All games will be do-or-die from now on until a champion is left standing on top of the podium on Wednesday, May 11. At each step, the teams with higher rankings from the regular season standings will enjoy home-court advantage. After two very intense days this week, eight teams will march into the quarterfinals, while the other eight squads will pack and go home. 

The first-ever edition of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge opens a new contest for the playoffs, too. In Fantasy Challenge, too, only team will also be left standing – the one with the highest accumulated score between now and that May 11 final. His or her prize will be two EuroCup jerseys of the winner's choice, a EuroCup Official Spalding Basketball and a EuroLeague TV subscription for the 2022-23 season.

The eighthfinals teams seem to have most of their players available, and what's more, many teams are well rested, which means that EuroCup Fantasy Challenge managers have plenty of choices, not to mention a full slate of 100 credits to start the postseason. So, it will be important not just to find the right stars, but also to identify cheap backup players to complement them.

We are recommending players from several price ranges to help you start the elimination rounds with a good score. 

Guillem Ferrando, Aubrey Dawkins, Edin Atic, Andrew Andrews, Will Cummings Top Plays of the 2021-22 Round 18, 2021-22 Round 17 and 1 other Season Part

Fantasy Challenge tips Eighthfinals _5411044.mp4

**Guillem Ferrando, Valencia Basket (4.1 credits)** – Sam Van Rossom and Nenad Dimitrijevic have been sidelined for several weeks ago, which gave Ferrando the opportunity to step up. Ferrando had 13 assists against ratiopharm Ulm, a new Valencia club record in its 224 games in the competition. His price makes him a must-have player right now in order to afford other stars. 

**Aubrey Dawkins, Turk Telekom Ankara (8.1 credits)** – Turk Telekom faces a high-scoring team like Cedevita and needs to match their high rhythm in this exciting showdown at Stozice Arena. Dawkins has been playing well lately, averaging 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and a PIR of 16.7 in his team's last three games. He's a good option at a reasonable price. 

**Edin Atic, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (6.5 credits)** – Atic finished the regular season in great shape and should carry his good momentum into Buducnost's eighthfinals showdown against Andorra. He had 13 points, 8 rebounds and a PIR of 17 in Round 17 against Bourg, and followed that with 14 points, 3 rebounds and a PIR of 12 against Bursaspor. Stepping up at the right time. 

**Andrew Andrews, Frutti Extra Bursaspor (10.0 credits)** – Andrews remains unstoppable, and that makes him a must-have player in any fantasy game. In Bursaspor's last nine games, Andrews had more than 20 points six times, averaging 23.3 points, 4.8 assists and a PIR of 25.0. Andrews should keep going strong against Partizan as Bursaspor's undeniable go-to guy. 

**Will Cummings, Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (14.1 credits)** – Finally, you will need more than one star to be competitive, and arguably no other player in the 2021-22 EuroCup had more solid numbers than Cummings. In 18 games, he had a PIR of 14 or higher 16 times, reaching more than 30 three times. Metropolitans plays at home and Cummings is right in the prime of his career, ready to prove it.

Action resumes in the 7DAYS EuroCup with the winner-take-all eighthfinals on Tuesday and Wednesday, promising to uncork all kinds of springtime fun to last throughout the elimination rounds. 

Fantasy Challenge comes to the EuroCup Playoffs!

Edin Atic - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Gran Canaria) - EC21-RS16

One of the biggest 7DAYS EuroCup stars of recent seasons, Jaka Blazic of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, is set to blog during the elimination rounds.

Jaka Blazic, Olimpija: 'Our mindset needs to be right'

**Cedevita enters the EuroCup Eighthfinals on an eight-game winning streak, drawing big crowds to Stozice Arena to follow a very fun-to-watch team. Blazic needs no introduction in this, his third consecutive season with the club. In the last one, Blazic made the All-EuroCup Second Team after leading the competition in scoring (19.1 ppg.) and PIR (19.3). He started his career in his native Slovenia, playing for Kranj, Slovan Ljubljana and Olimpija. He went on to play for Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade of Serbia, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and FC Barcelona of Spain, and MoraBanc Andorra. Blazic, who has already been to the EuroCup semifinals with Zvezda in 2014, is ready to report about EuroCup Spring Madness in Ljubljana for as long as his team can survive!**

First of all, I have to say that I am replacing Luka Rupnik as the team's blogger. It is a good substitution because we are best friends and think alike. It's tough for me that he's not with us anymore, but I'm happy for him because he is in a good situation in Turkey. I'm happy for him and I think it was the right decision also for him to leave the club.

