Hapoel Tel Aviv’s starters set the tone on Tuesday evening at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria, but it was the second unit that stole the limelight in the 89-68 home victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento in Round 14 of the BKT EuroCup.

Total team effort was key to Hapoel’s thrashing of Trento

Opening a double-digit lead may not be a tough challenge for a team that boasts [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/roster/hta/?season=2024-25)’s offensive prowess. Yet, maintaining it for most of the game takes a huge effort from starters and bench players alike. Hapoel’s starters set the tone on Tuesday evening at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria, but it was the second unit that stole the limelight in [the 89-68 home victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-cruises-past-trento-89-68/) over [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/roster/trn/?season=2024-25) in Round 14.

[Coach Dimitris Itoudis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/itoudis-dimitris/?season=U2024)’s side secured their first double-figure advantage thanks to [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/)’s first triple of the game to make it 29-17 a few seconds into the second quarter. From that point on, Hapoel never looked back, with its reserves outscoring the starters 49-40.

The protagonist of the second unit was Caboclo, who came off the bench to stretch the floor with his ability to punish opponents who allow him open looks from beyond the arc. Having gone 3-for-4 from deep, the Hapoel big man finished the duel with a season-high 19 points.

Bruno Caboclo went off on Trento

After the clash, Caboclo stressed that Itoudis has managed to squeeze out the maximum of each of his players.

“He’s on us a lot and I think that this brings urgency from everybody,” Caboclo said. “Even on the bench, guys who play 2 minutes give a lot on the court and I think that this is what makes us a very good team.”  

Nine different players opened their account before the break and 11 of the 12 who stepped onto the floor managed to celebrate a score of their own by the final whistle. Yet, the only player who went scoreless was one of those who stood out with his outing.

Game Videos

[Ish Wainright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ishmail-carzell-wainright/013284/) ended the game with 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals, hustling for each ball in his 21:02 minutes on the floor. His performance forced Itoudis to single the forward out, with the Greek coach being full of praise for Wainright after the win.

“We were in control of the game from the beginning to the end,” the Hapoel boss noted. “We really played team basketball. We wanted to try different lineups and managed to stay on the same level even though we were changing lineups. We have players like Ish Wainright, who was scoreless, but helped the team equally as Bruno Caboclo, who was the first scorer.”

Having extended its winning streak to three games, Hapoel will look to build on its momentum next week away at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. Should Itoudis’s side pull off a similar team effort at Moraca, Hapoel would have laid the foundation for its 10th win of the season.

Game News

Hapoel's bench players outscored the starters in Tuesday's rout 

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-01-07T18:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (7-7) stayed in the hunt for a BTK EuroCup postsason berth with a 79-66 home win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (4-9), thanks to a huge defensive effort that forced a forgettable shooting night from the visitors.

Strong defense carried Bourg to lifeline win over Lietkabelis

[Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/?season=2024-25) (7-7) stayed in the hunt for a BTK EuroCup postsason berth with [a 79-66 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bourg-dismantles-lietkabelis-79-66-to-remain-in-postseason-picture/) over [7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2024-25) (4-9), thanks to a huge defensive effort that forced a forgettable shooting night from the visitors.

Aggressive perimeter pressure had Lietkabelis making only 2 of 18 from downtown and the disjointed Lithuanian side also struggled from the foul line (18 of 29), while committing 15 turnovers against a mere 14 assists.

Crucially, Bourg made 11 three-pointers and thoroughly dominated the boards, 43-30, having racked up 16 offensive rebounds while Lietkabelis managed only half as many.

Bourg big man [Kevin Kokila](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/), who posted 9 points and as many boards in a physical contest, concurred it was a vital victory for the French outfit in its bid to squeeze into the postseason picture. 

“It was a very important game for us to keep our season going,” Kokila told EuroLeague TV. “We played tough in the second half, we controlled the ball on offense and that’s how we were able to build the gap. We’ve had some ups and downs this season but today we beat a very good team and we have to keep going this way."

The home team’s head coach [Frederic Fauthoux](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/fauthoux-frederic/?season=U2024) heaped praise on a comprehensive effort at both ends of the court. “Perhaps for the first time this season, we played really good defense,” he said. “We played well at both ends of the court and I am very happy for this win. We dominated the paint in the second half and that was crucial.”

