D.J. Stephens, Prometey: 'We are not done yet

### Prometey Slobozhanske head coach Ronen Ginzburg:

"For me, it was an amazing game from the point of view of the coach, because we played really great defense today. I told the players, and the players know, offense brings wins but defense brings titles, and we played great defense today. I am happy: amazing, Slava Ukraine, amazing! \[Team spirit\] is our weapon. We lost players, we lost Kennedy and Stephens, before, our captain \[Lukashov\], Agada but our team spirit was alive all the time, and this is important in basketball. \[Agada\] played today at 50-60%. I took him out all the time during the game. Now he feels bad a little bit, I hope it is not serious and that he continues with us."

### Promitheas Patras head coach Ioannis Christopoulos:

"We knew it was going to be tough. It is a team that knows how to win games. Of course, we could have played way better, we demonstrated that we can. Our guys deserve a lot of credit, for reaching this point. Everything can happen in one game. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it. Congratulations to Prometey and good luck in the future. I think we did a great job \[this season\], beyond many people's expectations. We had tough wins on the road and showed a lot of character. I am very pleased with the guys.

"First of all, congratulations to Prometey and good luck for the future. I am proud of our guys bringing the team here. We showed a lot of character during all this trip. We have been through some ups and downs but showed good character, which to me, it matters a lot. I think there has been some progress in the team qualifying to this round. Good luck to Prometey and all the best. When you see things like this, it is lack of focus and concentration. I think that mentally, we didn't show the right attitude, and this is a good team that can punish every mistake."

### Prometey Slobozhanske forward D.J. Stephens:

"We are happy with the way we came out and played today. We came out and played aggressive. We worked the game plan to a 'T', we were really aggressive on defense and got what we wanted to on offense. We were able to just impose our will in the game. It is a good thing we got this win, we get to advance to the final four \[semifinals\] but we are not done yet, so we have to focus in and get ready for the next one. Every game we come in, we know that we have to play hard, we have to play aggressive.

"In order for you to win championships, you have to play defense, you have to get stops and that has been one of our main calling cards this season, playing good defense and then getting out in transition and getting the easy ones. For me, I like playing defense so every night I try to come out and not allow my man to score any points, do anything that I can and impose my will on the game, offense and defense. And I was able to have a good one tonight."

### Prometey Slobozhanske forward Caleb Agada:

"I feel really good. I’m just glad I could recover well. Big shout out to Montez and Doc and everyone really helped me get back. I’m super happy and grateful for them. And it felt good to be back on the court… I’m happy, but still focused. This is where we’re at now. This is where we wanted to be. Now we know what we want to do, so have to keep working to get there.

"Good defensive effort. We’re locked in. Everybody knows what’s at stake right now, everyone knows what we want to do, what we want to achieve, so everybody came out and did that today. \[The fans\] were amazing. We appreciate it. It gives us more life, more energy. And hopefully they keep coming for the next one."

Game News

Game Videos

Prometey Slobozhanske v Promitheas Patras (2023-04-19T16:00:00.000Z)

Jerian Grant, Turk Telekom: 'A total team effort'

### Turk Telekom Ankara head coach Erdem Can:

"We fought and we came back to our absolutes, and we didn’t give up. This is our ID. And during the game, we tried to get better. And they are such a great team, to be honest. I mean, it was not easy. But at the end of the day, I really feel proud of my players, my organization. But, we just won one game. There is the next game next week and Saturday another league game."

 

### ratiopharm Ulm head coach Anton Gavel:

"Congratulations to Coach Can and his team and second of all, congratulations to our players for a great season. They achieved a lot, they fought through all the adversity. So all the credit goes to them and our coaching staff and everybody who’s around the team. We fought, it was not enough, but I can be only proud of our players."

 

### Turk Telekom Ankara guard Jerian Grant:

"This team trusted me in those moments and this team all year, it’s just been a total team effort. Everybody puts in the work and we get it done."

Turk Telekom Ankara v ratiopharm Ulm (2023-04-19T15:30:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske advanced to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals! Prometey became the second Ukrainian team to get this far in the competition by downing Promitheas Patras 80-57 at Arena Riga in the Latvian capital on Wednesday. Prometey is now on a 13-game winning streak and will have the home-court advantage in the semifinal against Turk Telekom Ankara, which beat ratiopharm Ulm 86-76 earlier in the day.

