Iverson Molinar was the hero for U-BT Cluj-Napoca on Wednesday night, calmly sinking two clutch free throws with 0.5 seconds left to seal a dramatic 103–102 overtime win over Umana Reyer Venice in front of 8,000 thrilled fans.

Iverson Molinar stays cold-blooded, lifts Cluj to key win

[Iverson Molinar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/iverson-molinar/013926/) was the hero for [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) on Wednesday night, calmly sinking two clutch free throws with 0.5 seconds left to seal a dramatic 103–102 overtime win over [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) in front of 8,000 thrilled fans.

It was a statement night for Molinar, who is in his first BKT EuroCup season and just the third Panamanian-born player in competition history. With Cluj’s star playmaker [Fatts Russell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/daron-russell/013943/) having fouled out in the final minutes of regulation, Molinar stepped up when it mattered most – first to tie the game at the end of the fourth quarter, and then to win it in overtime.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 4 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroCup

Cluj looked to be in trouble late in regulation. After Russell fouled out in the penultimate minute, Reyer capitalized as [Kyle Wiltjer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-wiltjer/008052/) and [Carl Wheatle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/carl-wheatle/013305/) both hit shots from deep to erase Cluj’s lead and put the visitors ahead, 87-89.

But Molinar answered. He drew a foul and knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 89-89, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as the game headed to overtime.

In the extra period, both teams traded blows. With just 7.9 seconds remaining, [RJ Cole](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rj-cole/013929/) put Reyer back in front, 101-102, with an off-balanced basket. Cluj called timeout and once again turned to Molinar.

The 24-year-old delivered. He drew another foul and calmly hit both free throws, giving Cluj the final 103–102 edge. Reyer had no time left to respond.

Karel Guzman and Iverson Molinar celebrate after Cluj's win against Reyer.

Molinar’s performance was historic. He joins [Ruben Douglas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ruben-douglas/jju/) and [Ruben Garces](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ruben-garces/jjq/) as the only Panamanian-born players in EuroCup history. Douglas famously led Dynamo Moscow to the 2006 title and hit the championship-winning shot for Fortitudo Bologna in the 2005 Italian League Finals. Garces, a teammate of Douglas at Valencia in 2007-08, helped the team reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals.

And yes – Iverson Molinar is named after NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. After starring at Mississippi State alongside [DJ Stewart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stewart/012700/) (now with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Cluj’s next opponent), Molinar played in the G League, Mexico and Israel before arriving at Cluj for his EuroCup debut.

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“Both teams could have won it,” Cluj’s head coach Mihai Silvasan said after the game. “We definitely missed Daron Russell in the end when he fouled out – he’s one of our main creators. But we stuck together, made some plays, and Iverson Molinar hit free throws twice in really important moments. We managed to take the win.”

Before Molinar reunites with Stewart, Cluj will aim for its third win of the season when it visits Veolia Towers Hamburg on Tuesday, October 28.

Game News

He rescued his team against Reyer at the end of regulation and late in overtime

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-10-22T16:00:00.000Z)

## Wednesday, October 22

### [U-BT Cluj-Napoca 103-102 Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/u-bt-cluj-napoca-umana-reyer-venice/U2025/35/)

In overtime, Cluj grabbed its first home victory by downing Umana Reyer Venice 103-102 in front of almost 8,000 fans at U-BT Arena in Round 4 on Wednesday. Cluj improved to 2-2 in Group A while Reyer dropped to 1-3. Iverson Molinar led the winners with 22 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 0.5 seconds left. Fatts Russell got 18, Karel Guzman and Dusan Miletic each added 17 while Mitchell Creek had 16. Miletic added 13 rebounds for a double-double. RJ Cole led Reyer with 20 points. Jordan Parks added 18, Kyle Wiltjer had 14, Chris Horton got 13 while Denzel Valentine contributed 10 for the guests. Molinar took the game to overtime, 89-89, with free throws, and went on to win it for Cluj also from the foul line.

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### [Bahcesehir College Istanbul 92-76 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/bahcesehir-college-istanbul-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2025/33/)

Bahcesehir protected their unbeaten record at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall with a strong home win over Cedevita Olimpija, claiming a 92-76 victory to move to 4-0 in the EuroCup. In a clash between two previously undefeated sides, Bahcesehir set the tone early and maintained control throughout the game. Despite occasional struggles on the boards and on defense in the first half, the team kept its composure and secured an important win against Cedevita. Bahcesehir received solid contributions from its bench, with the team’s deep roster proving to be the key. Trevion Williams finished with 18 points and 8 rebounds, Tyler Cavanaugh added 16 points, and Caleb Homesley contributed 15 points and 6 assists. Malachi Flynn also chipped in with 12 points and 5 assists. For Cedevita Olimpija, Aleksej Nikolic scored 14 points and dished out 4 assists, David Skara also had 14 points, while Umoja Gibson posted 13 points and 6 assists, and DJ Stewart added 12 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">💪 KAZANIYORUZ!<br> <br>BKT EuroCup | 4. Hafta | Maç Sonucu<br>🏀 Bahçeşehir Koleji 92 - 76 Cedevita Olimpija<br><br>• Trevion Williams: 18 sayı, 8 ribaund, 4 asist<br>• Tyler Cavanaugh: 16 sayı, 2 asist<br> • Caleb Homesley: 15 sayı, 4 ribaund, 6 asist<br>• ⁠Malachi Flynn: 12 sayı, 5 asist, 2 top… <a href="https://t.co/xoozn4Gw9o">pic.twitter.com/xoozn4Gw9o</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1981058867208605927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 91-63 Panionios Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/buducnost-voli-podgorica-panionios-athens/U2025/39/)