In Round 15, Lietkabelis aims to keep its slim postseason hopes alive with a tough home game against runaway Group B leader Valencia Basket, while Bourg visits lowly Aris Midea Thessaloniki.  

The French team suffocated its Lithuanian rival with a physical approach 

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-01-07T18:30:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket bounced back in style from its two last defeats and rolled over visiting Turk Telekom Ankara, 116-78, at La Fontenta on Tuesday night

Valencia demolishes Turk Telekom, 116-78, in record effort

Valencia Basket bounced back in style from its two last defeats and rolled over visiting Turk Telekom Ankara, 116-78, at La Fontenta on Tuesday night. The hosts trailed 4-8 early in the first period, but after the first triple went in, Valencia displayed an unstoppable offensive machinery that totally obliterated its opponent. With this victory, the home team improved to 12-2 to remain atop Group B, while Turk Telekom saw its four-game winning streak come to an end and slipped to 8-6.

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui led six Valencia scorers in double digits with 20 points and also added 6 boards and 5 assists. Brancou Badio, Jaime Pradilla, Chris Jones and Semi Ojeleye followed with 12 points apiece, while Nate Sestina poured in 10 against his former club. Sergio De Larrea stood close to a double-double with 9 points and a career-high 9 assists for a PIR of 21, also a career-high. Berkan Durmaz paced Turk Telekom with 16 points and 6 boards, Yoan Makoundou also scored 16, while Anthony Brown contributed 14 points in the losing effort.

Durmaz became the main offensive weapon for Turk Telekom in the early going, scoring 6 of the visitors’ first 10. Valencia needed some time to adjust, especially from the outside, but when the rotations started, the hosts seemed much more comfortable. Ojeleye was the first one to hit from downtown and Lopez-Arostegui followed with another of his own to tie it at 10-10. The latter scored two more baskets and later fed Pradilla for a triple to boost a 12-0 run that made it 22-12 after 7 minutes. Turk Telekom didn’t panic, though, and used its two first triples of the game to reach the end of the first period trailing 26-21, after Speedy Smith beat the buzzer from downtown.

Sestina and Jones avoided further problems with timely triples early in the second quarter, as Pradilla restored a double-digit lead for the hosts, 38-25 after a nice move inside and a strong dunk off a Chris Jones assist. The run didn’t stop there, as Jones scored on the fastbreak, and Josep Puerto converted an offensive rebound to cap a 10-0 run and build a 41-25 advantage. Turk Telekom found some energy coming from Melih Tunca, but Lopez-Arostegui quickly aborted the rally with 5 points in a row that recovered a safe margin, 48-32. The visitors’ timeout didn’t work as expected, as the difference grew to 52-34 at halftime.

Brown’s first field goal of the night seemed to give some hope to Turk Telekom, which also found Tunca and Makoundou on offense to reduce the gap to 59-46 right after the game resumed. Jones decided to take over to avoid further problems and nailed a three and a short jumper to cool it down, 67-51, right before a TV timeout. Lopez-Arostegui dug deeper from the line soon after, and a long three-pointer by De Larrea made it 73-51. The three-point rain didn’t stop here, as Matt Costello and Badio followed with one each. The punishment was paused at 87-58 when the third-quarter buzzer sounded.

Little changed in the last quarter as the hosts didn’t gear down and kept scoring on almost every possession. Ojeleye helped his team to move past the 30-point margin with a circus shot that turned into a three-point play, 90-58, and Brimah got it to 40 points, 100-60, from the line with 7 minutes remaining. With the outcome in no doubt, the last questions to be answered were which records Valencia was going to break. Reuvers scored the 110th point to make it the best scoring night in club history and the final difference (38 points) became the second-biggest in Valencia’s history as well.

The hosts bettered their previous scoring record of 109 points

Valencia Basket v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-01-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria was in a dogfight with ratiopharm Ulm for the first three quarters of their EuroCup Round 14 game before finally pulling away thanks to a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter. 

