In the last 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals series to take place, Turk Telekom Ankara (13-5) welcomes Germani Brescia (8-10) to the Turkish capital on Thursday, April 13. These two teams, which finished second in Group B and seventh in Group A, respectively, come into this playoff tie in contrasting moods, with Turk Telekom having won five out of its last six regular-season games, whereas Brescia went 3-3 and tasted defeat in Round 18.

Breakdown: Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Germani Brescia

In the last 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals series to take place, [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/?season=2022-23) (13-5) welcomes [Germani Brescia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/germani-brescia/roster/bre/?season=2022-23) (8-10) to the Turkish capital on Thursday, April 13. These two teams, which finished second in Group B and seventh in Group A, respectively, come into this playoff tie in contrasting moods, with Turk Telekom having won five out of its last six regular-season games, whereas Brescia went 3-3 and tasted defeat in Round 18.

### Beware of Turk Telekom's fearsome five

Last summer, Turk Telekom underwent major changes to its roster and also appointed a new head coach in Erdem Can. Fast-forward to now and those decisions have certainly paid off, with five first-year players averaging at least 10.0 points per game and Coach Can having turned Turk Telekom into one of the EuroCup's most dangerous teams, following an 8-8 record – the sixth-best mark in Group A – last season under previous head coach Henrik Rodl. This year, the Turkish team was almost as good at home as it was on its travels, going 7-2 at Ankara Spor Salonu and 6-3 on the road.

Whether it is the scoring of [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) (17.7 ppg.), the do-it-all nature of [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jerian-grant/011204/)'s game (14.6 ppg., 3.1 rpg., 6.2 apg., 1.4 spg.) or the powerful inside presence of [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) (12.0 ppg., 7.5 rpg.), Turk Telekom has regularly caused headaches for opposition defenses this season. What's more, you add a scoring guard in [Tony Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tony-taylor/005850/) (12.9 ppg., 3.5 apg.) and an active forward like [Nathan Sestina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nathan-sestina/011980/) (10.8 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) into the mix and Turk Telekom suddenly has a diverse set of options that certainly has put the EuroCup on notice. Starting against Brescia, Coach Can's fearsome five are ready to do some damage in the playoffs.

The best plays of Turk Telekom Ankara quintet Jerian Grant, Tyrique Jones, Axel Bouteille, Tony Taylor and Nathan Sestina in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Turk Telekom stars' best plays, 2022-23

### Brescia is ready to defy the odds… again

Brescia understands that the odds are not in its favor, as tends to be the case in 2-7 playoff matchups, but it does have recent memories of winning a trophy. During the domestic cups' week, Brescia managed to down Turkish Airlines EuroLeague giant EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and then Pesaro, before beating another EuroLeague team in Virtus Segafredo Bologna to become the Italian Cup champion. Very few had expected that Brescia would achieve that feat, which is once again the case heading into this matchup with Turk Telekom. When there's nothing to lose, Brescia tends to find a way to step up.

Perhaps the biggest reason for that is down to the excellent play of [Amedeo Della Valle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amedeo-della-valle/005884/), who will no doubt occupy a considerable amount of Turk Telekom's scouting report. The dynamic Italian guard has enjoyed one of his best EuroCup seasons to date on his return to the competition, with Brescia having not been among the 20 participating teams last year, as he averaged 14.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists across his 17 regular-season appearances. Brescia has had to deal with injuries for much of this season – [Kenny Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kenny-gabriel/005881/) is the latest player to go down – but Della Valle's consistent performances saw the Italian team keep its playoff hopes alive. Although Brescia had a disappointing road record, going 3-6, it is able to still dream of a potential upset, largely thanks to having Della Valle on its roster.

The best plays of Germani Brescia guard Amedeo Della Valle in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Amedeo Della Valle's best plays, 2022-23

### The chance to make history

Neither Turk Telekom nor Brescia has ever made it as far as the EuroLeague, and in the case of the latter, this will be its first-ever trip to the EuroCup Playoffs. Brescia, competing in its fourth EuroCup season, failed to make it to the postseason in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, yet now it will get its first taste of being under the bright lights. Without the weight of history there to weigh it down, Brescia should be able to play free as it takes on the role of the underdog and hopes to come away from Ankara with a surprise win.

Turk Telekom, meanwhile, is in its seventh campaign in the EuroCup, but last season saw it make just its second appearance in the playoffs. Back in 2007-08, it fell 184-161 over two legs to UNICS Kazan in the Top 32, before losing 93-80 to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in the eighthfinals in 2021-22. The expectation this time around is that Turk Telekom will find a way to get past the first knockout stage and potentially allow itself to start to dream of a lengthy run in the postseason.

