The BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals continue tonight with the showdown between U-BT Cluj Napoca and the London Lions. All four quarterfinal duels are one-game clashes, so the players will leave everything on the floor. Just like in the previous round, the EuroCupbasketball.com staff members who follow the competition as closely as anyone have made their predictions for each game.

Quarterfinals predictions: U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. London Lions

The BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals continue tonight with the [showdown between U-BT Cluj Napoca and the London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/u-bt-cluj-napoca-london-lions/U2023/186/). All four quarterfinal duels are one-game clashes, so the players will leave everything on the floor. Just like in the previous round, the [EuroCupbasketball.com](http://EuroCupbasketball.com) staff members who follow the competition as closely as anyone have made their predictions for each game. 

### Cluj's centers do the trick

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

I expect a very balanced game here. London is loaded with talent – particularly since [David Nwaba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/david-nwaba/012797/) joined and [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) re-joined the team – and has six double-digits scorers. Cluj has its own strengths, though. First, its home-court advantage will be legitimate, with 10,000 fans at BT-Arena. Second, Cluj has a core of long-tenured players who know how to play with each other. And third, I like Cluj's chances in the battle for the paint. Even when London features [Gabe Olaseni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/gabe-olaseni/006600/), who ranks third in PIR (20.9), and [Josh Sharma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/josh-sharma/012020/) comes off a big eighthfinals performance against Turk Telekom Ankara (19 PIR), I believe [Andrija Stipanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrija-stipanovic/005113/) and [Emanuel Cate](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/emanuel-cate/005373/) give Cluj the edge at center. Stipanovic and Cate combine for 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and a PIR of 25.5 in less than 40 minutes. One or both will be ready to dominate the paint and take Olaseni into foul trouble. I believe Cluj will make history and reach the semifinals. **My pick: Cluj.**

Andrija Stipanovic and Emanuel Cate combine for 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and a PIR of 25.5 in less than 40 minutes so far this season.

Stipanovic, Cate anchor Cluj's offense

### Lions conquer Cluj's den

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

Wednesday is going to be a huge night in Cluj-Napoca as the fans at the packed BT-Arena try to help their team reach European semifinal for the first time ever. Cluj has weapons and experience everywhere, from [D.J. Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/) and [Patrick Richard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/patrick-richard/011801/) in the backcourt to sharpshooter [Jarell Eddie](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jarell-eddie/010569/) and big man Andrija Stipanovic. But they host the London Lions, a team equally ambitious and even more balanced. London has a star guard in [Matthew Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-morgan/012585/) (17.2 ppg., 4.1 apg.), star forwards David Nwaba and Sam Dekker, and a dominant big man Gabe Olaseni (15.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg.). Its great depth and offensive firepower saw London score 60 points in the first half of the eighthfinals game against Turk Telekom Ankara. What's more London loves playing away, racking up an 8-1 road record this season. I say London is the one that will make history by becoming the first British team to reach the EuroCup Semifinals. **My pick: London.**

### The Lions will roar

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

Did you see what happened in the eighthfinals last week? Not only did London take care of business against Turk Telekom Ankara, but all four Group A teams were victorious against their Group B opponents. If we are taking that to assume that Group A is stronger, then what can we make of the fact that London had a 12-6 record in the "tougher" group and Cluj a 13-5 record in the "weaker" one? Moreover, London was 8-1 on the road this season and its roster is stronger than ever with the mid-season addition of David Nwaba and the return of Sam Dekker from injury. Cluj was 7-2 at home this season and its advantage at BT-Arena should not be taken for granted. Nevertheless, I see London as the stronger side. **My pick: London.**

David Nwaba, Gabe Olaseni and Matt Morgan have taken the London Lions to the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals!

