The German champs squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage but remained calm in overtime to clinch a playoff spot.

 By surviving OT on the road, Ulm learned a lesson for later 

Before its Round 16 road game at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Tuesday, ratiopharm Ulm needed only one more win to reach the BKT EuroCup postseason. As it happens, though, Buducnost needed the same win to keep its playoff chances alive.

Ulm hadn't looked very good in recent weeks. The visitors carried the heavy baggage of four consecutive defeats that slowed their postseason push in a painful way. The freshest wound came one week ago, when U-BT Cluj Napoca rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to win 81-85 in Ulm's own arena. 

So on Tuesday, when Buducnost rattled off a 19-2 fourth-quarter run to erase a 14-point disadvantage and take a 69-67 lead with 3 minutes remaining, Ulm fans had to be trembling.

"We were up double digits in the fourth quarter, and then we made pretty bad decisions offensively," Ulm head coach Anton Gavel recounted in the press conference. "That brought Buducnost back into the game. We allowed them to come back and almost gave this one away. We've got to be smarter there."

But, contrary to what happened the previous week, Ulm managed to stay calm and take control again. A free throw by [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/trevion-lamon-williams-/012604/) tied it up, 72-72, in the last minute of the fourth quarter, and even though Ulm missed on an ensuing possession and let Buducnost to take the last shot, Fletcher Magee missed a contested mid-range shot that meant overtime.

Ulm bid to seal a playoff place by ending an alarming four-game losing streak as it travels to Buducnost, which certainly hasn’t given up on its own chances of advancing despite losing two of the last three. Which of these clubs can bolster their prospects and muster an important return to form?

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-ratiopharm Ulm  | Round 16 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Once the extra period started, Ulm showed better poise and managed to find the right players at the right moments. First it was [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/), who scored 4 points early in OT to help his team take charge of the situation. Then it was [L.J. Figueroa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lj-figueroa/012603/), who provided pairs of crucial three-pointers and key defensive plays that confirmed Ulm's supremacy in the end. Overall, Ulm forced 4 turnovers from Buducnost in the extra 5 minutes, a major factor to break the deadlock and push the visitors to [a playoff-clinching 80-84 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/buducnost-voli-podgorica-ratiopharm-ulm/U2023/157/).

"After four losses, to bounce back and get this win on the road is extremely important for us," Gavel recognized. "I think, defensively, if you allow 80 points in overtime, it was solid. And I think we had a pretty decent sequence. We let Magee get hot and put in a couple of shots, which was not good. But it's okay; these are details."

Winning the game as it did is probably the second-best news of the night, after making the playoffs. Looking to the next stage, such late-game steel can be a very important boost for what had been the team's bruised confidence of late.

"We're happy about the win, the bounce back, especially in overtime," Gavel stressed. "We found a way to win."

Game News

Figueroa's contribution was not only important in overtime, but for the whole game. He had to wait until the last minutes of the second period to score his first bucket, but once he found the way to score, he became unstoppable.

He first contributed 8 points in a 2-10 run that allowed Ulm to reach halftime up 30-38. Right after the intermission, he nailed a three to establish a double-digit lead for Ulm for the first time in the game, and he also was the one to establish a game-high 14-point difference early in the fourth quarter.

At the end, Figueroa presented a fantastic stat-line of 24 points - his best so far in the competition, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, going perfect on two-pointers (5 for 5) and shooting 4-of-10 from behind the arc. That gave him a PIR of 23, which tied with his best performance so far when he helped Ulm pull up an 83-85 road win in Trento on Dec 6, 2023.

This game in Podgorica confirms the good form of Figueroa, who has scored in double-figures in eight of his last 10 games, so Ulm can look to the near future with more confidence.

Game Videos

The German champs squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage but remained calm in overtime to clinch a playoff spot.



By surviving OT on the road, Ulm learned a lesson for later

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-01-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Nadir Hifi scored 10 of his team’s last 12 points to lead Paris Basketball to a victory over Joventut Badalona.

Nadir Hifi stepped up big in crunch time to sink Joventut

In a game that offered fans a glimpse of how this season’s BKT EuroCup Playoff battles are expected to be, Paris Basketball bounced back after Joventut Badalona’s comeback in the last quarter and secured an 89-82 victory at Halle Georges Carpentier. Six Paris players recorded double digits in scoring, but the one who won this was prodigious guard [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/). The 21-year-old showed what he’s made of late in the game and stepped up big in crunch time to clinch Paris’s eighth straight win.