### The stats point in Turk Telekom's favor

Perhaps it is not surprising given where the two teams finished in the standings, with Turk Telekom entering the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in Group B and Brescia as the No. 7 seed from Group A, that it is the Turkish side that has the advantage from a statistical perspective. In terms of scoring, Turk Telekom had the ninth-best average at 84.2 points per night, compared to Brescia's ranking of 16th with 79.9 points per contest. Coach Can's team is seventh for both rebounds (35.7 rpg.) and assists (18.4 apg.), while Brescia is 12th (34.3 rpg.) and 11th (17.5 apg.), respectively. In the three main categories, there's a noticeable gap.

On defense, however, there is a smaller disparity in terms of points allowed. Turk Telekom, thanks in part to the presence of big man Jones (1.1 spg., 0.9 bpg.) and the ability of Grant (1.4 spg.) and [Erkan Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erkan-yilmaz/006372/) (1.7 spg.) to record steals, has the fifth-best defense in this year's EuroCup at 78.4 points per game. Brescia ranks seventh at 79.8 points per night, with center [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) averaging 1.3 blocks per contest and guard [John Petrucelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-petrucelli/010579/) averaging 1.5 steals on a nightly basis. The statistics tend to paint a good picture of what could happen in a game, but this is the playoffs, where anything can happen– and even more so in the EuroCup's exciting single-game elimination format.

Turk Telekom Ankara v Germani Brescia (2023-04-13T16:45:00.000Z)

Experience meets youth – in club terms at least – in one of the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals matchups, with the 13-5 Joventut Badalona playing host to an 8-10 London Lions squad on Wednesday, April 12. This meeting between second in Group A and seventh in Group B, respectively, pits two teams against one another that both have serious aims of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Joventut enters the playoffs in red-hot form, having gone on a five-game winning streak to end the regular season, whereas London recovered from back-to-back defeats to the first part of the campaign with a victory.

Breakdown: Joventut Badalona vs. London Lions

Experience meets youth – in club terms at least – in one of the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals matchups, with the 13-5 [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2022-23) playing host to an 8-10 [London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/roster/lli/?season=2022-23) squad on Wednesday, April 12. This meeting between second in Group A and seventh in Group B, respectively, pits two teams against one another that both have serious aims of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Joventut enters the playoffs in red-hot form, having gone on a five-game winning streak to end the regular season, whereas London recovered from back-to-back defeats to end the first part of the campaign with a victory.

### Can Joventut overcome last year's nightmare?

In the 2021-22 EuroCup season, everything seemed to be lining up for Joventut to have a deep run in the playoffs, with the team being the No. 1 seed after achieving a 12-4 record and going 9-0 at home. Yet, ratiopharm Ulm did not read the script in the eighthfinals, beating Joventut 73-79 to stun the home crowd. This time around, the Spanish team has the joint third-best record in the competition at 13-5 and has been almost unbeatable in Badalona, going 8-1.

The nightmare of last season still haunts many Joventut fans, who saw the team miss an opportunity to reach the EuroLeague after last featuring in Europe's premier club competition back in 2008-09. But, with its mix of veteran players, such as [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/), [Pau Ribas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/pau-ribas/jug/) and [Guillem Vives](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/guillem-vives/002361/), and those entering their prime, like [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joel-parra/007464/), [Henry Ellenson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/henry-ellenson/011841/) and [Kyle Guy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-guy/011826/), Joventut will take some stopping in this year's postseason. Up against a first-year team in London, that talent and know-how may be enough to secure its second quarterfinal appearance in the last three years.

### How will London cope under the spotlight?

As just the third English team to ever compete in the EuroCup, this season was always going to feel special for London. There have been ups and downs along the way, perhaps evidenced by its 8-10 record, but it did what it needed to do and has become the first club from England to ever reach the EuroCup Playoffs, a feat that the Brighton Bears (2003-04) and the Guildford Heat (2007-08) were unable to accomplish.

Now, a huge test is in store when it takes on one of Europe's most historic clubs, Joventut. Yet, against the top three teams in Group B, London showed that it should not be underestimated. Despite going 0-6 against Gran Canaria, Turk Telekom Ankara and Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv, London lost by a combined 9 points – 93-95 to Hapoel, 57-60 to Gran Canaria and 84-89 to Turk Telekom – at Copper Box Arena. It was a different story on the road, but with London enjoying a 5-4 overall record on its travels, it will be hoping to replicate Ulm's role as the party pooper at Palau Olimpic de Badalona.

### Joventut's variety vs. London's go-to threats

Joventut has typically leaned on several players throughout the course of the regular season, which often meant that it was incredibly tough for opposition coaches to take just one player out of the game. Veteran center Tomic showed that age is nothing but a number with another outstanding season, in which he averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists, while the 35-year-old Ribas also stepped up on a regular basis with 9.4 points, 1.8 boards and 3.5 assists. But, in a worrying sight for London, there's more.