London's big three: David Nwaba, Gabe Olaseni and Matt Morgan

### Cluj in a close one

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

It's rare to see a team play so lopsidedly better on the road as London has this season, going 8-1 when crossing the English Channel and 4-5 at home. None of those road wins came with quite the atmosphere expected at BT-Arena on Wednesday, nor with the same do-or-die pressure. Cluj was a solid 7-2 at home and boasts talent and experience. So does London, however, and the visitors are blessed with athleticism, too. This game will come down to how much London's athleticism is allowed to thrive. Cluj has won games scoring 120 points, 61 points and everything in between this season, so its adaptability is there. London has had the firepower to play from ahead a lot, so if this game is close, it's to Cluj's advantage. Both teams were perfect this season in games they led at halftime, London 9-0 and Cluj 8-0. But entering the fourth quarter behind, Cluj was better, 4-1 to London's 3-3. With the crowd on its side and the stakes high, look for Cluj to pull out a close one here. **My pick: Cluj.**

### London will make a statement in Cluj-Napoca

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

The London Lions thoroughly impressed by thumping Turk Telekom Ankara 100-77 in the EuroCup Eighthfinals, reaching the 100-point mark for the sixth time this season, and I think they will continue to shine when they go on the road to face U-BT Cluj-Napoca. After all, London comes into the quarterfinals with the second-best road record in the competition, having gone 8-1 on its travels in the regular season. Cluj was very good at home all season long, going 7-2, and gets its playoff journey now after finishing second in Group B and thus bypassing the eighthfinals. Matt Morgan, Gabe Olaseni, Sam Dekker, David Nwaba… London has a ton of talent at its disposal and I think it will quieten a raucous crowd inside BTarena en route to a victory on Wednesday night. **My pick: London.**

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">TOUCHDOWN IN CLUJ 🛬🇷🇴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreLondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreLondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/POrdB025jf">pic.twitter.com/POrdB025jf</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1767569007182332414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v London Lions (2024-03-13T17:00:00.000Z)

Tyler Cook, Joventut: 'The job is never finished'

Hello again! As you saw, we made it to the quarterfinals. Since I signed, players have been coming and going. We added Shannon Evans. It's been a process, we needed time to kind of gel and get used to each other and figure out what works for us on the court. I think we're doing a good job with that. The job is never finished for us, there are always things that we can improve on. But I think as long as we are taking steps in the right direction every time we step on the floor and we are getting wins in the process, that makes everything a lot easier. As long as we keep improving, you will continue to see a better version of us.

We had a long break before the eighthfinals game against Ulm. Personally, I rested and got healthier. I was a little banged up going into the break, so having a few days off really helped me out a lot. We had two three-day weekends, so that was the time that we got to recover and step away for a little bit. And then we came in, the guys that were here, we got to work out, played two-on-two or three-on-three. We had one day of four-on-four with some of the younger guys too, watched film and kind of kept ourselves sharp and ready. And I think when everybody joined the group, we just hit the ground running.

Then in Ulm, we played a really good first half. I think the rest helped us out a ton. It's a long season and we have families. We have other things that we do and sometimes it's just good to step away and take a breath. I think we came back more energized, hungry and excited to compete. And I think that's shown in a couple of games since we have been back, especially at home. In Ulm, we played a pretty decent first half. They are a good team, so they came back and gave us a challenge in the second half. But I think being able to stick together and fight through that adversity was a byproduct of us having a different energy about us.

"I'm excited to be able to get out there and compete against Paris again."

I heard a couple of times that we had lost against Ulm two years ago, but it wasn't something that we spoke too much about. I think Coach might have brought it up a couple of weeks ago when we first found out we were playing them. Credit to the coaches and our teammates, as we just focused on the present. We didn't really we didn't harp too much on what happened a couple of years ago. Obviously, there was a little bit of want for payback, I guess. But that's a different team. We are a different team now, so we just came out, competed and won the game.

Our next opponent is Paris Basketball, who beat us twice earlier this season. I was only here for one of those games against them, which was obviously the second time we played them. They made some huge shots at the end of the game and beat us with some tough plays. But I think for us it was encouraging, and almost kind of exciting, to see that we would have won the game with a couple more stops. I think the whole team is excited. I know I'm excited to be able to get out there and compete against them again. It will be highly competitive, very exciting and obviously a chance to move on in the tournament. So I think we are all excited about that opportunity.

It definitely can be done. It takes a lot of focus and a lot of intention because they play somewhat of a different style of basketball. I won't say an NBA style, but they get up and down the court as an NBA team would, like they run in transition. They get quick threes up, quick layups. They have a lot of different guys on that team who can be effective. We have played them twice, I have played them once, so I got a good look at them. I think it's just being focused, understanding what they are trying to do, what their goals are, understanding their personnel and then just being locked in and focused, and executing to the best of our ability once we get there. I think we will be ready for Paris.