D.J. Stephens led the winners with 17 points. Gian Clavell added 14 while Oleksandr Lypovyy had 10 for Prometey, which heads to the semifinals 10 years after Budivelnik Kiev reached this stage in 2013 as the first Ukrainian team to do so. Joe Thomasson led Promitheas with 15 points.

Ondrej Balvin and Stephens each dunked in a 7-2 Prometey run that Clavell capped with a jumper. Trevis Simpson hit and Thomasson struck from downtown to bring Promitheas within 12-7. Balvin and Stephens each scored around the basket and then Sydorov's back-to-back floaters established a 20-11 Prometey lead. Lypovyy and Clavell kept Prometey fully in charge, 25-16, after 10 minutes. 

Issuf Sanon, Lypovyy and Clavell each hit a triple early in the second quarter, boosting the hosts' lead to 34-20. Arnoldas Kulboka and George Conditt stepped up for Promitheas, bringing their team within 38-29. Lypovyy struck from beyond the arc and Ivan Tkachenko's jumper fixed the score at 43-29 at halftime.

Caleb Agada took over after the break and Clavell's triple brought Prometey further ahead, 49-33. Prometey took the guests into the foul penalty early, allowing Stephens and Sydorov to keep their team in total control, 54-36. Clavell insisted from downtown and Balvin's dunk broke the game open, 59-38. Tkachenko and Sanon gave Prometey a 62-40 advantage after 30 minutes. 

Stephens buried a catch-and-shoot three-pointer and soon added a wild alley-oop slam that sealed the outcome, 67-42. Promitheas kept trying in the final 8 minutes but Prometey kept a safe margin and had plenty of time to celebrate a truly historic victory!

Prometey trounces Promitheas to reach semis, 80-57! 

Turk Telekom Ankara railed for 35 minutes, but turned it on late to race past ratiopharm Ulm 86-76 at Ankara Spor Salonu in the Turkish capital. 

Turk Telekom dominates late to beat Ulm, 86-76

Turk Telekom Ankara trailed for 35 minutes, but turned it on late to race past ratiopharm Ulm 86-76 at Ankara Spor Salonu in the Turkish capital. The victory sends Turk Telekom into the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals. Despite trailing by as many as 14 in the first half, the hosts rallied as Bouteille scored 5 in a 12-0 fourth-quarter run to take the lead for good. Over the final 7 minutes of the game, Turk Telekom outscored Ulm 31-13.

Tyrique Jones tied his career high with 20 points and Jerian Grant scored as many and dished 7 assists to lead the winners. Bouteille added 18 points – including 10 in the fourth quarter – and Tony Taylor and Nate Sestina chipped in with 12 apiece. Yago Dos Santos tallied 21 points on 6-of-8 three-point shooting plus 5 assists for Ulm. Bruno Caboclo posted 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks and Juan Nunez netted 16 points in defeat.

Turk Telekom started with a big lineup using both centers Michael Eric and Jones together on the floor. Ulm countered by pushing the ball at every opportunity and scoring the game’s first 6 points. Jerian Gran split free throws to get Turk Telekom on the scoreboard after nearly 3 minutes, but a pair of Dos Santos triples made it 1-12 and prompted a Turk Telekom timeout. The hosts finally got things going and Jones scored their first basket to get within 7, but Ulm remained in control and went up 5-19 after Caboclo rejected his third shot of the court and drained a three-pointer. Threes by Bouteille and Taylor kept Turk Telekom afloat as the opening quarter finished with Ulm on top 14-22.

The teams traded shots in the first few minutes of the second quarter with Turk Telekom getting within 6 several times. Dos Santos's third three of the game restored a double-digit margin, 22-32, midway through the quarter. Jones got more involved inside as Turk Telekom rallied back to narrow the gap to 34-35. A Caboclo jumper made it 34-37 at the break.

Caboclo drained a three-pointer and scored in the paint as Ulm stretched its lead early in the second half. The Brazilian big man made it 37-47, but Grant kept attacking, drawing fouls and chipping away at the deficit. Ulm maintain control, despite a wicked dunk by Erkan Yilmaz, as another Dos Santos triple and a free throw by Caboclo pushed the margin to 43-55. Jones's slam in the last second of the third quarter drew the hosts within 50-57.