Hifi recorded 7 points in 37 minutes of play but scored 10 of his team’s last 12 points in the last stretch to down Badalona. The Paris guard nailed a midrange jumper to tie the game 79-79 with 3:14 left on the clock, before drilling two huge back-to-back triples and a bucket from inside for an 89-82 cushion with half a minute to go.

“When \[Hifi\] gets into one of those zones, he’s a very difficult player to stop,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said after the game. “Overall, in those situations, you can see how the other team has to react to this and also leaves open space for others. We are lucky to have him.”

Nadar Hifi highlights vs Joventut

Paris was in control of the game in the first half and took a 41-35 lead into the second. Badalona fought back and outscored the hosts 21-27 in the third quarter, with the two sides heading into the last one tied at 62-62. Then, the momentum shifted and Joventut was up by 70-76 midway through the closing quarter. A couple of Mikael Jantunen baskets from inside put Paris back in front 77-76 before Pep Busquets hit a big triple. Enter Hifi, who finished the game off.

“Congratulations to Paris,” head coach Carles Duran noted. “They played really well in the last 2 minutes. Hifi made two crazy shots, but I’m happy with my team. We worked well until the end.”

A special mention for another Paris youngster, [Enzo Shahrvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/enzo-shahrvin/012612/), who recorded career highs in points (12) and PIR (17), having gone 6-for-7 from inside the arc. The Paris center produced a few highlight dunks, including a slam in transition following a huge steal to make it 81-79 with less than 3 minutes to go. Most importantly, he showed character and demonstrated that he is a player on whom Paris can count in important games.

“We played against a very good team,” Iisalo added. “It was a high-level game. Very intense as you could see. The tempers flaring on both sides. All of these games are worth their weight in gold because these are the games that will be decisive at the end of the season.”

Having already clinched the top spot in Group A, Paris improved to 15-1 by beating Badalona, meaning that it may secure the best regular season record and home court for every playoff series it plays should Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse lose at Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old guard scored 10 of his team’s last 12 points to secure the victory.

Paris Basketball v Joventut Badalona (2024-01-23T19:30:00.000Z)

L.J. Figueroa presented a fantastic stat-line of 24 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals to lead ratiopharm Ulm to an overtime win at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

LJ Figueroa's career night helped Ulm get back to winning ways

Having lost its last four games in the BKT Eurocup, the last one after wasting an 18-point advantage against U-BT Cluj Napoca, ratiopharm Ulm carried a heavy weight on its collective shoulders coming into the Round 16 game at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. Moreover, the German champ needed one more win to secure a playoff spot, so being able to beat its opponent on the road was twice as sweet.

Despite enjoying an 8-point lead at halftime and extending it to 14 points early in the fourth quarter, Ulm saw Buducnost rally back thanks to a 14-0 run that turned into a 72-71 home team advantage in crunch time. A free throw by Trevion Williams made it all square with 1:27 remaining and nobody was able to score from then on, which sent the game to overtime.

LJ Figueroa had a career night in Podgorica

L.J. Figueroa had a career night in Podgorica

[L.J. Figueroa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lj-figueroa/012603/) came up big at that moment, hitting a deadly three-pointer to make it 76-79, then stealing a ball when Buducnost got within 1 point and providing another key shot from downtown to close the game, 80-84. He even grabbed an offensive rebound with 9 seconds to go when Juan Nunez missed, definitely locking down the victory for his team.

“It was a great game against a great team. They fought back”, he stressed after the game. “We had the lead most of the game and, you know, the crowd was great for them and kept them in the game. It was just a great game overall and we showed a lot of poise at the end.”

The forward recorded career-highs in points (24) and PIR (23) when his team needed it most.

L.J. Figueroa's career night helped Ulm get back to winning ways

Paris Basketball put an end to Joventut Badalona’s seven-game winning streak by beating the Spanish side 89-82 in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup. 

Paris holds off Joventut, 89-82

Paris Basketball put an end to Joventut Badalona’s seven-game winning streak by beating the Spanish side 89-82 in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup. The hosts were in control of the game in the first three quarters, but Joventut took its first lead of the night in the opening stages of the closing quarter. Nadir Hifi came to the fore in crunch time and netted his team’s last 8 points of the game to seal Paris’s eighth win in a row. With its victory on Tuesday night, Paris improved to a 15-1 record. Badalona dropped to 15-6, but remains in pursuit of a top-two spot.