 

We won our last eight games in the EuroCup. We are in good shape. We finally found the roles within our team. Everybody knows what his job is, we really enjoy playing with each other, and we are looking forward to our first playoff game in the EuroCup. It's going to be big! We are going to play at home and we expect a full gym. It is going to be a good experience.

 

People here have come back to watch the team. That was the plan since the beginning of this project, Cedevita Olimpija, to bring back our people. I think that Slovenia is a basketball nation, especially since winning the EuroBasket in 2017. People like basketball, like watching it. Also, a lot of young guys are practicing basketball, and I think it is a big step for us that we created a kind of euphoria again here in Ljubljana.  

"People here have come back to watch the team. That was the plan since the beginning of this project, Cedevita Olimpija, to bring back our people."

It was important to stay focused when we had a losing streak earlier in the season, too. We believed that the club's plan was going to pay off, that our hard work was going to pay off. We had to make some changes. In December, we got Yogi Ferrell and Alen Omic, and later we added Zoran Dragic. These are all great players with a lot of experience but also good energy. I won't lie, they have given us a lot. They changed the whole complexion of the team and also because of them, we are playing like we are right now. Like I said, each of us knows well what his role in the team is right now, and I think that's most important.

 

We were lucky that Zoki Dragic was available at that time of the season. It was a perfect opportunity for us, but also for him. I think that he made the right move coming here because I see he's enjoying himself. I see his happy face every day. He likes to be at home with his family, and he has helped us reach another level. I think it's a good move for both sides, and it's nice having him here.

As for Alen, he hit a three-pointer in one game and he is hitting three-pointers in practice. I am surprised! Maybe next year, he is going to elevate his game and he's going to start shooting threes a lot, too. But joking aside, he's a really good player. I mean, there are not a lot of centers like him. You can pass him the ball in the low post and there is a very high percentage that he's going to make something good out of it. He is like an old-school center, which is what we also needed because we have Zach Auguste, who is a completely different kind of player, more of a leaper, running fast. It is a great combination under the basket.

 

Like I said, we feel the support of the crowd here in Ljubljana and also all over Slovenia. It's not just people from this city coming to the games. Some people drive two or three hours from cities on the other side of Slovenia just to come and watch us and support us, and it's a really good feeling. I didn't feel that during the last season, especially with COVID-19. We couldn't experience that. Our first season was not very successful but now, people are happier in the club, the owners and everybody. I think this is a healthy project, and with all the supporters we can lift it up. We are very optimistic going into these playoff games.

"Some people drive two or three hours from cities on the other side of Slovenia just to come and watch us and support us."

Our next opponent is Turk Telekom Ankara. We have been playing well, but it is not like we will score 95 points in each game just like that. We can't depend on that. Some days your shooting is great; some days it's not. So we need to work on defense, too, to give up the fewest points we can and to be, especially at home, more aggressive from the start and to limit their key players so that they don't get hot. I think that is going to be a factor, not just for us, for every team here in this playoff because of the system of knock-out games in every round. We are going to have very good scouting, I'm sure, and then our mindset needs to be right also on defense, not just offense. We know we have a lot of talent and I think that's not going to be a problem.

