First things first, we beat Paris and made it to the semifinals. It was great to get a win in front of a great crowd, a great atmosphere. We knew that Paris obviously is a high-powered offensive team and in the first quarter, it was back and forth and not much defense, really. But we were able to settle down a little bit, played better on defense and were able to get some stops and scores and transition, and then played well in the last three quarters. Damien Inglis came off the bench and gave us a big boost. I think it is important getting key contributions from everyone. Each game is a single-elimination one so everybody has to be focused, locked in, giving their best and trying to contribute however they can to help the team. 

"It was great to get a win in front of a great crowd, a great atmosphere."

I was fortunate to have a strong start but it could have been anyone, really. I think that throughout the season we have shown we have a lot of talented guys on our team. And the way the defense was being played early in the game, my teammates were finding me in positions to score. We got contributions from everyone, and we have a lot of talented and unselfish guys, so I think you could go down our entire roster and see we got key contributions from everyone and it was a good team win. Again, we had a great crowd, especially for a late start. I wasn't sure what kind of crowd we were going to get but our fans have been terrific and to have such great support for an important game like that was great. And of course, getting a win for them made it even better.

It was important for us to get the home-court advantage for all the playoffs. Playing in front of our crowd is huge and not having to go on such long travels is definitely beneficial for everyone's bodies. So I think having a strong regular season and just having that sort of consistency as a team has been important for us, especially now that we have a really tough test against Joventut. With all the extra time not traveling around, we have been practicing and focusing on each of these games, the EuroCup Playoffs and the final regular-season games in the ACB, trying to make a push for the playoffs. It's a lot of important and intense games, so I am trying to make sure I am recovering and preparing for each game. Also, getting quality time with my family has been great. 

John Shurna led Gran Canaria to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals.

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup playoffs highlights: John Shurna, Gran Canaria

Both teams obviously know each other very well. I played for Joventut, even our president Sitapha Savane played for Joventut... and we played together there! We faced them two weeks ago, too. They are obviously a great team. They have a lot of talent. You go down their entire roster and they have a great team that has played well in both the EuroCup and the ACB, and it is definitely a tough matchup, but we are excited for the game. Tomic has been a guy who has been playing at a high level for an incredibly long time. He is someone who reads the game really well and can score and pass and rebound. He is great! He is almost like another point guard on the court with his vision and decision-making. And then they have a lot of talent, I could name their whole roster. You have Vives, Feliz, Guy, Ventura, Busquets, who played well against Hapoel. You have Parra, you have Ellenson, you have Brodziansky, Birgander... Hopefully, I'm not missing someone there. But like I said, it is a deep team who gets contributions from everyone and Tomic is obviously a phenomenal player.

"We are gonna try our best to be focused and leave it all out on the floor."

We are aware that a win sends us to the final and that we are two victories away from winning the title. Still, it is very important to focus on the game ahead and it is a really tough game against a great Joventut team. We are going to try our best to be focused and leave it all out on the floor. I have been fortunate to reach the EuroCup Semifinals twice, along with Andrew Albicy and Oliver Stevic: with Andorra in 2018, we lost against ALBA Berlin; and with Gran Canaria in 2021, we lost against Monaco. We have to stay focused on the game ahead because it is going to be a really tough one. I am sure our fans will give us a big boost. I hope to see you at Gran Canaria Arena on Wednesday!

John Shurna, Gran Canaria: 'We are excited for the game'

Breakdown: Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

Two first-time semifinalists will square off in Riga, the home away from home for Ukrainian club [Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23), which hosts [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) in a do-or-die game that will send the winner into the final. Competition newcomer Prometey entered the playoffs as the Group A winner, while Turk Telekom finished in second place in Group B. Both teams have ridden their respective home-court advantages into the semis and, while Prometey tries to continue doing that, Turk Telekom now must find that same spark on the road.

### Uncharted territory

Prometey has not only made the semis in its first season in the competition, but the team is on a 13-game winning streak that dates back to December 6, when it lost an overtime game at Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. This winning run is tied for the sixth-longest in competition history and tied for the fourth-longest in a single season. Prometey will try to do something only Unicaja Malaga has done in the past 10 years, reach the EuroCup Finals in its debut. Turk Telekom played in the quarterfinals for the first time last week and now it is a first-time semifinalist and aiming for its first finals appearance. Even though both rosters have many veteran players and experience, the only player on either team who has played this deep into a EuroCup season is Turk Telekom center Michael Eric, who won the title with Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018.