There is a younger crop of players that Joventut has been able to regularly lean on this season, and the 23-year-old Parra is at the front of the pack. The dynamic forward averaged 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists as he took his game to the next level in terms of scoring. Sharpshooter Guy was another who caught the eye on the offensive end of the floor, averaging 12.1 points and regularly catching fire from three-point range. Ellenson, another forward, paired 10.6 points per game with 4.4 rebounds, and his ability to stretch the floor makes him a dangerous weapon. Keep an eye out for [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/), too, as he often provides a boost to head coach Carles Duran's side with 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per night.

The best plays of Joventut Badalona sextet Joel Parra, Ante Tomic, Pau Ribas, Henry Ellenson, Kyle Guy and Andres Feliz in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Joventut stars' best plays, 2022-23

Much of London's success in its debut EuroCup season has been down to the play of [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), who led the competition in scoring at 18.9 points per night, while he also averaged 5.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals. What's more, he had the EuroCup's second-best average PIR score at 20.7. The 28-year-old was the team's star signing in the offseason and he hasn’t disappointed on the court, regularly showing up with high-level performances and inspiring London to several victories. Worryingly for London fans, though, he is questionable after suffering an ankle injury against Turk Telekom in Round 17.

Elsewhere, fellow big-name arrival [Kosta Koufos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kosta-koufos/009766/) consistently shined in his 13 appearances, averaging 11.8 points and 8.1 rebounds, but the 11-year NBA veteran has not appeared since Round 14. He, like Dekker, is questionable after being away from the team as he tends to a family matter, meaning that head coach Ryan Schmidt could be without his star duo in the eighthfinals. Much of London's attention will be on the availability of Dekker and Koufos, but it can still lean on do-it-all guard [Miye Oni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/miye-oni/012079/) and the experienced trio of [Jordan Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordan-taylor/005247/), [Vojtech Hruban](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vojtech-hruban/lfc/) and [Tomislav Zubcic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tomislav-zubcic/ljp/). All four players should expect to play key roles in any potential success that London is able to achieve, as the English team attempts to keep its cool against one of the favorites to go all the way.

The best plays of London Lions sextet Sam Dekker, Kosta Koufos, Miye Oni, Jordan Taylor, Vojtech Hruban and Tomislav Zubcic in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

London stars' best plays, 2022-23

### The battle of the stats

After the 18 regular-season games in the EuroCup, Joventut ranked in the top five for both offense and defense, having averaged the fifth-highest number of points per game (84.5) and given up the third least (78.2). Points were harder to come by for London, however, as it ranked 14th on offense with 80.8 points per night, while defensively it curiously gave up the exact same average: 80.8, good enough for eighth in the rankings. When it came to sharing the ball, too, Joventut also outperformed London, averaging 19.9 helpers per contest to the English team's 18.2.

Then, there are the shooting percentages. It felt as though Joventut could not miss in some games, and its ranking of fourth and second, respectively, for two- and three-point shooting shows that. On shots inside the arc, Joventut shot 58.4%, while it made 38.9% of its attempts from deep. Also, it was fifth for free-throw percentage with 76.6%. London had more trouble in this regard, as it had the 12th-best percentage on twos (54.1% 2FG) and the 14th best on threes (33.4% 3FG). For free throws, it had the second-worst percentage in the competition at 69.9%. Some good news for London is that it held its opponents to 49.3% on two-pointers, the second-best ranking in the EuroCup, which could prove key in slowing down the likes of Tomic, Parra and Ellenson.

Joventut Badalona v London Lions (2023-04-12T18:00:00.000Z)

A pair of 10-8 teams come into their one-and-done EuroCup Eighthfinals clash with different momentums. [7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2022-23), the fourth-placed team in Group A, has won six of its last eight games to clinch home-court advantage in this phase, while competition newcomer [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2022-23) has been on the losing end in four of its last six regular-season contests. Lietkabelis loves playing at home, where it has a 7-2 home record, but Paris has done just fine away from the French capital, with a 5-4 road record coming into this one.

### Offense will be of high importance

In its premier season in the competition, Paris Basketball has an abundance of highlight-reel plays that are a product of a fast-paced, run-and-gun game that resulted in fans seeing baskets scored in bunches – on both ends of the floor – when Paris played . In 15 of the team's 18 regular season games, at least one team scored 84 points or more. Paris enters the playoffs ranked fourth in scoring (85.8 ppg.) but also allows second-most points per game (85.5). There is not such a significant point difference, either, in Paris's home (87.1) or road (84.6) games, nor even in games it wins (88.9) versus those it loses (82.0). As a matter a fact, Paris is the third-best road scoring team and the second-best in games it losses.

On the other hand, Lietkabelis is not the same team iin Panevezys, where it has won seven of nine games, as away from home. Lietkabelis averaged 85.2 points in home games, ninth-best in the competition, but just 73.1 points on the road, making it the only playoff teams which scored fewer than 76.2 points per game overall. In its eight defeats,  Lietkabelis averaged just 70.1 points while it scored 86.4 in the 10 victories. It's safe to say, Lietkabelis will be happy to play in front of its fans, but will still need to click on offense against the potent Paris attack.

