Umana Reyer Venice brought size and muscle to the paint with the addition of center Mfiondu Kabengele, which the club announced on Tuesday. Kebengele arrives from AEK Athens where he has been playing in his first season on the European continent.

Reyer bolsters frontcourt with Kabengele

Umana Reyer Venice brought size and muscle to the paint with the addition of center Mfiondu Kabengele, which the club announced on Tuesday. Kebengele (2.07 meters, 26 years old) arrives from AEK Athens where he has been playing in his first season on the European continent.

In six Greek League appearances this season, big man has averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, while in the Basketball Champions League he posted 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in four games.

A native of Canada, Kabengele attended Florida State University and started his professional career in 2019 with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. He played a total of 35 games with the Clippers over two seasons, before spending time with the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks over the next three campaigns.

Kabengele appeared in a total of 55 NBA games in four seasons, time during which he also played in the G-League with Ontario, Rio Grande and Maine.

Kabengele is now set to make his BKT EuroCup debut with Reyer, helping the team which currently sits with a 4-8 record in eighth place of Group A to make a playoff push.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Centro di 208 centimetri e 113 chilogrammi, fisicità, atletismo in entrambi i lati del campo. L&#39;Umana Reyer firma Mfiondu Kabengele.<br>Il comunicato 👉 <a href="https://t.co/TaqEjQCzxB">https://t.co/TaqEjQCzxB</a> <a href="https://t.co/7mbox56u3p">pic.twitter.com/7mbox56u3p</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1739590761832751492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Big man Mfiondu Kabengele signed with Umana Reyer Venice on Tuesday.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse hosts Dreamland Gran Canaria hosts in Round 13 of the EuroCup knowing that a win could change the balance of power in Group B. 

Bourg-Granca showdown could be a defining moment for both clubs

What a difference two months can make. When Dreamland Gran Canaria hosted Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse on October 25 in Round 4, the reigning champs were riding high with a 3-0 record and an average margin of victory of 19.7 points. Bourg was also undefeated, though it had scraped out a couple of narrow wins among its three victories. 

On that night, Gran Canaria pulled away early and led by as many as 23 points in the third quarter before Bourg rallied. That rally came up short as the hosts won[ 84-76](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dreamland-gran-canaria-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/36/). 

Bourg has been chasing Gran Canaria ever since. And its comeback will be complete if it wins when these teams meet tonight at Ekinox.

Coach Frederic Fauthoux’s Bourg is the hottest team in the EuroCup with six consecutive wins. Moreover, it is undefeated at home this season. A win against Gran Canaria will see Bourg go atop Group B with an 11-2 record and become the first team from the group to clinch a playoff berth.

Dreamland Gran Canaria-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Gran Canaria has slumped to back-to-back losses for the first time since April 2022. Its 22-point loss last week against Dolomiti Energia Trento was the worst home defeat in terms of margins since 2015. 

The story of this game, however, is more than just Bourg riding high and looking to pile on the suddenly struggling champs. Gran Canaria center Pierre Pelos joined the club from Bourg, where he had played the previous three seasons. He is one of two Frenchmen on the Gran Canaria roster alongside Andrew Albicy. A.J. Slaughter also spent many years playing for French clubs.

They are part of an experienced club that is aiming high and seeking to use this game as a chance to turn things around and create a buffer at the top of the standings. That is the goal for Gran Canaria. 

Bourg is a club built on many young players looking to the future, but there are three who remain from the 2021-22 season when it suffered by far the worst offensive performance in club history… against Gran Canaria. Axel Julien and Maxime Courby both started and Hugo Benitez came off the bench when Bourg lost [78-49](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/stats/db/U2021/40/#boxscore) in Round 4 of that season at Gran Canaria Arena. 

Game News

That trio was also in uniform when Bourg next met Gran Canaria, in February 2022, and erased a double-digit halftime deficit to win [78-76](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-gran-canaria/U2021/130/#boxscore) on a C.J. Harris jumper with 3 seconds remaining. 

Five Gran Canaria players remain from that squad – Albicy, Slaughter, Nicolas Brussino, Miquel Salvo and John Shurna. 

Can this season’s Bourg complete the comeback by beating Gran Canaria and vaulting itself to the top of the standings? To do so, it will be relying on several players who had never even competed in the EuroCup by that season, such as forwards Isiaha Mike and Zaccharie Risacher and point guard Jequan Lewis, a mid-season replacement for the injured Benitez. 

However, history has shown that Bourg can come back against Gran Canaria. And tonight it will look to do so once again in what would be a historic moment for the French club. 

 

The top-of-the-table showdown between Bourg and Gran Canaria sees the best two teams in Group B face off in a pivotal contest.  

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2023-12-26T18:30:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica playmaker Petar Popovic returns for his second blog entry this season. 