Buducnost got back to winning ways by thrashing Panionios 91-63 at Moraca on Wednesday evening. The hosts opened a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter and maintained it throughout to grab a comfortable victory. Buducnost improved its record to 2-2, with Panionios dropping to 1-3 after losing three in a row. Axel Bouteille led all scorers with 16 points followed by Fletcher Magee, who netted 15, and Rasheed Sulaimon, who finished the game on 13 points. Meanwhile, Panionios guard Matt Lewis bagged a team-high 13 points, with Jackson Kreuser and Michalis Lountzis scoring 12 each.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Dominantna igra naše ekipe od starta utakmice i pobjeda u 4. kolu Eurokupa 💙🤍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hukmora%C4%8De?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hukmorače</a> <a href="https://t.co/RAoYktSqeg">pic.twitter.com/RAoYktSqeg</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1981071714822889688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [NINERS Chemnitz 67-68 London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/niners-chemnitz-london-lions/U2025/36/)

The London Lions escaped with a hard-fought 67-68 win at Messe Chemnitz on Wednesday evening. In a low-scoring game, the visitors pulled ahead midway through the third quarter with a strong 17–4 run to build a 38-50 lead, but a late surge from Chemnitz saw the home team go up 67–64 with just 36 seconds remaining. Kameron McGusty answered with a tough basket to cut the deficit to one, and after an offensive foul was called on Corey Davis, Deane Williams hit two clutch free throws with four seconds left to secure the win. It marked London’s first road victory of the season and its second straight overall, improving to 2–2, while Chemnitz dropped to 1–3 with its second consecutive loss. McGusty led the Lions with 20 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds for a PIR of 28, followed by Joel Scott with 14 points. Kevin Yebo paced Chemnitz with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Mike Sibande added 11 points and Ty Brewer chipped in 10 in the losing effort.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ROAD KIIIILLLL! 😤 <a href="https://t.co/BoDZYKwFzM">pic.twitter.com/BoDZYKwFzM</a></p>&mdash; London Lions Basketball (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1981078110549225966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 93-65 Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2025/38/)

Bourg stayed top of Group B on a perfect 4-0 record after an impressive 93-65 home win over Lietkabelis, which dropped to 1-3. Anthony Labanca paced the hosts on 18 points, Assemian Moulare netted 13 while Darius McGhee and Yvann Mbaya added 12 apiece. Augustine Rubit scored 16 points and Kristian Kullamae chipped in with 11 for the visitors. It was a see-saw battle early on and although Bourg dominated the offensive boards, Lietkabelis was able to hold its own thanks to Rubit who scored 6 points in the first quarter with the teams tied 15-15 after the opening 10 minutes. Bourg gained the upper hand in the second and romped into a 43-26 lead in the latter stages, as the home side hit a flurry of three-pointers. Labanca was red-hot from downtown and Bourg closed out the first half with a 47-31 advantage. Bourg kept up the good work in the third quarter and carved out a whopping 67-44 lead ahead of the final 10 minutes, keeping Lietkabelis well at bay thanks to ironclad defense. Bourg kept its foot on the gas in the fourth and closed out the contest comfortably to stay in pole position and keep its winning streak intact.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">VICTOIRE ✅<br><br>COSEA JL Bourg - 93 🆚 65 - <a href="https://twitter.com/BCLietkabelis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCLietkabelis</a><br><br>Great wiiin tonight 🔥 <br>4/4 pour la Jeu qui l&#39;emporte face aux lituaniens !!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a>｜<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/FpwCHQwQ3r">pic.twitter.com/FpwCHQwQ3r</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1981082850494406946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Dolomiti Energia Trento 60-80 Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/dolomiti-energia-trento-turk-telekom-ankara/U2025/40/)

Turk Telekom fought off a stubborn Trento team at the BTS Arena on Wednesday night in a back-and-forth contest that finished 60-80. The Italian team came flying out of the gates, exploding into a 9-0 lead. The dominance didn’t last long, however; Turk Telekom eventually found the basket after 3 minutes and began to flow. The visitors fought back and the teams swapped leads for a while, before Erdem Can’s men turned it around, finishing the half with a double-digit advantage. Trento fought to stay in the clash, but ultimately the road team tightened its grip on the contest as it developed. Jordan Usher played a huge role in the 20-point victory, recording a stat line of 13 points, 7 boards and 3 assists. Michael Devoe led the way in scoring with 13, but they shared the offensive loads brilliantly to get the job done.  The result moves Turk Telekom to 2-2 for the season, while the Trento’s inconsistent season continues as it falls to 1-3. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">AWAY W ⛓️‍💥<br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TT_Basketbol</a> turn up the heat away from home 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/Sb6kpkvNRS">pic.twitter.com/Sb6kpkvNRS</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1981089107557437825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Tuesday, October 21

### [Neptunas Klaipeda 97-88 Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/neptunas-klaipeda-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2025/34/) 

Neptunas Klaipeda finally tasted victory in the BKT EuroCup by knocking off Veolia Towers Hamburg 97-88 at home in a battle of winless teams. Neptunas lost a 14-point lead but executed enough down the stretch to improve to 1-3 in Group A. 

Donatas Tarolis scored 20 points to pace seven Neptunas scorers in double figures with Rihards Lomazs scoring 16 points, Martynas Pacevicius collecting a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds and Arnas Velicka tallying 12 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Hamburg dropped to 0-4 as the only winless team left despite LJ Thorpe scoring 22 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists and Eric Reed contributing 17 points. 

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### [ratiopharm ulm 99-101 Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/ratiopharm-ulm-besiktas-gain-istanbul/U2025/37/)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul claimed a 99-101 road win in Germany on Anthony Brown's buzzer-beater to end ratiopharm ulm’s unbeaten start to the season. The home team controlled much of the game, but Besiktas mounted a 14-point comeback in the final quarter, sparked by 3 crucial triples from Conor Morgan. 