Taylor made free throws to open the fourth quarter and a triple a few minutes later made it 55-60. Dos Santos drained a deep three, however, Turk Telekom wrested the momentum away with a three-point play by Nate Sestina and a long jumper by Bouteille to shrink the deficit to 60-63. A timeout by Ulm did little to slow down the hosts who, with the crowd at a fever pitch, got a pair of buckets from Grant to lead for the first time all game, 64-63. A three by Bouteille completed a 12-0 Turk Telekom run and prompted another Ulm timeout. Caboclo stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws, but the Ulm offense remained otherwise stagnant. A three by Bouteille for a 73-67 lead with 1:31 on the clock was a dagger to the heart of Ulm, from which the visitors were unable to recover.

Turk Telekom dominates late to beat Ulm, 86-76 

When Gran Canaria and Paris Basketball face off in the last game of the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals this Wednesday night, it will pit two teams up against one another with very contrasting histories in the competition. On the one side, Gran Canaria has played 225 games in the EuroCup, the third most ever, whereas Paris is in its debut campaign and has thus appeared in 19 EuroCup fixtures to date.

 

The history of the clubs is very different, and there's also a vast difference regarding the experience of the two teams' rosters, yet each side is able to call upon a young, athletic center who regularly makes Magic Moments: the 21-year-old Khalifa Diop for Gran Canaria and the 22-year-old Ismael Kamagate for Paris.

Diop and Kamagate going against each other will also be a duel between last year's EuroCup Rising Star award winner and one of this season's main candidates to take home the prize.

 

This is the third time that the two big men will have gone head-to-head against each other this season. In the previous two clashes during the regular season, Gran Canaria swept its two games against Paris, with Diop outperforming Kamagate on both occasions.

 

In Round 4 in Paris, Gran Canaria won 81-89. That night, Diop contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in 15 minutes on the floor, whereas Kamagate had 4 personal fouls before the end of the first half and finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds in 18 minutes on the floor. Curiously, both players had a +14 in the plus-minus column.

Head-to-head: Diop, Gran Canaria vs. Kamagate, Paris

When they met again in Round 13, Gran Canaria crushed Paris 118-99, with Kamagate held to 2 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block in one of his two worst performances of the season. During that game, Kamagate was once again in foul trouble, as he had 4 fouls to his name with 2 minutes left in the third quarter. Diop, on the other hand, came close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds, in addition to recording 2 blocks.

 

Diop, who stands at 2.08 meters, has been a steady performer for Gran Canaria in what is now his third year in the EuroCup, and this has been his best campaign to date.

 

The Gran Canaria center has scored in double figures in nine games this season, while he is averaging 8.8 points on 66.3% two-point shooting. Diop is also pulling down a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game, including ranking ninth in the EuroCup for offensive boards with an average of 2.4 per night. He is delivering 1.0 blocked shot per contest, too.

Kamagate, who is 2.11 metres tall, is in his first season in the competition, just like his team, but he has regularly shined on EuroCup floors ever since the season tipped off in October.

 

The young center averages 9.2 points on 76.1% two-point shooting, the second-best figure for any Paris player, having scored 10 or more points in 10 of his 19 appearances. Kamagate ranks fourth in the EuroCup this season with 8.6 rebounds, and he ranks third overall with 2.8 offensive rebounds per game. He also enters the quarterfinals ranking second overall for blocks, with 1.5 per contest.

Khalifa Diop's and Ismael Kamagate's 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals highlights

Diop's and Kamagate's eighthfinals highlights

Kamagate is coming off an impressive eighthfinals performance in which he posted 10 points on 4-for-5 three-point shooting, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 19 minutes in a road win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Paneveyzs.

 

Diop, meanwhile, had 11 points on 5-for-6 two-point shooting, 4 rebounds and 1 block in a hard-fought home win over Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

 

Paris, which is tied for a EuroCup-best six road wins this season, will need Kamagate to stay out of foul trouble and be at his best if Wednesday's visitors are to defeat Gran Canaria, which is a perfect 10-0 on its home floor this season. Another high-level performance from Diop, however, would go a long way towards helping Gran Canaria keep its perfect home record intact and book its place in the semifinals.