Fourth quarter made the difference for Gran Canaria in Ulm

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25) was in a dogfight with [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/roster/ulm/?season=2024-25) for the first three quarters before finally pulling away thanks to a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter. 

Gran Canaria held the [number two offense in the league](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=U2024&category=Score&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame) scoreless for 7:30 minutes in the final frame in putting together a 0-16 run to produce [a 76-83 win over Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/strong-fourth-quarter-carries-gran-canaria-past-ulm-76-83/), which entered the game on a five-game winning streak. 

“The last quarter we stepped up and made some good defensive plays. But at the same time, we made some important shots. That gave us the confidence to play and defend well. I think we did a good job in the fourth quarter defending the three-point line,” said [Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/?season=U2024), whose team had lost its previous two games, [scoring 65](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-beats-gran-canaria-73-65-to-take-control-in-group-a/) and [64 points](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-cruises-past-gran-canaria-64-87-thanks-to-big-first-half/). 

Ulm was averaging 90.0 points per game and had scored 100+ points in its last three wins - 102, 114 and 104 points. 

“We were not comfortable at all. But they found a way and I am proud of them,” Lakovic added.

Gran Canaria also kept Ulm to just 9-of-35 shooting on three-pointers (25.7%), which was 13.5% below the German side’s three-point shooting percentage coming into the game, the best team in the EuroCup. 

The victory gives Gran Canaria the inside track for a top-two spot in Group A at 10-4 to Ulm’s 9-5 record - not to mention the tiebreaker advantage after its record-breaking 125-78 home win over Ulm in Round 5. Still Lakovic was quick to say there is a long road still to go with four rounds of games left.

“We deserved to win, it was an important win, but nothing is over. This is not the decisive game but it gives us confidence moving forward,” he said.

Gran Canaria was once again playing without two veteran leaders as [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/) and [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) both missed a second straight game. But it was the first EuroCup game for Gran Canaria for new acquisition [Mehdy Ngouama](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mehdy-ngouama/009556/). And the guard produced a strong game with 8 points including the dagger three-pointer with 105 seconds left to go with 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal and a big chasedown block.

“Mehdy came in with two practices and really had a great effort trying to adjust to the team, trying to understand what we want to do defensively and offensively. And at the same time, he gave us athleticism and verticality to the basket, being able to beat the first line of the defense. We are very happy about his effort,” Lakovic said of Ngouama, who won the EuroCup in 2024 with Paris Basketball and then played six games earlier this season with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse.

Gran Canaria’s defense stepped up when it was needed most 

ratiopharm Ulm v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-01-07T18:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse improved to 7-7 in Group B of the BKT EuroCup and snapped a three-game skid after a thoroughly deserved 79-66 home win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys, which dropped to 4-9 and dented its slim hopes of reaching the postseason.

Bourg dismantles Lietkabelis 79-66 to remain in postseason picture

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse improved to 7-7 in Group B of the BKT EuroCup and snapped a three-game skid after a thoroughly deserved 79-66 home win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys, which dropped to 4-9 and dented its slim hopes of reaching the postseason.

Jordan Usher paced Bourg with 17 points and 9 boards while Brandon Jefferson and Xavier Castaneda chipped in with 11 points each for the French team, which stifled the visitors with ironclad defense to wipe out a 34-36 halftime deficit.

Oleksandr Kovliar netted 16 points for Lietkabelis and Georgios Kalaitzakis added 12 for the Lithuanian team, which was undone by woeful shooting from downtown (2 of 18) as well as 16 offensive rebounds from Bourg – twice as many as the visitors managed.  

The first half produced a low-scoring rollercoaster as Lietkabelis carved out an early 3-6 lead before Bourg turned the tables to nose ahead 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. The home team then surged ahead 26-19, only for the Lietkabelis to hit back and take a slender lead at halftime, courtesy of 9 Bourg turnovers.

Despite its poor shooting, Lietkabelis was still ahead late in the third quarter, 49-50, before an 8-2 Bourg streak turned the tide for good.

Having held on for a 60-55 advantage early in the fourth, the hosts went on a 12-2 run to put the game beyond Lietkabelis, as Bourg profited from a barrage of offensive boards in down stretch.