Anthony Brown led Besiktas with 19 points and 4 assists, while Conor Morgan added 15 points. Ismael Kamagate also made his presence felt with 13 points and 8 rebounds. For ulm, Chris Ledlum delivered a big performance with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, Tobias Jensen contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds, and Christian Sengfelder also scored 14 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="art" dir="ltr">🤯 <a href="https://t.co/VgFHdCofou">https://t.co/VgFHdCofou</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş GAİN (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1980725678182989933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson 79-86 BAXI Manresa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/aris-thessaloniki-betsson-baxi-manresa/U2025/32/)

BAXI Manresa celebrated a 79-86 road win at Aris Thessaloniki Betsson and improved to 3-1 while the Greek side dropped to 2-2. Retin Obasohan paced the visitors on 20 points and Alfonso Plummer added 18, Agustin Ubal chipped in 13 points. Steve Enoch netted 19 for Aris.

Having pulled away to a 3-12 lead after Aris failed to score a field goal in the opening 5:26 minutes, Manresa carved out an 18-27 advantage at the end of the first quarter on the back of 9 points (3 of 3 from downtown) by Plummer. Aris then beefed up its defense and led for the first time, 36-34, midway through the second quarter but Manresa edged ahead 43-44 at halftime thanks to 9 offensive boards.<br>
It was a see-saw third quarter as Aris nosed ahead 51-48 and the lead changed hands several times again before Manresa forged a 64-66 advantage ahead of the final 10 minutes. A 2-13 run early in the fourth allowed the Spanish team to extend its lead to 66-79 and although Aris slashed the deficit to 77-83 in the home stretch, Manresa was able to close out the contest.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">FINAL del 🚨 𝟰𝗤<br><br>79 🇬🇷 <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARISBCgr</a><br>86 🔴 𝗕𝗔𝗫𝗜 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗮<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOMHIManresa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOMHIManresa</a> <a href="https://t.co/UDWedbwGFG">pic.twitter.com/UDWedbwGFG</a></p>&mdash; BAXI Manresa (@BasquetManresa) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasquetManresa/status/1980713697300594950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem 86-69 Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem-slask-wroclaw/U2025/31/)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem made light work of Slask Wroclaw on Tuesday for an 86-69 victory at Ranko Zeravica Sports Hall in Belgrade, Serbia. Though Slask made a bright start, the hosts fought back and asserted their dominance by the end of the first quarter. 

Turnovers, missed free-throws and poor shot decisions haunted the visitors, while Jerusalem put on a highly professional performance, holding onto a sizeable lead for the majority of the contest and staving off a late run from the Polish team. Defense was the key for Yonatan Alon’s men, as they held Slask to under 70 on the night. 

Jared Harper played the starring role, recording a stat line of 20 points, and 4 assists. Khadeen Carrington, Anthony Lamb and Dmytro Skapintsev also reached double figures in scoring. Kadre Gray and Jakub Niziol scored 15 points apiece to lead Slask. With the victory, Jerusalem bounced back from consecutive defeats and the result moves both teams to 2-2 in their EuroCup campaigns.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">יופי הפועל 😤<br>האדומים חוזרים מבלגרד עם הניצחון, וכבר במוצ״ש אנחנו נפגשים בארנה!<br>לכרטיסים &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/o7DgzONarf">https://t.co/o7DgzONarf</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mxb6FUz7w4">pic.twitter.com/Mxb6FUz7w4</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1980725740506345934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Neptunas, Besiktas, Manresa and Jerusalem all pulled out wins on Tuesday night

Game Center: Four home winners from six tonight

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-10-22T18:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-10-22T17:30:00.000Z)

NINERS Chemnitz v London Lions (2025-10-22T17:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Panionios Athens (2025-10-22T17:00:00.000Z)

Neptunas Klaipeda v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-10-21T16:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v BAXI Manresa (2025-10-21T17:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm ulm v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2025-10-21T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Slask Wroclaw (2025-10-21T18:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-10-22T16:00:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 4 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season, and who might be missing in action.

Round 4: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Wednesday, October 22

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Umana Reyer Venice (18:00 CEST)

**Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach**

"Venice has always been a very competitive team. This year, they’re quite physical and pretty fast. So far, after the first three EuroCup games, they’re the team with the most points scored in transition. We want to be ready and match their level of physicality. I know we have the potential to do that, and we actually want to be even more aggressive than they are. Our job is to play solid defense, grab rebounds — since that’s an area where we’ve struggled a bit so far — and make the most of our strengths, like scoring easy points in transition and playing at a fast pace."

**Iverson Molinar, Cluj guard**

"It feels great to be back home. I missed the last EuroCup game, but now I’m back on track. The team is really motivated to get the win tomorrow. We’re at home again for the second game, so we’re definitely excited and ready to give everything to get that victory. The first home game in Cluj was incredible, and I’m expecting the fans to come out and support us once again. The energy they bring is amazing and it really helps us a lot."

**Neven Spahija, Reyer head coach**

"We are facing a high-level team that continues to grow year after year in the European landscape. They started the EuroCup season with two unexpected losses, and this will make them even more determined: we expect an opponent who is prepared and focused one hundred percent. We are coming off a week where we played high-quality basketball. We want to continue on this path, maintaining the same attitude and the same style of play. It will be an intense, high-level game."

**Chris Horton, Reyer guard**

"It's a crucial game for us. We head into it following last week's home victory and we want to see if we can continue to build upon that foundation. To bring home the win, I think it will be vital to carefully manage every possession, keep turnovers low, be aggressive on the boards, and play solid team defense."

**Reyer's injury report:** Coach Spahija can call upon his entire roster.

Neven Spahija: "It will be an intense, high-level game."