Prometey goes from steals to fast breaks

### Defense will decide it

No team this season has forced as many turnovers (15.6 tpg.) or collected as many steals (9.6 spg.) as Prometey, led by Caleb Agada's 2.3 steals per game, the EuroCup's second-best. The team actually ranks near the bottom in three-point accuracy (32.7% 3FG), but Prometey ranks first in scoring (88.0 ppg.) in big part thanks to its defense, which allows it to often play in transition and get a whole bunch of fastbreak points. That defense also allows Prometey to shoot more often than all but one team this season, with its 67 field goal attempts per game and 29.9 three-point attempts per game both second-most in the competition. 

Turk Telekom, on the other hand, has one of the best defenses in terms of points allowed. The team enters the semifinals having allowed 77.8 points per game, which is third-fewest this season, and it has allowed the third-fewest offensive boards (9.4 orpg.) and second-fewest rebounds (32.3 rpg). Turk Telekom has won the rebounding battle in 14 of its 20 games this season, including both playoff contests, and has won 13 of those. In addition, both teams have held opponents to 76 or fewer points in their last three games, and that will be the goal for each team in this semifinal matchup, too.

### Key players carry the load

Turk Telekom playmaker Jerian Grant enters the semifinals ranking fourth in the competition in average PIR (18.6), big man Tyrique Jones is fifth (18.4) and shooting forward Axel Bouteille ranks eighth (17.8). Grant, who was the quarterfinals MVP, ranks second this season in assists (6.2 apg.), Bouteille ranks fourth in scoring (17.9 ppg.) and third in three-pointers made (2.8 3FG), Jones is sixth in offensive rebounding (2.7 orpg.), and along with Tony Taylor, those three players have carried Turk Telekom throughout the season. On the other side, Prometey's main protagonists are playmakers Gian Clavell (15.0 ppg.) and Agada (14.8 ppg., 4.1 apg.) who returned from injury last week, as well as D.J. Stephens (13.4 ppg.). Prometey has a more balanced attack, one in which six different players have averaged 8.3 points or more so far. Will Turk Telekom's three stars be able to carry the load and make plays when their team needs them? or will Prometey's balance prevail? 

Turk Telekom's show-stopping plays

### The stars provide sparks

When Prometey or Turk Telekom take the floor, highlight-reel plays come in bunches. Stephens, thanks to assists from Agada and Clavell, has been a fixture when it comes to best plays each round, but so have Jones and Grant for Turk Telekom. Whether it is the pulverizing dunks or emphatic blocks from Stephens or Jones, sweet passes from Agada, Clavell or Grant, or big-time three-pointers from Bouteille, both Prometey and Turk Telekom have the players who can provide a spark when their team needs one. 

Turk Telekom erased double-digit deficits in both playoff games, including a 14-margin last week against ratiopharm Ulm, and its second-half charge included a series of highlight-reel plays that got the entire team going, as has been the case the entire season. The same is true of Prometey, and in addition to the team-leading trio, big man Ondrej Balvin has also been no stranger to delivering exciting plays. There will certainly be plenty of those when these teams share the same floor on Wednesday.

Prometey Slobozhanske v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-04-26T16:00:00.000Z)

Breakdown: Gran Canaria vs. Joventut Badalona

We have an all-Spanish-League 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinal in which both teams look for their second-ever appearance in the final. [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) (17-3) comes into this game with the best record in the competition and has the home-court advantage against [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) (15-5), which won the competition in 2008. 

### Another semifinal 

Joventut will compete in the EuroCup Semifinals for the third time in club history. It reached this far in the competition's original season, 2002-03, when it took a 13-point lead in the first leg of a two-game, total-points series against Krka Novo Mesto. An 82-66 road loss prevented the team from reaching the finals. Joventut was back in the semis in 2008 and beat Galatasaray Istanbul 90-83 behind 27 points from Rudy Fernandez. It went on to beat Akasavyu Girona 79-54 and lift the trophy. Pau Ribas, who is currently injured, was with the squad in 2008.

