at the same arena: the Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium. 

The first-ever single-game final took place on April 13, 2004, and it was one for the ages. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem topped heavy favorite Real Madrid 73-82 behind 22 points from Kelly McCarty in the first of four consecutive championship games played at the Spiroudome. In 2005, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius held off Alfa Makedonikos's comeback to grab a 78-74 win. Dynamo Moscow bested Aris Midea Thessaloniki 60-73 in 2006, and Real lifted the trophy in 2007 after downing Rytas 75-87 behind an unstoppable Charles Smith. 

The EuroCup Final returned to the Spiroudome in 2013 as Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar and Bilbao Basket battled for the title. Lokomotiv prevailed, beating Bilbao 64-75. Richard Hendrix led five Lokomotiv players in double digits with 14 points, earning final MVP honors. 

From 2008 to 2012, the EuroCup tried a bigger format with more drama. A Final Eight format was chosen in 2008 and 2009, played in Turin, Italy. Joventut Badalona won the 2007-08 EuroCup, downing Valencia Basket, Galatasaray Istanbul and Akasvayu Girona in knockout games. Rudy Fernandez earned Final Eight MVP honors. A year later, Rytas went all the way, topping Benneton Treviso, Hemofarm Vrsac and a star-studded Khimki Moscow Region to lift the trophy for the second time. Marijonas Petravicius earned Final Eight MVP honors, scoring 20 points on 8-of-9 two-pointers.

The competition scaled down to a Final Four format from 2010 to 2012. Valencia conquered its second title in 2010, downing Panellinios Athens 92-80 in the semifinals and thrashing ALBA Berlin 44-67 in the final, smashing all sort of records. UNICS Kazan went all the way in 2011, defeating Cedevita Zagreb (87-66) and Cajasol Sevilla (92-77). Khimki won the trophy in 2013, becoming the first team in EuroCup history to win a single-game final on its home court. It beat Spartak St Petersburg 77-73 in the semifinal and Valencia 77-68 in the final. 

After nine years without single-game elimination showdowns, they returned in style in the 2021-22 season. A change to the EuroCup format saw all playoff games become do-or-die showdowns in 2022 and 2023. Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor made it to the 2022 final. Virtus beat 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys and ratiopharm Ulm at home before downing Valencia on the road. Bursaspor grabbed road wins against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and MoraBanc Andorra to storm into the final. Virtus prevailed at home in the title decider, 80-67, and Milos Teodosic earned Finals MVP honors. 

In 2023, Dreamland Gran Canaria had home-court advantage in all potential series and made the most of it. The Spanish side turned Gran Canaria Arena into a fortress, consecutively beating Bursaspor, Paris Basketball, Joventut and Turk Telekom Ankara to lift the trophy for the first time. 

Starting last season, best-of-three series were introduced for the semifinals and finals, reducing single-game elimination showdowns from 15 to eight. Two teams managed to win two of these games in both the eighthfinals and quarterfinals: the London Lions and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul. 

Some 38 single-game elimination showdowns have taken place in the last three seasons, with the home team winning 26 times (68.4%). Remarkably enough, teams coached by Dusan Alimpijevic stole five of those 12 road wins: Bursaspor won three times in 2022, and Besiktas prevailed against Gran Canaria and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv last season. 

Coach Alimpijevic has the chance to make more history in the coming weeks as his Besiktas squad takes on Cedevita in the Slovenian capital in one of the last-16 games. Elsewhere, Gran Canaria takes on Umana Reyer Venice, Turk Telekom hosts Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, and Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius welcomes U-BT Cluj-Napoca. Bring on the excitement! 

As the 2024-25 EuroCup heads into the knockout rounds, we reflect on what happened in the past

Dolomiti Energia Trento captured the Italian Cup for the first time in club history with a 63-79 victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Sunday's final at Inalpi Arena in Turin

Domestic cups: Trento wins Italian Cup for first time

Dolomiti Energia Trento captured the Italian Cup for the first time in club history with a 63-79 victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Sunday's final at Inalpi Arena in Turin. Quinn Ellis was named Frecciarossa Final Eight MVP after scoring 14 points in the final. Jordan Ford scored 23 and Anthony Lamb added 12 for Trento. Nikola Mirotic led Milan with 20 points and Zach LeDay netted 12.

Eigirdas Zukauskas scored half the points in a 0-10 run to close the second quarter that gave Trento a 31-38 halftime lead. Milan closed to within 2 early in the third quarter, but Zukauskas, Ford and Ellis helped Trento a 48-59 lead entering the fourth. Ellis's next triple made it 50-67 and Milan never threatened again.


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### Turkiye: Besiktas falls in cup final

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has successfully defended the Turkish Cup with a 104-81 victory over Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in the final on Sunday in Sanliurfa. Nigel Hayes-Davis was named MVP after posting 22 points and 9 rebounds for Fenerbahce, which won the cup for the ninth time.