Tyler Cook joined Joventut Badalona early in the 2023-24 season.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Tyler Cook, Joventut Badalona

I think our team does a good job of staying in the moment, not necessarily looking too far forward or too far back. Obviously, the team's veterans do a great job of telling me things and educating me on some different things when that time comes. But one of my favorite things about our players is that we don't really overtalk when it's not necessary, we just come out and try to compete and play hard. And I think we are a pretty unified and together team. So I think that goes much further than lip service does.

When we played them last at their place, I thought we did a good job. I thought we had a good balance. Obviously, we want to play at our pace, play the style of basketball that suits our personnel but at the same time, you have to respect what they do. And so I think if we kind of find that same balance as we did in the last game, it's not going to be easy. They are going to score and make runs. but I think that we are a team that can do the same on both ends of the court. I think just getting a couple more stops at the end of that game may turn out a little bit differently. It will exciting and we will find different ways to be effective.

"The reason why guys work so hard in the off-seasons and there is more pressure this time of year is because of what's on the line."

This is the reason why we do it. I think it wouldn't be as much fun if all we did was play regular season games and that was it. For everybody, the reason why guys work so hard in the off-seasons and there is more pressure this time of year is because of what's on the line and what you know is possible to achieve. I know for me, this is the most exciting part of the year and I think the rest of the team would agree. It brings more nerves, but it also brings more excitement. If we make it to the semifinals, we will play at least one more game at home. Everybody loves to play big games at home and I think we have one of the best crowds that I have seen, period. When our people come out and show up, it's a huge advantage for us, so that would be awesome, amazing. We obviously have to get the job done in Paris first, but if we can get back here, that only helps us out even more!

Paris Basketball v Joventut Badalona (2024-03-14T19:45:00.000Z)

JL Bourg-en-Bresse impressed in its win against BC Prometey in the EuroCup Quarterfinals, showing it has plenty of talented players, not just Zaccharie Risacher.

Bourg showed it is more than a one-man team in Prometey triumph

Most of the talk ahead of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse’s quarterfinal tie against Prometey Slobozhanske surrounded [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/) and whether the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft would put on a show at Ekinox.

Well, it didn’t quite turn out that way. Instead, Risacher’s teammates were the ones who stood out most en route to [a convincing 95-82 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/memorable-third-quarter-run-proved-key-as-bourg-beat-prometey/) that should make the rest of the EuroCup sit up and take notice.

Having finished as the leader in Group B following the 18-game regular season, Bourg secured a bye in the eighthfinals. Prometey, meanwhile, defeated Aris Midea Thessaloniki 95-67 to book their place amongst the final eight. Who can go another step further?

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse-Prometey Slobozhanske | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Bourg is not a one-man team

Risacher, Bourg’s leading scorer during the regular season at 13.1 points per game, finished Tuesday night’s contest with just 3 points – all of which came from the free-throw line. Fortunately for him, there were five Bourg players who reached double digits, with [Isiaha Mike](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/isiaha-mike/011836/) and [Jeremy Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jeremy-morgan/010431/) leading the way with 17 points apiece. [JeQuan Lewis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jequan-lewis/012617/) and [Maksim Salash](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/maksim-salash/004525/) both had 12 points, too, and [Bryce Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-brown/012628/) added 11.

It’s hard to imagine that the 18-year-old Risacher will have another below-par night once the EuroCup Semifinals begin, with Bourg having home-court advantage in a three-game series against either Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv or Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, but the good news is that he has a cast around him that can step up and get the job done.

Indeed, Bourg’s fantastic five – those who scored 10 points or more – looked incredibly comfortable on the big stage and were roared on by a passionate crowd inside Ekinox. As Mike explained in the post-game flash interview after, Bourg made a statement by taking down Prometey: “I want to give credit to our team, man. We had a hell of a fight. We knew all week it was going to be a hard-fought game, but we came in here and made a statement.”

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse forward Isiaha Mike spoke to the media after his team's win against Prometey Slobozhanske in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals.

Isiaha Mike speaks post-Prometey win

### Continuing to make history

By winning Group B, Bourg secured a direct passage to the quarterfinals and, in turn, made history by reaching the further point it had reached in the EuroCup. Now, having beaten Prometey and advanced to the semifinals, there is the chance for Bourg’s fairy-tale story to continue.

