Panionios Athens added a veteran presence to its backcourt with the signing of Markel Starks for its return to the BKT EuroCup in the 2025-26 season

Panionios tabs Markel Starks for backcourt

Panionios Athens added a veteran presence to its backcourt with the signing of [Markel Starks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/markel-starks-/011317/) for its return to the BKT EuroCup in the 2025-26 season.

Starks (1.88 meters, 34 years old) arrives from ONVO Buyukcekmece, for which he averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 assists in the Turkish league last season. It was his fourth consecutive season in Turkiye, including the 2021-22 campaign when he made his EuroLeague debut with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. He has since played for Darussafaka Istanbul and Aliaga Petkim.

After playing college basketball at Georgetown, where Starks was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection after his senior season, he began his professional career in Italy with FMC Ferentino. He has also played in Australia (Cairns Taipans), Italy (Vanoli Cremona), Germany (Frankfurt Skyliners), Greece (ASA Armaliadas), Turkiye (Yalova Group Sport, Fenerbahce, Darussafaka, Aliaga Petkim, Buyukcekmece), Puerto Rico (Piratas de Quebradillas), Poland (Zielona Gora), Russia (Avtodor Saratov), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Igokea Aleksandrvoac) and Spain (MoraBanc Andorra).

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The latest Panionios news

The guard comes off a strong season in the Turkish League

He joined the team in January 2025 and is back for more

Bahcesehir keeps playmaker Kenan Sipahi 

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25) and point guard [Kenan Sipahi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-sipahi/005275/) reached an agreement to remain together for the 2025-26 season, the club announced Monday.

Sipahi (1.97 meters, 30 years old) averaged 6.1 points and 4.1 assists in eight BKT EuroCup games last season. He helped the team reach the semifinals for the first time. Sipahi started his professional career with Tofas Bursa and also played for fellow Turkish teams Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir and Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul, as well as for Real Betis Baloncesto and Casademont Zaragoza in Spain.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">💪𝐒𝐈̇𝐏𝐀𝐇𝐈̇ 𝐈̇𝐋𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐋𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐌!<br><br>🗓️ 2024-2025 sezonunun ortasında takımımıza katılarak kısa sürede önemli katkılar veren Kenan Sipahi, yeni sezonda da Bahçeşehir Koleji forması giymeye devam edecek!<br><br>🔥 Yeni sezonda birlikte daha güçlü! ❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/GnTsnEdsbS">pic.twitter.com/GnTsnEdsbS</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1936800243536011319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Sipahi has been a member of the Turkish national team, too. He helped Turkiye win a gold medal at the 2013 U18 European Championships, as well as respective bronze medals at the 2010 and 2011 U16 European Championships. In 15 EuroCup career games with Karsiyaka and Bahcesehir, Sipahi has averaged 6.3 points and 3.3 assists.

Kenan Sipahi joined Bahcesehir College Istanbul midway through the 2024-25 season, helping his team reach the semifinals.

2024-25 EuroCup highlights: Kenan Sipahii, Bahcesehir

He joined the team in January 2025 and is back for a second season

U-BT Cluj-Napoca began its preparations for the 2025-26 season by signing combo guard Iverson Molinar

Cluj lands Panamanian scorer Iverson Molinar 

U-BT Cluj-Napoca began its preparations for the 2025-26 season by signing combo guard Iverson Molinar.

Molinar (1.91 meters, 25 years old) arrives from Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva/Dimona, where he averaged 18.7 points and 4.6 assists in 24 games in the Israeli League last season. He ranked fourth in scoring and eighth in assists. Molinar's best game came against the eventual BKT EuroCup champion, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, when he tallied 32 points and 7 assists to earn MVP of the round honors as he led Beer Sheva to the upset win.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔥 welcome to U-BT, <a href="https://twitter.com/MolinarIverson3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MolinarIverson3</a>! 🏳🏴 <a href="https://t.co/Oz8Z6FuKaN">pic.twitter.com/Oz8Z6FuKaN</a></p>&mdash; U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@UBTCluj) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj/status/1936791543513563529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A native of Panama, Molinar moved to the United States in high school to pursue basketball and later played college basketball at Mississippi State University. After being named an All-SEC Conference First Team selection in 2022, Molinar began his professional career in the G League with the Wisconsin herd and later Mexico City Capitanes.  He also played for Ostioneros de Guaymas in Mexico before moving to Israel last year. Molinar is a long-time member of the Panamanian national team, too.

The latest Cluj news

The combo guard was fourth in the Israeli League in scoring last season

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has announced the signing of Miha Cerkvenik, making him the first addition ahead of the 2025-26 season. The contract is for three season. 

Cedevita brings Miha Cerkvenik back home on 3-year-deal

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/?season=2024-25) has announced the signing of [Miha Cerkvenik](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/miha-cerkvenik/009432/), making him the first addition ahead of the 2025-26 season. The contract is for three season.