Petar Popovic, Buducnost: 'Every game is a key game for us'

A lot of things happened since the last time I blogged. Back then we were 2-1 in the EuroCup and now we are fighting for a playoff after a coaching change and adding new players to the roster. The EuroCup is really strong and unpredictable and all the teams can play and know how to play. Every game matters, as we say. So, it's been interesting. I see a lot of surprising results. It's nice to be part of the EuroCup and I think that this last part of the schedule is gonna be very interesting. Every win can bring you closer to the top or if you lose, closer to the bottom.

"It's nice to be part of the EuroCup and I think that this last part of the schedule is gonna be very interesting." 

We've had a lot of ups and downs. Going into the Round 11 game against Turk Telekom, we had three wins in a row in our two competitions (EuroCup and ABA League) and we felt that we had the momentum and that we were playing well. And then that game was really bad for us. It shook us. I don't know. We are going up and down this whole season so far. I don't know the reason, but the good thing is that we are still in the game. We have all the games that are left. We have some games at home that will be nice if we take the wins. But it's unpredictable. We realize how important those home losses against Aris and Turk Telekom were. So I'm really careful with any predictions. I'm just going one game at a time. Next is Cluj at home. So to be honest, I am only focusing on that game and I'm not looking any further than that.

Petar Popovic highlights from the first 12 rounds of the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Petar Popovic highlights

It will be nice to see my former teammate DJ Seely when Cluj comes. We played together here two seasons ago. That season, I knew that he was coming from EuroLeague and that he was a great player. But seeing that in practices and every day, him and his talent, was really amazing. First of all, he is a great guy. I really enjoyed the time I spent talking to him. He is funny. I remember him as a great guy. I was really happy when I saw him when we played in Romania. I think that he is a great scorer and a great passer. He is very talented. There are things that we have to do as a team to stop him and the other talented players that they have.

In the end, it's all about the team. There is no playing against one or two guys. We have to show up as a team, play offensively and defensively as a team, and try to play to our strengths to take that win. It's very important for us. Basically, every game is a key game for us. It will be in the future. I honestly expect a very tough game. They have a lot of guys that I know from before. Adam Mokoka and Bryce Jones played in the ABA League. I know how talented they are. I know that they have tempo and good rhythm in their game. They have Jarell Eddie, Stepanovic also played in the ABA League. So, they have a lot of talent on their side, but we also have a lot of talent in our team and I think we can put up a great fight and a great battle and I hope we come out as the winners.

"I hope to get those important wins that we need and to get a good spot in the playoffs."

The end of 2023 is almost here and that's a good time to make some wishes for the new year. Health is always number one. For our team, I hope to get those important wins that we need and to get a good spot in the playoffs in the EuroCup and to go as high as we can in ABA League. And that's it. At the end of the day, we all know that this is the game that we play and things outside of basketball are more important. But when you are into it and when you are working together every day, the job, the games, are important to us. So let's say in this professional part, I want us to get the wins that we need to go to the playoffs and then to see how far we can go. And all this, of course, one more time after health. Health, I think that's the start and base of every wish and everything in our life.

More on Petar Popovic

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica playmaker Petar Popovic returns for his second blog entry this season. Here's what he had to say:

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2023-12-27T18:00:00.000Z)

After becoming the first team to secure playoff qualification, Paris (11-1) will look to maintain its magnificent form with a visit from another ambitious and talented team, London (9-3).

Preview: Paris Basketball vs. London Lions

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-london-lions/U2023/125/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-prs-lli/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

It should be a high-scoring showdown with Paris leading the competition in scoring (99.5 points per game), while London is ranked third (92 ppg.). [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) was last week's hero for the English team with a late three-pointer to beat Prometey, while [T.J. Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) continued his magnificent season by taking the weekly MVP award in a crushing win over Hamburg. With both rosters loaded with scoring potential, this could be one of the best games of the season, and highly significant for playoff seedings.

[Paris Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/statistics/prs/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [London Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/statistics/lli/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Tyson Ward vs. Sam Dekker: A matchup of do-it-all forwards

London Lions-Paris Basketball | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

After becoming the first team to secure playoff qualification, Paris Basketball (11-1) will look to maintain its magnificent form with a visit from another ambitious and talented team, the London Lions (9-3).

The latest chapter in the Paris-London rivalry is here

Paris Basketball v London Lions (2023-12-26T19:45:00.000Z)

After an upset loss last week against Lietkabelis, German champion ratiopharm Ulm (8-4) will look for a quick recovery against a Turk Telekom Ankara team (3-9) that is running out of time to push for the playoffs. 

Preview: ratiopharm Ulm vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-turk-telekom-ankara/U2023/128/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-ulm-ttk/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Teenage guard [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) contributed to last week's loss by getting himself ejected with consecutive technical fouls and Ulm will need him on the court to lead an offense that has averaged 22.3 assists per game, third-best in the competition. Turk Telekom has [Tyrone Wallace](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrone-wallace/011925/) in superb form with 22 and 30 points in his last two games and will hope he can stay hot to inspire a vital road win.