Morris has 2 similiar game-winners this season

### Clutch vs. scoring balance

The top scorer on both teams is Paris guard [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/), who In 10 games before his injury averaged 18.7 points. Allman has not played since, but behind him Paris has a tremendous scoring balance. Of its four double-digit scorers, three are starters: power forward [Tyrone Wallace](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrone-wallace/011925/), with 15.7 points, small forward [Aamir Simms](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aamir-simms/011928/) with 12.8, and guard [Juhann Begarin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juhann-begarin/008161/) with 11.5 per game. Meanwhile, [Amar Gegic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amar-gegic/004466/) provides for quite a spark with 12.1 points coming off the bench. But that's not all. Four more players - [Ismael Kamagate](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ismael-kamagate/011926/), [Denis Gauthier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gauthier-denis/011887/), [Jeremy Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jeremy-evans/007432/) and [Axel Toupane](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-toupane/002582/) - score more than 8.0 points per game.

Lietkabelis's balance is not at the same level, with six players contributing 8.0 or more points, led by shooting guard [Jamel Morris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jamel-morris/011931/) (14.6 ppg.), and forwards [Gediminas Orelik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gediminas-orelik/002012/) (13.8 ppg.) and [Kristian Kullamae](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kristian-kullamae/007729/) (10.4 ppg.). Orelik is a mid-season addition, just like center [Nikola Popovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nikola-popovic/006230/) who is posting 9.1 points and 5.0 rebounds. In Morris, however, Lietkabelis has what all teams want, especially in the postseason – a clutch performer. In just the last five games, Morris hit a pair of last-second three-pointers, each for a three-point win. That's an intangibles that gives teams confidence in do-or-die games.

Gediminas Orelik had 27 points in his first 7DAYS EuroCup home game this season, leadig 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys to an important win against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

Orelik leads Lietkabelis in Round 12

### The Gediminas Orelik factor

It's hard to find bigger impact by one player this season than what veteran forward Gediminas Orelik has meant for Lietkabelis. After spending the first part of the year with Besiktas Istanbul, Orelik returned to Lietkabelis for Round 11, and helped the team make a complete turnaround. In eight games with Orelik in the lineup, Lietkabelis went 6-2, losing only the first and last game. During Lietkabelis's six-game winning streak, Orelik averaged 16.8 points, making 3.0 triples per game on 54.5% shooting. He also added 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists during that stretch. He scored 27 points on 6-for-9 three-point shooting in Round 12 win over Mincidelice JL Bourg-en-Bresse, a win that started the turnaround. Lietkabelis was sitting in ninth place with 4-6 record before he returned, only to finish fourth and with home-court advantage in the eighthfinals.

### Experience-boost for Paris

Paris has a young roster in which some of its top contributors, Kamagate and Begarin, are Rising Star candidates, while Gauthier, Gegic and Simms are 26 or younger. Apart from Gegic, all five are in their first EuroCup seasons. But Paris also has couple of veterans who could be of great importance to a this young and exciting squad. One is Axel Toupane, a 30-year-old forward who is in his fourth season in the competition, with 46 appearances under his belt, as well as 70 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, where he helped Zalgiris Kaunas reach the 2018 Final Four. The other is Jeremy Evans, a 35-year-old center with 91 EuroLeague appearances, including the 2021 Final Four with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Evans is averaging 8.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 24 minutes per game while Toupane posts 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 27 minutes. Evans was team's best player in its most recent victory, a playoff-clinching win over Slask Wroclaw, but the impact these two players make goes far beyond their numbers, and it will be of great importance in the eighthfinals in Panevezys.

Jeremy Evans led Paris Basketball to an 89-85 home win against Slask Wroclaw.

Evans leads Paris past Slask

Breakdown: 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Paris Basketball

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Paris Basketball (2023-04-12T16:00:00.000Z)

Group A winner Prometey Slobozhanske (14-4) has not lost a game in 2023 and enters the EuroCup Eighthfinals on an 11-game winning streak. Veolia Towers Hamburg (6-12), which has only won twice on the road all season, will try to spring an upset as the No. 8 seed. 

Eighthfinals breakdown: Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg

Group A winner [Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/roster/pmt/?season=2022-23) (14-4) has not lost a game in 2023 and enters the EuroCup Eighthfinals on an 11-game winning streak. [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/veolia-hamburg-towers/roster/ham/?season=2022-23) (6-12), which has only won twice on the road all season, will try to spring an upset as the No. 8 seed. 

### New Kids on the Block

One of these teams will reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals for the first time ever. While Prometey is making its EuroCup debut this season, Hamburg played its first EuroCup season last year and reached the knockout rounds, where it was eliminated by Valencia Basket in the eighthfinals. 

