Who's Hot: Alpha Kaba, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Every season produces new stars in the 7DAYS EuroCup, and the latest player to put his stamp on the competition is Buducnost VOLI Podgorica center Alpha Kaba.

In his fourth year in the EuroCup, his first with Buducnost, the 26-year-old Frenchman has posted his highest averages to date in the opening four games of the campaign: 13.2 points on 71.9% two-point shooting, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals, in addition to a PIR of 18.5. In fact, in the last three games, he is averaging 15.7 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, with a PIR of 22.7.

Kaba previously represented LCLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in 2017-18 and 2018-19, as well as Nanterre 92 in 2020-21, but his dominance in the paint has become more of a factor in this current season.

Not only is his average of 9.5 rebounds per night good enough for fourth best in the 2022-23 EuroCup, but he is also making the fifth-highest average number of made two-pointers with 5.8.

After a relatively slow start in his first game, in which he scored 6 points but grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 2 shots in a 66-73 loss to Veolia Hamburg Towers, his threat on the offensive end of the floor has significantly increased in Buducnost's last three fixtures, all of which have been victories.

Starting on the road at Slask Wroclaw, a game that Buducnost won by 40 points, 58-98, Kaba made his presence felt with several highlight plays on a night when he posted 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Then, in Buducnost's home opener against Promitheas Patras, he once again played a pivotal role, recording a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double which also featured 3 steals in a 95-89 triumph.

Just before the EuroCup's two-week break, Kaba and Buducnost spoiled what should have been a memorable night for the London Lions, as it was playing at the legendary OVO Arena Wembley for the first of two fixtures there this season. Kaba didn't care about that, finishing with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in a 78-87 victory. He was a menace once again on the defensive end, ending the game with 2 steals to go with 1 block.

Alpha Kaba Top Plays from 10/15/2022 to 11/22/2022

Alpha Kaba Buducnost - Top plays

As Kaba recognizes, Buducnost has begun to find its feet during this three-game winning run. Aside from Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, which was 4-0 heading into Round 5 before an 80-89 defeat to Frutti Extra Bursaspor, Buducnost is the most in-form team in the EuroCup.

"We knew it wouldn’t be easy \[to beat London\], and they showed in the second half that we would have to fight. It was a difficult second half, but we will still made it \[through\] and got the W," he said. "That’s all that matters, so we are happy with that. We struggled at the start of the season, but now we are finding our chemistry, so everything is good."

Kaba earned his move to Buducnost after ending the last season as the Turkish League MVP with Gaziantep, and it seems that he has carried that momentum into the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season. As long as Kaba continues to play at this level, Buducnost will be one of the most dangerous teams in the competition.

As of Tuesday night, there are no more unbeaten teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup, because Frutti Extra Bursaspor beat host Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 80-89. The victory not only ended Bourg's perfect season, but with it, last year's finalists from Bursaspor snapped their two-game losing streak.

"\[Bourg\]has been hot and we've been struggling, so this is a good road win at a very good time," Bursaspor forward David Dudzinski said after the game. "We really needed it."

Dudzinski was one of the main reasons why Bursaspor escaped Bourg en Bresse with its third win in Group A. The veteran forward had his best game of this campaign, scoring 20 points while netting 4 of 5 three-pointers and pulling down 10 rebounds. He scored half of his points and pulled down 4 of those rebounds in the fourth quarter.

Big fourth quarter performers put Bursaspor back on track

But Dudzinski's was not the only double-double by the visitors.  Zach Auguste finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in what was arguably his best game in Bursaspor jersey. Auguste's 6 points in the final 2 minutes of the game sealed the outcome.

Bursaspor's third-best performer was Anthony Clemmons, with 18 points and 8 assists, with half of those decisive passes coming in the fourth quarter.

That trio turned Bursaspor's four-point deficit early in the fourth quarter into a nine-point win that put last year's finalists in a position to challenge for the top of the Group A standings. The message sent in beating the undefeated group leader on the road cannot be underestimated. 

"We are going step by step," Bursaspor head coach Dusan Alimpijevic said. "We are very happy that now everybody knows about Frutti Extra Bursaspor. Last year, our goal was to make the playoffs. This year it is to have \[playoff\] games with home-court advantage."

Holding a 3-2 record after five rounds, and having played three road games already, Bursaspor is right where it wants to be as it intends to make more EuroCup noise.