Sertac Sanli and Devon Hall netted 14 points apiece, Errick McCollum contributed 13 and Tarik Biberovic 10 for the winners. Derek Needham led Besiktas with 20 points and 5 assists and Jonah Matthews and Berk Ugurlu scored 11 points each. Fenerbahce outrebounded Besiktas 33-22 and made 55.2% three-pointers (16 of 29) as two of the keys to the win.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">ING Türkiye Kupası Final Maçı<br><br>Beşiktaş Fibabanka 81-104 Fenerbahçe Beko | Maç Sonucu<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Potan%C4%B1nKartallar%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PotanınKartalları</a> <a href="https://t.co/bur8KL5e6v">pic.twitter.com/bur8KL5e6v</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Fibabanka (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1891139824016351455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Domestic Cups: Trento wins Italian Cup for first time

Domestic Cups: Trento reaches its first Cup final

Dolomiti Energia Trento has reach the Italian Cup finals for the first time in club history, and will be playing against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Sunday’s final. In Saturday’s semifinal drama, Trento edged Pallacanestro Trieste 82-79 to come one win away from its first major trophy. In a history win, Quinn Ellis starred with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Anthony Lamb netted 18 points, while Myles Cale, Andrea Pecchia and Saliou Niang scored 10 apiece, as Pecchia also had 7 rebounds. Triesto was led by 25 points from Michele Ruzzier, 21 points from Markel Brown and 19 points from Denzel Valentine.

Trento had a better start to the game, and had 29-15 early in the second quarter, but Trieste rallied back and cot within 38-33 at halftime. In the third quarter, Trieste took its first lead, 45-47, and proceeded to hold advantage in the fourth, and led 68-74. However, Niang had a three-point play, before Ellis and Lamb capped a 7-0 run. A triple from Cale put Trento up 78-77, and Niang’s fastbreak bucket made it 80-37 with 37 seconds left, as Trento prevailed.

### Spain: Real Madrid downs Gran Canaria 

Real Madrid is one step away from its Spanish Cup crown defense after downing tournament host Dreamland Gran Canaria 63-80 on Saturday night. In the final, Los Blancos will face Unicaja Malaga.

Gran Canaria had a better start to the semifinal, and held Real to just 10 first-quarter points. The margin grew to 26-12 after a 10-2 run, which included a triple from John Shurna, to open the second quarter. But Real answered with a 1-14 run, fueled by 8 points from Mario Hezonja and capped by a triple from Facundo Campazzo. Gran Canaria led 31-30 at the break, but Campazzo hit back-to-back triples to start Real’s 0-13 run to give it a 45-53 lead. Los Blancos never looked back, and Sergio Llull took over in the fourth as he fueled another spurt, increasing the margin to 54-73 midway through the fourth quarter, sealing the deal.

Hezonja had 14 points and 6 rebounds, Campazzo 13 points and 7 assists. Llull scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, while Walter Tavares collected 7 points and 11 rebounds. Caleb Homesley was the only Gran Canaria scorer in double figures with 15 points.

### Lithuania: Wolves, Lietkabelis ousted in the semis

Zalgiris Kaunas is back to the Lithuanian Cup final and will be playing for sixth straight crown after a 79-56 semifinal win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys on Saturday night. This is also the 11th consecutive time Zalgiris will play in the finals, where it will face Neptunas, which edged Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 87-83 in the other semifinal. Lonnie Walker finished the game with 19 points, Ignas Brazdeikis had 16, Sylvain Francisco 14 points and Deividas Sirvydis 10 points and 7 rebounds. Mantas Rubstavicius scored 14 and Djordje Gagic 10 points for Lietkabelis.

Zalgiris went in front early, building a 14-4 lead with Brazdeikis, Francisco and Edgaras Ulanovas scoring all points. Zalgiris extended it to 23-10 before the end of the first quarter and kept the margin safe. Gagic helped Lietkabelis get the margin into single digit, but Zalgiris ended up holding a 38-27 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Brazdeikis scored the first 5 points, followed by back-to-back triples from Francisco. Ulanovas scored the next 5 points, including a three-pointer, extending the margin to 54-36. Rubstavicius and Oleksandr Kovliar got life back into Lietkabelis, and the margin was 58-48 early in the fourth, but Sirvydis scored 5 points, including a three-pointer and Zalgiris never looked back.

In the first semifinal, Wolves found themselves behind 33-25, but rallied behind Tre'Shawn Thurman's 9 consecutive points. Threes from Matas Jogela and Anthony Cowan put Wolves in front and they held 43-44 halftime lead. But Neptunas retook the lead early in the third, then used a 7-0 run to open a 65-58 margin after 30 minutes. In the fourth, first Kristupas Zemaitis, then Cowan, were leading Wolves' attempts to rally, but Desure Buie, Arnas Berucka and Myles Hesson hit key three-pointers as Neptunas held on. Cowan had 21 points and 8 assists, while Thurman posted 20 points and 8 rebounds in Wolves' loss, while Buie had 22 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds for the winner, with Hesson netting 19 points.

BKT EuroCup side will face the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague giant EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Sunday's final