“We are ambitious. Now we’ll play the semifinal – we’ll play at home, like tonight – so we’ll see \[what happens\],” commented Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux.

The good news for Bourg fans is that it has a very impressive home record, too, which should make them feel confident heading into the semifinals. Bourg’s win over Prometey meant it is now 9-1 at Ekinox in EuroCup play this season, and its only loss was a Round 18 defeat to ratiopharm Ulm, once it already knew that it had won Group B. Therefore, in home games with significance, Bourg is 9-0.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">HUGO VOUS DONNE RENDEZ-VOUS POUR LES DEMI-FINALES !<br><br>C&#39;ÉTAIT INCROYABLE CE SOIR ! ON REMET LE COUVERT DÈS LE 26 MARS 🔥<br><br>Pour être averti de l&#39;ouverture de la billetterie, ça se passe ici 👉 <a href="https://t.co/WU6QiMeMGL">https://t.co/WU6QiMeMGL</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/8tddZUwJYA">pic.twitter.com/8tddZUwJYA</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1767675687517982981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

One of the main benefits to playing at home is that the players feel more comfortable, and that could explain why several of Bourg’s players were able to shine against Prometey. Curiously, aside from 5 turnovers by Lewis and 3 by Risacher, the other eight Bourg players had just 2 turnovers between them. Prometey, meanwhile, finished with 19 turnovers, which is something head coach Ronen Ginzburg lamented after the game.

Still, Bourg’s extra energy and hustle made the difference in key moments, with Mike refusing to put any limits on what his team could achieve:

“If we defend at a really high level, if we secure the rebounds, the sky is the limit for us, honestly.”

More Bourg News

Zaccharie Risacher on the floor during Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse's win against Prometey Slobozhanske in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals.

Star player Zaccharie Risacher had a below-par night by his standards

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Prometey Slobozhanske (2024-03-12T18:30:00.000Z)

JL Bourg-en-Bresse won the third quarter of its game against BC Prometey 34-13, which included a key 27-8 run that put the French side in a great position to win the game.

Memorable third-quarter run proved key as Bourg beat Prometey

There was just one point separating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Prometey Slobozhanske at halftime of their contest in the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals on Tuesday night, with the hosts 45-44 ahead. Yet, by the time the third quarter had come to a close, Bourg led by 22 points, 79-57, and had one foot in the semifinals.

In fact, Bourg enjoyed its best-ever third-quarter performance in the EuroCup by outscoring Prometey 34-13 in that period alone, beating its 16-point margin in a 75-88 win at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 18 of the 2022-23 regular season.

### A third quarter to remember

[Jeremy Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jeremy-morgan/010431/), who was excellent on the night with a joint team-high 17 points, got Bourg rolling after the break with a three-pointer to move to 13 points and thus set a 48-44 score in the process. A player who went on to have a huge second half, [Kevin Kokila](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/), soon got his first points of the night by going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, 50-44. There was an unsportsmanlike foul called on Prometey’s [Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) after [JeQuan Lewis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jequan-lewis/012617/)’s in-your-face defense led to him stealing the ball and starting an attack, only for Agada to bring him down. That resulted in a couple of free-throw makes by Lewis, 52-44.

It was the perfect start to the second half by Bourg, which looked ready for the moment and was being cheered on by its passionate fans inside Ekinox. Although Prometey hit back with a 5-0 run of its own, with [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/) scoring a jumper and [Ronald March](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ronald-march/012600/) completing a three-point play, to set a 52-49 score, that only seemed to anger Bourg.

Frederic Fauthoux saw his team go on a 27-8 run in the remaining 7:22 minutes of the third period, which saw it take a 79-57 lead into the fourth quarter. There were a few players who particularly stood out in that run, but the two-way play of Lewis and Kokila proved vital in helping Bourg pull away. Then, when [Bryce Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-brown/012628/) knocked down a three-pointer from the car park to open a 20-point lead, 75-55, for the first time, it seemed like the game was all but done.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">LA JL EST EN DEMI-FINALES D&#39;EUROCUP 🔥🔥🔥🔥<br><br>JL Bourg 95 - 82 <a href="https://twitter.com/BcPrometey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BcPrometey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadtoGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadtoGreatness</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/SSdklK5Hhg">pic.twitter.com/SSdklK5Hhg</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1767653674526859265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There was a late fightback by Prometey in the final frame, but it was too little, too late. In the end, that third-quarter run by Bourg was the difference [in its 95-82 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bourg-shines-against-prometey-on-an-off-night-for-risacher-95-82/) – and it’s a main reason why it can look forward to a best-of-three matchup with either Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv or Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in the EuroCup Semifinals.