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (18:00 CEST)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita head coach**

"We are facing an extremely demanding game. Bahcesehir has shown so far this season that they are the best team in the competition. I won’t go too much into their budget or the players wearing their jersey – that’s already well known. For us, this game will be an important test to see how we respond to a higher level of basketball. Bahcesehir is averaging 99 points per game in the EuroCup, and they are also performing excellently in the Turkish league, where they remain unbeaten as well. Unfortunately, once again we won’t be at full strength – Luka Brajkovic was injured again in the game against Zadar, and Nikos Chougkaz remains sidelined. That worries me, because with a shortened rotation, it’s very difficult to play a series of such demanding games. We’re traveling to Istanbul with no pressure, free-minded, and with the desire to play a good game."

**Joseph Girard, Cedevita guard**

"A tough game is ahead of us. We know that our opponent also has three wins after three games. Bahcesehir has quality players and remains unbeaten this season. It will definitely be a challenging matchup, but we’ve already played similar games, so we’ll try to prepare as best as possible and deliver a strong performance. In our last two home games, we had a solid game plan, which we successfully executed on the court, and we were supported by a great number of fans in the arena – that gave us extra energy. With their support, it’s definitely easier to play and to win. We’ll need that throughout the entire season."

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Panionios Athens (19:00 CEST)

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost head coach**

"Panionios is coming to us after a game against Olympiacos, where they were even for three quarters, which shows they’re a quality team. They’ve shown a good reaction, and we expect a tough matchup.<br>
For us, this is a very important game, and we can’t run away from responsibility. We need to show fewer ups and downs, more consistency, especially on defense. We have to fight for every ball, play aggressively, and do everything we can to make sure the win stays at home."

**Fletcher McGee, Buducnost guard**

"We know this is an important game in the EuroCup. We already have two losses, so we have to protect our home court. We know they’re a good team, so over the next couple of days we’ll focus on scouting and preparing ourselves the right way. Greek teams are known for playing hard and fighting for every possession, so we expect a tough game. But if we come out focused and ready to battle, I believe we can get the win."

**Chris Chougkaz, Panionios head coach**

"We are in a period of restarting the team. After a few practices and one game against Olympiacos, we have another tough game against Buducnost. This should be an extra motivation for us to improve at such a difficult level, as well as in a competition where our participation is important. And since we are participating, we must do everything we can to be competitive."

**George Papas, Panionios guard**

"This game is a big opportunity for us, as a team, to be together and try to jump-start our new season. It's a good opportunity for us to find more chemistry that we didn't know that we had and just continue to work and walk out of here with a win."

Fletcher McGee: "If we come out focused and ready to battle, I believe we can get the win."

### NINERS Chemnitz vs. London Lions (19:00 CEST)

**Rodrigo Pastore, Chemnitz head coach**

"Very important game for us after a bad Performance on our last domestic game on the road. We would like to see improvements on our defensive transition and with our offensive execution when playing our half-court game. But one of the most important aspects of the game vs London Lions will be our defense on the low post versus Deane Williams and Joel Scott."

**Ty Brewer, Chemnitz forward**

"For the game against London Lions I'm expecting a well coached team, I'm expecting guys to come out with energy and executing the gameplay. But I'm also expecting us to come out and learn from our previous game that we just let slip from our fingers. I'm expecting nothing short of us playing with the NINERS Identity."

**Tautvydas Sabonis, London Lions head coach**

"Very tough team. Very defense-oriented, they create a lot of chaos with their defense. They like to run, like to be disruptive. Very guard-driven with good big men; we have to be prepared. One game is one game, it doesn’t change anything. We have to be grounded, ready to work do what we have to do, be disciplined and take it game by game. Energy, energy, energy. Physicality, being tough, being mentally tough, being ready to play in a hostile environment, absorb every hit and bounce back."

**Tarik Phillip, London Lions guard**

"It’s gonna be a dogfight. We’re hungry for more wins."

**London Lions' injury report:** Ovie Soko, Shavar Reynolds Jr, and Ryan Mikesell are all out.

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:30 CEST)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

"This is a team we face every year and with a different style of playing. They defend well and also knows how to apply pressure. So we'll have to impose our rhythm, our speed, and our athleticism to surprise them, especially on the offensive side. We'll try to do everything we can to keep this great run going."

**Will McDowell-White, Bourg guard**

"Lietkabelis is a talented and very tough team that can win in many different ways. We have been playing well so far and looking to continue that, especially defensively."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (20:00 CEST)

**Fabio Bongi, Trento assistant coach**

"We face Turk Telekom in what will be a very challenging game against a very strong team, accustomed to a well-defined playing system: very aggressive on offense and defense, and capable of making the most of their physicality. We will have to defend with intensity and win the rebound battle in order to impose our rhythm, trying to run as much as possible. Their most important players are definitely \[Jaleen\] Smith and \[Kyle\] Allman, who hold the reins of the team, while in the frontcourt they can count on great quality with \[Kris\] Bankston, an excellent rim protector, and \[Marko\] Simonovic, a player of great offensive talent."

**Selom Mawugbe, Trento center**

"Turk Telekom Ankara is a top-level team that plays very well and is, in my opinion, one of the best in our group. We will have to prepare for this challenge very carefully, working hard to ensure we are ready both mentally and physically. We are coming off a good performance in the league, but we want to get back to winning ways in the EuroCup after our lackluster performance in London. I am sure that the team will be able to bounce back and be ready for this important game."

Selom Mawugbe: "Turk Telekom Ankara is one of the best teams in our group."

## Tuesday, October 21

### Neptunas Klaipeda vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (18:00 CEST)

**Benka Barloschky, Hamburg head coach**

"For the first time in a long time, we were able to train on consecutive days. We worked hard to regain a certain degree of looseness and confidence. That was very important after the defeats. Klaipeda is a good team. Lithuanian teams are known for their physicality and basketball IQ. Basketball is more than just a sport in Lithuania, and you can see that in the way they play. Harrison Cleary has developed steadily over the last few years and has gone his own way. Even back then, he was very confident and determined, so I'm not surprised. I'm looking forward to seeing him again. I still associate him with our last playoff appearance in the EuroCup."