Big fourth-quarter performers put Bursaspor back on track

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-11-22T18:00:00.000Z)

The London Lions trounced Veolia Hamburg Towers on Tuesday night 75-103 for the club’s first road win ever in the 7DAYS EuroCup. It came after a rocky start to the season in which the team lost its first two road games by a combined 35 points.

There was never any doubting the level of talents the Lions assembled on their roster. However, at times that talent was in flux. The original roster suffered several injuries and that led to new players joining and others leaving over the past two months.

Last week, the team used the extra practice time available with the EuroCup on a two-week break and tried to jumpstart the chemistry-building process.

"It was something we needed from a cohesion standpoint,” Coach Ryan Schmidt said after the game. "We basically went back to training camp; we had a tough five days but we got to know each other as a team a little bit better, we cleaned a lot of things up. It was something that was much needed and the result proved, again, that it was worth the time, worth the effort."

More than just building chemistry, it built confidence. That explains how London was able to score 103 points, even though it fell behind early 10-2 and Hamburg achieved some of its goals for the game.

"We limited their offensive rebounds. That was one of the things we wanted to do, especially with the size they have. I thought we limited their post-up actions; it’s also something we did well," Coach Raoul Korner analyzed after the game. "But then they shot the ball so well and if you have a tall team like this that drags you out so much because they shoot the ball so well, gaps open up and we just couldn’t stop them.”

Game Videos

Just how well did they shoot the ball? The Lions made 14 of 25 three-pointers (56.0%) and 23 of 35 twos (65.7%). Hruban Vojtech stood out with a perfect shooting night that included 4 three-pointers, 1 two-pointer and 2 free throws. Kosta Koufos was 9 for 11 – all two-pointers -and Tomislav Zubcic made 4 of 6 three-pointers.

Of the nine players in the rotation for the game, each had at least 5 points with the exception of Mo Soluade, who only attempted 1 shot in 19:27 minutes. However, Soluade was the team leader with 6 assists and 0 turnovers.  Altogether London dished 27 assists with just 14 turnovers.

With the talent and experience on the roster, London was always a team that others would be wary of. And now, after it dominated in Hamburg, the Lions next few opponents had best prepare themselves.

Game News

Extra week of practice fueled London

Veolia Towers Hamburg v London Lions (2022-11-22T18:30:00.000Z)

Frutti Extra Bursaspor got back on track with an 80-89 victory over the previously undefeated Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Even though there were ups and downs in its performance, over the 40 minutes, Bursaspor dominated in the paint.

Bursaspor outrebounded the hosts 41-27, which included having a 13-8 edge in offensive rebounding and 28-19 on the defensive glass. Three Bursaspor players combined for 28 rebounds, which was more than the entire home side. Zach Auguste and David Dudzinski each had 10 rebounds, and Ahmet Duverioglu grabbed 8 in just 14 minutes on the floor.

In addition, while both teams knocked down 10 triples, Bursaspor finished the game with 60.0% two-point shooting compared to Bourg's 47.4%.

Bursaspor dominated Bourg in the paint

 Prometey's inside attack spelled the difference 

Seeing your hosts make 6 more three-pointers while more less matching you at the free throw line is usually a recipe for defeat. But Prometey Slobozhanske solved that discrepancy by going to the rim with great gusto in an 89-94 road win at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana on Tuesday.

Prometey would end up more than doubling Cedevita's total of two-point shots made, 25 to 12, as attacking the basket paid off again and again.

Swingman Caleb Agada was the main protagonist in that regard, hitting 9 of 15 shots inside the arc even while he struggled with 0-for-4 outside of it. With his free throws, he totaled 21 points.

Another small forward, D.J. Kennedy, was right behind him, making 7 of 9 two-pointers and drawing fouls on three other attempts to shoot a perfect 6 for 6 from the line for 20 points total.

The same two players combined for 15 total rebounds, including 4 on offense.

All told, Prometey shot 25-for-41 inside, 61.0%, to Cedevita's 12-for-27, 44.4%.

That difference, in the end, spelled Prometey's first-ever 7DAYS EuroCup road victory and extended Cedevita's winless start to 0-5.

