Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem overpowered Turk Telekom Ankara 76-66 at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria on Wednesday to clinch second place in Group B and with it an automatic berth in the quarterfinals

Jerusalem clinches spot in quarters with 76-66 victory over Turk Telekom

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem overpowered Turk Telekom Ankara 76-66 at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria on Wednesday to clinch second place in Group B and with it an automatic berth in the quarterfinals. The result gave Jerusalem an 11-7 record for the regular season, while Turk Telekom, which would have been second had it win, fell to 10-8 to finish in third place. It will host its first postseason game in the eighthfinals against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. <br>
<br>
Jared Harper paced the winning attack with 21 points and 5 assists, Khadeen Carrington netted 17 points, Chris Johnson added 13 and Yovel Zoosman 12. Anthony Brown led Turk Telekom with 19 points, Olivier Hanlan had 13, Javon Bess chipped in 12 and Speedy Smith tallied 5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists against his former team.

Game Videos

Jerusalem scored the game’s first 4 points before Turk Telekom came alive with threes by Bess and Brown. Jerusalem regrouped with a triple by Harper and a basket-plus-foul from Tarik Phillip, which sent Speedy Smith to the bench with his second foul. Justin Smith made a turn-around jumper and then forced a steal to make it 11-8 midway through the opening quarter. Brown briefly evened things with a three-pointer before Jeremy Morgan put Jerusalem back ahead with 3 free throws. Braian Angola came off the bench and provided a spark for Turk Telekom and Yoan Makoundou’s fastbreak slam closed the gap to 19-18 after 10 minutes.

Angola suffered an injury early in the second quarter and had to be helped off the floor. Harper and Johnson helped Jerusalem to a 10-0 start to the quarter. Turk Telekom could not find the bottom of the basket for more than 5 and a half minutes before Brown ended the drought. Zoosman sank a three on the ensuing possession and followed that with a three-point play to make it 35-20. Hanlan and Speedy Smith provided some resistance, while Jerusalem endured missed free throws by Phillip, Austin Wiley and Harrington. Brown’s jumper put 39-27 on the scoreboard at halftime.

Game News

Turk Telekom turned the ball over on its first three possessions of the second half. But then Speedy Smith and Brown started a 0-7 run that slashed the deficit to 7. After a timeout,  Makoundou denied Wiley at the rim, but a three by Carrington restored a double-digit lead for Jerusalem, 45-34. Despite a dunk by Brown, both teams cooled down offensively as the defenses contested nearly every shot. Johnson soared for a putback, Zoosman buried a jumper and Justin Smith dunked on the break as part of a 9-0 run. Bess and Harper swapped threes to make it 57-39 through three quarters.

Free throws by Harper to start the fourth quarter gave Jerusalem a 20-point cushion. Turk Telekom’s bigs frustrated the Jerusalem scorers, but Brown remained the only offensive threat for team from Turkiye. Carrington’s third three of the night prompted a Turk Telekom timeout at 67-45. Harper converted a free throw after a technical foul on the Turk Telekom bench to establish the game’s biggest lead, 68-45. Bess and Hanlan got their team going, but they were already facing a nearly unsurmountable deficit. Turk Telekom battled to within 70-59, but Hanlan was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Zoosman with 1:17 remaining and Jerusalem held on down the stretch.

The Israeli side led by as many as 23 in the one-sided contest 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Fidabanka Istanbul reached the BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals after a dramatic 79-75 home win over Dolomiti Energia Trento enabled the Turkish team to finish fifth in Group A with a 10-8 record

Besiktas beats Trento 79-75 to earn playoff spot 

Besiktas Fidabanka Istanbul reached the BKT EuroCup Eighthfinals after a dramatic 79-75 home win over Dolomiti Energia Trento enabled the Turkish team to finish fifth in Group A with a 10-8 record. Trento, which had earlier lost any chance of advancing into the business end of the competition, finished at 6-12 in what has been a patchy season for the Italian league leader.

Derek Needham paced Besiktas on 17 points while Kyle Allman and Dustin Sleva chipped in with 12 each for the hosts, who nearly spilled a comfortable lead in a thrilling climax. At the other end, Jordan Ford carried Trento with a game-high 21 points, Anthony Lamb added 13 and Myles Cale netted 10 for the visitors.