Gran Canaria has been to three semifinals already and won one of them. In 2015, Gran Canaria swept UNICS Kazan in the two-game semifinals and lost to Khimki Moscow Region in the finals. A year later, Gran Canaria lost against Galatasaray on point difference, 169-170, after missing the final shot. Gran Canaria played a third semifinal in 2021, in a best-of-three playoff format, and was swept by AS Monaco. Both Galatasaray and Monaco went on to lift the trophy. 

### We meet again 

Several Gran Canaria players know Joventut better than most after playing for that team in the past. John Shurna played for Joventut in the 2013-14 season. He was a teammate of current Joventut players Guillem Vives and Albert Ventura, as well as Gran Canaria president Sitapha Savane, which was with La Penya at that time, too. Ferran Bassas grew up with Joventut, left at age 21 and returned after eight years for a second stint with the club. Oliver Stevic also played for Joventut in the 2019-20 season. 

Shurna, Stevic and Andrew Albicy have been to two EuroCup semifinals together, with Gran Canaria in 2021 as well as with MoraBanc Andorra in 2019, when they lost to ALBA Berlin in the best-of-three playoffs. Despite playing in different groups, Gran Canaria and Joventut have faced each other twice this season. Gran Canaria bested Joventut 75-91 in Badalona on January 22 behind 18 points from Olek Balcerowski. On April 4, Gran Canaria beat Joventut again, 100-88. Nico Brussino led five Gran Canaria scorers in double digits with 18 points. 

### Coaching familiarity

As in any high-profile showdown, the coaching battle will be very interesting. This time, it is extra special, as the two head coaches know each other well and have worked together in the past. Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic finished his legendary playing career in 2016, and joined Bilbao Basket as an assistant coach in the 2017-18 campaign, briefly working for current Joventut boss Carles Duran, who was fired in November 2017. 

Lakovic and Duran crossed paths three times after that. Added to Gran Canaria's two wins against Joventut last season, Lakovic led ratiopharm Ulm to a 73-79 road win in last season's EuroCup Eighthfinals. Joventut came into that game with a 12-4 record and was 9-0 in front of its fans. Jaron Blossomgame and Semaj Christon led Ulm with 21 points apiece. Lakovic went from Duran's apprentice to coaching nemesis, but it all may change on Wednesday. 

Ante Tomic of Joventut Badalona averages 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and a PIR of 23.0 in 2 playoffs games.

Ante Tomic dominates in the playoffs

### A test for young centers

Joventut center Ante Tomic has been a pillar for his team this season, averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for a PIR of 17.4 in less than 23 minutes per night. In fact, Tomic leads the competition in PIR per 40 minutes (30.7). The playoffs are a different animal, they say, and Tomic has definitely responded, going for 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for a PIR of 24 in the eighthfinals against London Lions before playing a key role in the quarterfinals against Hapoel Vegan Friendly Jerusalem with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for a PIR of 22. 

Stopping Tomic could be among Gran Canaria's biggest priorities and Coach Lakovic will rely on his young centers, Balcerowski and Khalifa Diop, to do so. Balcerowski has averaged 9.1 points on 74.4% two-point shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks for a PIR of 11.4. Diop has similar numbers, mostly coming off the bench: 8.6 points on 66.3% two-pointers, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 block for a PIR of 11.0. In two Spanish League games this season, Balcerowski and Diop limited Tomic to 13.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and a PIR of 14.0. Keeping Tomic below his playoff averages should help Gran Canaria tremendously. 

Gran Canaria v Joventut Badalona (2023-04-26T19:00:00.000Z)

And then there were four! The 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals are here, which means that there are fewer and fewer options to choose from in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, powered by Ardu Prime](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home?_ga=2.140488115.1008357699.1682319962-884385655.1669721726). I am sure all managers will take advantage of the unlimited trading and get all the main stars like Ante Tomic, Jerian Grant, John Shurna and D.J. Stephens, just to name one player per team. We are going to focus on players who are cheaper and can give you the tie-breaker you need to challenge for prizes or do better in your private league. Here they are: 

[Nate Sestina, Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nathan-sestina/011980/) (8.4 credits) – Sestina had a solid performance in the quarterfinals against Ulm with 12 points and 8 rebounds for a PIR of 15 in over 30 minutes of action. With only four teams available, Sestina has a big price value of fewer than 9 credits. 