The home side also poured an array of crunch triples while Lietkabelis was denied open looks at the other end, with Kovliar featuring as the only visiting player to hit anything from deep. Lietkabelis also struggled to take care of the ball, dishing out a mere 14 assists while committing 15 turnovers against Bourg’s aggressive defense.

Bourg’s dominance was illustrated by an impressive total of 43 rebounds as well as 11 three-pointers, compensating for 16 turnovers in a rugged contest whose outcome will have pleased the home fans.

Majestic second-half defense propelled the French side to an emphatic home win 

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv extended its winning streak to three games by crushing Dolomiti Energia Trento 89-68 on Tuesday evening at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria

Hapoel cruises past Trento, 89-68

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv extended its winning streak to three games by crushing Dolomiti Energia Trento 89-68 on Tuesday evening at Samokov Arena in Bulgaria. The hosts led by double digits for the majority of the game to grab a comfortable home victory. Hapoel improved its record to 9-5, with Trento, whose head coach Paolo Galbiati missed the game due to illness, dropping to 4-10.

Bruno Caboclo led all scorers with 19 points, which he paired with 8 rebounds. Antonio Blakeney netted 13, with Marcus Foster and Yam Madar scoring 11 each. Jordan Ford paced Trento with 17 points, with Anthony Lamb and Saliou Niang recording 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Madar got Hapoel going with a layup before a triple from Foster and a bucket by Tomer Ginat gave the hosts a 7-2 lead. Selom Mawugbe and Johnathan Motley traded scores inside, with Lamb netting a midrange jumper that cut the difference to 11-10. But Ginat and Foster drilled a three each before a Madar layup in transition opened a 19-10 lead. After Jordan Bayehe and Myles Cale netted inside, Toto Forray and Blakeney exchanged triples, with Hapoel leading 26-17 after 10 minutes.

Hapoel started strong from beyond the rainbow in the second quarter, with Caboclo drilling a couple of triples and Madar scoring one of his own for a 37-21 cushion. Buckets from Oz Blayzer, Joe Ragland and Patrick Beverley were followed by a three-pointer from the latter, but Trento didn’t allow Hapoel to pull away, with Ford and Denis Badalau sinking a triple apiece to trim the deficit to 48-32 at halftime.

Foster, Madar and Motley scored inside for a 20-point advantage, 54-34. Trento replied with 6 unanswered points by Ford, but Foster nailed one from deep before setting up Motley on the break for a 59-40 lead. Yet, the visitors responded with a 4-10 run fueled by Bayehe, who scored Trento’s last 5 points of the third quarter to trim the deficit to 65-50.

Hapoel opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 surge capped off by Caboclo’s third triple of the game. Blakeney netted a tough midrange bucket that took his tally to 10 points, maintaining a 74-54 lead for the hosts. Lamb and Blakeney exchanged triples before 4 unanswered points from Caboclo restored an 83-61 cushion to all but put the game on ice.

The hosts led from start to finish to clinch a comfortable home win

Dreamland Gran Canaria took a giant step towards a top-two spot in Group A after knocking off ratiopharm Ulm 76-83 on the road to snap a two-game losing streak

Strong fourth quarter carries Gran Canaria past Ulm 76-83

Dreamland Gran Canaria took a giant step towards a top-two spot in Group A after knocking off ratiopharm Ulm 76-83 on the road to snap a two-game losing streak. Gran Canaria blew a tight game wide open with a 0-16 fourth-quarter run to improve to 10-4 on the season. The Spanish side won both games against Ulm this season - including a 125-78 blowout in Round 5.

Carlos Alocen collected 14 points and 5 assists, Miquel Salvo had 11 points, Mike Tobey tallied 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks and Nicolas Brussino picked up 10 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Ulm saw its five-game winning streak snapped to fall to 9-5. Ben Saraf poured in a career-high 19 points, Alfonso Plummer scored 13 points and Marcio Santos chipped in 10 points in the loss. 

The hosts had some bad news straight away as veteran point guard Thomas Klepeisz had to be carried off after just 23 seconds with an apparent foot injury and did not return. Ulm got on the break for two easy baskets and Saraf added a triple as the hosts went up 9-2. Alocen sparked the Gran Canaria attack early on with 8 points including a long triple and Brussino’s long ball knotted it 16-16. Ulm buried three-pointers at the other end and led 24-18 after 10 minutes. 