Besiktas set the pace early and took a 10-6 lead but Trento fought hard to stay in touch, although the visiting team struggled to make shots from long range. Needham was clinical at the other end, hitting 3 of his opening 4 efforts from downtown as Besiktas carved out a 22-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The home team also dominated the paint, winning the battle of the boards 13-8 in the opening 10 minutes while Trento’s shooting woes continued in the second, as the Italian side missed their opening 10 attempts from deep and allowed the hosts to pull away to 34-23.

Trento, which had only pride to play for, refused to lie down, but failed to match the home team’s firepower as Besiktas sank 5 of 10 from downtown in the first half while the visitors went 2 of 14, with the Turkish team engineering a 46-35 halftime lead. 

Needham paced the hosts on 9 points at the interval while big man Uros Plavsic, who recently joined Besiktas from Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade posted 7 and 4 boards. Trento, which trailed by as many as 16 points late in the second quarter, relied on Ford who racked up 10 points and 4 boards.

Battling Trento put together a 0-11 run late in the first half and early in the second, slashing the deficit to 46-41 before a fine backdoor pass allowed Allman to dunk and snap that streak. That spurred Besiktas back into action and the home team ramped up its defense again to open up a 63-52 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Needham nailed another deep three early in the fourth to give Besiktas a 68-54 advantage before Trento replied with a Selom Mawugbe slam dunk and a fine Quinn Ellis mid-range jumper, forcing the home team’s head coach Dusan Alimpijevic to call a timeout. 

The contest remained relentlessly competitive and Trento further closed the gap to 74-70 in the closing stages as Ford sank a sweet three-pointer and forced another timeout from Alimpijevic with 2:21 left on the clock. Moments later, it was 74-72 and Trento then committed two successive turnovers, throwing away a pair of glorious chances to turn the matchup on its head as Sleva scored on a fastbreak at the other end. Jordan Bayehe then made a three-point play for Trento to make the score 76-75 with 15 seconds remaining, forcing a dramatic climax in which Needham held his nerve from the foul line to seal Besiktas’s progress.

The Turkish side did its job at home and reached the postseason after a nerve-jangling victory 

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

The hosts punched their ticket with a big home victory


Wolves beat Buducnost to clinch playoff berth, 91-82! 

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius advanced to the BKT EuroCup Playoffs for the first time by topping Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 91-82 in the Lithuanian capital in Round 18 on Wednesday. Wolves finished Group B with a 10-8 record, while Buducnost ended the regular season with a 9-9 record and will only qualify if Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv beats ratiopharm Ulm later Wednesday. 

Matas Jogela led the winners with 20 points. Jeffery Taylor added 15, Anthony Cowan scored 13 while Andrew Andrews, Tre'Shawn Thurman and Marek Blazevic each had 10 for Wolves. Yogi Ferrell paced Buducnost with 20 points and former Wolves player Rasheed Sulaimon added 14.

Andrija Slavkovic needed just 5 seconds to get Buducnost going with a layup. Jogela and Taylor each struck from downtown in a 10-0 run that Blazevic capped with a layup. Slavkovic scored again and Kenan Kamenjas fired in a pair of off-balance jump hooks. Taylor and Jogela each connected from beyond the arc. Kamenas joined the three-point shootout to bring the visitors within 17-11. McKinley Wright followed a floater with a one-handed jumper. Jogela made his third triple and Taylor's tip-in boosted the hosts' lead to 22-15. Sulaimon nailed a three-pointer and added a turnaround jumper in a 0-6 run that got the visitors within 22-21. Regimantas Miniotas and Ferrell traded layups before Blazevic buried a close jumper for a 26-25 Wolves edge after 10 minutes.

Ferrell scored in penetration early in the second quarter. Kristupas Zemaitis answered with a driving layup, which Andrews followed with a three-pointer that caused Buducnost to call timeout at 31-27. Nikola Tanaskovic stepped up for the visitors and Ferrell erased Thurman's jump hook with a wild driving layup. Sulaimon found space for a driving layup that Taylor bettered with a triple to make it 37-32. Ferrell rescued Buducnost with a three-point play and Alen Omic added a layup, but Cowan kept the hosts in charge, 41-37. Jogela hit a couple of triples, one from each corner, and got help from Thurman and Taylor to make it a double-digit game, 51-37. An unstoppable Jogela insisted from beyond the arc, but Kamenjas and Sulaimon got the visitors within 54-41 at halftime.