It is not only the teams who bring a distinct lack of experience to this stage, it’s the players, too. Only two players remain from the Hamburg side that reached the eighthfinals last season: [Seth Hinrichs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/seth-hinrichs/009663/) and [Lukas Meisner](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lukas-meisner/011187/). In addition, [Christoph Philipps](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/christoph-philipps/007955/) reached the quarterfinals last season with ratiopharm Ulm. The only other Hamburg player with previous experience is backup center [Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jonas-wohlfarth-bottermann/001990/), who twice reached the elimination rounds with ALBA Berlin, getting as far as the quarterfinals in 2014. 

Three Prometey players have been as far as the quarterfinals before, but only one in the past decade; center [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/) played the 2018 quarterfinals with Gran Canaria. Asdie from him, the only two players with experience at this stage are [Denys Lukashov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/denys-lukashov/002691/), who played in the 2011 quarterfinals with Budivelnik and [Oleksandr Lypovyy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/oleksandr-lypovyy/001686/) who got to the same round a year later with Donetsk. 

### Ball handling could prove decisive

While Promotey is among the best teams in the EuroCup in terms of taking care of the ball, no team plays quite as helter-skelter as Hamburg, which has forced the most turnovers in the competition. Promotey has committed the third-fewest turnovers (12.5 per game) and collected the most steals (9.7 spg.). However, it is also in the middle of the pack in assists (ninth, 17.9 apg.). Hamburg has both committed (15.2 per game) and forced (15.5 per game) the most turnovers in the EuroCup, but has also dished more assists (fifth, 19.8 apg.) that Promotey. 

Interestingly, Promotey forward [Ivan Tkachenko](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ivan-tkachenko/011943/) leads the EuroCup this season with a 4.0-to-1 assist t turnover ratio. That said, the statistic is misleading as he has just 4 assists and 1 turnover over 154 minutes in 15 games. There are two more Promotey players with assist-to-turnover rations of 2.0: Lukashov and Lypovyy. Not far behind at 1.9 are the injured [Caleb Agada](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-agada/011944/) and [DJ Kennedy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-kennedy/005301/). Only one Hamburg player ([Ziga Samar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ziga-samar/007550/), 2.0) is ranked among the top 30. 

How those Promotey ball-handlers are able to withstand the pressure and playing style of the aggressive Hamburg defenders will say a lot about this game’s outcome. 

Anthony Polite regular season highlights

### The replacements

The squads that line up for the eighthfinal game between these teams will look much different than the those that opened the season in Round 1 in October. The biggest issue for Promotey will be the absences of forwards Kennedy and Agada due to injuries. The two starting forwards lead the team in PIR this season, with Agada posting 16.6 and Kennedy 16.0. During the season, Promotey already made some moves with Dustin Hogue and Marek Klassen leaving and [James Dickey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/james-l-dickey-iii/011835/) arriving. Dickey could be called into a larger role with Kennedy game. 

Hamburg shook things up during the season with two of its top offensive players - Kendale McCullum and Marvin Clark – leaving. Int heir place, the club added [Anthony Polite](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-polite/011937/) and [Harrison Cleary](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/harrison-cleary/012030/). Polite, who is in his first professional season, started the campaign with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and made eight appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. He has taken a big role as the team’s top scorer with 15.6 points per game in eight games. 

Mid-season pickups Dickey and Polite could end up playing decisive roles in this game. 

### It's old-school inside

Although the modern trend may be to have big guys who stretch the floor with their shooting, both Promotey and Hamburg reached the knockout stage by relaying on old-school centers. Their respective pivotmen are there to bang in the paint, score from close range, rebound and intimidate. 

Promotey's 2.17-meter starting center Balvin averaged 9.6 points and 6.5 rebounds despite making only 3 three-pointers all season. Two of them came in the same game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca in which he scored 23 points and was the MVP for Round 8. He has not made a three since. Dickey, who contributed 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in just 10 minutes per game with Promotey, has not even attempted a triple with the club. 

Hamburg’s star big man [Yoeli Childs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yoeli-childs/012013/) has more games with 20 rebounds (1) than three-pointers this season. His backup, Wohlfarth-Bottermann has shot 245 two-pointers in his EuroCup career and just 1 three-pointer, which he made this season. Childs ranked third in the EuroCup this season in rebounding with 8.9 per game, while Balvin was 10th and that battle for the boards will be much more important for the bigs in this game than stretching the floor.  

Breakdown: Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg

Prometey Slobozhanske v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2023-04-11T16:00:00.000Z)

Germani Brescia will have to cope without Kenny Gabriel in its 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals matchup against Turk Telekom Ankara, as the forward suffered a first-degree sprain to his left knee in domestic action last weekend and will be out for two to three weeks. In 16 regular season games in 2022-23, Gabriel averaged 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists for head coach Alessandro Magro's team.