Prometey's rim attacking spelled the difference

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Prometey Slobozhanske (2022-11-22T19:00:00.000Z)

### [Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 80-89 Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-frutti-extra-bursaspor/U2022/43/)

There are no more undefeated teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup after Bursaspor went on the road to down Bourg 80-89 on Tuesday night. The win improved Bursaspor to 3-2, while Bourg dropped to 4-1 in Group A. David Dudzinski led the visitors with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Zach Auguste finished with 19 points plus 10 rebounds. James Palmer scored 20 for Bourg in its first loss of the season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🏀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSEuroCup</a> | 5. Hafta | Maç Sonucu <br><br>Fransa’dan galibiyetle dönüyoruz! 🐊<a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLBourgBasket</a> 80 - 89 Frutti Extra Bursaspor <a href="https://t.co/SuDiNbmgq0">pic.twitter.com/SuDiNbmgq0</a></p>&mdash; Frutti Extra Bursaspor (@BsBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BsBasketbol/status/1595146307739402240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Veolia Towers Hamburg 75-103 London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/veolia-towers-hamburg-london-lions/U2022/49/)

The London Lions pounded Veolia Towers Hamburg 75-103 on Tuesday night at edel-optics.de Arena for the club’s first-ever EuroCup win on the road. Tomislav Zubcic led five London scorers in double figures with 22 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting and Sam Dekker posted 19 points and 7 rebounds. Lukas Meisner and Yoeli Childs led Hamburg with 19 points apiece. The result left both teams with 2-3 records in Group B.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="no" dir="ltr">SAM DEKKER POSTER DUNK😱<a href="https://twitter.com/dekker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dekker</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LondonLions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/6mZ7nLxRGi">pic.twitter.com/6mZ7nLxRGi</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1595134936671191041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Umana Reyer Venice 74-71 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/umana-reyer-venice-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2022/45/)

Part of a six-way tie in the Group A table was broken on Tuesday when Umana Reyer Venice rallied to upend 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 74-71 at home on Tuesday. Reyer, whose record rose to 3-2, played from behind much of the night and trailed 55-65 with 5 minutes left before Derek Willis started the comeback with 5 consecutive points and Mitchell Watt stepped up late. Watt led the winners with 19 points while Allerik Freeman added 17. For Lietkabelis, now 2-3, Jamel Morris poured in 25 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">❤️ Con un cuore gigante l’Umana Reyer completa una grande rimonta nel finale e ottiene la terza vittoria consecutiva in Eurocup!<br>Bravi leoni 🦁 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DaysEurocup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DaysEurocup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Reyer150?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Reyer150</a> <a href="https://t.co/sgQkByiRNM">pic.twitter.com/sgQkByiRNM</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1595162483278635009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 84-89 Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-prometey-slobozhanske/U2022/41/)

Prometey took its first road win ever in the 7DAYS EuroCup by downing host Cedevita in high-scoring fashion, 89-94, on Tuesday. In a game that had 13 lead changes and five ties, Prometey took over after halftime but had to make all the right moves after Cedevita came back to lead late. Gian Clavell combined 21 points with 6 assists, including a key one on Denys Lukashov on the one-minute mark, to lead the winners, now 3-2 in Group A. Caleb Agada also scored 21. Cedevita got 19 points from Josh Adams as the team's record dropped to 0-5.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A huge W away for Prometey👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/bdYE7kl8Qn">pic.twitter.com/bdYE7kl8Qn</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1595163800403337217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Game Center: Road teams go 3-1 on Tuesday

Umana Reyer Venice v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-11-22T19:00:00.000Z)

 Reyer's rebounders saved the day 

Down on the scoreboard much of the night and losing by 10 with 5 minutes left, Umana Reyer Venice was able to hold on for a 74-71 home win against 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys thanks to superior rebounding.

Reyer's field goal shooting was nothing to thrill its home fans: 36.8% on two-pointers, 36.0% from downtown. Its 17 turnovers didn't bode well for a victory, either.

But on the boards there was a big difference in favor of the winners. Reyer's rebounders finished with a 46-31 overall difference, most of which could be found in their 15-3 advantage on the offensive glass. That led to Reyer taking 9 more field goal attempts on the night, just enough to come from behind and win.

Derek Willis was ever-present around the rim with 9 rebounds. Mitchell Watt added 8 and Jordan Parks 7 before fouling out. They were helped by guards Jayson Granger (4) and Mark Spissu (3). Altogether, eight different Reyer players took at least 1 offensive rebound.