 

Jogela scored around the basket right after the break. Wright answered with a leaning jumper, which Blazevic matched with a put-back basket for a 58-43 Wolves lead. Blazevic got help from Cowan and Taylor to help the hosts break the game open, 64-44. A Buducnost timeout did not fix the visitors' scoring problems. Blazevic hit a jump hook and Cowan's free throws increased the margin. Sulaimon tried to change things for Buducnost and Ferrell added a layup to bring the visitors within 70-48. Andrews and Fletcher Magee traded triples before Tanaskovic gave Buducnost hope, 73-55, at the end of the third quarter.

Tanaskovic took over with a power layup early in the fourth quarter and Ferrell's three-pointer brought the visitors as close as 73-60. Thurman buried a three-pointer, Ferrell answered with a layup in transition before Andrews made it 78-62. Omic scored again and Magee's off-balance triple promoted a Wolves timeout at 80-67. Garrison Brooks made a jumper and Cowan sank a fallaway shot to keep Wolves out of trouble, 84-67. Juwan Morgan stepped up with a tip-in that Thurman matched with a put-back basket that sealed the outcome, 87-69. Wolves fans in Vilnius celebrated a special win while Buducnost had to wait for other results to find out if its EuroCup season came to an end. 

Wolves beat Buducnost, 91-82, to clinch playoff berth

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

The final round of the BKT EuroCup regular season arrives with playoff places and home-court advantage still up for grabs and several showdowns between direct rivals. Here’s your overview of Round 18’s action.

Game center: Two Tuesday games open decisive Round 18

The final round of the BKT EuroCup regular season arrives with playoff places and home-court advantage still up for grabs and several showdowns between direct rivals. Here’s your overview of Round 18’s action.

## Wednesday, February 5

### [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 91-82 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2024/173/)

Wolves advanced to the playoffs for the first time by topping Buducnost in the Lithuanian capital. Wolves finished Group B with a 10-8 record, while Buducnost ended the regular season with a 9-9 record. Matas Jogela led six scorers in double-figures for the winners with 20 points on 6-of-7 three-point shooting and Jeffery Taylor added 15. Yogi Ferrell paced Buducnost with 20 points.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PLAYOFFS BABY!!🔥🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DreamBig?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DreamBig</a> <a href="https://t.co/kJvlmDAx8M">pic.twitter.com/kJvlmDAx8M</a></p>&mdash; BC WOLVES (@wolves_bc) <a href="https://twitter.com/wolves_bc/status/1887215841374089286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 79-75 Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2024/172/)

Besiktas reached the eighthfinals after a dramatic home win over Trento enabled the Turkish team to finish fifth in Group A with a 10-8 record. Trento, which had earlier lost any chance of advancing into the business end of the competition, finished at 6-12 in what has been a patchy season for the Italian league leader. Derek Needham paced Besiktas on 17 points while Kyle Allman and Dustin Sleva chipped in with 12 each for the hosts, who nearly spilled a comfortable lead in a thrilling climax. At the other end, Jordan Ford carried Trento with a game-high 21 points.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">BKT EuroCup&#39;ta Son 16&#39;dayız! 💪 <br><br>Beşiktaş Fibabanka 79-75 Dolomiti Energia Trento | Maç Sonucu <br><br>🦅 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9FFibabanka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeşiktaşFibabanka</a> <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/Tu8fidp7JQ">pic.twitter.com/Tu8fidp7JQ</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Fibabanka (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1887215262715220158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [ratiopharm Ulm 90-97 Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/ratiopharm-ulm-hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/U2024/175/#info)

Hapoel locked up an automatic spot in the quarterfinals after rallying from 10 points down to beat Ulm and secure second place in Group A. The result also eliminated Ulm from the playoffs. Hapoel wasted a 10-point lead and trailed by 10 points with 8 minutes to go before mounting a 0-13 run and getting a dagger three-pointer from Yam Madar. The victory was the Israeli side’s sixth in the last seven games for a 12-6 record. Johnathan Motley scored 24 points and Marcus Foster and Madar both added 18 points for the winners. Ulm will miss the playoffs with a 9-9 record as the German side lost its final five games of the season. Justinian Jessup scored 18 points and Ben Saraf had 17 in the losing effort. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">ניפגש ברבע 👹<br><br>הפועל מנצחת את אולם, מסיימת במקום השני בבית A ועולה ישירות לרבע גמר היורוקאפ! <br><br>תודה לקהל האדום על הדחיפה האדירה ♥️<br><br>הקבוצה תחזור מחר לארץ ותחל בהכנות לקראת הדרבי במסגרת חצי גמר גביע המדינה (שני, 21:15). <br><br>יאללה הפועלללללל! <a href="https://t.co/VwDG4izmlV">pic.twitter.com/VwDG4izmlV</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1887235781086925263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Aris Midea Thessaloniki 74-89 U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/aris-midea-thessaloniki-u-bt-cluj-napoca/U2024/178/#info)