Brescia forward Kenny Gabriel to miss 2-3 weeks with injury

Germani Brescia will have to cope without [Kenny Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kenny-gabriel/005881/) in its 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals matchup against Turk Telekom Ankara, as the forward suffered a first-degree sprain to his left knee in domestic action last weekend and will be out for two to three weeks. In 16 regular season games in 2022-23, Gabriel averaged 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists for head coach Alessandro Magro's team.

"Germani Brescia announces that during the league game on Gevi Napoli's court, Kenny Gabriel suffered a first-degree sprain to his left knee," read a statement by Brescia. "The recovery time is estimated at about two to three weeks. The situation will be evaluated daily in order to allow the player to return to the court as soon as possible."

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Nota della società sull&#39;atleta <a href="https://twitter.com/DaBoyKG22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaBoyKG22</a> <br><br>L&#39;ala statunitense è stata vittima di una distorsione di primo grado al ginocchio sinistro. I tempi di guarigione sono stimati in circa due-tre settimane<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DreamBig?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DreamBig</a><a href="https://t.co/dtLbWTYgFz">https://t.co/dtLbWTYgFz</a></p>&mdash; Pallacanestro Brescia (@LeonessaBrescia) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeonessaBrescia/status/1643197866905595907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Brescia's Kenny Gabriel to miss 2-3 weeks with injury

[Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) (13-3) enters the 7DAYS EuroCup Playoffs on an four-game winning streak that left it in first place in Group B. Gran Canaria hosts [Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/frutti-extra-bursaspor/roster/bbu/?season=2022-23) (8-10), which lost its last six road games and finished eighth in Group A.

### Bursaspor: Been there, done that

Winning playoffs game without the home-court advantage is nothing new for Bursaspor, which did really well in the elimination rounds last season despite not hosting any game. Bursaspor knocked out heavy favorite Partizan NIS Belgrade in front of over 19,000 fans at Stark Arena in the Serbian capital. Its 95-103 road win was just the start of a great Cinderella story, as that victory in Belgrade was just the beginning of an outstanding run.

Bursaspor went on to face Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in the quarterfinals. Cedevita was on a nine-game winning streak, but Bursaspor prevailed, 83-85, behind 20 points from [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/). In the semifinals, Bursaspor downed MoraBanc Andorra 68-85 to advance to the EuroCup Championship Game against all odds. Virtus Segafredo Bologna prevailed in the end, downing Bursaspor 80-67. Three of its starters – Needham, [Onuralp Bitim](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/onuralp-bitim/007929/) and [David Dudzinski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/david-dudzinski/010427/) – are back for more, as well as head coach Dusan Alimpijevic.

### Gran Canaria: True home-court advantage

Gran Canaria finished the regular season with the best record, which means it is done traveling in the EuroCup this season. Geographically located in Northwest Africa, close to Southern Morocco, Gran Canaria's shortest flight in the competition, should such a pairing occur, would be to Barcelona to play Joventut Badalona, 3 hours and 15 minutes by air. By making others take even longer flights, Gran Canaria truly enjoys a home-court advantage. But there is much more. 

Gran Canaria has been indestructible at home, winning all games by an average margin of 11.8 points. Historically speaking, it is one of the EuroCup's strongest squads in front of its fans. Gran Canaria has a 92-25 home record in the EuroCup, a 78.6% win rate. As expected, though, things are more difficult in elimination games. Gran Canaria is 82-17 in group stages (82.8%) but only 10-8 in two-way or single-game elimination rounds at home (55.6%). 

### Coach Lakovic: An opposite experience

Coach Alimpijevic is in the same exact situation as last season: Bursaspor would need four road wins to lift the trophy. Things are quite a bit different for Coach Jaka Lakovic of Gran Canaria from last season to this. In the 2021-22 campaign, Lakovic coached ratiopharm Ulm, which made it to the elimination rounds as the eighth-ranked team in Group B with a 7-11 record. Ulm won only one of its last seven regular season games, but still reached the eighthfinals. 

Lakovic led Ulm to a resounding 73-79 win on the court of Joventut Badalona, advancing to the quarterfinals. Before that game, Joventut was 9-0 at home and was the top-ranked team in the playoffs. Ulm went on to lose against eventual champion Virtus in the quarterfinals, 83-77. This year, Lakovic coaches Gran Canaria, which is 9-0 at home and is the top-ranked team in the playoffs. His experience with Ulm in the exact opposite situation may be very valuable this time. 

Gran Canaria is 9-0 at home in the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup season.

Gran Canaria: no place at home

### Free throws may be critical

Both teams like to play up-tempo and shoot the ball with similar percentages. Gran Canaria scores a little bit more, averaging 86.1 points, third-ranked among all EuroCup teams. Bursaspor is tied for sixth place in scoring at 84.4 points per game. Gran Canaria had 239 turnovers in 18 games until now and Bursaspor picked up 242. The hosts have shot the ball well from all angles (58.8% 2FG, 37.2% 3FG) but so did Bursaspor (56.6% 2FG, 37.3% 3FG).