JeQuan Lewis celebrates during a timeout in Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse's win against Prometey Slobozhanske in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals.

The French side outscored the visitors 34-13 to enter the fourth quarter with a 79-57 lead

JL Bourg-en-Bresse beat BC Prometey 95-82 in the EuroCup Quarterfinals, with Jeremy Morgan and Isiaha Mike shining on a night when Zaccharie Risacher struggled from the field.

Bourg shines against Prometey on an off night for Risacher, 95-82

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse is the first team to book its place in the BKT EuroCup Semifinals after defeating Prometey Slobozhanske 95-82 at Ekinox on Tuesday night. The French side improved to 9-1 at home, with its only loss having come in Round 18 to ratiopharm Ulm, when it had already wrapped up top spot in Group B. Bourg will face the winner of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in a best-of-three series, in which it has home-court advantage.

Jeremy Morgan and Isiaha Mike paced Bourg with 17 points apiece, followed by Maksim Salash and JeQuan Lewis with 12 each. Bryce Brown added 11 for Bourg, which also had Kevin Kokila and Axel Julien both net 9. Zaccharie Risacher, Bourg’s leading scorer during the regular season, had just 3 points, all of which came from the free-throw line. For Prometey, Ondrej Balvin posted a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double. Ronald March scored 13 points, Caleb Agada and Ivan Tkachenko both had 11, and DJ Kennedy recorded a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double before having to leave the game in the third quarter with an injury.

Game Videos

Bourg got off to a good start and opened an 8-3 lead, with Mike scoring 5 points in that spell. Prometey soon made it a one-point ballgame, 8-7, but Bourg always found a way to stay in front, with Morgan, Mike and Salash all putting points on the board. Brown’s mid-range jumper made it 17-14 with 17 seconds remaining, but a triple by March ensured it was 17-17 at the end of the first quarter.

It was a similar story in the second quarter, with Bourg nudging in front before opening up an eight-point margin, 29-21 after a triple by Salash. Yet, a 6-0 run by Prometey featuring 4 points from Kennedy cut the gap to two points, 29-27. From that point on, it remained tight in the remainder of the quarter, before a deep two by Agada set a 45-44 score at halftime.

Game News

Bourg reestablished its eight-point advantage, 52-44, early in the third period, but Prometey once again fought back, trimming the gap to 52-49 with a jumper by Balvin and a three-point play by March. That seemed to wake Bourg up again, though, as it went on to outscore – and dominate – Prometey 27-8 in the remainder of the quarter, which ensured it led 79-57 entering the final frame.

There was a response by Prometey early in the fourth, scoring the first six points of the period to make it 79-63, but mid-range scores by Kokila and Lewis took the wind out of the visitors’ sails, 83-63. Bourg didn’t need to get out of second gear the rest of the way as Prometey kept missing open looks and failing to capitalize on the opportunities it had. The Ukrainian side did make it interesting down the stretch, but Morgan, Brown and Mike stepped up to ensure Bourg came away with a 95-82 victory, thus booking its place in the last four of the EuroCup.

Hugo Benitez of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse is guarded by Ondrej Balvin of Prometey Slobozhanske in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Semifinals.

Jeremy Morgan and Isiaha Mike were the team's two stars, while the 18-year-old Zaccharie Risacher had just 3 points

Joventut’s leading scorer and Besiktas’s dominant center are proving that the Dominican Republic is impacting the BKT EuroCup

Feliz and Delgado, dominant Dominicans in the EuroCup Quarterfinals

Those are often cliché words on the sporting landscape, but they sound pretty real sometimes. That was the case in Manila when the Dominican Republic went on a three-game winning streak to start the 2023 World Cup.