Cluj returned to the playoffs thanks to a road win at Aris. Cluj finished Group A with a 10-8 record, while Aris finished the regular season in a last place in the group with a 3-15 record. Cluj took control - and the lead - for good with a 0-13 second-quarter run and then broke the game wide open in the third quarter. DJ Seeley scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half for the winners and Zavier Simpson collected 13 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. LJ Figueroa paced the hosts with 13 points in defeat.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Win number 10 and a place in the post-season for <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UBTCluj</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/3MuzHUkgyw">pic.twitter.com/3MuzHUkgyw</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1887229629309853753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Veolia Towers Hamburg 80-62 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/veolia-towers-hamburg-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2024/179/#info)

In a result that few saw coming, Hamburg ended up coasting to an 80-62 win over playoff-bound Cedevita Olimpija. Jaizec Lottie (17 points), Johnathan Stove (13) and Kur Kuath (10) combined for half of Hamburg’s points, with Cedevita not only trailing at the end of all four quarters but being outscored in each of them, too. The visitors’ leading scorers on the night were Aleksej Nikolic with 14 points, Gregor Glas with 12, and Brynton Lemar with 11.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">5⃣ 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 🔥<br>Wir verabschieden uns aus dem <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> mit einem Sieg und gewinnen gegen den Gruppendritten @kkcedevitaolimpija<br><br>𝓽𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓮𝓻<br>Jaizec Lottie 17 𝙋𝙏𝙎<a href="https://twitter.com/iso_stove?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iso_stove</a> 13 𝙋𝙏𝙎<a href="https://twitter.com/RichHomieKur?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RichHomieKur</a> 10 𝙋𝙏𝙎 | 10 𝙍𝙀𝘽<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a> <a href="https://t.co/PQQkU0dXBn">pic.twitter.com/PQQkU0dXBn</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1887237572427944440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 76-66 Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem-turk-telekom-ankara/U2024/176/#boxscore)

Jerusalem overpowered Turk Telekom at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria to clinch second place in Group B and with it an automatic berth in the quarterfinals. The result gave Jerusalem an 11-7 record for the regular season, while Turk Telekom, which would have been second had it win, fell to 10-8 to finish in third place. <br>
Jared Harper paced the winning attack with 21 points and 5 assists and Khadeen Carrington netted 17 points. Anthony Brown led Turk Telekom with 19 points and Speedy Smith tallied 5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists against his former team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">יאללה לרבע! ויאללה לגביע!<br>יום ראשון | 20:30 | פיס ארנה<br>אתם יודעים מה אתם צריכים לעשות &gt; <a href="https://t.co/82zBvkC03l">https://t.co/82zBvkC03l</a> <a href="https://t.co/yqaclXH7Uh">pic.twitter.com/yqaclXH7Uh</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1887239353354608804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Valencia Basket 100-98 Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/valencia-basket-cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2024/180/)

Valencia came back from a 14-point deficit to pull out a narrow win over visiting Bourg. Valencia finished with a 16-2 record and will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, while the loss eliminated Bourg, which finished with a 9-9 record in Group B. When the game tipped off, Bourg knew it needed to win to make the playoffs, and was firing on all cylinders in the first half. Valencia caught up in the third quarter, but Bourg spent most of the second half with a slim lead before Valencia pulled out the victory. Chris Jones led six Valencia scorers in double figures with 17 points and Stefan Jovic collected 10 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. For Bourg, Maksim Salash led the way with 18 points.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">VAMOOOOOOOOOOOS 🔥<br><br>¡¡Ganamos en el cierre de la Liga Regular!! 🧡<br><br>🟠 <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> 100<br>⚪ <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLBourgBasket</a> 98<br><br>🏆 J18 BKT <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a><br>🤝 Vitaldin Sport <a href="https://t.co/44CQCQSLqc">pic.twitter.com/44CQCQSLqc</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1887252559196221950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Joventut Badalona 69-56 Bahcesehir College Istanbul ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/joventut-badalona-bahcesehir-college-istanbul/U2024/174/)