Hifi led Paris with 17 points, with Collin Malcolm and Tyson Ward scoring 15 each. Youngster Enzo Shahrvin registered a career-high 12 points, while TJ Shorts and Mikael Jantunen added 10 apiece. For Joventut, Andres Feliz scored a game-high 20 points, Shannon Evans followed with 17 and Tyler Cook added 12.

Paris started strong, as a Shorts layup was followed by triples from Ward, Malcolm and Sy for an 11-2 lead. The visitors struggled on offense in the opening stages, having scored just 2 points in transition in the first 4 minutes. In fact, Joventut sank its second field goal of the night with 4:07 left on the clock in the first quarter through Michael Ruzic, who made it 17-7 from deep. Pau Ribas and Shahrvin traded baskets before Cook opened his account by hitting a couple of free throws, 21-12. Then, Evans and Ward exchanged triples and Paris took a 24-15 cushion into the second quarter.

A monster slam by Cook was followed by Feliz’s first triple of the night and Joventut cut the difference to 24-20. Paris responded with a 5-0 run behind 3 points by Shorts and a Ward bucket before Feliz made back-to-back three-pointers to bring Joventut within 32-30. A timeout by head coach Tuomas Iisalo served as a wake-up call for Paris, which went on a 9-0 run inspired by Malcolm, who netted a couple of tough baskets from inside. A Cook bucket was followed by a Yannick Kraag corner triple and the Spanish side managed to trim the deficit to 41-35 at halftime.

Cook opened the third quarter with a couple of free throws, but Ward drilled one from behind the arc, 44-37. Following an exchange of blows from inside, Shorts nailed a triple to make it 49-41. Jantunen and Ante Tomic traded buckets before Malcolm extended Paris’s lead to 53-45 with a layup. Hifi responded to a Ruzic three-pointer with one of his own and Sebastian Herrera knocked down his first of the night from deep to make it 59-50. However, a Tomic basket and back-to-back triples from Ribas and Feliz were followed by a layup from the latter, who tied it 60-60.

The two teams were level 62-62 at the end of the third quarter, but Feliz put the guests ahead for the first time with a couple of free throws. Then, Malcolm and Evans traded triples before Feliz scored a reverse layup, 65-69. A Ward basket was followed by another Evans three-pointer, but Malcolm responded from beyond the arc to make it 70-72. Cook and Shahrvin scored a basket each before Jantunen drove twice to the basket to put Paris back in front, 77-76. Pep Busquets hit a big triple, but Hifi tied it with a midrange jumper before Shahrvin skied for a dunk in transition, 81-79, with 2:51 left on the clock. Hifi stepped up when it mattered most and hit back-to-back triples before nailing a layup to extend Paris’s lead to 89-82 and practically put the game to bed with half a minute remaining.

The victory was the eighth in a row for the Group A leaders and ended Joventut's win streak at seven.

ratiopharm Ulm escaped with a hard-fought victory from the Moraca where it defeated Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 80-87 on Tuesday night. 

Ulm clinches playoff berth with 80-84 OT win in Podgorica

ratiopharm Ulm escaped with a hard-fought victory from the Moraca where it defeated Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 80-87 on Tuesday night. The visitors needed some time to warm up the engines in the early going but managed to build a 30-38 advantage at halftime that extended to 50-64 early in the fourth. A strong reaction allowed the hosts to turn the tables, 69-67, with 3 minutes remaining. Fletcher Magee had a shot to win the game, but missed a mid-range jumper and the game went to overtime. 

Then Juan Nuñez and LJ Figueroa took over, combining for 10 of Ulm’s 12 points in the extra period to help Ulm end its four-game losing streak and secure a playoff spot. Ulm’s record improved to 9-7, while Buducnost slipped to 6-10.

LJ Figueroa led all scorers with 24 points. Karim Jallow and Trevion Williams followed with 12 and 10 points, respectively while Juan Nuñez finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Yogi Ferrell paced Buducnost with 15 points and 8 assists, Magee chipped in 12 and Kenan Kamenjas posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort.

### Ulm regroups after a slow start

Both teams had a below-par start offensively, as the only points in the first 2 minutes came from the free-throw line through the hands of Marvin Jones. Vladimir Mihalovic drilled a three that built a 6-0 edge for the home side and opened the door for a more prolific scoring stint by both sides. Trevion Williams began punishing inside for Ulm, as Marvin Jones had 7 of Buducnost’s 12 total points when the score was 12-9 for the hosts. Kamenjas made it 16-9 soon after, but Ulm reacted in style and despite Buducnost kept dominating the boards, it shut Buducnost’s lights with a 0-8 run led by Karim Jallow that turned the tables, 16-17, at the end of the first quarter.