They were surely spurred by NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns, but a trio of upcoming BKT EuroCup gems were also among the protagonists of the Dominicans’ early success in the competition: ratiopharm Ulm’s L.J. Figueroa, Joventut Badalona’s Andres Feliz, and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul’s Angel Delgado.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1642371/andres-feliz-and-angel-delgado-dominant-dominicans-in-the-eurocup-quarterfinals/)

The most critical phase of the BKT EuroCup season is here, which makes it time to consider which stars are most deserving of end-of-season honors.

2023-24 All-EuroCup fan voting is open!

The most critical phase of the BKT EuroCup season is here, which makes it time to consider which stars are most deserving of end-of-season honors.

As always, the fans will have their rightful say in choosing the award-winners.

The fan portion of the All-EuroCup voting will run from Tuesday, March 12 through Thursday, April 4, the day after the semifinals conclude.

Ballots cast by fans, coaches, team captains and members of the media will each count for 25% of the totals used to determine the All-EuroCup selections.

Upon completion of all voting, the player with the most votes will become this season's MVP. He and the next four top vote-getters will comprise the All-EuroCup First Team and the next five will make up the All-EuroCup Second Team.

To make your impact on the final results, go to <https://alleurocupteam.eurocupbasketball.com> to register your vote for the players who impressed you the most this season!

Please base your selections on each player's performances for the entire 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season and Playoffs.

**Remember to cast your ballot no later than April 4, 2024.**

On to the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals! The four eighthfinals survivors meet those squads that qualified directly for the quarterfinals. Some of these teams played against each other in the regular season: Paris Basketball and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv beat Joventut Badalona and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, respectively, twice this season. U-BT Cluj-Napoca and the London Lions face each other for the first time, just like Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Prometey Slobozhanske. Unlike last week, we are taking some risks to help your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge team surprise your potential opponents.

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge tips for the quarterfinals

On to the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals! The four eighthfinals survivors meet those squads that qualified directly for the quarterfinals. Some of these teams played against each other in the regular season: Paris Basketball and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv beat Joventut Badalona and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul, respectively, twice this season. U-BT Cluj-Napoca and the London Lions face each other for the first time, just like Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Prometey Slobozhanske. Unlike last week, we are taking some risks to help your [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) team surprise your potential opponents.

[D.J. Seeley, U-BT Cluj-Napoca (10.0 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/)

Cluj plays its first-ever EuroCup Playoff game at home in front of 10,000 diehard fans. It must rely on its most experienced players to make the difference against London. Seeley will play his 101st EuroCup game and is also his team's leading scorer (13.9 ppg.). Expect him to play a big role in this crucial game.

[Bar Timor, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (8.0 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bar-timor/004846/)

 Timor played 23 minutes in the Israeli League this weekend, getting 7 points and a PIR of 10. He had a double-digit PIR in five of the last six games in which he played more than 20 minutes. At his current price, Timor is a big bargain.

Andres Feliz, Bar Timor, T.J. Shorts, Zaccharie Risacher and D.J. Seeley are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Quarterfinals

[Andres Feliz, Joventut Badalona (14.4 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/)

The man of the moment! Feliz led Joventut to a road win in Ulm with a fantastic individual performance: 28 points on 9 of 11 two-point shooting, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for a PIR of 36. Joventut lost twice against Paris and should be more motivated than ever to knock off the top regular season team. If it does, Feliz will have a lot to do with it.

[T.J Shorts, Paris Basketball (19.5 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/)

Shorts led Paris to a 17-1 record and is the top candidate to earn season MVP honors. He leads the 2023-24 EuroCup in two-point shots made (5.8), assists (7.6) and PIR (22.6). MVP-caliber players, however, show their best version in the playoffs, and Shorts will be very much looking forward to doing that against Joventut.

[Zaccharie Risacher, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (11.2 credits)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/)

There are fewer and fewer options in the market, particularly at forward. Risacher has done a great job of ignoring the hype around him to put together a great season (13.1 ppg., 56.1% 3FG, 3.6 rpg., 12.1 PIR). Prometey plays up-tempo, which matches Risacher's abilities. Expect him to have a strong game in front of his team's fans.