Joventut finished its EuroCup season on a high note with a victory at home over Group A winner Bahcesehir. Joventut decided the game with a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter to improve to 7-11. Sam Dekker collected 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Artem Pustovyi had 12 points for the Spanish side, which already had been eliminated weeks ago. Bahcesehir finished the regular season with a 14-4 record after having won five of the last six games. Tai Odiase paced Bahcesehir with 13 points.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔐 FINAL a l&#39;Olímpic. VICTÒRIA!<a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Penya1930</a> 69-56 <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BKBasketbol</a><br><br>🎯 Sam Dekker: 15 punts<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CityOfBadalona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CityOfBadalona</a> <a href="https://t.co/eK0jvVpm7o">pic.twitter.com/eK0jvVpm7o</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1887248717784490078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Tuesday, February 4

### [Trefl Sopot 73-76 Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/trefl-sopot-dreamland-gran-canaria/U2024/171/)

Gran Canaria closed out the regular season with a tough win over Trefl. The victory improved the team's record to 12-6 and secured at least third place in Group A, with the chance to climb to second if Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv loses on Wednesday. A 0-13 run early in the first quarter gave Gran Canaria a double-digit lead that grew to 45-62 in the third, but a comeback built on a 25-3 run bridging the last 2 periods brought the game to the line. A deflection by Nico Brussino and a couple of free throws by Andrew Albicy closed the game in the last minute. With this defeat, Trefl closed its season with only one win in 18 rounds. Gran Canaria was led by Nico Brussino, who neared a triple-double with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Geoffrey Groselle paced Trefl with 14 points.

<center><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏀 Final:<br><br>⬛️ Trefl Sopot 73<br>🐥 Dreamland Gran Canaria 76<br><br>🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosGranca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosGranca</a> <a href="https://t.co/atnavnSm8C">pic.twitter.com/atnavnSm8C</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1886866057844973713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Umana Reyer Venice 91-77 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/umana-reyer-venice-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2024/177/)

Umana Reyer remained alive in the fight for the playoffs by battling past Lietkabelis in its last game of the regular season. Reyer wasted a 13-point first-quarter lead and only finished off the visitors in the closing quarter. The Italian club improved to 10-8 in Group B but now needs help on Wednesday to reach the post-season - needing either U-BT Cluj-Napoca or Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse to lose. Kyle Wiltjer scored a game-high 21 points in the win while Mfiondu Kabengele had 20 points and Reyer’s third Canadian Tyler Ennis totaled 19 points and 7 assists for a career-high performance index rating of 33. Lietkabelis, which had already been eliminated coming into the game, got 19 points from Martynas Varnas.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Testa, cuore, vittoria!<br>Gli orogranata trionfano al Taliercio ❤️‍🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/finoallafine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#finoallafine</a> <a href="https://t.co/WQd0XeCKaY">pic.twitter.com/WQd0XeCKaY</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1886881685066625497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Five playoff spots remain – three in Group A, two in Group B – entering the final night of the regular season  

Game Center: Wolves, Besiktas, Cluj win to clinch playoff berths; Reyer, Buducnost advance too

Valencia Basket v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-02-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Trefl Sopot v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-02-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice did its part but now needs help as it waits for the final day of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season to determine its playoff fate. The Italians have applied the pressure on U-BT Cluj-Napoca and Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, who both need wins to reach the postseason and keep Reyer out.  

Reyer did its job, put the pressure on Cluj, Bourg 

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2024-25) did its part but now needs help as it waits for the final day of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season to determine its playoff fate. The Italians have applied the pressure on [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/?season=2024-25) and [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/?season=2024-25), who both need wins to reach the postseason and keep Reyer out. 

Reyer fought off multiple comebacks by [7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2024-25) to win [91-77 at home](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/reyer-beats-lietkabelis-91-77-to-keep-playoff-hopes-alive/) and finish with a 10-8 record in Group B. Reyer would have been eliminated from playoff contention had it lost to Lietkabelis.