**Zacharie Perrin, Hamburg center**

"I played my first EuroCup games – it's definitely a very high level and I felt a completely different intensity. As a player, I love it because it spurs me on to improve faster, as I play against really good players every week. It will be important for us to keep our opponents' scoring as low as possible. To do that, we need to control one-on-one situations better, secure more rebounds, and minimize our turnovers. I think those three things are the key to our first win."

**Kenneth Ogbe, Hamburg forward**

"We're glad we had time to work on a few things and be in Hamburg. It was important for us to have a few days of training to prepare for the next games and improve. Against Klaipeda, it will be important to stay focused and disciplined. When we stick to the game plan and do the things we've been working on in training, we're good. We need to keep those phases going for as long and as consistently as possible. Then we'll be successful." 

### ratiopharm ulm vs. Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (19:00 CEST)

**Ty Harrelson, Ulm head coach**

"Besiktas is a good yardstick for us. Even though many of their fans will want to show up again, we want to show that the arena belongs to us. We have to stay focused throughout the entire game and execute our game plan. Sunday's defeat is forgotten, we're concentrating on tomorrow."

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. BAXI Manresa (19:00 CEST)

**Bogdan Karaicic, Aris head coach**

“Manresa plays fast basketball. We need to be physically strong and ready to match their speed and quick tempo. Manresa is a new team. Some of their players are playing together for the first time and are trying to build something. They have athletes who are competing in the EuroCup for the first time and they need time to adjust. I don’t think we have any issues with our mentality, we’ll give our best effort. If that’s enough, we’ll take the win — if not, we’ll keep working hard, both in the next game and in practice.”

**Arnoldas Kulboka, Aris forward**

“It’s a good opportunity for us to bounce back and get the win at home. I’ve played in Spain and I know them very well. I was teammates with some of the guys who now play for Manresa. They’re a typical Spanish team — they have a solid playing system. They’ve been performing well since the beginning of the season and they have a very capable coach. I believe we need to focus more on our own game because we have an excellent team. We have potential, but we need to use it in the right way.”

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson has sacked head coach Bogdan Karaicic, the club confirmed in a statement on Wednesday.

Aris fires Bogdan Karaicic

[Aris Thessaloniki Betsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki-betsson/ari/) has sacked head coach Bogdan Karaicic, the club confirmed in a statement on Wednesday.

Karaicic guided Aris to a 2-0 start in the BKT EuroCup before back-to-back defeats [on the road at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-sends-defensive-statement-in-80-59-victory-over-aris/) and [at home to BAXI Manresa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/manresa-grinds-out-big-win-at-aris-to-push-up-the-ladder/) saw the team's record drop to 2-2.

In the Greek League, Aris is 0-3 after losses to AS Karditsas, Kolossos Rhodes, and Maroussi.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Η ΚΑΕ ΑΡΗΣ Betsson ανακοινώνει τη λύση της συνεργασίας της με τον Bogdan Karaicic.<br><br>Read More 👉 <a href="https://t.co/uzl7EKAnyN">https://t.co/uzl7EKAnyN</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArisBetssonBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArisBetssonBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FuelTheFlame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FuelTheFlame</a> <a href="https://t.co/nK0A2ZXk3u">pic.twitter.com/nK0A2ZXk3u</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1980936585484128660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"ARIS Betsson BC announces the termination of its collaboration with Bogdan Karaicic," read the club's statement.

"The BC management and the General Manager, Nikos Zisis, had a one-on-one meeting with the Serbian coach, during which they informed him of their decision to terminate their collaboration.

"We thank Bogdan Karaicic for his contribution to the team and wish him all the best in his future career." 

More Aris News

Following back-to-back losses in the EuroCup, and a 0-3 record in the Greek League, the club has parted ways with the Serbian play-caller

One of the driving forces behind Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana’s perfect start in Group A has been Aleksej Nikolic. In this interview, he discusses the team’s momentum, DJ Stewart’s impact, three generations of Daneus in the club, and a certain celebrity fan — Luka Doncic — who still keeps tabs on his former team.

Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita Olimpija: 'Consistency is what brings results'

One of the driving forces behind Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana’s perfect start in Group A has been [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/). 

His team has racked up three straight wins ahead of a Round 4 showdown with fellow unbeaten side Bahcesehir College Istanbul. The game also serves as a rematch of last season’s BKT EuroCup quarterfinals. In his second season with Cedevita, Nikolic is averaging 18.0 points, shooting 47.1% from deep and 94.7% from the line, with 3.7 assists per game for a PIR of 18.3. 

In this interview with Euroleague.net's Javier Gancedo, he discusses the team’s momentum, DJ Stewart’s impact, three generations of Daneus in the club, and a certain celebrity fan — Luka Doncic — who still keeps tabs on his former team.

**Hello again, Aleksej. First, congratulations on a great start to the season. Let's talk about the game against Aris. What allowed you to play so well right away?**

"Defense! We believe in our defense. Coach is emphasizing that defense as the base of our game plan. And from defense, offense kind of flows in or let's say opens up as a consequence of good defenses. And that's how we approach every game. That's our mentality. We finished the game against Aris with a 16-2 scoring run and that is the perfect example, the perfect picture of what we want to do. We always try to impose our energy on the court. We believe we have a young, energetic team. In a way, we are using our strengths and taking advantage of it."

**Cedevita Olimpija has bounced back in the last couple of years. As a player who has been around for a while, what has Cedevita Olimpija changed to become competitive again?**

 

"I believe consistency is what brings results. I think I was mentioning that even last year, and I really strongly believe in that. It helps that we kept the coach for sure. It helps that it's four of us, but at least four of us stayed and the rest of the team was changed. But let's say a good mix of newcomers, and having players that already have experience with the coach and his system is for sure helpful to keep working in the way the coach wants and keep growing one practice and one game at a time. Again, I am coming back to the word 'consistency'. And we have to keep doing that."