Free throws, however, are a different story. Gran Canaria is seventh at 75.6% and Bursaspor is way behind, ranking 18th overall (69.8% FT). Its only starter shooting over 80% from the line is Needham (81.2%). Dudzinski (76.8%), Bitim (76.2%) and [Anthony Clemmon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-clemmons/009565/)s (72.5%) were not very efficient while [Zach Auguste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zach-auguste/007948/) (54.4%) and [Yigitcan Saybir](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yigitcan-saybir/006693/) (53.7%) struggled. Gran Canaria has seven players hitting over 80% from the line, including [A.J. Slaughter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aj-slaughter/003637/) (100%), [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) (91.7%) and [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/) (88.5%). If the game does down to a free throw carousel, Gran Canaria may have the edge.

Breakdown: Gran Canaria vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Gran Canaria v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2023-04-12T19:15:00.000Z)

Two teams with contrasting approaches to squad building come head-to-head in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals, as a youthful ratiopharm Ulm (11-7) side plays host to the experienced Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (9-9). While Ulm enters this single-elimination knockout game on a three-game winning streak that was worth a third-place finish in Group A, Buducnost failed to win its last three games of the regular season, dropping to sixth in Group B.

Eighthfinals breakdown: Ulm vs. Buducnost

Two teams with contrasting approaches to squad building come head-to-head in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals, as a youthful [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/roster/ulm/?season=2022-23) (11-7) side plays host to the experienced [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2022-23) (9-9). While Ulm enters this single-elimination knockout game on a three-game winning streak that was worth a third-place finish in Group A, Buducnost failed to win its last three games of the regular season, dropping to sixth in Group B.

### Ulm keen to make more noise in the playoffs

Last season, Ulm returned to the playoffs after an eight-year absence, and it didn’t take long for the German team to get people talking. Having snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed in Group B, Ulm caused the biggest shock of the tournament in the eighthfinals by beating Group A leader Joventut Badalona, one of the favorites to win the championship, 73-79 on the road. It then saw its journey end in the quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion Virtus Segafredo Bologna 83-77, but Ulm had created a new buzz about its program. 

The offseason saw plenty of changes, however, with the stars of last season's triumph departing; head coach Jaka Lakovic left for Gran Canaria, and American trio Semaj Christon, Jaron Blossomgame and Sindarius Thornwell all moved on. Ulm decided to look close to home for Coach Lakovic's replacement, promoting Anton Gavel from his position with Ulm's development team, while the signings of exciting guards [Yago dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) and [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) were added to by the mid-season addition of [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/). Now, a lot of responsibility will be on Ulm's Brazilian duo of Dos Santos and Caboclo to help the team go as far as possible in the postseason.

### Buducnost needs to flip the switch

First-year Buducnost head coach Vlada Jovanovic is able to boast one of the strongest rosters in the competition, yet there are some questions about the team heading into the playoffs. Following three straight defeats to end the regular season – against Dolomiti Energia Trento, Gran Canaria and Turk Telekom Ankara – Buducnost is not playing its best basketball right now, and its 1-4 record on the road in 2023 will not fill its fans with confidence either. Buducnost last won on its travels on January 11, which is not a great sign ahead of a trip to take a red-hot Ulm.

Nevertheless, Buducnost does have plenty of high-level players who have the ability to step up in this eighthfinals matchup. [Erick Green](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/erick-green/005159/), a 31-year-old Turkish Airlines EuroLeague veteran, and [J.J. O'Brien](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaleel-o-brien/009558/), a 30-year-old EuroCup champion with AS Monaco in 2021, both joined Buducnost during the season as the club sent a message that it means business in the playoffs. Together with the likes of [Trae Bell-Haynes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/trae-bell-haynes/008411/) and [Alpha Kaba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/alpha-kaba/007855/), they will be expected to hit the ground running in the playoffs; after all, there's no second chance in this do-or-die format.

The best plays of ratiopharm Ulm and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica during the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Best plays by Ulm, Buducnost in 2022-23

### A series for a surprise hero?

The star power on show across both squads is undeniable, with Ulm's quartet of Dos Santos, Caboclo, Nunez and [Karim Jallow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karim-jallow/005422/) on one side and Buducnost's quartet of Bell-Haynes, Green, Kaba and O'Brien on the other, yet this is a series in which a surprise player could end up having a big say on the outcome. After all, the postseason is the best opportunity for a player to write their name into the history books.