“We deserved the win. We were the better team and controlled the game from the first moment until the end. We had our ups and downs but this game was never in question,” said Spahija. "We won tonight but now we need to wait for the other results and see if they are going to help us to qualify.”

Spahija and the team are hoping for a loss by either Cluj at [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki/roster/ari/?season=2024-25) or Bourg at [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/?season=2024-25). Reyer missed out on the playoffs last season after reaching the quarterfinals in 2022-23 and the eighthfinals in 2021-22.

Reyer had a slow start to the season with a 2-5 mark after seven rounds - as well as injuries to a number of key players. Some of those players returned and the team reeled off five wins in six games. At that point, the playoffs were looking good at 8-6.

But [a loss to Cluj in Round 15](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cluj-shocks-venice-on-the-road-77-88/) and blowing a big fourth-quarter lead in [an 84-81 defeat at Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/turk-telekom-downs-reyer-in-a-stunner-84-81/) in Round 17 left the post-season up in the air - and Reyer’s fate no longer in its own hands.

Coming into the EuroCup regular-season finale, Spahija’s team had dropped its last three games - at Turk Telekom as well as at home against [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/roster/trn/?season=2024-25) and at Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the Italian League.

[Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) helped Reyer snap the skid with 19 points, 7 assists and 7 fouls drawn for a career-best index rating of 33 against Lietkabelis.

“We’ve been focusing on ourselves. We know what we have to do to win and we have to do that every night now,” Ennis said.

“This is what we have done for the regular season and now we hope the other results will go in our favor and we will qualify,” Spahija added.

The coach has only had his full roster for the past three EuroCup games due to injuries. And the rest of the competition might be rooting for Bourg and Cluj to win on Wednesday as Reyer has a roster strong enough to take the title.

Reyer, after all, is one of only two teams to beat Valencia this season in the EuroCup - [in Round 13 at home 81-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/reyer-downs-valencia-climbs-to-winning-record/). Now the Italians are left to wait.

The Italian club turned around its season, but was the hole too deep? 

Kyle Wiltjer, Mfiondu Kabengele and Tyler Ennis combined for 60 points in Umana Reyer Venice's crucial 91-77 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 18 of the BKT EuroCup 

Canadian connection carried Reyer to key win

Umana Reyer Venice head coach Neven Spahija once again had to send a bit of his thanks to Canada for his team staying alive for the BKT EuroCup playoffs.

The trio of Canadians, Kyle Wiltjer, Mfiondu Kabengele and Tyler Ennis, combined for 60 points in Reyer’s crucial 91-77 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys to finish the regular season.

“It feels good any time you can get a win. We knew they were a tough team and regardless of the circumstances were going to play hard, and they did. But we’ve been focusing on ourselves. We know what we have to do to win and we have to do that every night now,” said Ennis, who scored 19 points to go along with 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 7 fouls drawn for a career-high performance index rating of 33.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🇨🇦 vibes<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uniti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uniti</a> <a href="https://t.co/qN997QuDQA">pic.twitter.com/qN997QuDQA</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1886876526819639367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ennis was particularly strong in the second half with 10 points and 6 steals. His previous best PIR was 29 against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in early October.

Wiltjer made sure Reyer started the important game in style with 16 of his 21 points coming in the first half. The veteran forward played well in both games against Lietkabelis, picking up 22 points and 6 rebounds in Round 9 in Lithuania. Those were the second- and third-highest scoring nights of the season for Wiltjer, who poured in a career-high 34 points against Valencia Basket in Round 4.

Kabengele was just strong the whole game - as he has been the whole season. The center collected 20 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 27. Kabengele came into the game ranked second in average PIR at 23.3, 10th in scoring at 15.6 points per game and first in rebounds (9.8 per game), offensive rebounds (3.6 per game) and defensive rebounds (6.3 per game).

“We deserved the win. We were the better team and controlled the game from the first moment until the end. We had our ups and downs but this game was never in question,” Coach Spahija said.

Kyle Wiltjer, Mfiondu Kabengele and Tyler Ennis combined for 60 points in Tuesday's crucial victory

CB Gran Canaria boasted a 45-62 lead in the third quarter against Trefl Sopot, yet a 25-3 run saw the Polish team take a shock lead before the 2023 EuroCup champion responded to win 73-76.