The hosts finally found some contribution from its frontcourt through Fletcher Magee and Yogi Ferrell, who nailed a three and scored a contested layup respectively to return the lead to Buducnost, 21-17, early in the second quarter. The joy didn’t last for long, though, as Nuñez took over scoring 4 points in a row and feeding Nicolas Bretzel for an inside basket and later Thomas Klepeisz for the first Ulm’s three of the night that granted a 25-28 edge for the visitors with 5 minutes remaining in the half. Brandon Paul struck back from the same place in the next play to tie it, but Ulm was again stronger in the last minutes of the period and sparked a 2-10 run with Figueroa scoring 8 points to finish the first half enjoying a 30-38 advantage.

### Buducnost rallies back, misses the winning shot

Figueroa remained hot after the break and nailed a three that made it a double-digit margin, 30-41, for the first time in the game. Ferrell came to the rescue on the other side, providing some offensive momentum to the hosts. Despite also finding some help from Yoan Makoundou, Buducnost couldn’t trim the deficit in a meaningful way and remained behind by double-figures midway through the third quarter, 41-51. Pacome Dadiet made it even worse after drawing an unsportsmanlike foul on Paul, giving Ulm a 44-57 advantage. A free-throw exchange in the last 2 minutes of the third quarter allowed Ulm to enter the last stanza with a comfortable 48-59 lead.

Kamenjias tried to revitalize his team with a couple of good moves both on offense and defense, but the momentum melted down like a sugar cube in hot coffee after Georginho de Paula converted an offensive rebound and Figueroa drilled a fastbreak three-pointer that provided Ulm with a 50-64 advantage with 8 minutes to go. Buducnost didn’t give up, though, and used a timeout to ignite a 14-0 run capped by a four-point play and a corner fastbreak three by Magee to make it all square, 64-64 with 5 minutes to go. Ferrell capped the rally with a mid-range jumper that set the stands on fire, 69-67, but Ulm managed to suffocate it and made it 72-72 before Fletcher missed the last shot in regulation.

### Nuñez and Figueroa take over in OT

The visitors recovered early when the game resumed, as Nuñez contributed 4 points in a row to help Ulm take the wheel. Despite Mihailovic tying it soon after, Figueroa showed up from deep to nail a key three that cooled down Buducnost, 76-79. Kamenjas reduced the gap from inside, and Buducnost had a couple of possessions to take back the lead, but consecutive turnovers allowed Williams to score, then Figueroa came up deadly again by hitting another three with 32 seconds to play that put the game on ice.

The visitors snapped a four-game losing streak with Nunez and Figueroa pulling the strings in the last 5 minutes.

Bryce Jones was in on nearly all of the big plays for U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the fourth quarter of its 88-83 victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento. 

Bryce Jones made the big plays late for Cluj

[Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones/012621/) was in on nearly all of the big plays for U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the fourth quarter of its 88-83 victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento.

Early on, after Trento closed the gap to 4, it was Jones’s penetration and dish to Emanuel Cate that got Cluj back on track. He would add a rainbow triple in what became a 13-0 run that Jones concluded with a layup for Cluj’s largest lead of the night, 79-62.

Trento turned up the heat late with 11 unanswered points to get within 83-80 in the final minute. Jones took control of the game from that point. First he whipped a pass to a wide-open Mareks Mejeris to give Cluj some breathing room. Then the playmaker’s defense of Trento star Kamar Baldwin forced a turnover. Jones finally iced the game with a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds to go.

Bryce Jones was clutch for Cluj against Trento

It was important for Jones to step up with the game on the line because Cluj was without scoring leader D.J. Seeley, who was serving a one-game suspension. Several players stood up to fill the void with center Andrija Stipanovic erupting for 10 first-quarter points and Adam Mokoka scoring 11 of his 14 in the third quarter.

After Cluj went up 17, it did not appear anyone would be needed for clutch plays late, but when the hosts took their foot off the glass too early and Trento rallied, Jones proved he could be counted on to carry the team.

Jones finished the night with 12 points and 5 assists to raise his season-long averages to 9.9 points and 4.3 assists per game. Most importantly, he ensured Cluj held on to win and to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish in Group B this season.