[Ulm Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/statistics/ulm/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Turk Telekom Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/statistics/ttk/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Juan Nunez vs. Tyrone Wallace: Go-to guys in the backcourt

Turk Telekom Ankara-ratiopharm Ulm | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Ulm, Turk Telekom looking to bounce back

ratiopharm Ulm v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-12-26T18:30:00.000Z)

In a big battle for first place in Group B, red-hot Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (10-2) will look to make it seven wins in a row as it welcomes stuttering reigning champ Dreamland Gran Canaria (10-2), which has lost two in a row. 

Top spot in Group B is at stake when Bourg meets Gran Canaria

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-dreamland-gran-canaria/U2023/126/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-bou-can/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/axel-julien-bourg-the-biggest-match-of-the-eurocup-season/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The winner of this game will become the first team from Group B to qualify for the playoffs, while the losing side could potentially back in on Wednesday, depending on other results. A superb performance from [Isiaha Mike ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/isiaha-mike/011836/)(28 points, 8 rebounds) was the inspiration for Bourg's latest high-scoring triumph at Cluj, while Gran Canaria needs to rediscover its offensive production after being held to a season-low 76 points in last week's loss to Trento. Only [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/), with 17 points, was able to reach double digits in that game and he will be a key figure again as the Spanish team looks for a victory that would also secure head-to-head advantage in the race for the top spot in the group.

[Bourg Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/statistics/bou/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Gran Canaria Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/statistics/can/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Isiaha Mike vs. Nicolas Brussino: A showdown between tough versatile forwards 

Dreamland Gran Canaria-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Joventut Badalona (7-5) is aiming for a fifth straight win as it welcomes Umana Reyer Venice (4-8), which has been heading in the opposite direction by losing three in a row.

Preview: Joventut Badalona vs. Umana Reyer Venice

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/joventut-badalona-umana-reyer-venice/U2023/123/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-jov-vnc/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/neven-spahija-reyer-the-first-goal-or-us-is-to-play-40-minutes/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

With [Guillem Vives injured](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventuts-guillem-vives-sidelined-with-broken-finger/), Joventut will need [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/) to repeat his superb performance (18 points and 10 assists) that masterminded last week's win against Wolves. Reyer has already beaten the Spanish team once this season, 79-64 in Round 4, behind 24 points from [Marco Spissu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marco-spissu/004381/), and will need a similarly strong defensive effort to reignite its playoff ambitions this week. But that will require a big change in recent form after allowing 95, 100 and 100 points in its last three losses.

[Joventut Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/statistics/jov/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Reyer Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/statistics/vnc/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Pau Ribas vs. Maco Spissu: Experienced playmakers set to square off

Umana Reyer Venice-Joventut Badalona | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Red-hot Joventut hosts slumping Reyer 

Joventut Badalona v Umana Reyer Venice (2023-12-26T19:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (7-5) will look to take a big step toward playoff qualification against a Wolves Vilnius (4-7) team that desperately needs to arrest a four-game losing streak. 

Besiktas seeks home revenge against Wolves

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul-wolves-vilnius/U2023/122/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-bes-wol/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The Turkish team got back to winning ways last week with a vital victory, 83-88, at Cedevita, thanks to [Angel Delgado](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/angel-delgado/012647/) making a big-time return to form with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Wolves took an exciting win, 90-88, when the teams met earlier in the season and will look for [Tre'Shawn Thurman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tre-shawn-thurman/012577/) to repeat his heroics from that night after netting 31 points, including the winning basket, on 12-of-15 field goal shooting.

[Besiktas Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/statistics/bes/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Wolves Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/statistics/wol/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Angel Delgado vs. Christian Mekowulu: Keep an eye under the baskets on Wednesday to see which of these two power players prevails.

Wolves Vilnius-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul v Wolves Vilnius (2023-12-27T17:00:00.000Z)

A key battle in the playoff race will see Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (5-7) host U-BT Cluj-Napoca (8-4), which has lost two out of the last three but can still take a major step toward qualification with a road win.

Buducnost hopes to protect home floor with Cluj in town

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/buducnost-voli-podgorica-u-bt-cluj-napoca/U2023/130/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-bud-clu/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-prequotes-bud-clu/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Buducnost is locked in a four-way tie for fifth place after winning two of its last three, with 17 points and 5 assists from recent signing [Yogi Ferrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yogi-ferrell/011281/) proving crucial in last week's narrow win at Slask. He faces a key battle with Cluj's key backcourt man [DJ Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/), while Buducnost will also be wary of big man [Andrija Stipanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrija-stipanovic/005113/) after he netted 18 points in Cluj's comfortable Round 4 victory between the teams.

[Buducnost Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/statistics/bud/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Cluj-Napoca Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/statistics/clu/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)