Gran Canaria avoided getting egg on its face in Sopot

“I think both teams could have won this game in the end. We were a little bit luckier,” admitted [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) head coach [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/) in the postgame press conference after his team [prevailed over Trefl Sopot, 73-76,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-survived-trefl-rally-to-win-73-76-in-sopot/) on Tuesday evening.

It’s true that the game went down to the wire and was decided in the last minute, when [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) deflected a ball and enabled [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) to score twice from the line, but only a few could have expected such a thrilling end midway through the third period, when Gran Canaria boasted a 45-62 lead.

Gran Canaria dominated the game to that point thanks to its smooth offense, which led to 16 assists at halftime, and solid defense. But everything changed 27 minutes into the contest.

“We had some mental mistakes towards the last quarter,” regretted [George Conditt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/george-conditt-iv/012016/) at the end of the game. “We mentally relaxed a little bit on defense and we were giving up a lot of easy buckets, turning the ball over too many times. In the first half we had 16 assists and in the second half we didn't do the same. But I'm glad we came out with the win.”

The offensive performance of Gran Canaria dropped dramatically in the second half, going from 50 points in the first 20 minutes to just 26 in the second half. The Spaniard side registered just 4 assists after the intermission, while turning the ball over 10 times. In the first half, Gran Canaria had only committed 3 turnovers.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔥 Gran partido de George, una vez más. El pívot se lleva el MVP <a href="https://twitter.com/toyotacanarias?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ToyotaCanarias</a> de la victoria de hoy en Sopot:<br><br>✅ 12 puntos<br>✅ 6 rebotes<br>✅ 1 asistencia<br>✅ 3 tapones<br>✅ 25 de valoración <a href="https://t.co/cSb36fhuVw">pic.twitter.com/cSb36fhuVw</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1886870486723776699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coach Lakovic also recognized the value of Trefl’s effort, which led to a 25-3 run bridging the third and the fourth periods that gave the hosts a 70-65 lead with more than six minutes still to play. “They competed very well,” he said. “And in the end, it went down to a couple of possessions and we were, I think, the lucky team.

“I thought we started the game very well, focused defensively, finding the good options on offense. And then I think, starting the third quarter, we just slowed down. We had too many turnovers, we let Trefl get confidence, get some easy points in transition and they came back in the game. It was decided on two possessions; I think we had two good defenses and the game in the end was ours.”

The Spaniards lost a 17-point third-quarter advantage and trailed 70-65 in the last period

Umana Reyer Venice remained alive in the fight for the BKT EuroCup Playoffs by battling past 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 91-77 in its last game of the regular season

Reyer beats Lietkabelis 91-77, to keep playoff hopes alive 

Umana Reyer Venice remained alive in the fight for the playoffs by battling past 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 91-77 in its last game of the regular season. Reyer wasted a 13-point first-quarter lead and only finished off the visitors in the closing quarter. The Italian club improved to 10-8 in Group B but now needs help on Wednesday to reach the post-season - needing either U-BT Cluj-Napoca or Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse to lose.

Kyle Wiltjer scored a game-high 21 points in the win while Mfiondu Kabengele had 20 points and Reyer’s third Canadian Tyler Ennis totaled 19 points and 7 assists for a career-high performance index rating of 33. Lietkabelis had already been eliminated coming into the game but made Reyer put the game away for a 5-13 record. Martynas Varnas led the Lithuanians with 19 points and Djordje Gagic tallied 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Wiltjer scored 5 quick points to help Reyer jump ahead 7-0 while Lietkabelis failed to get on the board for more than 2 minutes. Wiltjer was really active trying to get the crowd going and added another score as the lead grew to 13-3. And the cushion swelled to 18-5 before Lietkabelis hit two triples in a 0-9 finish to the quarter to trail 18-14 after 10 minutes.

The momentum continued into the second frame and the visitors finished a 0-13 run to tie the game 18-18. Rodney McGruder snapped the rut with a triple and Ennis added three free throws as Reyer looked back on track at 24-20. The guests knotted it again at 27-27 only to see Reyer get eight more points from Wiltjer in a 19-6 surge for a 46-33 cushion at halftime.

Two three-pointers from the visitors made it 51-43 early in the second half as Lietkabelis tried to hang close. But more turnovers resulted in an 8-0 Reyer run and the margin was 61-45. Lietkabelis rallied again with a 2-12 burst to make the hosts nervous up just 63-57 after 30 minutes.

