Cluj makes Maciuca its first addition

U-BT Cluj-Napoca has its first offseason signing, with swingman Mihai Maciuca, the club announced. Maciuca (1.93 meters, 23 years old) arrives from a fellow Romanian side Pitesti where last season he averaged 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Maciuca has spent the last five seasons there. Prior to that he made his professional debut with Phoenix Galati.

New Cluj player is a regular member of the Romanian national team, where he debuted as a teenager. He is not set to make his BKT EuroCup debut.

"It's an honor to be part of the championship winning team and I want us to have as many achievements as possible together," Maciuca said upon signing. "This change represents an important step in my career, a new challenge for which I am ready and eager."

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Dolomiti Energia Trento made official on Thursday evening the signing of Paolo Galbiati as new head coach for the next three seasons. Galbiati, 39, spent last season as an assistant coach at Varese of Italy. Before that, he spent two seasons as head coach of Cremona in the Italian League. 

Galbiati had a brief career as a player, and in 2007 he already started coaching youth teams, and he worked his way up until he won the U17 league title with Olimpia Milan in 2013. In 2016 he made his debut in the Italian League as an assistant coach to Luca Banchi first and Carlo Recalcati later in Turin. A couple of years later, in 2018, Galbiati led Turin to the Italian Cup trophy. He stayed in Turin the following season to assist Larry Brown and later to take the lead once more, and after that he joined Biella, where he could not finish the 2019-20 season due to COVID. 

In 2021 and 2022, Galbiati was also part of the technical staff at the Italian national team, with which he took part in the Tokyo Olympics.

Trento announces Paolo Galbiati as new coach

Joventut Badalona has reached an agreement with Pau Ribas to extend the guard's contract until 2026. Ribas (36 years old, 1.94 meters) has never hidden his love for his boyhood club, with which he became a 7DAYS EuroCup champion in 2008, and he has penned a 2+1 deal that should see him continue suiting up in the green and black when he is 39.

Pau Ribas signs contract extension at Joventut until 2026

Joventut Badalona has reached an agreement with [Pau Ribas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pau-ribas/jug/) to extend the guard's contract until 2026. Ribas (36 years old, 1.94 meters) has never hidden his love for his boyhood club, with which he became a 7DAYS EuroCup champion in 2008, and he has penned a 2+1 deal that should see him continue suiting up in the green and black when he is 39.

The best plays of Joventut Badalona guard Pau Ribas in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Pau Ribas's best plays, 2022-23

The veteran played 13 games for Joventut in the EuroCup in 2022-23, nine of which were as a starter, averaging 9.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and an 11.0 PIR. While Ribas missed Joventut's playoff run due to injury, this new contract gives him the chance to help the Spanish side in its quest to return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, having last played in Europe's premier club basketball competition in 2008-09.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">📹 <a href="https://twitter.com/PauRibas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PauRibas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/sZhO0YjQS1">pic.twitter.com/sZhO0YjQS1</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1663620603771777025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ribas first joined Joventut when he was four years old and went on to play for the first team between 2005 and 2009, before representing Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2009-12), Valencia Basket (2012-15) and FC Barcelona (2015-20). In the summer of 2020, Ribas returned to Joventut and has played 40 games for the club in the EuroCup across the last three seasons. With a total of 165 appearances in the EuroLeague and 98 in the EuroCup, Ribas's experience will be key in helping Joventut return to Europe's top table once again.

Prometey Slobozhanske has made its second signing in as many days by wrapping up the arrival of Ukrainian power forward Andriy Voynalovych, who spent the 2022-23 campaign with Tartu in Estonia. Voynalovych (23 years old, 2.07 meters) is a Ukrainian international and he averaged 16.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in 33 games in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, the same league that Prometey is playing in. He will appear in the 7DAYS EuroCup for the first time next season.  

Prometey adds Ukrainian power forward Andriy Voynalovych

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BC &quot;Prometey&quot; signed a contract with Andriy Voynalovych <a href="https://t.co/W0wwE0hlAp">pic.twitter.com/W0wwE0hlAp</a></p>&mdash; BC Prometey (@BcPrometey) <a href="https://twitter.com/BcPrometey/status/1663451394089558017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prometey Slobozhanske has already wrapped up its first arrival of the 2023-24 campaign by signing Ronald March, the second top scorer in the French League this season with an average of 21.4 points per game. March (29 years old, 1.96 meters) joins from Chorale Roanne and will make his 7DAYS EuroCup debut with Prometey when the season gets underway.