The Cluj guard had 8 points and 2 assists in the fourth quarter of his team’s victory on Tuesday.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-01-23T17:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca survived a late push from Dolomiti Energia Trento to claim an 88-83 victory on Tuesday at BT Arena. 

Cluj survives late Trento run to win 88-83

U-BT Cluj-Napoca survived a late push from Dolomiti Energia Trento to claim an 88-83 victory on Tuesday at BT Arena. Despite dominating for stretches and leading by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter, the hosts needed some key plays by Bryce Jones in the final minute to preserve the win. Cluj won its fourth straight game to improve to 12-4 on the season to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish in Group B – and with it an eighthfinals bye. Trento slipped to 7-9 and in the thick of the race for a playoff spot.

Andrija Stipanovic posted 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Karel Guzman also scored 16 and grabbed 3 steals to lead the winners. Adam Mokoka added 14 points, Jones finished with 12 points and 5 assists and Patrick Richard added 11 points and 5 assists. Trento’s Kamar Baldwin led all scorers with 21 points plus 4 steals. Paul Biligha and Quinn Ellis contributed 12 points apiece, Toto Forray netted 11 and Davide Alviti had 10 in defeat.

### Stipanovic fuels early Cluj charge

Stipanovic dominated early, scoring 5 baskets in the opening 5 minutes as the hosts raced to a 15-6 start. A three by Baldwin did little to change the momentum as Jarell Eddie heated up with his second and third triples of the night to give Cluj a 23-11 cushion. Derek Cooke provided some resistance for Trento. Despite seeing Cluj lead by as many as 14, Biligha willed Trento to within 28-18 after 10 minutes.  

### Ellis and Cooke lead Trento comeback

A pair of Trento scores to start the second quarter drew the visitors within 6. Threes by Guzman and Richard restored a double-digit difference and prompted a Trento timeout. Ellis stepped up for the visitors and Cooke provided an alley-oop slam and a putback in a 2-9 run that trimmed the deficit to 40-38. Guzman’s put-back slam made it 42-38 at the break.

### After Trento takes the lead, Cluj regains momentum  

Trento completed the comeback with a jumper from Baldwin and a layup from Cooke to lead 42-43. Guzman put Cluj back on top – twice – and the hosts regained control, 53-48, midway through the quarter. The momentum returned firmly to Cluj as Guzman forced a turnover and Mokoka and Mareks Mejeris dunked on consecutive possessions. Mokoka restored a double-digit Cluj advantage before Forray drew Trento to within 66-60 entering the fourth quarter.

### Late Trento rally sets up tense finish

After Baldwin got Trento within 4, Emanuel Cate scored twice to ignite a 13-0 run that also featured triples by Jones and Richard. The 79-62 difference was the largest of the game. Trento continued to fight and after Alviti’s steal and layup made it 81-72 with less than 4 minutes remaining, Cluj called timeout to regroup. A triple by Richard all but sealed the outcome. However, Alviti led a 0-11 response to get Trento within 1 on an Ellis triple. Jones found Mejeris open for a layup with 12.3 seconds left that made it 86-83. Jones then forced Baldwin into a turnover and iced the game with free throws with 3.6 seconds to go.

With its 4th win in a row, Cluj remains in the heart of the race for a top-two finish in Group B.

From now until the end of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, every night could see shifts in the standings as teams jostle for playoff spots. Here is what could happen in Round 16:

Playoff possibilities for Round 16

### Group A

[Paris Basketball ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/prs/)(14-1) has clinched first place in Group A. If it wins and Group B leader [Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) loses on Wednesday, Paris will secure the best regular season record and thus home court for every playoff series it plays.

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) (11-4) can clinch a top-four finish if it wins and [Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/bes/) loses.

[London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/lli/) (10-5) can clinch a top-four finish if it beats Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (9-6).

[Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/) (10-5) can clinch a top-four finish if it wins and both Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul and Prometey Slobozhanske lose.

[Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/pmt/) (8-7) clinches a playoff berth with a win and a Umana Reyer Venice loss.

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) (6-9) is eliminated from playoff contention if it loses and Prometey wins.

[Wolves Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/wol/) (5-10) is eliminated from playoff contention if it wins by fewer than 30 points or if Prometey Slobozhanske wins.

### Group B

[Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) (12-3) can clinch a top-two spot with a win and a [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) loss. 

[ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) (8-7) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/).