A Dominykas Stenionis triple trimmed the margin to 65-60. Reyer punched back though with the next eight points to reestablish a comfortable lead at 73-60.  Lietkabelis would not go away with a triple to pull within 75-66. Ennis continued his strong showing with a three-pointer and the guests could not get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

The Italian side now must wait to see if Bourg and Cluj can win

Dreamland Gran Canaria closed out the BKT EuroCup Regular Season with a tough win over Trefl Sopot, 73-76, on Tuesday in Round 18 of the 2024-25 season of the BKT EuroCup

 Gran Canaria survived Trefl rally to win, 73-76, in Sopot

Dreamland Gran Canaria closed out the BKT EuroCup Regular Season with a tough win over Trefl Sopot, 73-76, on Tuesday evening. The victory improved the team's record to 12-6 and secured at least third place in Group A, with the chance to climb to second if Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv loses on Wednesday. A 0-13 run early in the first quarter gave Gran Canaria a double-digit lead that grew to 45-62 in the third, but a comeback built on a 25-3 run bridging the last 2 periods brought the game to the line. A deflection by Nico Brussino and a couple of free throws by Andrew Albicy closed the game in the last minute. With this defeat, Trefl closed its season with only one win in 18 rounds.

Gran Canaria was led by Nico Brussino, who neared a triple-double with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. George Conditt and Andrew Albicy also scored 12 points and Jovan Klavic and Pierre Pelos netted 10 apiece. Geoffrey Groselle paced Trefl with 14 points, Aaron Best followed with 13, Nick Johnson produced a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, and Jakub Schenk finished with 10 points in the losing effort.

Best and Johnson got the home team going and set an initial 4-2 edge, but Klajic celebrated his second start of the season with a three-pointer that highlighted a 0-13 run in which he had 8 points to push Gran Canaria up 4-15. Groselle took over for Trefl and secured a couple of inside baskets that aborted the visitors’ escape, 10-17. He committed his second foul soon after, though, as the visitors used Conditt inside to punish Trefl with another strong spark, 5-11, in which Conditt netted 6 points to finish the first quarter clearly in charge, 15-28.

The difference rose to 14 points after Tobey scored inside early in the second. The hosts gave the reins to Schenk and Jaroslaw Zyskowski and it worked fine in the beginning. Six points from them got Trefl within 24-32, right before a timeout. Then Marcus Weathers joined the party with 4 points in a row against Massamba Diop to make it 28-34 midway through the second quarter. Diop took revenge very soon with three buckets in as many minutes, as Gran Canaria recovered a double-digit edge, 33-45. A triple by Brussino dug it deeper and an inside basket by Mike Tobey closed the first half with the visitors dominating 37-50.

Best started strong and provided a layup and a corner three to make it 42-52. Gran Canaria was not so fluent in offense as it was before intermission, but the hosts couldn’t take advantage of it to reduce the gap to single digits. Back-to-back three-pointers by Brussino and Albicy solidified the visitors’ lead, which reached a game-high 17 points (45-62) after Conditt scored again inside the paint. With the game on the threshold of a break, Trefl found some air through Groselle, who brought his team within 56-63, with 4 points and an assist for Moten’s three. Then, another three-pointer by Best capped a 14-1 run for the hosts, who entered the last stanza with renewed hopes, 59-65.

Gran Canaria’s scoring drought continued when the game resumed, as the visitors were held scoreless for the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. On the flip side, Trefl remained hot and managed to turn the tables, 67-65, with still 7 minutes to go, thanks to a short jumper by Johnson.  The run didn’t stop there, as Nahiem Alleyne drilled a three to make it 70-65. Brussino and Pelos managed to stop the bleeding when they converted a couple of offensive rebounds, forcing a timeout by the hosts with the score 70-69. The momentum changed, as Salvo and Conditt completed the comeback, 70-72, right before Trefl stopped the game again. Pelos and Zyskowski swapped points and Groselle missed a free throw that could have tied the game, leaving it 73-74 with 37 seconds to go. The hosts had a chance to get back in charge, but a deflection by Brussino allowed Albicy to convert a pair of free throws, as a late three-point attempt by Johnson didn’t find the rim and confirmed the road win for Gran Canaria.

The visitors gave up a 17-point second-half lead, but managed to secure the win in a thrilling finish