Prometey makes Ronald March its first signing of next season

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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs0lcA9oviZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Prometey Basketball Club (@prometeybc)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

In addition to averaging 21.4 points per contest, March also posted averages of 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.9 steals across his 34 games in the French League in 2022-23. March leaves Roanne after three seasons at the club, in which he has averaged at least 13.7 points and increased his overall averages each year. The swingman began his professional career at Delhi in the Indian First Division before going on to play for Vevey Riviera in the Swiss First Division and Aix-Maurienne in the French Second Division. In 2020, March joined Roanne in the French top flight, but he now departs France as he embarks upon a new adventure with Prometey.

BC Wolves has confirmed that Jeffery Taylor will remain at the club for a further two years, with an option for a third. Taylor (34 years old, 2.01 meters) joined Lithuanian side Wolves midway through last season and averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 14 games in the Lithuanian League.

BC Wolves lock up Jeffery Taylor for 2 more years

BC Wolves has confirmed that [Jeffery Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jeffery-taylor/006546/) will remain at the club for a further two years, with an option for a third. Taylor (34 years old, 2.01 meters) joined Lithuanian side Wolves midway through last season and averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 14 games in the Lithuanian League.

Before he came to Wolves, Taylor had spent seven seasons with Real Madrid, with which he won the EuroLeague in 2018. He also celebrated four Spanish League championships, two Spanish Cups and the 2015 Intercontinental Cup. Taylor began his professional career with the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA in 2012 and spent three seasons there before joining Real.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeff stays for at least two more years! 👌 Read more - <a href="https://t.co/FWvTwNHmY3">https://t.co/FWvTwNHmY3</a> 👈 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreWolves?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreWolves</a> <a href="https://t.co/fRIBE4JZoy">pic.twitter.com/fRIBE4JZoy</a></p>&mdash; BC WOLVES (@wolves_bc) <a href="https://twitter.com/wolves_bc/status/1661326235513880577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I love the opportunity to be with a new team and try to reach our goals as an organization. I feel like it's very intriguing and motivating. I am looking forward to being part of the journey," Taylor said. "It is a new team, so you have to realize that it is a work in progress. The organization is full of people that do their jobs amazingly. Everything has been great in that aspect. I am looking forward to take the team up from where we are now. We want to be out in Europe and competing against the highest level of competition." 

BC Wolves have announced that star forward Jeffery Taylor has agreed to a multi-year contract extension. 

Wolves lock up Jeffery Taylor for 2 more years

London Lions is the British League playoffs champions! London claimed the title by edging Leicester Riders 88-80 at the O2 on Sunday. Aaron Best and Jordan Taylor led the winners with 15 points apiece. Miye Oni added 14, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while Tarik Phillip had 12 points for London. Phillip hit back-to-back three-pointers to give his team a 22-14 lead after 10 minutes. London kept a 44-36 lead at halftime              and extended it to 69-55 at the end of the third quarter, keeping a safe margin until the final buzzer. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🏆 🦁 London Lions are your Play-off Final Champions!<br><br>A hard fought game from both teams but <a href=https://twitter.com/LondonLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>@LondonLions</a> come out on top!<a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/NowYouKnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#NowYouKnow</a> <a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/BritishBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#BritishBasketball</a> <a href=https://t.co/E1agpk2axl>pic.twitter.com/E1agpk2axl</a></p>&mdash; British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) <a href=https://twitter.com/BBLofficial/status/1657797085851267075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>May 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script></center>

London rounded a great domestic season in which it won the BBL Cup and the British Championship, finishing the regular season with a 32-4 record. Once in the playoffs, London swept Newcastle Eagles in the two-way quarterfinals, and did the same with Cheshite Phoenix in the two-way semifinals to reach the final at the O2. 

London Lions win British playoffs, too! 