Head-to-head: Khalifa Diop, Gran Canaria vs. Ismael Kamagate, Paris

Paris Basketball was the only team to win on the road in EuroCup Eighthfinals - it defeated 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-98 in a thriller - and the Parisians could not have done it without Tyrone Wallace. The guard stepped up in crunch time and buried a critical three-pointer in the final minute that gave Paris a 4-point lead and put his team in the driver's seat. He finished the game with 19 points and 10 assists for a PIR of 24. Wallace is in his first EuroCup season after six seasons split between the NBA and the G-League. He has averaged 15.9 points on 85.2% free throw shooting, 3.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals for a PIR of 18.6 in 14 EuroCup games. Paris has been without Kyle Allman since Round 10 and Wallace has taken over as the go-to guy, scoring at least 13 points in all but one game. He's averaged 21.7 points and 6.3 steals in his team's last three games. Wallace said in this interview that he wished Allman was back, but understood his role would increase in his absence. "I would much rather have Kyle on the floor with me. It makes things a lot easier for me," Wallace said. "But we always talk about just the next guy up and with Kyle out, I knew I would have to take more responsibility than I already had with handling the ball and being the guy that kind of can get my teammates going as well, as get myself going. So I have enjoyed it."

Tyrone Wallace, Paris: 'The only game that matters is this one'

Paris Basketball was the only team to win on the road in EuroCup Eighthfinals - it defeated 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 97-98 in a thriller - and the Parisians could not have done it without [Tyrone Wallace](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrone-wallace/011925/). The guard stepped up in crunch time and buried a critical three-pointer in the final minute that gave Paris a 4-point lead and put his team in the driver's seat. He finished the game with 19 points and 10 assists for a PIR of 24. Wallace is in his first EuroCup season after six seasons split between the NBA and the G-League. He has averaged 15.9 points on 85.2% free throw shooting, 3.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals for a PIR of 18.6 in 14 EuroCup games. Paris has been without Kyle Allman since Round 10 and Wallace has taken over as the go-to guy, scoring at least 13 points in all but one game. He's averaged 21.7 points and 6.3 steals in his team's last three games. Wallace said in this interview that he wished Allman was back, but understood his role would increase in his absence. "I would much rather have Kyle on the floor with me. It makes things a lot easier for me," Wallace said. "But we always talk about just the next guy up and with Kyle out, I knew I would have to take more responsibility than I already had with handling the ball and being the guy that kind of can get my teammates going as well, as get myself going. So I have enjoyed it."

**Congratulations on the win against Lietkabelis. Did you expect such a high-scoring game in a do-or-die game?** 

"I think that's kind of our style of play. We like to get up the court quick, play in what we call 'green', which is just transition a lot. We are trying to push the ball as well." 

**You dominated all the hustle stats, getting more offensive rebounds, steals and blocks than Lietkabelis. How important is that physicality for your team?** 

"It's very important. Our key going into the game was to pick them up full court the whole game, try to speed them up. We knew they were a team that wanted to run through their sets. So in order to have success, we needed to kind of get them sped up. And so I think we did a good job over the course of the game of using our pressure to maybe wear them down a little bit. And that kind of plays to our advantage." 

"Every game from this point out is going to come down to all the little details."

**You buried a critical three-pointer in the final minute that pretty much put you on the right track to win. Can you take us back to that play?** 

"Yeah. Throughout the game, I thought I got some good looks \[and they\] just didn't go down. I mean, it happens, some games you're going to make them, some games you're going to miss them. But throughout the game, I just try to stay aggressive and down the stretch, fourth quarter, I was attacking the basket and I was having success. And on that play specifically, I think I tried to get into the lane. I didn't have anything, so I passed it out to Jeremy \[Evans\] and he ended up passing it right back. And so they switched. They ended up switching, so I had a big on me and I knew he was going to play the drive and try to back up just because of the speed, probably speed difference. And so I felt him take a few steps back like he was playing the drive and I knew I'd have a good look at it. And I just rose up and took the shot."