 

I have been living in Ljubljana for a while. It's very nice. I grew up here and have family here. I'm living a great life: I enjoy playing basketball, and it's like a hobby for me, not even a job. And I get paid for it. It's a really nice situation, and it's much better now that we are winning and I hope we will continue in this way. I don't miss much from living in a bigger city. For instance, in Barcelona, you have a lot of options. This is the last place I played in before I came back to Ljubljana. My wife loved it, so that made it easier for me. But as a basketball player, my life is pretty similar everywhere. Here in Ljubljana, I have friends, I have everybody who I like next to me. But in other cities, I just go to practice, eat, rest well and prepare for games, so I don't miss stuff. If I miss it, it is during the summer, when we are free, because I can go out and enjoy the city.

 

Like I said, I am expecting a full gym against Turk Telekom. This is a type of game that we haven't had in Ljubljana for a long time. It brings us a lot: we can reach the quarterfinals of the second-best European competition. So if you want to watch good basketball, come support us. I hope we will be all happy at the end of the game!

Jaka Blazic - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Ales Ferves - Cedevita) - EC21-RS16

The last of this season's EuroCup Eighthfinals games to tip off will see Gran Canaria host Slask Wroclaw on Wednesday night. 

Keys to victory: Gran Canaria vs. Slask

### Forcing turnovers can lift Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria finished the regular season ranked third in the EuroCup in steals (8.2 spg.) and second in turnovers forced (14.9 per game). Slask has committed the fourth-most turnovers in the competition, 14.3 per game. Gran Canaria’s guards excel at turning its opponents’ turnovers into easy points and if they can do so against Slask, it could be a long night for the visitors.

Eighthfinals clues: Gran Canaria vs. Slask Wroclaw

Gran Canaria presents a unique challenge for Slask as its highly opportunistic three-point shooting and ability to play through multiple players in the post steer away from Slask's defense's biggest strength: the way it limits opportunities around the rim. 

No playoff team is more accurate than Gran Canaria from behind the three-point arc, knocking down 39.4% while making the EuroCup's fifth-most triples - 9.8 per game.

Herbalife Gran Canaria Top 3-pointers of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Gran Canaria 2021-22 three-point highlights

Ultimately, it may be Slask's ability to find a rhythm offensively against a strong Gran Canaria defense that determines just how dangerous it can be in the eighthfinals. To do so, however, the team will need to display significant improvements on offense.

Slask has made 10 or more triples in six games this season, but has the lowest three-point shooting percentage (31.8%) of all playoff teams and is the only such team to make fewer than half of its two-point attempts (47.8%). Slask does do well on the offensive glass (10.9 orpg.) and that is another area where it can help itself in this game.

Slask Wroclaw Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Slask Wroclaw 2021-22 highlights

Two of the top scorers in the competition will collide in the Serbian capital when Partizan NIS Belgrade hosts Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the eighthfinals.

Major matchup: Partizan’s Punter vs. Bursaspor’s Andrews

Kevin Punter has been a scoring force to be reckoned with all season. He has averaged 16.4 points, having scored more than 10 points in each game except the regular-season finale, which did not have an impact on the standings. He reached those numbers despite often playing limited minutes due to the blowout nature of Partizan's wins. Punter is used to playing on big stages and he should love performing in the atmosphere of a packed Stark Arena on Wednesday night.

On the other side, Andrew Andrews has been on fire for Bursaspor over the last eight games, during which he has averaged 23.3 points. Andrews scored 22 or more points in six of those games while knocking down a total of 27 triples on 47.4% three-point shooting. He will now bring that hot streak into the eighthfinals for a duel against Partizan and Punter, knowing he needs to keep his scoring going for Bursaspor to have a shot at an upset.

Partizan NIS Belgrade v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-04-20T18:30:00.000Z)

Kevin Punter - Partizan NIS Belgrade (photo Dragana Stjepanovic - Partizan) - EC21

Small forwards Isaia Cordinier of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Gediminas Orelik of Lietkabelis Panevezys are sure to have big roles when their teams meet on Wednesday.

Major matchup: Virtus’s Cordinier vs. Lietkabelis’s Orelik 

Cordinier, who is in his first season with Virtus, was an All-EuroCup First Team selection last season with French side Nanterre. He has averaged 10.0 points and 3.4 rebounds this season as a part-time starter. Cordinier is a threat on both ends of the floor and can boost the offense whether in transition, with his outside shooting or by attacking the basket. His energy and defense could prove vital in this game.