Jaka Lakovic now knows how it feels to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup. As a player, he helped FC Barcelona win the 2009-10 EuroLeague. As a head coach, Lakovic guided Gran Canaria to its first-ever EuroCup crown. Lakovic led a Gran Canaria team that even made it look easy. Gran Canaria was 13-0 in front of its fans, getting the most home wins by any EuroCup fan ever, and finished the season with a 19-3 record. Coach Lakovic already made headlines with ratiopharm Ulm last season by knocking out top-seeded team Joventut Badalona in the eighthfinals. This season, Coach Lakovic's team was the top seed and made the most of the home-court advantage. "Every week is filled with tension and the stress of a one-and-done game in which, with the home-court advantage, we were seen as a favorite. But the next-game mentality was most important for us, just taking it day by day," Lakovic said. "Somebody said it was actually a final game, somebody called it the game of the season, somebody else called it, I don't know, the game of his career. But at the end of the day, it was another do-or-die game, like the ones we played in the last four weeks."

**Congratulations on winning the EuroCup. It is your first title as head coach. How does it feel?** 

"Thank you. Yes, it is my first title as a head coach. As assistant coach, I was part of the staff who won the EuroBasket with Slovenia, which was very important for my national team. So yes, this one is the first as a head coach and it's a special one because of many things: because of the way we did it, and also what it means to the island of Gran Canaria, to the people here. So we are really, really proud and happy to bring it here." 

 "By calculations, we made the most kilometers traveled by all teams in the world, including the NBA."

**As you said, Gran Canaria has been chasing this title for many years. It must be special to win the EuroCup for this particular club that waited so long for this title.**

"It was a special season for us. Gran Canaria was indeed a couple of times very close in the battle for this title and they really wanted this important title for the club, for the island, for the great fans here. And I think the work that previous coaches did years back was a very important step to finish it off this year. And I was in this spot, fortunate to be here with this team, to be able to take it." 

**You had 19 wins in 22 games. You made it look easy, but I'm sure it wasn't easy. What was the toughest moment of the season for Gran Canaria?** 

"Well, yes, we had 19 wins in 22 games, so it looked easy, but I thought the season was tough because Gran Canaria is where it is. We traveled a lot. We had very tough road trips. In fact, by calculations, we made the most kilometers traveled by all teams in the world, including the NBA. So I think this was, for me as a coach here, coming to Gran Canaria for the first time, the toughest thing to adjust to and adjust not only the traveling, but also the practice loads. You have to keep in mind the travel. So I think this was the toughest thing to overcome at the beginning but, in the end, you get used to it. And I think we had a really, really good EuroCup season." 

**And that's why the home-court advantage was so important. In a way, you had to win a lot at home early to avoid playing on the road. It was like going full circle...** 

"Correct. I mean, at the beginning, we were not obsessed with getting the first place because we knew the format of EuroCup. We knew that we had to be the best when it counts the most. But as the season went on, when we saw the opportunity of having the number one seed throughout the playoffs, we said, 'yeah, we want to fight for it' because of the traveling times. It takes a lot from you. And in the end, we knew that when the playoff comes, the fans would fill out the arena. And this year, we were perfect at home in the EuroCup." 

**What was the game plan against Turk Telekom in general, and against Jerian Grant in particular?** 

"They are a great team with a great coach, a team which is first in the Turkish League as well, a competition that features EuroLeague powerhouses like Efes and Fenerbahce. So the preparation was really... not to say simple, but it was a very clear message. We have to be very solid one-on-one defensively. We had to run back to defend their transition game and control our defensive rebound. These were the three keys that we set out to do because in all of those three concepts, they were, throughout the season, one of the best teams."

"Every title is really special and it's always the team effort, the team process, which matters the most. But by difficulty... as a head coach is much more stressful."

**After each win, you stressed the fact that you earned the right to play the next round. How important was this game-by-game mentality for your team?** 

"Oh, very important, especially coming down to the last four weeks where every week is filled with tension and the stress of a one-and-done game in which, with the home-court advantage, we were seen as a favorite. But the next-game mentality was most important for us, just taking it day by day. It was very important simply because of the psychology of the team. Also the final. We affronted it as another game in this four-week series of do-or-die games. We just said the objective in this game is different. Somebody said it was actually a final game, somebody called it the game of the season, somebody else called it, I don't know, the game of his career. But at the end of the day, it was another do-or-die game, like the ones we played in the last four weeks. That is how we affronted all those games." 

**Now that you have been through both experiences, how different is it to win a big European title as a player than as a coach?** 

"Actually, every title is really special and it's always the team effort, the team process, which matters the most. But by difficulty, having won a title, like this, as a head coach, I think it was much more stressful, it is much more tense just because of the process of preparing and leading the coaching staff, thinking about every detail. As a coach, you have to do that. As a player, actually, you want to put your best effort. You think about yourself and what you have to do, so it's a little bit more simple. Right now, I value more the degree of difficulty \[of winning\] as a coach."