Ulm failed to score for nearly the first 4 minutes of the second quarter and Gran Canaria reeled off 12 straight points for a 24-30 lead. Two Saraf scores were equalized at the other end and Gran Canaria went up 29-35. But Ulm kept the visitors scoreless for more than 3 minutes and reclaimed the lead 36-35. Caleb Homesley’s jumper put Gran Canaria back up 36-37 at the break.

Ulm went back ahead 42-41 only to see Pierre Pelos make a triple and convert a three-point play for a 44-50 advantage. Plummer punched back with two baskets and Ulm tied the game 52-52. A Philipp Herkenhoff tip-in and 2 free throws had the home side up 59-55 after 30 minutes.

Karim Jallow started the fourth quarter with a score for a 61-55 lead for Ulm. Gran Canaria’s defense stepped up, not giving up a point for the next 7:30 minutes and the Spanish side surged ahead with a 0-16 run thanks to a \`pair of Alocen triples. A Mehdy Ngouama three finished off Ulm for a 63-75 cushion with 105 seconds to play.

Gran Canaria takes inside track for second place with season sweep of Ulm

Bahcesehir College Istanbul has announced that Mateusz Ponitka has successfully undergone surgery on a meniscus injury. Given that the recovery time for meniscus injuries is six to nine months, the Polish forward’s BKT EuroCup campaign is likely over.

Mateusz Ponitka undergoes surgery on meniscus injury

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) has announced that [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) has successfully undergone surgery on a meniscus injury.

Given that the recovery time for meniscus injuries is six to nine months, the Polish forward’s BKT EuroCup campaign is likely over.

“Our player Mateusz Ponitka underwent surgery at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital due to the meniscus injury he suffered in the league match we played against Tofas,” Bahcesehir posted in a tweet.

“After the successful operation performed by our team doctor Dr. Berhan Bayram and Prof. Dr. Alper Kaya, our player's rehabilitation program is now being planned. Get well soon, Poni!”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">📢 Oyuncumuz Mateusz Ponitka, TOFAŞ ile oynadığımız lig karşılaşmasında yaşadığı menisküs yaralanması sebebiyle Acıbadem Altunizade Hastanesi’nde ameliyat oldu.<br><br>👨‍⚕️Takım doktorumuz Dr. Berhan Bayram ve Prof. Dr. Alper Kaya tarafından gerçekleştirilen başarılı operasyon… <a href="https://t.co/GbD3EkM7CF">pic.twitter.com/GbD3EkM7CF</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1876645697241719008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ponitka, in his rookie EuroCup season, has averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steal and a 13.5 PIR in 12 appearances, all off the bench. 

Bahcesehir is the second team to have qualified for the EuroCup Playoffs, behind Valencia Basket in Group A, as the Turkish side tops Group B with an 11-2 record.

More Bahcesehir News

The Bahcesehir forward is likely done for the season

Joventut Badalona v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v ratiopharm Ulm (2025-01-28T16:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-01-22T17:45:00.000Z)

Trefl Sopot v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-01-15T18:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-01-08T16:00:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 14 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Round 14: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, January 7

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (19:00 CET)

\--

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (19:00 CET)

**Saliou Niang, Dolomiti Energia Trento forward**

"It will be a very complicated game against one of the strongest teams in the competition that has a great roster. We are in a difficult moment between injuries, fatigue and from the last defeats where we could do better. Playing against players of their level is very challenging, we want to get back up so we will go into the game determined and with the will to win."

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:30 CET)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"Lietkabelis is a team that plays very good basketball, and perhaps even the one that plays the best collectively in the group. It is also a dangerous team which managed to beat big teams like Valencia and Jerusalem. It’s also up to us to impose our game."

**Maksim Salash, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward**

"It’s a very important game for us, we need to win tomorrow in order to keep fighting for a playoff spot in our group."