[Issuf Sanon, Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/issuf-sanon/011947/) (7.1 credits) – Caleb Agada returned but that didn't slow Sanon on. In fact, Sanon had a good game against Promitheas with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 fouls drawn for a PIR of 16. He helps in many aspects of the game, which has a lot of fantasy value. 

Nathan Sestina, Issuf Sanon, Vladimir Brodziansky, Damien Inglis and Ferran Bassas are featured in this week's article.

Eurocup Fantasy tips: semifinals

[Vladimir Brodziansky, Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vladimir-brodziansky/010458/) (10.5 credits) – Brodziansky had a stellar performance against Hapoel last week, amassing a PIR of 22. He had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Brodziansky can play at the '4' and '5' spots, which is important against a versatile team such as Gran Canaria. 

[Damien Inglis, Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/damien-inglis/003960/) (10.1 credits) – Inglis had an explosive performance against Paris, making his first 7 shots in a seven-minute span in the first half. He ended up getting 23 points on 11-of-14 two-point shooting and a PIR of 25 in just 15 minutes. It is time to hop the Ingli fantasy train! 

[Ferran Bassas, Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ferran-bassas/001607/) (8.8 credits) – Here's another Gran Canaria player, just because they have the best record in the competition at 17-3. Bassas played for Joventut in the past and comes off a good game: 8 points and 5 assists for a PIR of 11. He should bring out his best version in such a critical situation.

Fantasy tips, semifinals: going to small details!

It has been a great 7DAYS EuroCup season for Turk Telekom Ankara, which has won 15 of its 20 games en route to the semifinals. Turk Telekom began the season with a new core of players and a new head coach in Erdem Can. The gelled quickly and are peaking at the right time. Playmaker Jerian Grant has been at the heart of it all.

Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom: 'We are ready'

It has been a great 7DAYS EuroCup season for Turk Telekom Ankara, which has won 15 of its 20 games en route to the semifinals. Turk Telekom began the season with a new core of players and a new head coach in Erdem Can. The gelled quickly and are peaking at the right time. Playmaker [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) has been at the heart of it all. A member of a distinguished basketball family, his father, Harvey Grant, played in the NBA for a decade. Harvey's twin brother was Horace Grant, a four-time NBA champion. Jerian's brothers Jerami and Jerai also play professional basketball. Jerian Grant is enjoying a breakout EuroCup season with 14.6 points and 6.2 assists for a PIR of 18.6. He was the EuroCup Quarterfinals MVP after posting 20 points, 7 assists and a quarterfinals record 13 fouls drawn for a PIR of 31 in the win against ratiopharm Ulm. Grant is now looking forward to Turk Telekom's semifinal matchup against Prometey Slobozhanske. "We know it will be a tough environment going to play there, but we are ready," Grant said. "Our guys have been ready from day one and we are two games away from a championship, so \[we are\] taking it one game at a time. I think all our guys are excited and ready to get on the road and have a great game."

**Congratulations on the comeback win against ratiopharm Ulm. What allowed you to overcome a bad start and make it to the semifinals?** 

"I think we have put ourselves in that position probably in the last couple of months. We have been down big in some games and I think our team never loses confidence. I think we just know that as long as we stick together and keep doing what we are doing, eventually, we will come out on top. We have won a lot of games this year and we have done it in all types of different ways, so we just keep confidence in each other and stay together, and that's how we have been winning this year."

"The guys have trusted me, coaches have trusted me, and that's all it really takes."

**You drew 13 fouls in that game, a new record for the quarterfinals or later. Was it part of the game plan, to be aggressive and attack their guards?** 

"Not really the game plan, but before every game, Coach and my teammates just tell me to be aggressive. They always tell me, 'be aggressive, be aggressive', so that helps me to start every game just trying to be in attack mode. And against Ulm, obviously, with them having the younger guards and a couple of smaller guards, it was a great way to play."