This season there will be a new BKT EuroCup champion thanks to Besiktas Emjakjet Istanbul, which dethroned Dreamland Gran Canaria 78-80 in the eighthfinals. Veteran playmaker Derek Needham again played a big role in this victory, getting 9 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 fouls drawn and a PIR of 9. Needham knows what it takes to get playoff road wins in the competition. Two years ago, he led Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the 2022 EuroCup Finals with three straight victories in do-or-die games on the road. Besiktas also plays on the road in the quarterfinals, facing Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

Derek Needham, Besiktas: 'Playoffs are always different'

Besiktas bounced back from three consecutive losses at the right time and worked hard during the break to be ready. "We had a couple meetings to see what was going on," [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/) said. "I think it was our effort, honestly. We are a defensive team and we weren't as hungry on defense like we usually were. We had to get back to it, get back to our rules on defense, which is huge for us. I think we showed that a little bit in the Gran Canaria game."

**Hello, Derek, and congratulations on beating Gran Canaria. It's never easy to win at Gran Canaria Arena. What allowed you to compete until the final minute and get the victory?** 

"Thanks. I think it was great preparation from the coaching staff. Our coaching staff has played them two or three times. They were in our group my first year in Bursa, and then last year we played them in the playoffs as well. So we are kind of familiar with the core team of Gran Canaria, so we kind of knew what their weaknesses and what their strengths were to that team. But it's always difficult with that travel to go play there, so we went a day early just to get acclimated because it's three hours, I believe, behind Istanbul. That's a big time difference, to sleep and everything. 

"I think one of the things we saw with them was they are used to having super athletic bigs and that really helped us out that this year they kind of have more like hustle bigs, not above-the-rim type of bigs. You know what I mean? Last season, they had Diop, who is now with Baskonia, and Balcerowski, who is with Panathinaikos. They helped Gran Canaria a lot the past couple years. And we felt like this year we could connect, get in the paint a little bit more, even though they still have those fantastic guards on the outside. But we had a great game plan though. The game plan was perfect. We won, so I would say it was perfect, of course."

**How great was it not just to dethrone the champions, but to beat a team you have lost against throughout most of your EuroCup career?** 

"I actually was nervous going there just because that road travel was always bad. But like you said, I just hate losing there. I played them probably four or five times in EuroCup, so I was kind of familiar. But repeating as champions is probably the hardest thing to do that next season. So that kind of gave me like a little hope, like, 'all right, this could be our time' because it's just hard to repeat as champions in any sport."

**You also finished the regular season with three ugly losses, by 19 points or more. How did you work during the break to put together such a great game like you did against Gran Canaria?**

"We worked like crazy during the break. We had a couple days off and were right back to it. We had a couple meetings to see what was going on, because usually if we lose, we lose by 5-6 or at the buzzer or something like that. And we had had three 20-point losses in the EuroCup. And then we got destroyed in the Turkish Cup by 30, I believe. So we were trying to figure out what the difference was, and I think it was our effort, honestly. We are a defensive team and we weren't as hungry on defense like we usually were. And giving that 1,000 percent effort on defense, which is our calling card. So we had to get back to it, get back to our rules on defense, which is huge for us. I think we showed that a little bit in the Gran Canaria game."

**You are by far the most experienced player in this team. How much of a vocal leader are you on the court being the point guard and the most experienced player?**

"I'm very vocal. Against Gran Canaria, I was just trying to make sure they understood the intensity and everything of playoff basketball. Some guys have played against Spanish teams, and I was also giving them, as well as coach, the breakdown of how Spanish teams like to play and how if you are not physical, they can run you over like they did against Baskonia, like they did against Real Madrid last month, like. So we had a heightened awareness and I was screaming the whole week like, we have to get back to our defense and being physical in order just to have a chance in this game."

**Two years ago, you were chosen to the All-EuroCup First Team. Did it change anything in your career, proving that you belong to the EuroCup's elite level?** 

"I don't think it changed anything. I think it gave me mental validation that I needed to know, like I'm on the right track of work ethic, taking care of my body, sleep, all that stuff. But each year you still have to go out there and prove it again and again, no matter what you did the two years before. So if anything, you just gave me validation and more motivation and confidence to continue doing what I'm doing."