**Despite battling back problems, John Shurna was chosen as the EuroCup Final MVP. How do you appreciate his effort, not just in the final but throughout the playoffs?** 

"John is a special player, a great person and a great teammate, and his effort on an everyday basis is just amazing. You don't even have to worry about John because he gives you 100% every day and we were actually really worried that he might miss the final. But with the help of our physiotherapist and his power of will, he came through and like I said to him, he got rewarded for his toughness, for his resilience and just for his work throughout the year." 

**A lot of former Gran Canaria players are now staff members. Sitapha Savane, whose jersey was retired by the club, became the team's president. How great has he been for the team's chemistry to have a president that Savane who understands basketball?** 

"Very good. Since Savane came in September or October, we made a great bond together. He also has great communication between the management and the team. This communication, this relationship became closer, more contact, more everyday presence. And that was, I think, important for me as a coach. But I also think the players recognized it and welcomed it with open arms because knowing that you have somebody that is around every day, that is ready to do whatever it takes to help the team, that is very important in a season which is full of up and downs and tough moments." 

**Of course, Gran Canaria earned the right to play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next year. How much as you looking forward to that challenge, to coach in the EuroLeague?**

"It's great as a competitor. I am talking about players, coaches, staff, everybody, also the fans... I think everybody is looking forward to the challenge. Everybody is looking forward to the next step. And of course, this is something that, as a competitor, you always look for: to make another step, to have another challenge and another motivation. And it's always great to have this as a reward for winning the EuroCup."

Coach Lakovic, Gran Canaria: 'It was a special season for us'

The London Lions have tied down Sam Dekker and Josh Sharma, two key players in its debut 7DAYS EuroCup season, to new contracts. Dekker (29 years old, 2.02 meters) has put pen to paper on a deal through the 2026 season, while Sharma (26 years old, 2.13 meters) will remain in the English capital through the 2025 campaign.

London signs Sam Dekker, Josh Sharma to new contracts

The London Lions have tied down [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) and [Josh Sharma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/josh-sharma/012020/), two key players in its debut 7DAYS EuroCup season, to new contracts. Dekker (29 years old, 2.02 meters) has put pen to paper on a deal through the 2026 season, while Sharma (26 years old, 2.13 meters) will remain in the English capital through the 2025 campaign.

 

Dekker finished the regular season as the EuroCup's leading scorer, averaging 18.9 points per game, while he also averaged 5.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and a 20.7 PIR, the second highest in the competition. There was a lot of hype and excitement surrounding Dekker's move to London, and he certainly lived up to the billing.

 

"Sam has been an integral piece to the organization, both on and off the court," London GM Brett Burman told the Lions' official website. "He showed extreme efficiency this season as a versatile scoring wing, a guy who can get to his spots and dictate the flow of the game. We're thrilled to have Sam, Olivia \[his wife\] and their family as long-term members of the club and the London community."

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DEKKER &amp; SHARMA LOCKED IN! ✍️🦁<a href="https://twitter.com/dekker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dekker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Josharma20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Josharma20</a> <br><br>The London Lions have agreed to contract extensions with Sam Dekker through the 2026 season and Josh Sharma through the 2025 season.<br><br>Read more ⬇️<a href="https://t.co/9YSmcKMSq0">https://t.co/9YSmcKMSq0</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wearelondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wearelondon</a> <a href="https://t.co/8educZywyb">pic.twitter.com/8educZywyb</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1655979612860448768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sharma, meanwhile, averaged 4.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks across 18 appearances, which featured 2 starts. The big man was a notable presence on both offense and defense, scoring some highlight-reel dunks and also creating some Magic Moments with his blocks.

 

"We believe that Josh is a game-changer at both ends of the floor who is yet to enter his prime," stated Burman. "His impression on the game does not always show up in the boxscore, but his impact on winning is invaluable. Already a fan favorite, we are thrilled to watch him grow as a vital member of the club."

 

London reached the playoffs in its first-ever season in the EuroCup and the hope is that the likes of Dekker and Sharma play key roles in helping the English team establish itself as a force to be reckoned with at the European level.