[7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/) (5-10) is eliminated if it loses and [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/) wins.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Prometey Slobozhanske (2024-01-24T17:30:00.000Z)

London Lions v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-01-24T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-01-24T18:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Wolves Vilnius (2024-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2024-01-24T18:00:00.000Z)

Slask Wroclaw v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-01-24T17:00:00.000Z)

Ondrej Balvin of BC Prometey is the latest player to write a EuroCup blog column.

Ondrej Balvin, BC Prometey: 'We have all the cards in our hands'

This is it, the regular season will finish soon and we are still trying to qualify for the playoffs. We have three games left and if we beat Reyer in Venice, we will surely qualify, but, of course, we will try to win every game. Actually, if we win and Reyer loses this week, we will punch our playoff ticket. Right now, it's either us or Reyer for the playoffs. We have all the cards in our hands, I believe, and if we do everything we should do, or at least play the way we've been playing lately, I believe we don't have to just wait for the result of that game against Reyer. Hopefully, we will solve this issue next week.

Prometey center

Right now, it's either us or Reyer for the playoffs."

It feels like in the last month, we finally came together as a team. Until now, we had some problems. For example, I traveled to Paris and was sick with a high fever, so I couldn't play. Rob Gray has a small hand injury, so as you see, there are small things that always somehow affect us. If all these things did not happen, I believe we would be in much better shape than we are, but right now we are on the right track to qualify for the playoffs.

We had a solid game against Wolves Vilnius. A lot of coaches love to say that offense wins games, but defense wins championships, so everything should start with defense, especially in the late part of the season, which is right now. For us, defense is always the game changer because the team has good chemistry and a lot of talent on offense. If we can use that chemistry on the court, it is a completely different world.

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As I mentioned before, I traveled to Paris and got sick. How unlucky is that? We practiced on Monday afternoon and when I came home, I started feeling a little bit sick, so I went to sleep early because when we go on road trips, we usually take early flights. So we had a meeting at 5 a.m. in the gym and I went there feeling already a little bit sick, but the team decided that, since I didn't have a fever, I could travel. And when we arrived in Paris, it was a complete disaster for me. I went down with a fever of almost 39 degrees, so I was in bed in the hotel the whole time. Luckily, our medical staff took great care of me and I was at least able to travel back, because after the game I was still in bed with 38 degrees. I felt like I was not going to be able to travel but they did a great job. We were next to the Bercy area, not far from the city center and I believe Paris in winter must be great. I cannot say because I have never seen it, even if I was there! Paris in winter must be really beautiful and charming. Maybe next time I will be lucky!

Paris in winter must be really beautiful and charming. Maybe next time I will be lucky!"

Tai Odiase played really well in that game and is doing a great job in general. The funniest thing about him is that we have similar hobbies. He is a little bit nerdy and loves gaming. That surprised me because American guys usually like to chill or hang out more together, but not Tai. I think he is the most low-key foreigner I have ever played with. He spends most of his time with his wife and they are expecting a kid. Most of the time he is on the road, he is playing video games, just like me! I love this about him. Right now, I am playing Call of Duty: Warzone and checking a game called Satisfactory. It is about managing a company from the beginning to the end, so that's kind of fun for me. Tai likes to play a lot of emulators on a game console called Steam Deck. He also loves to play a lot of Nintendo, Mario and all that stuff. We always talk about the games on the road when we are on the bus because we sit across from each other.

Ondrej Balvin is in his second season with Prometey Slobozhanske.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Ondrej Balvin, Prometey

Most of the guys, especially us foreigners on the team, don't know much about the city, so what most of us do is play video games and hang out with our friends, at least online. The player I know who is best at gaming is Simon Birgander. He is in Murcia and is currently injured. I can say that I never played with him, I only played against him, and he is crazy good at Call of Duty. I've never seen anybody play like him. He is a crazy video gamer. The funniest thing is that he looks like a really nice guy but when it comes to video games, he kills everybody!

Back to basketball. Like last season, the Latvian-Estonian League, in which we play as a guest, finishes its regular season at the end of March and there is a Final Four at the beginning of April. That means we will have a good schedule in the league because we have a lot of games there during the February break in the EuroCup. If we make it to the playoffs, our schedule will be easier in March. Right now, we are doing well in this league and it is easier for us to be more focused on the EuroCup than in the domestic competition.

Last but not least, shoutout to all the Ukrainian fans who come to see us at home and on the road and to the Latvian fans coming to our games. Everywhere we go, home or away, wherever we play, we always see some Ukrainian flags. We truly appreciate all the support we get everywhere, home and away. We enjoy it and hopefully, we will make you proud of us!

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