### Valencia Basket vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (20:30 CET)

**Brancou Badio, Valencia Basket guard**

"\[Turk Telekom\] is a team that is very good right now and I think we will have to prepare ourselves and get to play a tough, difficult game, which will be evenly matched. We will have to play our game, focus also on ourselves and play hard, compete. We will have to defend a lot because Anthony Brown is a very good player and he is one of the best scorers in the EuroCup, he is scoring a lot. I think it will be an important game for him because we beat them there and they will come wanting to play and show what they are worth. So we will have to defend and defend as a team to be able to win the game. We are playing at home and it is always better to play at home with our fans. Hopefully they will be there supporting us. That will give us more energy every time on the court. It gives us a lot of energy to go out and give it our all on the court."

## Wednesday, January 8

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (17:00 CET)

\--

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (18:00 CET)

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach**

"It is an extremely important game for us. There are not so many chances left if we want a good place before the playoffs. We are fighting against them for a better place in the standings. They are a talented team, with brilliant guards.  For example, Harper, the best scorer in the competition, plays there. Carrington and Zoosman are also really good players. We need to match their whole team, not just a few players. We have trained well and we have the right mindset. We will play at home and we hope to have a full gym!"

**Gediminas Orelik, U-BT Cluj-Napoca forward**

"We are going to play against a tough opponent, they have the best scorer, Harper. They have good individuals, so much talent. It is going to be a hard game. As we said, everything is in our own hands. We need to have desire and show we are playing at home. Everything is good, I think I have adapted pretty fast. The atmosphere is very good, the practices are at a high level. My family is happy here  and everything is getting better and better. I think us, as basketball players, we live for big games. I am talking about the atmosphere and the emotions. That is when you show your heart and face!"

### Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Trefl Sopot (18:00 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head caoch**

"I expect a very tactical game. I know Coach Tabak very well. He's a very, very good coach.  Also, they have talent and physicality. No doubt, their players have pride. They will come here to make the game. They will prepare to try to win here. So, we must consider the game, probably, with more focus, to pay more attention to details because we know the importance of the game for the standings."

**Regimantas Miniotas, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius forward**

"A tough game awaits. It is very important for us in the fight for a better position in the tournament standings and for a spot in the playoffs. Winning is crucial, so we must be fully focused and execute our game plan. If we secure a win, it will help us continue moving towards our goals in the BKT EuroCup."

**Bartosz Jankowski, Trefl Sopot forward**

"A tough game ahead of us, for sure. Wolves have a great pick and roll game, both outside and with their big guys. We need to stop this pick and roll, which I think is going to be the key."

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki (18:45 CET)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach**

"Aris has changed their roster compared to our first encounter. The team now has a completely different concept than in October. I watched their recent game against Olympiacos, where they played well for 30 minutes, and their EuroCup game against Hapoel, where they fought until the end. The team is faster, more athletic, and more robust, allowing them to play much more aggressive defense. We’ll need to prepare well, give it our all, and stay focused from start to finish to win the game."

**Andrija Stipanovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana center**

"This is a very important game, and we’ve prepared well for it. The atmosphere in the arena during the game against Krka was excellent, and I hope just as many, if not more, fans will come and cheer even louder. We know we’ve entered a period where every game is a battle for the playoffs. We’ll take it game by game and do our best to secure key wins."

### Joventut Badalona vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (19:30 CET)

\--

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:30 CET)

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"For us, who need to make up ground, every game is important. We're heading to Hamburg to play against a team with three wins, but they are very, very competitive, tough, and never give up. We’ve improved our offensive game, while defensively we’ve been consistent since the start of the season. We were missing scoring options, but we’ve made progress recently. We’re going to Germany with great respect for Hamburg and aiming to win another game."

**Tyler Ennis, Umana Reyer Venice guard**

"Every game is very important because the standings are very tight, with many teams having similar or close records. Moreover, we’re playing away, and it’s never easy. We want to continue on our path by imposing our defense and continuing to play with toughness and intensity. We’re facing excellent players, and we need to stay focused on what we need to do. We’re in a good moment, and we want to capitalize on it."

**Reyer injury report:** Xavier Munford (knee) and Rodney McGruder (adductor) are out.

Joventut Badalona v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2025-01-08T18:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-01-08T18:30:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2025-01-08T17:45:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2025-01-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Trefl Sopot (2025-01-08T17:00:00.000Z)