For Ulm, [Brandon Paul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/brandon-paul/004945/) has provided much-needed experience in the backcourt since his mid-season arrival, averaging 11.4 points per night, and he will no doubt play an important role in the playoffs as one of the veterans. Meanwhile, the chance is there for [Thomas Klepeisz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/thomas-klepeisz/010582/), [Robin Christen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/robin-christen/011188/) or [Joshua Hawley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joshua-hawley/012024/) to step up and contribute with points, as they have all shown the ability to reach double figures on a fairly regular basis.

In a similar vein, Buducnost has its own group that it can call upon. Like Paul for Ulm, [Cameron Reynolds](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/cameron-reynolds/011042/) is a regular contributor as a starter for Buducnost, averaging 9.9 points per night, while Coach Jovanovic also has [Petar Popovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/petar-popovic/007398/), [Igor Drobnjak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/igor-drobnjak/006953/) and the experienced [Marko Jagodic-Kuridza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marko-jagodic-kuridza/004397/) who can catch fire quickly and pour in the points. 

### Ulm's offense vs. Buducnost's defense 

Ulm has been must-watch basketball for the majority of this year, with the playmaking of Dos Santos and Nunez helping the team have the sixth-best offense in the EuroCup at 84.4 points per game. After twice scoring more than 100 points – 106 on the road at Prometey Slobozhanske in Round 6 and 110 at home to Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 8 – the offensive potential at Coach Gavel's disposal makes the German side a big threat entering the postseason. What's more, Caboclo's team-high 16.9 points per game from the center position has come as an added boost.

On the other side of things, Buducnost boasts the EuroCup's worst offense (78.7 ppg.) and best defense (76.2 ppg.). Ulm, for comparison, gives up an average of 84.4 points per game – the exact same number it averages for points scored. Buducnost's defense has been anchored all season by the commanding presence of Kaba, who averaged a competition-high 10.5 rebounds, as well as 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks. The additions of Green and O'Brien have helped defensively, too, as they are both averaging 1.1 steals per game. Ultimately, this series will come down to which side of the floor is able to come out on top: Ulm's offense or Buducnost's defense.

Breakdown: ratiopharm Ulm vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

ratiopharm Ulm v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2023-04-12T17:30:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske enters the upcoming 7DAYS EuroCup eighthfinals as a group winner and on an 11-game winning streak. However, for this clash and the games that will potentially follow, Prometey will be without two important cogs in its well-oiled offense, team's playmakers D.J. Kennedy and Caleb Agada.

According to the club founder and president Volodymyr Dubinskiy, Kennedy is out for the season with an undisclosed injury that already forced him to miss regular-season finale. His condition requires a surgery, which he will undergo during the month of April.

Agada, who injured his leg midway through the second quarter of Prometey's Round 18 win over Umana Reyer Venice, will be out 4 to 6 weeks, according to Dubinskiy.

"In the best case, he will be ready for the final, which still has to be reached", Dubinskiy said for club's official website.

This could be a major blow for Prometey as Agada is team's leader in scoring (15.4 ppg.) and assists (3.9 apg.), ranks second in EuroCup in steals (2.2 spg.) and has also averaged 3.8 rebounds per game. Kennedy, who started in each of his 17 appearances, posted 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals.

In the eighthfinals, Prometey will play host to Veolia Towers Hamburg.

Prometey loses Agada, Kennedy to injuries

After an exciting regular season in the 7DAYS EuroCup, the playoffs are just around the corner. Don't worry, though, EuroCup Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime is not about to stop. Rather, it will continue through the postseason!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: The fun continues through the playoffs!

After an exciting regular season in the 7DAYS EuroCup, the playoffs are just around the corner. Don't worry, though, [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) is not about to stop. Rather, it will continue through the postseason!

If you're new to EuroCup Fantasy Challenge or want to know how the playoffs work, keep reading.

### CLASSIC MODE

Starting this season, the playoffs are seamlessly integrated into the entire contest. Unlike last season, you won't need to recreate your teams and leagues. Instead, your teams and leagues will remain the same. 

The only difference between now and the regular season is that you'll need to manage your team by trading players whose teams have been eliminated from the playoffs.

Of course, this also means that EuroCup Fantasy Challenge continues all the way until the end of the playoffs end with the EuroCup Final. So, if you want to beat your friends or other fantasy coaches, you need to keep playing until the very end!

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

\- You have unlimited trades for every round of the playoffs.

\- During the playoffs, you can choose up to six EuroCup players from the same team (compared to three in the regular season).

\- The EuroCup Playoffs have a single-game elimination format, so be sure to act fast to change your team if one of your players ends up on the losing side and is eliminated before the next phase.

### DRAFT MODE

The draft mode offers complete freedom to organize the remainder of the season as you see fit. You can keep the teams as they are, or you can hold new auctions with your friends before the playoffs start and after every round. The Draft Admin can always change the rosters via the Admin-Rosters section.

If you have any doubts or queries, do not hesitate to contact us at [info@euroleague-fantasychallenge.com](mailto:info@euroleague-fantasychallenge.com).