**This is your first EuroCup season after a year with Milan in the EuroLeague? How do you compare the competitions and what surprised you about the EuroCup?** 

"Obviously the EuroLeague is deeper from one to 18 teams. Anybody can get beat any night because they are just a bunch of talent all the way, top to bottom. And the EuroCup is just a little different because I think the top half of the teams are more EuroLeague level and you have the bottom half of the teams that can struggle a little bit. But it's definitely top-level basketball, and just me this year, being with this team and with Coach trusting me, it has helped my game progress a lot."

**Your brother Jerai played the EuroCup before you did. Did you ask him about the competition before you signed with Turk Telekom? If so, what did he tell you?** 

"I didn't ask him much about the EuroCup, but I watched a lot of his games so I was able to see kind of just the way it compared to the EuroLeague. And I think that's obviously helped me this year to play the way I'm playing. I didn't ask him specifically, but I definitely watched his games and got to kind of scout out some of the teams." 

**You come from one of the biggest basketball families we know of: your Dad, your uncle and your two brothers all played professionally. How often do you stay in touch, and how important is basketball in the family?** 

"It's big. I talk to my brothers pretty much almost every day. Obviously, Jerami plays in the NBA, and it is a different time. But Jerai playing out here and my youngest brother just keeping up with all of us. I talk to my brothers every day, pretty much. Obviously, my dad tries to catch the games out here when he can, and basketball has been in our family since day one. So it's something that we always talk about and we always compete trying to push each other to the next level."

Jerian Grant averages 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and a PIR of 18.6, leadng Turk Telekom Ankara to the 7DAYS EuroCup semifinals with a 15-5 record.

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup highlights:Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom

**It must have been a competitive environment, too. Did growing up in such a big basketball family help you become a better player?** 

"Yes, absolutely. I think growing up, we all wanted to be better than the other brothers, so we pushed each other. We had battles in the backyard. When my team was playing after his team, if he scored 20 points, I wanted to score 25 points. So all my brothers, we competed and we pushed each other and we still do to this day. It's more of friendly competition now, but we always just want to push each other so that the next guy can do better."

**You will play against Prometey, which is on a 13-game winning streak. What needs to be done to take them out of their rhythm and challenge for a playoff spot?** 

"They have a great team. They have won a lot of games in a row. I think I have seen a stat where they were like, between their two competitions, they had won maybe 30 games in a row, something crazy. We know it will be a tough environment going to play there, but we are ready. Our guys have been ready from day one, and we are two games away from a championship, so \[we are\] taking it one game at a time. I think all our guys are excited and ready to get on the road and have a great game."

**You lead Turk Telekom in assists, fouls drawn and PIR. Is that what you were looking for when you joined the team, having a big role and making things happen with the ball in your hands?** 

"Oh, absolutely. From day one when I talked to Coach, that's kind of what he told me. He was like 'you are going to have a big role in this team, you are going to be one of my lead guards, and I'm going to need you to lead this team'. And I was excited for the challenge. And it's been a great year. Honestly, the guys have trusted me, coaches have trusted me, and that's all it really takes. So for me, I'm just excited to be able to continue this journey."

"We are extremely excited. We can't wait to get back on the court."

**What's your take on the other semifinal, Gran Canaria against Joventut?**

"After our game, I will be tuned in. It will be a great game to watch. Everybody talks about how the ACB League is the best in Europe, so to have those two teams playing against each other with a chance for one of them to play for the championship will be an exciting good basketball \[game\]. Gran Canaria is deep, one to 12 or one through 13. They don't have a drop-off when they send their guys in and out. So I think that's the challenge with them, you get elite basketball for 40 minutes no matter who's in the game, and that can always be challenging. They play good basketball."

**You have five players averaging double digits in scoring. How important is the fact that anyone can step up in a one-and-done situation like the EuroCup Playoffs?** 

"I think that's one of our biggest weapons, honestly, to have any guy on our team to be able to go off in any given night. You can't just focus on one player. If you are planning to stop me, we got other guards and bigs that can go off your game plan to stop Axel \[Bouteille\], Tony \[Taylor\], Nate \[Sestina\], Erkan \[Yilmaz\], obviously Tyrique \[Jones\]... it's really tough because we have guys that can step up any given night and give you 20 points and 10 assists, and just have a great game, so you know, I think one of our biggest strengths is just being so versatile."