 

**The club kept a core of local talents and foreign players who come and go. DJ Stewart is now the exception in his third year with Cedevita Olimpija. He is also playing really well. How important is DJ to this team?**

 

"He is almost like a domestic player, like you said. But him as a foreigner, to stay at Olimpija for the third year now, is great because he can be that bridge between the newcomers, foreigners and the whole club. So he's showing how comfortable he is here, and leading by example. That helps the newcomers to feel more comfortable, too. You can tell that DJ is his third year and that he is also enjoying his time in Ljubljana, of course. If you stay three years, there must be something good going on, right? He is playing really well and I believe he still can show us even more."

"DJ is showing how comfortable he is here, and leading by example."

**How cool is it that you had three generations of Daneus in the club? Ivo Daneu was the first Slovenian basketball superstar, his son Jaka Daneu played a EuroLeague Final Four with Olimpija and Jaka's son Ziga Daneu is now one of your teammates.** 

 

"I don't want to say it is normal, but you know, we are a basketball nation. We love this sport and I think these kinds of things are beautiful to see them happening. You can also tell that basketball is a real passion in our country and then you can see that through generations of players. And the same goes for brothers. We have a lot of brothers that played in the national team and probably also in Olimpija. Like I said, it's pretty cool to see that basketball is kind of passed on in the family."

 

**Speaking of basketball families, yours is remarkable, too. Your Dad played basketball and your brother Mitja is still active after a long career. How competitive is everyone in your family?**

 

"We usually joke about it. It was kind of my destiny to play basketball. My father was a player, then became a coach, my brother also plays and has a big passion for basketball. And throughout all these years from the beginning of my career until now, I felt great support from all of them. I learned something from each of my family members and it is what keeps me going. Of course, we were always competitive when we would play games or something. Everybody tried to beat everyone, but I think even those moments made me and made us the family that we are today."

 

**Your brother is still playing and he is a bit older than you, too. Is it in the plans to play together at some point?**

 

"He is in a different, let's say, time zone of his career. I'm in a different one now but if it happens, we would be very happy, obviously. But we are not really too worried about it. Both of us are just trying to enjoy what we do, what we love the most, and that is just playing basketball."

"It was kind of my destiny to play basketball."

**I have to ask you about Luka Doncic. You have played with him on the Slovenian national team for many years and he started his career with Olimpija. Knowing that he is a basketball freak, do you think he pays attention to the EuroCup and what Cedevita Olimpija is doing?**

 

"For sure, he follows. I won't say he's totally engaged, which is normal. He has his own rhythm, and it is different time zone. The NBA calendar is so packed that I think it's very difficult for him to be so engaged, but I believe he follows some of the games. And like you said, being a kid that played in Olimpija, I'm sure he is happy to see our good results."

 

**Up next, it is a clash between undefeated teams, as Cedevita visits Bahcesehir. How much are you looking forward to this? This is arguably the best fame you can see in the EuroCup right now...**

 

"Both teams are undefeated and want to extend their winning streak. It is also a rematch of last year's quarterfinals. We play in Istanbul, so the environment will be the same. But it's a new season, new beginnings for both clubs, in a way. But for sure, we are all looking forward to each game and won't treat it any different than others. We will prepare in the same way and be ready to play."

Aleksej Nikolic is averaging 18.0 points on 47.1% three-pointers and 94.7% free throws, 3.7 assists and a PIR of 18.3, leading Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana to a 3-0 record in Group A. 

Rounds 1-3 highlights: Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita 


**You are still young, but have a lot of experience in many different countries. How does all that translate on the court? Is this the best moment of your career?**

 

"A lot of people ask me this question and I say 'yes, this is how I feel physically'. But I feel like most importantly, it's how I feel mentally. I try to really prepare for each game, to be focused each day, to try to improve and then consequently do that to help the team in any way possible. Most of all, I want to be really simple-minded. I'm really trying to enjoy every moment on the court. I love playing basketball, and everything that comes with the practices and the games, I let it all in and really take the best out of every situation that happens.

 

**Ljubljana is a basketball city and fans are always there at Stozice Arena in big games. What will it take to have a great season and to go to the higher stages of the competition? What's going to be important from now on after starting so well?**

 

"Well, I keep coming back to that word, but it's really something I truly believe in. It's consistency, to treat every day as an opportunity to get better, individually and as a team. We have players that are really hungry, really motivated to prove themselves and improve. We all have the same goal: if we make each other make, we make the team better. That's what we believe can help us grow a lot, and really to come each day ready to practice and then ready to play. If we do that, we will look at everything else as a consequence of this work. As far as fans, when they recognize that we fight, that we enjoy playing together on the court, that's when they love the team the most, no matter what's going on the court. And for that, let's say there's a kind of trade: we have the right approach to every game and fight. And in exchange, we know we will get their support."

More Cedevita Olimpija news

Nikolic on his team's hot start, locker room chemistry and Luka Doncic’s support


When the final buzzer sounded at the Ranko Zeravica Sports Hall, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem secured an 86-69 victory over Slask Wroclaw.

Jerusalem overcomes demons, keeps composure to comfortably defeat Slask

“We’ve been in this position before, where we’ve had the lead and given up the lead, so we have to continue to do the things that got us the lead and finish this game,” reigning EuroCup MVP Jared Harper said as he headed to the locker room at halftime on Tuesday night. At the time, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem led by 21 and when the final buzzer sounded at the Ranko Zeravica Sports Hall, the Jerusalemites had held firm, eventually securing an 86-69 victory over Slask Wroclaw.