**This is your first EuroCup season and your first experience in Europe. How do you like the EuroCup in terms of playing level and competitiveness?** 

"I think it's probably better than what I expected. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. Like you said, it's my first year over here, but I think it's been very competitive. The league has been very physical. It's a lot different than the States to me, just in terms of the rules, of course, no defensive three \[seconds\]. It kind of brings me back to the college days, but as well as the play style, I think the game's a lot slower. It's more of a grind-it-out game, where every possession teams are picking up full court. If there's switches, they're trying to go to the post, which is a little bit different than the States where it's more free-flowing and I feel like fast-paced. So it was definitely an adjustment to get used to this style of play more and to figure out where you can be successful and get your looks from."

Wallace is averaging 15.9 points on 85.2% free throws, 3.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and a PIR of 18.6 in 14 EuroCup games this season.

2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup: Tyrone Wallace, Paris Basketball

**How about the competition system, with so many do-or-die games until we crown a champion?** 

"I definitely like the competition... For me, I feel like every game has been pretty much close. Like, there's very few blowouts, I feel like, and so with that, you have to come into every game with the mindset that even if you are an underdog or the team you are facing is an underdog, that these games can very well end in the last few possessions and who makes those plays that will determine who wins. So I think the competition is very good. Like I said, we just got away with a 1-point victory, so I feel like every game from this point out is going to come down to all the little details and will be close."

**You've played against Gran Canaria twice this season and lost twice. What is the biggest lesson you learned from those losses that you can use now?** 

"I think when you are playing a team that you are familiar with, from a scouting standpoint, you already know the players. There are some things you might tweak from a coverage standpoint or how you want to guard defense, certain things. But I think there's no real advantage for both teams, to be honest. We play on the road, so if anything, playing in front of their crowd, they might have the advantage there. But other than that, I think you still have to go out and you still have to execute your game plan. And they might have beat us two times this season, but the only one that really matters is going to be this one coming up next week. So I think that also when we went down there, we weren't healthy. I think we might have had 7-8 guys that were healthy in those games, we were missing a lot of guys. And that's been the case for us all year. So I think now we are pretty much healthy. This is probably the most healthy we have been all season, and we get a chance to go in there in a playoff environment and try to steal one. So I think it will be fun."

**Especially since Kyle Allman went down, you have played a leading role on the team. How much are you enjoying being the team's go-to guy?** 

"I mean, I would much rather have Kyle on the floor with me. It makes things a lot easier for me. But we always talk about just the next guy up and with Kyle out, I knew I would have to take more responsibility than I already had with handling the ball and being the guy that kind of can get my teammates going as well as get myself going. So I have enjoyed it. I feel like these are the type of things that you want as a player. You want your coach to be able to rely on you and to put the extra responsibility on you. I think at times it's been tough without Kyle, for sure. Just seeing the amount of attention that I have gotten in terms of scouts and defensive coverages, but I think I have taken a sense of pride and being able to get my guys involved. And then when I'm able to get them involved, I'm able to open up the game for myself and kind of free myself up when I do that. So I enjoy that responsibility and I think it's been fun, but I definitely will be happy to get him back."

"We as a team have been through a lot of adversity this season and I think as of late we've really started tapping into who we can really be."

**Now that you have been there for six months, what is the best thing about living in Paris?** 

"I don't know if I can choose one. I think the people are really nice in Paris. I have enjoyed my time here. I get to go to the city quite often and go eat at different restaurants and go to different places with some of my teammates. And I think I have just been just enjoying it as a whole. To be honest, I don't know if I can necessarily pick one thing, but I think people have been really great. All of our French staff, coaches have been outstanding, great people, and also the people that are here, that I have been able to be around. They have all been great and helped me in different ways to get accustomed to life here in Paris at one point or another."

**How difficult are these do-or-die games from a mental standpoint?**

"I think just being locked in no matter what's going on in the game. I didn't feel like I was having my best game early in the first half but we went into halftime and we were up 1 point, and so we were very much in a game where I'm like, 'we can win this game'. Even though I felt like I wasn't playing the best at that point, it's always just to stay locked in, stay ready, you're going to make the plays, do you know what I mean? And I think that's the biggest thing, to not let any moment feel like it's too big for you, and to know that if you are confident and you believe in your game, like you can make the plays and you will make the plays that you need to."