**What would it mean for you and for a traditional basketball city like Ankara to go all the way, lift the EuroCup title and return to the EuroLeague?** 

"It would mean the world. It is something that we talk about almost every day, just being able to reach our goal of winning the EuroCup and being able to go to the EuroLeague and make a big statement like that. I think guys, like I said, have been talking about it for a long time and we are extremely excited. We can't wait to get back on the court."

From the first day of the 7DAYS EuroCup season, it was a more-than-possible scenario, even for the final. And now, sure enough, one step before the last game of the season, two old friends will be fighting each other for their lives and a shot at reaching the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Gran Canaria hosts Joventut Badalona in an all-Spanish duel on Wednesday in the EuroCup Semifinals. There’s a long history between the two clubs and, of course, one thing stands out.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1493370/carles-duran-and-jaka-lakovics-paths-cross-again-on-the-way-to-the-eurocup-final/)

Coaches Lakovic, Duran meet again in playoffs

This week brings us Semifinal Wednesday in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The matchups are exactly what the regular season ordered in terms of quality and results as the four competing teams are the four that finished in the top two spots in their respective groups. The early game between Promotey Slobozhanske and Turk Telekom Ankara will send one of them to the EuroCup Championship Game for the first time. The All-Spanish League duel between Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona will land the winner a return to the competition's biggest stage. 

The EuroCup this week: The Semifinals

This week brings us Semifinal Wednesday in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The matchups are exactly what the regular season ordered in terms of quality and results as the four competing teams are the four that finished in the top two spots in their respective groups. The early game between Promotey Slobozhanske and Turk Telekom Ankara will send one of them to the EuroCup Championship Game for the first time. The All-Spanish League duel between Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona will land the winner a return to the competition's biggest stage. 

[Promotey Slobozhanske (14-4) vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (13-5)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/193/)

It will be a true offense versus defense showdown as top-scoring Prometey (88.0 ppg.) takes on Turk Telekom, whose 77.8 points allowed per game is the third-lowest in the EuroCup this season. Prometey, which has won 13 games in a row, was last held below 80 points in mid-January. Turk Telekom has failed to reach 80 in two of its last three games, so controlling the game’s pace will be critical. 

[Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) returned from injury earlier than expected to produce 7 assists and 3 steals in 15 minutes in Promotey's quarterfinal victory over Promitheas Patras and with another week of practice and recovery under his belt, could be a key player in this matchup. He joins veteran center [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/) and explosive forward [D.J. Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stephens/005982/) as Prometey's players to watch. They will take on Turk Telekom's star trio of point guard [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/) (20 points), center [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) (20 points) and forward [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) (18 points), which combined for more than two-thirds of their team’s points in the quarterfinals against ratiopharm Ulm. 

[Gran Canaria (15-3) vs. Joventut Badalona (13-5) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-joventut-badalona/U2022/194/)

We may see old-school basketball at its best when Gran Canaria and Joventut meet as both teams are anchored by stars in the paint. While Joventut leans on the older [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/), who boasts more than a decade of EuroLeague experience, Gran Canaria turns to the last two EuroCup Rising Star Award winners, [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) (2021) and [Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/khalifa-diop/008072/) (2022). 

Veteran forward [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/) has been a force for Granca all season long and he has raised his level for the playoffs with 17 points in both games so far. His matchup against [Henry Ellenson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/henry-ellenson/011841/) could be pivotal. These teams met just three weeks ago at Gran Canaria Arena in the Spanish League and the hosts pulled out a 100-88 triumph behind 18 points from [Nicolas Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) and 17 from [AJ Slaughter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aj-slaughter/003637/). They led an attack that made 14 of 25 three-pointers (56.0%), which Joventut must contain. [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/) scored 21 for Joventut in that loss and could be an X-factor in this game. 

The top four teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season have played true to form in the elimination rounds, all making the most of their home-court advantage to advance to the semifinals. Three of them have taken a common path to get here. Gran Canaria, Joventut Badalona and Turk Telekom Ankara have been this season's three most efficient offensive teams while also ranking in the top 10 defensively with near-identical numbers. Prometey Slobozhanske ranks in the top 10 on the defensive end, as well, but has otherwise been an outlier, finishing only sixth in offensive efficiency but separating itself from the other semifinalists by having dominated the possession margin all season.