Having suffered two consecutive EuroCup losses, the hosts were mightily encouraged by the victory. In particular, the group was pleased by the character it showed to protect an early lead. Earlier this month, Jerusalem dropped an 11-point lead to fall to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, creating some mental obstacles to overcome. Head coach Yonatan Alon acknowledged his team’s relief.

“We only focus on ourselves,” Alon said. “It’s always great to win and my guys did a great job. It required a lot of mental strength, with what we’ve been through and I’m really proud of them. We are athletes and our job is to get better every day.”

Without a doubt, positive signs were there for his team. Jerusalem defended as a unit, stubbornly holding Slask to below 70 points, forcing 18 turnovers and commanding the glass. On offense, Harper led the way, recording 20 points and 4 assists, while shooting 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. He had plenty of help across the roster, with Khadeen Carrington, Anthony Lamb and Dmytro Skapintsev all reaching double figures in scoring.

The win was punctuated by some excellent team play; the Israeli team zipped the ball around with enthusiasm, breaking down the Slask defense and getting everybody involved.

Having previously stated his concerns about letting the lead dissolve, Harper spoke after the game about the way his team locked in for the duration of the game.

“Glad to be back in the win column. I think it was a good 40-minute effort tonight, but we can keep building from it, hopefully, it gives us some confidence going forward. Basketball is a game of runs. We knew they were going to go on a run at some point, so we had to control what we could on the defensive side of the floor, make sure we were taking good shots offensively. That’s what we were able to do tonight.”

The result moves both teams to 2-2 in their EuroCup campaigns. Hoping to capitalize on the win and build momentum, Jerusalem will face Aris Thessaloniki Betsson in a week’s time, while Slask will meet Umana Reyer Venice the following night.

Game Videos

After blowing late leads earlier this season, Jerusalem held firm this time

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul kept its momentum rolling in Germany by taking down previously unbeaten ratiopharm ulm 99-101 on the road. It was a statement win that moved the black-and-whites to 3-1 in the BKT EuroCup and underlined their growing momentum, sealed by Anthony Brown’s buzzer-beater.

Anthony Brown's buzzer-beater boosts Besiktas over Ulm 

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul kept its momentum rolling in Germany by taking down previously unbeaten ratiopharm ulm 99-101 on the road. It was a statement win that moved the black-and-whites to 3-1 in the BKT EuroCup and underlined their growing momentum, sealed by Anthony Brown’s buzzer-beater.

Head coach Dusan Alimpijevic was pleased with his team’s resilience, even though he admitted there’s still room for improvement on the defensive end: ‘‘The main thing today was character. We believe in ourselves, they believe in themselves, they believe in their shots. Obviously, defensively we didn’t play our game, there is a big room for improvement in that direction, but you know this is a great win, amazing win and I don’t wanna go into any other details.’’

In a first quarter with no threes falling, both teams preferred to attack the rim. ratiopharm ulm took advantage of Besiktas’s defensive lapses and scored easily, while also applying heavy pressure that disrupted Besiktas’s offense. 

In the second quarter, Besiktas’s attack started clicking. The first three-pointer came with 5 minutes left in the second quarter, courtesy of Jonah Matthews. Anthony Brown and Vitto Brown followed with more shots from deep, helping Besiktas get back into the game and take the halftime score to 54-54.

Besiktas got key contributions off the bench and from its deep rotation. Ismael Kamagate was effective on offense, bringing athleticism to the paint as he posted a PIR of 23 with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Another inside presence, Ante Zizic, added 11 points. While their defense had some lapses, Besiktas's bigs finished strong at the rim.

After trailing by as many as 14 points, the turning point for Besiktas came through Conor Morgan. Scoreless for most of the game, he took over in the final quarter, hitting 3 straight crucial threes and leaving his mark on the match. Morgan finished with 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep.

The final moments of the game were full of action. With Besiktas leading 97-98, Christian Sengfelder missed 2 free throws with 18 seconds left. However, Tobias Jensen was there for Ulm, grabbing the rebound and scoring to take the lead. On the last possession, Anthony Brown came through in spectacular fashion, nailing a buzzer-beating three to snatch the win for the black-and-whites. The American forward finished the game with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Ulm stayed in the game and held momentum until the final quarter, with Chris Ledlum leading the way for his team. He tallied 25 points with 7 rebounds, while Tobias Jensen added 14 points and 9 rebounds. Christian Sengfelder also contributed 14 points.

“Congratulations to Istanbul on this hard-fought victory," Coach Ty Harrelson said after the game. "For neutral basketball fans, it was a great game today. For us, only the result counts in the end, and that's not what we wanted.

"Even though we couldn't keep our nerves in check at the end, I'm sure we'll win many more games with this style of basketball. Tobias Jensen defended the last shot very well. But sometimes good defense is beaten by even better offense.”

After the game, Dusan Alimpijevic highlighted Ulm's place in European basketball as an important stepping stone for young players and praised the club’s role in developing talent: "The work that Ulm has done here over the last few years is breathtaking. Last year, I was already amazed by the outstanding organization of this basketball club. Year after year, they bring talented players to the highest level in the top leagues.”

Besiktas will look to carry its winning streak and momentum into Round 5, when it faces Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse in a Group B matchup at home. Ulm will try to bounce back from its first loss when it visits fellow German side NINERS Chemnitz.

The previously undefeated German side led by as many as 14 before Besiktas rallied

BAXI Manresa came out on top 79-86 at Aris Thessaloniki Betsson in a rollercoaster decided early in the fourth quarter, when the Spanish side engineered a decisive 2-13 run to silence a raucous home crowd in one of the most iconic venues Greek basketball boasts of, the Palais de Sports 

Manresa grinds out big win at Aris to push up the ladder 

BAXI Manresa came out on top 79-86 at Aris Thessaloniki Betsson in a rollercoaster decided early in the fourth quarter, when the Spanish side engineered a decisive 2-13 run to silence a raucous home crowd in one of the most iconic venues Greek basketball boasts of.