**You are now three wins away from winning the title. What would it mean for you to win the EuroCup and to take the club and the city of Paris back to the EuroLeague?** 

"Oh, man, I think it would be great. I know this is a fairly new team, Paris. This is our first year in EuroCup as well. My first year overseas, I think it's a lot of first-timers. But we as a team have been through a lot of adversity this season and I think as of late we've really started tapping into who we can really be. And I mean, what better time than right now in the playoffs for the EuroCup? And so I think just for everybody as a whole, we've got a lot of ambitious guys on our team, whether it be players, coaches who really put in the work and want to go further and improve. And so I think just winning the EuroCup would be great for Paris, for our team, for the players and the coaches and everybody that's putting in the work each and every day. I think it would mean everything and it would help everyone involved, for sure. So it definitely would be a blessing."

The last of the four 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals to tip off will feature one of the competition's classic clubs, Gran Canaria, against newcomer Paris Basketball. Gran Canaria finished the regular season with a league-best 14-3 record and eliminated Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the eighthfinals. Paris was the only team to win on the road in the eighthfinals, eliminating 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. 

Breakdown: Gran Canaria vs. Paris Basketball

The last of the four 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals to tip off will feature one of the competition's classic clubs, [Gran Canaria, against newcomer Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/gran-canaria-paris-basketball/U2022/191/). [Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2022-23) finished the regular season with a league-best 14-3 record and eliminated Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the eighthfinals. [Paris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2022-23) was the only team to win on the road in the eighthfinals, eliminating 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys.

### Experience on hosts' side

Paris Basketball is in its first season in the competition, which gives Gran Canaria a big advantage in terms of experience. Gran Canaria is playing its 15th EuroCup campaign and is third in competition history in games played at 225. If it advances to the final, it will pass Valencia Basket (227) for second place. UNICS Kazan (231 games) in the all-time leader. [A.J. Slaughter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aj-slaughter/003637/) ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list (1,378 points) and needs 19 to pass Jamar Smith. [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) ranks fifth in steals (139) and second in assists (510). [Oliver Stevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/oliver-stevic/000564/) is fifth overall in rebounds (500).

Gran Canaria will play in the EuroCup Quarterfinals for the eighth time in club history. It advanced past this stage three times. In 2015, Gran Canaria swept a two-game, total-points series against Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir and eventually reached the final where it lost to Khimki Moscow Region. In 2016, Gran Canaria eliminated Stelmet Zielona Gora on point difference. Five years later, Gran Canaria swept Boulogne Metropolitans 92 in a best-of-three playoff series without the home-court advantage. Gran Canaria lost in the quarterfinals against Panellinios in 2010, Hapoel Jerusalem in 2017, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in 2018 and MoraBanc Andorra in 2022.

### Young, talented centers 

Some of the best young centers in European basketball are set to battle in the paint in this series. Paris center [Ismael Kamagate](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ismael-kamagate/011926/) is likely the front-runner to win the 2022-23 EuroCup Rising Star award. Kamagate ranks second in rebounds with 8.6 per game and is second in blocks with 1.5 per game. He is 15th in average PIR (17.1) and second in two-point shooting (76.1% 2FG) despite seeing limited playing time. On a per 40-minute basis, Kamagate ranks fourth in PIR (29.6).

Gran Canaria centers [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) and [Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/khalifa-diop/008072/) won the Rising Star award in each of the last two seasons and are also eligible in the 2022-23 campaign. Diop has averaged 8.8 points on 66.3% two-point shooting, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and a PIR of 11.2. Balcerowski has very similar numbers: 8.7 points on 75.0% two-point shooting (third overall), 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a PIR of 11.2. 

### Gran Canaria: trouble vs. the French 

Gran Canaria has a 93-25 home record (78.8%) in the EuroCup, but some of its most important and spectacular home losses have come against French opponents. In 2006, SLUC Nancy shocked Gran Canaria with a 55-75 road victory. In the 2008-09 campaign, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne edged Gran Canaria 78-80 in overtime on a game-winning tip by Amara Sy. In 2016, Strasbourg grabbed a 76-85 win at Gran Canaria Arena as Mardy Collins scored 21 points. 