It was just enough to flip the scoreboard late as Lietkabelis was held to just 1 offensive board in the second half, and none in the final 13 minutes, giving Reyer the extra possessions needed to mount the comeback and break their tie in Group A.

Reyer's rebounders saved the day

### Frutti Extra Bursaspor head coach Dusan Alimpijevic:

"It was a big-time win. It was a team that was undefeated so far playing on their court and playing great basketball. I am full of respect for Bourg coach and his system, how he convinced his players to play. I really enjoyed to prepare against them because it was clear coach's signature. But I think we really deserved this win, we fought like we fought in the beginning of this competition. Teams spirit, sharing the ball, no selfishness at all, and belief in winning with aggressive defense were the crucial things.

"Every win in EuroCup is important. Those who don't play in the EuroLeague or the EuroCup don’t know how difficult it is to win. I am always happy when we win any game in the EuroCup, I am always happy when we win games like this because there are good team, good coaches, good organizations like Bourg. We have to be happy for every win."

### Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse head coach Frederic Fauthoux:

"We started with good intensity and good focus. And then after being down by more than 10 points it is tough to come back. We did some good things but it is too complicated against a team like Bursaspor, they the controlled rebounding."

### Frutti Extra Bursaspor forward David Dudzinski:

"This team has been hot, and we've been struggling so this is a good road win at a very good time. We really needed it. We had two tough games in the EuroCup, didn't go our way. But I am really proud of how we fought today, it was amazing."

Coach Alimpijevic, Bursaspor: 'I am full of respect for Bourg'

Prometey Slobozhanske took its first road win ever in the 7DAYS EuroCup by downing host Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in high-scoring fastion, 89-94, on Tuesday. 

In a game that had 13 lead changes and five ties, Prometey took over after halftime but had to make all the right moves after Cedevita came back to lead late. Gian Clavell combined 21 points with 6 assists, including a key one on Denys Lukashov on the one-minute mark, to lead the winners, now 3-2 in Group A. Caleb Agada also scored 21, while D.J. Kennedy had 20 and D.J. Stephens 10 and 10 rebounds. Cedevita got 19 points from Josh Adams, 18 from Yogi Ferrell, 16 from Marko Jeremic, 15 from Amar Alibegovic and 11 from Alen Omic, but it was all for naught as the team's record dropped to 0-5.

Ferrell and Alibegovic had 5 points each as Cedevita raced ahead 14-5. Ondrej Balvin, Kennedy and Clavell filled a 2-7 run for Prometey that Adams and Ferrell checked en route to a 24-18 edge after one quarter. Agada fed Ivan Tkachenko for a triple at 27-25 and soon Prometey's first lead came on baskets by Ondrej Balvin and Clavell. Ferrell, Adams and Omic flipped the scoreboard for Cedevita, but Clavell's buzzer-beater left Prometey up 39-40 at halftime. Clavell and Stephens shared 4 three-pointers to boost the Prometey lead to 44-54 after the break. Cedevita stayed within striking distance, 60-65, on triples by Marko Jeremic and Alibegovic. Jeremic converted a four-point play next to make it 64-66 after 30 minutes. Matic Rebec, Edu Muric and Alibegovic each hit a go-ahead three-pointer for Cedevita early in the fourth but Clavell and Tkacheko kept taking the lead back for Prometey. An exchange of free throws left Cedevita up 79-77 but Kennedy quickly tied it. Agada and Stephens kept it going to 79-84. Adams drilled a triple at 84-86 to give Cedevita hope with less than 2 minutes left. Clavell fed Lukashov in the corner at 84-89 inside the final minute but Jeremic answered from deep immediately. It was still 89-92 when Cedevita stole with 18 seconds left, but the game-tying try by Adams rimmed out and free throws at the other end decided it for the visitors.

Who's Hot: Alpha Kaba, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Big fourth-quarter performers put Bursaspor back on track

Extra week of practice fueled London

Bursaspor dominated Bourg in the paint

Prometey's rim attacking spelled the difference

Game Center: Road teams go 3-1 on Tuesday

Reyer's rebounders saved the day

Coach Alimpijevic, Bursaspor: 'I am full of respect for Bourg'

Prometey's first road win comes at Cedevita's expense