The Palais de Sports has been the home of some legendary achievements forged by Aris, the winner of 10 Greek championships and eight Greek Cups, while also reaching three successive EuroLeague Final Four tournaments (1988, 1989, 1990).

Those glory days may be long gone, but the black-and-yellow clad home faithful turned up in droves to support Aris, with their fervent allegiance impressing Retin Obasohan who stood out for Manresa on a game-high 20 points. 

“This is a big one,” said the 32-year-old Belgian guard after the game. “Whenever you get an opportunity to play in a historic arena like this, you’ve got to give the fans credit for creating an incredible atmosphere. For us, it was important to represent Manresa the right way and we want to keep getting better no matter whether we win or lose.”

Manresa improved to 3-1 while Aris dropped to 2-2 in what is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive Group A of the BKT EuroCup, with the tussle for postseason spots likely to go down to the wire and the shark tank makes every road win priceless.  

Dazzling footwork propelled Obasohan to a flurry of layups as he pierced through the Aris defense almost at will and his scoring tally should have been higher, but for a barrage of missed free throws as he shot a mere 3 of 10 from the foul line.

Obasohan’s effort was complemented by Alfonso Plummer, who sank 18 points, including 9 in the first quarter when he shot 3 of 3 from downtown as Manresa carved out an 18-27 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Aris relied on the versatile Steve Enoch to catch up and the Greek outfit duly did, having led in the third quarter 51-48 as the big man flourished before Manresa turned the tide for good.

Enoch bagged 19 points for Aris and Ronnie Harrell chipped in with 15, but Manresa simply had more in the tank as Agustin Ubal netted 13 points for the visitors while Marcis Steinbergs amassed 10 to go with 9 rebounds.

Crucially, Manresa forced 18 turnovers from Aris and held the hosts to just 16 assists, while the Spanish side managed 21 assists against a mere 10 turnovers with both teams managing 10 steals each.

Manresa head coach Diego Ocampo praised his team for a consistent display against a talented home side, which was punished for sloppy ball handling and poor shooting early on.

Aris took over 5 minutes to hit its first goal, by which time Manresa had already forged a 3-12 lead and the hosts were always going to be forced to go the extra mile in order to haul themselves back into the contest. 

“We played a solid game throughout the 40 minutes and although Aris is a team of amazing three-point shooting and one-on-one ability, we were able to hold our nerves,” Ocampo said. “Now we have to stay humble and keep working.”

Up for Manresa is a mouth-watering home game against Bahcesehir College Istanbul in Round 5, while Aris face a challenging road game against Hapoel Yahav Bank Jerusalem.

The Spanish team boosted its early hopes of clinching a postseason spot 

Neptunas Klaipeda gave up a 14-point lead, but then performed well down the stretch for a 97-88 victory over Veolia Hamburg Towers to improve to 1-3 in Group A - winning a battle of the final two winless teams in the competition.

Arnas Velicka's defensive stand helped lift Neptunas over Hamburg

Neptunas Klaipeda found itself on the ropes trying to stave off a comeback from Veolia Towers Hamburg. And in the end, it was a tough defensive stand over 2 minutes in the fourth quarter that allowed Neptunas to finally grab its first win of the season - and get a monkey off its back.

The Lithuanian team gave up a 14-point lead, but then performed well down the stretch for a 97-88 victory to improve to 1-3 in Group A - winning a battle of the final two winless teams in the competition.

“It feels great that we managed to complete our goals today and grabbed the victory,” said Martynas Pacevicius, who collected 10 points and 11 rebounds for Neptunas.

Pacevicius was part of a balanced attack for the team with seven players scoring in double figures. Donatas Tarolis had 20 points, Rihards Lomazs scored 16 points and Arnas Velicka collected 12 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winners.

Velicka was the hero in the big fourth quarter surge - thanks also to Hamburg’s playmaker LJ Thorpe having fouled out with just under 4 minutes to go.

The Lithuanian international Velicka drew the fifth foul on Thorpe and made a free throw. He then stole an in-bounds pass from Kenneth Ogbe and tossed it up for a Donatas Tarolis alley-oop for an 88-80 lead with 3 minutes left. Velicka continued to hound Ogbe and forced another turnover, diving on the ground for the steal and then, from his back, passing to Arnas Berucka for a layup. Velicka added 5 of 6 free throws in the final 38 seconds to seal the win.

“In offensive games like this, the team that finds the stretch of good defense for 2 minutes will win the game. And that was the 2 minutes in the fourth quarter when Arnas grabbed the 2 steals and everybody else stepped up,” Neptunas head coach Gediminas Petrauskas said.

“We are very glad to get the W in front of our fans. We have to learn how to control the game with a 10-12 point lead. Hamburg got back into the game and tied the game. So it was nerve-racking in the end. But finally, we got over the hump and we won the game.”

Neptunas fans had to be thinking not again while watching their heroes give up the lead to Hamburg. It was the same thing that happened in the team’s first home game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Round 1. Neptunas led by 16 points late in the first half but then gave up control and Cluj won the road game 102-107.

“The most important thing today was believing that we would not do the same as we did in the opening game in the EuroCup at home. Big, big congratulations for the guys. They really deserve this victory because it was a tough time. Not winning in EuroCup gets in your head and each game gets more tense. It was good to get this monkey off our back,” Petrauskas said.

“We were close in the Cluj game, we were close in the game in Poland (a 95-85 loss at Slask Wroclaw in Round 1). We had opportunities in those two games and it was painful to waste those opportunities. So we are really happy that we didn’t waste it today.”

Thanks in large part to that fourth quarter surge.

Neptunas picked up its first victory of the season despite giving up a big lead again