Perhaps the most talked about home loss in Gran Canaria history is a 128-129 triple-overtime defeat against ASVEL on December 27, 2017, one of the most spectacular games in EuroCup history. John Roberson led ASVEL with 42 points on 11-of-16 three-point shooting, which remains a EuroCup record. In the playoffs, Gran Canaria lost 77-78 against Limoges in 2016 and 74-76 against AS Monaco in Game 2 of the 2021 semifinals. Gran Canaria is 9-6 (60%) at home against French League squads.

Paris Basketball leads the 2022-23 EuroCup in blocked shot at 3.8 per game.

Paris Basketball's block party

### Paris's physicality is key 

Paris has to make the most out of its athleticism in order to challenge Gran Canaria. Paris leads the EuroCup in blocked shots (3.8 bpg.) and ranks fifth in offensive rebounds (11.3 orpg.). Against Lietkabelis in the eighthfinals, Paris dominated all hustle stats, collecting 8 steals, pulling down 12 offensive boards and blocking 3 shots. Lietkabelis had 10 offensive rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. 

Gran Canaria has better ball circulation which leads to better shots, especially from downtown. Gran Canaria leads the competition in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.56. Paris ranks 18th at 1.14 assists per turnover. Paris ranks 19th in three-point shooting percentage (30.8% 3FG) despite being fourth in attempts from beyond the arc (28.6 per game). Gran Canaria takes even more three-pointers, 29.4 per night, with more effectiveness (36.7% 3FG).

Gran Canaria v Paris Basketball (2023-04-19T19:45:00.000Z)

Two teams with realistic hopes of going all the way in this year's 7DAYS EuroCup come head-to-head in the quarterfinals, as Joventut Badalona hosts Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv at Palau Olimpic de Badalona on Wednesday night. Both sides finished the regular season with a 13-5 record, yet Joventut comes into this fixture as the second seed from Group A, whereas Hapoel finished the season in third spot in Group B. In the eighthfinals, Joventut downed the London Lions 89-78 and Hapoel beat Umana Reyer Venice 90-80.

7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals breakdown: Joventut Badalona vs. Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv

Two teams with realistic hopes of going all the way in this year's 7DAYS EuroCup come head-to-head in the quarterfinals, as [Joventut Badalona hosts Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/joventut-badalona-hapoel-vegan-friendly-tel-aviv/U2022/192/) at Palau Olimpic de Badalona on Wednesday night. Both sides finished the regular season with 13-5 records, yet [Joventut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/) comes into this fixture as the second seed from Group A, whereas [Hapoel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-vegan-friendly-tel-aviv/hta/) finished the season in the third spot in Group B. In the eighthfinals, Joventut downed the London Lions 89-78 and Hapoel beat Umana Reyer Venice 90-80.

### Plenty of star talent on display

Fans of Joventut and Hapoel both know how good their team's rosters are and this quarterfinal matchup has all the hallmarks of a classic playoff tie. On the one side, Wednesday night's hosts can call upon a whole host of key contributors, including Ante Tomic, Joel Parra and Kyle Guy, whereas four Hapoel players – J'Covan Brown (twice), Jalen Hoard (twice), Jordan McRae (three times) and Chinanu Onuaku – were named MVP of the Round a combined total of eight times during the 18-game regular season.

In the eighthfinals, the 36-year-old Tomic used his experience to get Joventut over the line against London with a team-high 16 points, all of which came in the second half, plus 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 8 fouls drawn.  Tomic was joined in double figures for points by five teammates – Henry Ellenson (14 points), Guy (13), Andres Feliz (13), Parra (12) and Guillem Vives (11) – in a sign that slowing down Joventut will not be an easy task for Hapoel.

The best plays of Joventut Badalona in its 89-78 victory against the London Lions in the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals.

Joventut's best plays vs. London

Yet, the same can be said about Danny Franco's squad. Hapoel also had six players finish their game against Reyer with 10 points or more: Xavier Munford (13), Bar Timor (13), Brown (12), Onuaku (11), Tomer Ginat (10) and Idan Zalmanson (10). You may have noticed that McRae and Hoard, who earned MVP of the Round honors a combined five times, are not among those six. Well, that just goes to show the plethora of options available from a Hapoel perspective, as McRae and Hoard scored 8 and 3 points, respectively, in the eighthfinals.