Orelik has been outstanding for Lietkabelis this season with 15.6 points on 40% three-point shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is ninth in the EuroCup in average PIR with 17.4 per game. However, Orelik's have dipped to 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists for a PIR of 16.1 on the road. He will need to rise to the challenge and play his best in Bologna for Lietkabelis to have a good shot at an upset.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-04-20T18:45:00.000Z)

Isaia Cordinier - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21-RS17

Most eyes will be on the perimeter when Valencia Basket meets Hamburg Towers in the EuroCup eighthfinals, but there will also be a major battle in the paint.

Major matchup: Valencia’s Tobey vs. Hamburg’s Kotsar

Valencia starting center Mike Tobey has been his dominant self around the rims this season, ranking third on the team with 11.2 points and leading the team with 6.4 rebounds. Tobey has been converting two-point shots at his usual high rate (61.0%), but the big man has also knocked down 40.0% of his three-pointers, which stretches defenses.

Tobey will be at it again against Hamburg, where he will meet another big man who has been dominating inside in 25-year-old rookie center Maik Kotsar. Hamburg's center has often come off the bench, but spends more than 26 minutes on the floor and has averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. After a slow start and finding his footing in the first four rounds, Kotsar has pulled down at least 7 rebounds in 11 of his last 12 games, including 3.6 offensive rebounds per game during that stretch. It will be important for Hamburg that Kotsar brings such production to the game against Tobey and Valencia's deep frontcourt.

Valencia Basket v Hamburg Towers (2022-04-20T18:30:00.000Z)

Mike Tobey - Valencia Basket (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21

Point guards Will Cummings of Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and his Umana Reyer Venice counterpart Jordan Theodore figure to play prominent roles in their eighthfinals matchup. 

Major matchup: Metropolitans’ Cummings vs. Reyer’s Theodore 

Cummings, who won the EuroCup in 2018 with Darussafaka Istanbul, has been a force for Metropolitans all season long. He has averaged 17.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals while starting all 18 games for the club this season. Cummings has been very consistent - scoring in double figures in all but one game – and twice flirted with a triple-double. Although Metropolitans have many weapons, the attack begins with Cummings.

Theodore was a midseason addition for Reyer and he has fit in nicely. The point guard has averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals in eight games with the club. After helping UNICS Kazan reach the EuroCup Finals last season, Theodore has plenty of big-game experience. These two players have squared off many times in the past, including in last season’s quarterfinals when Cummings was with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. A dominant game from either could have a big impact on the game. 

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 v Umana Reyer Venice (2022-04-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Will Cummings - Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (photo Olivier dAlmeida - Metropolitans) - EC21-RS16

Virtus Segafredo Bologna takes on Lietkabelis Panevezys in an exciting eighthfinals showdown on Wednesday evening.

Keys to victory: Virtus vs. Lietkabelis

### Virtus’s ball movement is central to its success

Virtus leads the EuroCup in assists with 22.4 per game and is fourth in two-point shooting percentage at 56.3%. Those numbers are very much related as the passing of Milos Teodosic and Alessandro Pajola and even mid-season addition Toko Shengelia allow big guys Mam Jaiteh and Kevin Hervey to get their points inside and for Isaia Cordinier and Kyle Weems to do their damage, too. If the ball keeps moving and Virtus keeps the Lietkabelis defense on its heels, it should be in great shape.

### Forcing turnovers is critical for Lietkabelis

Lietkabelis has been one of the best defenses in the competition this season, allowing just 75.3 points per game, which is second-best among all defenses. Amazingly, that number is even better (72.6 ppg.) on the road, although Lietkabelis has only won three of its six road games thus far. One big reason for the team’s success on defense has been the high number of turnovers it has forced: 14.6, which is fourth-most in the EuroCup. If Lietkabelis can cause Virtus to turn the ball over more than usual, it will have a better chance of scoring an upset. 

Gediminas Orelik - Lietkabelis Panevezys (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) EC21-RS17