Derek Needham in his first season with Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Derek Needham, Besiktas

**Let's talk about Coach Alimpijevic. Of course, you worked together in Bursaspor and now he brought you to Besiktas. How's your relationship with him? It's always important that a head coach and his starting point guard understand each other.** 

"Yes, that's super important, especially for Coach Alimpijevic. He calls us the extended version of him on the court, like the third coach. We have a clear understanding. We have similar playing and coaching styles. Like if I was a coach, I would coach similar to him. If he was a player, he would play similar to me. So it was kind of like two peas in a pod almost. So there's a great respect there and there's a great understanding. And being together three years... it is rare for players to be with coaches that long, even if you switch teams."

**Two years ago, you and Coach Alimpijevic led Bursaspor to an unbelievable playoff run, with road wins against Partizan, Cedevita and Andorra to get to the finals against Virtus. What are your favorite memories from that amazing run?**

"Partizan, for sure, was the best memory. I would say just their fans were incredible. I still haven't seen anything like it. We came very close when we played Fenerbahce and Sinan Erdem had 15,000 fans screaming for us. But that Partizan game was amazing, especially just looking over a couple of times and seeing \[Partizan coach Zeljko\] Obradovic on the sidelines and thinking 'whoa, you are doing something right, you are in an amazing spot'. That was probably one of the best group of guys I have had, because it's rare you get on a team and every guy from the 12th to 13th to the first guy on the team has one goal. Like, there's no individual goals, there's nothing. There's one goal, and it's to win the game that you are on the floor, and they give everything for your teammates. That's rare to have. And I even tell my teammates to this day, that's a rare occasion to happen. If you can get everybody on that page you can have that type of historic run. So I still talk to guys from that championship run to this day, that finals run."

**One of them is John Holland, who plays for Hapoel now. It's been two years since his famous halftime interview, the pitbulls and all that. How much of the same mentality do you need against Holland and Hapoel this time?** 

"John Holland. I literally just talked to him two days ago. He was the boost we needed. We had mental confidence, but John was our vocal confidence. He literally brought our words to everything that we would speak in practice and stuff.  He is just undeniably a great teammate, man. And as you can see, wherever he goes, those teams win. What he was doing right now has been amazing. And I'm pretty sure he is a main cog in that."

"If we get to the semifinals and play again at home, for us, it would be Partizan-esque."

**How fun was the whole thing when it happened? It was a halftime interview, so I am sure you didn't see it until the game was over.** 

"Yeah, I saw that. So we get on the bus and guys are on their phones and they are like, 'did you see it?' I'm like, 'I didn't see anything. I haven't checked my phone'. And they showed it to me. I thought it was fake at first. I'm like, 'when did this happen? Was this after the game?'. 'No, this is halftime'. And then I start thinking like, how we won the game. We won the game because Jacob Pullen took a shot 0.1 seconds after the buzzer. I'm like, 'yo, thank God we won that game'. Because if he did that interview and we lose that game, we look crazy. But he had the whole bus cracking up. I told him, as soon as I saw it, I said, 'John, this is legendary. This will live forever. This might be your calling every time someone sees you, they might start getting like a dog or talking about underdogs and pit bulls'. So now that was legendary. It was a classic. Immediately. That was the best."

**You will play Hapoel in Vilnius. It's not really a neutral arena but it's not exactly Tel Aviv. Will you have some sort of advantage playing there?** 

"I don't know because they beat us twice already, maybe it was about 20 points the last time they played us, so I don't know about the advantage. Playoffs are always different as well. Those games are totally different. I would say the slight advantage, if any, is we are both on a neutral court that we haven't played on before. So they did make a home in Belgrade and now we will be playing in Lithuania, in Vilnius, so it's a double neutral court almost, but they will have the fans also."

**If Besiktas wins, it will reach the EuroCup Semifinals for the first time. It will also earn the right to play at least one home game in the semifinal. How great would it be to make history and give Besiktas fans the chance to see their team back in its arena in the EuroCup this season?** 

"Coach calls it writing our name in the history books, Besiktas, in gold letters. He likes to repeat that to us now for playoffs. But I can't describe to you the atmosphere. If we get to the semifinals and play again at home, for us, it would be Partizan-esque, it would be up there. That's the type of fans we have, and I think they deserve it. We kind of dropped the ball in the regular season. Our goal was to have a home game to finish in the \[regular season\] top four. We know we have a huge task to get there, though. Hapoel is a really great team, so we know we really have to earn giving our fans a home game in the playoffs."