### Joventut at home vs. Hapoel on the road

There are plenty of similarities between Joventut and Hapoel, and one such resemblance is their records at home. Both sides went 8-1 at home during the regular season before winning on their home floor in the eighthfinals, but now Joventut has the luxury of being Wednesday's hosts, given its higher seeding. Hapoel, like Joventut, went 5-4 on its travels in the regular season, so it will have to try and acclimatize to Badalona as quickly as possible if it is to come away with a positive result.

The best plays of Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv in its 90-80 win against Umana Reyer Venice in the 2023 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals.

Hapoel's best plays vs. Reyer

Fortunately for the Israeli club, it is expected that over a thousand fans will make the trip to Spain to watch Hapoel take on Joventut, so it should feel as close to a home game as can possibly be. Earlier this season, the Hapoel fans turned out in force during road games at Paris Basketball, Veolia Towers Hamburg and London, with the team going 2-1 in those fixtures. Another key element to bear in mind is that Hapoel is 3-1 on its travels in 2023, but that said, Joventut has not tasted defeat in Badalona since November 29, 2022, when it lost to Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 6.

### Keys to the game

All over the court, there are fascinating battles that are set to take place. Joventut may be without one of its main playmakers in Pau Ribas, who remains out injured, but Guy became more of a ball handler against London and provided a team-high 7 assists in the win. Hapoel, meanwhile, can lean on the player who has made things tick all season, J'Covan Brown, who had 8 helpers in his squad's victory against Reyer. They both know how to light up from three-point range, too. Although Guy and Brown are unlikely to be going up against one another directly, with Munford likely to be on Guy and Vives attempting to keep Brown quiet, the team that limits the opposition's playmaker the most may end up in a great position to win the game.

Kyle Guy of Joventut Badalona and J'Covan Brown of Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv come head-to-head in the 7DAYS EuroCup Quarterfinals.

Kyle Guy vs. J'Covan Brown

At the 3 position, the matchup between Parra of Joventut and McRae of Joventut should be fascinating. At just 23 years old, Parra has taken a big step forward in his promising career and established himself as one of the EuroCup's best players. McRae, however, is nine years older at 32 and played a total of 123 games in the NBA in his career, so he will be looking to use his experience and quality to keep Parra as quiet as possible. Likewise, Parra will know that there are plenty of eyes on this tie, which makes this the perfect opportunity for him to truly announce himself to the European basketball community at large.

Finally, two centers with very contrasting styles are ready to battle in the paint: Tomic of Joventut and Onuaku of Hapoel. Tomic, a veteran playmaking big man, knows every trick of the trade and has his eyes set on a return to the EuroLeague, where he made a total of 283 appearances across 11 seasons with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. On the other side of things, there's Onuaku, a player who hit the ground running after joining Hapoel ahead of Round 5 and uses his force to get to the rim. The finesse of Tomic against the brute strength of Onuaku – it's hard to know which way this will swing, but it's yet another fascinating storyline to follow in what should be a must-watch playoff game in this year's EuroCup.

Breakdown: Joventut Badalona vs. Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv

Joventut Badalona v Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv (2023-04-19T18:00:00.000Z)

Ante Tomic could have chosen to sign with a club in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last summer, but ultimately he decided to return to Joventut Badalona, which has been his home since 2020. He signed a two-year extension and, thanks to his and his team's outstanding play, he may have the chance to get back to the EuroLeague with Joventut.

Ante Tomic fighting for one more EuroLeague chance

Ante Tomic could have chosen to sign with a club in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last summer, but ultimately he decided to return to Joventut Badalona, which has been his home since 2020. He signed a two-year extension and, thanks to his and his team's outstanding play, he may have the chance to get back to the EuroLeague with Joventut.

While the Spanish club had some ups and down and proved to be unlucky after the latest injury of Pau Ribas, they started the season as the favorites to make it to the top and at this point, they have as strong a chance as anyone of capturing the 7DAYS EuroCup trophy and with it a spot in the EuroLeague for the 2023-24 season.

That may end up being the last season of Tomic as a player, who is already 36 years old, but still a main contributor for his club.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1490903/ante-tomic-joventut-badalona-7days-eurocup-playoffs/)