Semifinalists are the true cream of the crop

The top four teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season have played true to form in the elimination rounds, all making the most of their home-court advantage to advance to the semifinals. Three of them have taken a common path to get here. [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23), [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) and [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) have been this season's three most efficient offensive teams while also ranking in the top 10 defensively with near-identical numbers. [Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23) ranks in the top 10 on the defensive end, as well, but has otherwise been an outlier, finishing only sixth in offensive efficiency but separating itself from the other semifinalists by having dominated the possession margin all season.

Regardless of strengths and weaknesses, though, results mean everything in the EuroCup's single-elimination postseason format, and the table below displays the lineups that will shape this season's final outcome. It lists the five-man units that have been on the floor for most than 60 possessions over their teams' last five games and how effective they have been in those minutes. It is worth noting that nearly every team has found considerable success with one or more lineups. These four teams have their rotations down to a science at this point.

Digging into the data, it is clear that the science works a little differently for some teams than others as there's a big gap in usage between many of these top lineups. Gran Canaria has leaned heavily on a core group of players, while Prometey has substituted more liberally, with dozens of five-man combinations contributing on a nightly basis. Turk Telekom has rolled with the same frontcourt while shuffling its backcourt a bit more frequently. And Joventut has looked more than the others to leverage its depth at several positions. Regardless of the substitution patterns these teams have employed, they have optimized their personnel this season.

Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to see which of these lineups and individual players rise to the occasion under the continued pressure of a win-or-go-home scenario. Some things have been very stable for these teams from the regular season. All have won of their postseason games by 8 or more points, held serve at home, and been able to rely on the same lineups they did during their rise to the top of the standings. 

Other things were a bit more unexpected, however.

For example, a 23-point outburst from Gran Canaria forward Damien Inglis in only 15 minutes of action against Paris Basketball in the quarterfinals qualifies as the type of performance that can shake up the status quo. Whether the end of the season plays out to true to form or has some surprises in store remains to be seen, but these teams have already proven beyond doubt that they are the cream of the crop this season.

182 games down. Three to go. And so far, it's gone almost exactly based on the regular season results. The two semifinals in the 7DAYS EuroCup will see the two group winners and teams with the best records in the competition host the corresponding group's runner-up for a ticket to the winner-take-all championship game and a spot in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Here’s a look at the semifinal matchups.

7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals at a glance

182 games down. Three to go. And so far, it's gone almost exactly based on the regular season results. The two semifinals in the 7DAYS EuroCup will see the two group winners and teams with the best records in the competition host the corresponding group's runner-up for a ticket to the winner-take-all championship game and a spot in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Here’s a look at the semifinal matchups.

### [Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/prometey-slobozhanske-turk-telekom-ankara/U2022/193/)

The hottest team in the competition, [Prometey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23) has sidestepped injuries and distractions to win 13 consecutive games, the most recent of which was an 80-57 thrashing of Promitheas Patras in the quarterfinals. [Turk Telekom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) appears to be peaking at the right time and showing plenty of spirit with a pair of come-from-behind wins in the knock-out stages, most recently against ratiopharm Ulm in Wednesday's quarterfinals. Both teams are in uncharted waters, with Prometey playing its maiden EuroCup campaign and Turk Telekom having already making history just by reaching the quarters.

Prometey Slobozhanske, TURK TELEKOM ANKARA Top Plays from 11/01/2022 to 04/21/2023

Top plays of Prometey Slobozhanske and Turk Telekom Ankara in 2022-23

### [Gran Canaria vs. Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-joventut-badalona/U2022/194/)

This showdown features two teams that know one another well and have rich EuroCup experience. [Joventut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) lifted the crown in 2008 and [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) is making its fourth appearance in the semifinals and looking to return to the final after losing in that stage in 2015. Gran Canaria has won its last six games and its 16-3 record is the best in the competition. It trounced Paris Basketball 104-74 in the quarterfinals. Joventut had to work harder to eliminate Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv in the quarterfinals for its seventh victory in a row. This will be the first meeting of these teams outside of Spanish competitions; They met earlier this month in the Spanish League with Gran Canaria earning a 100-88 victory.

Joventut Badalona, Herbalife Gran Canaria Top Plays from 11/01/2022 to 04/21/2023