"Returning to Cedevita Olimpija and Stozice feels like coming home"

The shooting guard has spent the last three seasons with fellow Slovenian club Krka Novo Mesto. Cerkvenik (2.01 meters, 23 years old) averaged 11.9 points on 38.8% three-point shooting and 5.6 rebounds over 28 minutes per game in 29 appearances for Krka in the ABA League last season. He first joined Cedevita to play in the U12 categories and made his professional debut with the club. Cerkvenik was called up to the Slovenian national team last season, too.

"Returning to Cedevita Olimpija and Stozice feels like coming home. Deep down, I always wanted this, and I think it’s every Slovenian basketball player’s dream to play for our best club. I can’t wait for the new season to start, to begin training and competing,” Cerkvenik said.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Miha Cerkvenik is coming back to the Dragons Family!<br><br>Welcome back to Ljubljana, Miha!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/im49aMgQoj">pic.twitter.com/im49aMgQoj</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana - English (@KKCedOL_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL_EN/status/1936004364759433281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Cedevita news

The shooting guard is a product of the club's youth academy 

BAXI Manresa has completed the signing of Agustin Ubal, who has penned a four-year deal with the club.

Manresa seals move for Agustin Ubal

BAXI Manresa has completed the signing of [Agustin Ubal](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/agustin-ubal/010062/), who has penned a four-year deal with the club.

Ubal (1.98 meters, 21 years old) played for Granada in the 2024-25 season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 30 Spanish League appearances. He has never played in the BKT EuroCup before.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔏 𝗡𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗫𝗔𝗧𝗚𝗘! 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗮 𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶́𝗻 𝗨𝗯𝗮𝗹!<br>🔴 L&#39;aler uruguaià, jugador de formació, signa fins el 2029 amb el BAXI <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manresa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manresa</a>! 🙌 ¡Bienvenido, Agustín!<br><br> 💥Aler 📏 1,98m <br>🇺🇾 URU🪪 22 anys 🛬 <a href="https://twitter.com/CoviranGranada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoviranGranada</a> <br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/pQCy4lxhkx">https://t.co/pQCy4lxhkx</a> <a href="https://t.co/0Bk7SxKRx4">pic.twitter.com/0Bk7SxKRx4</a></p>&mdash; BAXI Manresa (@BasquetManresa) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasquetManresa/status/1935980756183945313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Uruguay international came through at FC Barcelona and featured in one Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game for the club, which came in Round 11 of the 2021-22 season against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. He played 2:38 minutes that night.

Prior to that, Ubal made 12 appearances in the adidas NextGen EuroLeague between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, all of which came with Barcelona. His career averages in the NextGen stand at 9.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Since turning professional, Ubal has played for Barcelona (2021-22), Rio Breogan (2021-22), Bilbao (2022-23), Palencia (2023-24) and Granada (2024-25), all in the Spanish top flight. 

More Manresa News

He will appear in the EuroCup for the first time next season

The Assembly of Syndicated Shareholders of Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) convened today to lay the foundation for the 2025–26 basketball season. Members reviewed the season’s By-Laws and took several key decisions, outlined below.

2025–26 EuroLeague and EuroCup season teams and calendar confirmed

The Assembly of Syndicated Shareholders of Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) convened today to lay the foundation for the 2025–26 basketball season. Members reviewed the season’s By-Laws and took several key decisions, outlined below.

**Expansion and Participating Teams**

Following [the Board’s approval to expand the EuroLeague to 20 teams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/news/euroleague-commercial-assets-board-addresses-strategic-developments-for-the-future-of-the-competitions/) starting with the 2025–26 season, the Assembly approved the official list of participating clubs for both the EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup.

**EuroLeague Teams (Alphabetical Order):**

Anadolu Efes Istanbul, AS Monaco, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, Dubai Basketball, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Paris Basketball, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Real Madrid, Valencia Basket, Virtus Segafredo Bologna, and Zalgiris Kaunas.

AS Monaco and Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv earned their EuroLeague spots through EuroCup qualification rules.

**Long-Term Wildcards**

The Assembly approved the allocation of long-term wildcards to the following clubs:

- **Three-year duration:** Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Valencia Basket, Virtus Segafredo Bologna
- **Five-year duration:** Dubai Basketball

These wildcards aim to ensure the League’s long-term sustainability and support its strategic expansion to 20 teams. By fostering stability for participating clubs, the League reinforces its commitment to developing long-term projects across both established and emerging markets.

Additionally, it was agreed to continue conversations with Paris Basketball around a potential long-term collaboration.

**BKT EuroCup Teams (Alphabetical Order):** 

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys, Aris Midea Thessaloniki, Bahcesehir College Istanbul, BAXI Manresa, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, Dolomiti Energia Trento, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, London Lions,  Neptunas Klaipeda, NINERS Chemnitz, Panionios Athens, ratiopharm Ulm, Slask Wroclaw, Turk Telekom Ankara, U-BT Cluj-Napoca, Umana Reyer Venice, Veolia Towers Hamburg. 

**2025–26 Season Calendar**

The Assembly of Syndicated Shareholders has officially approved the competitive calendar for the 2025–26 season. The EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup will tip off on September 30, 2025, with champions to be crowned on April 28 or May 1, 2026 for the EuroCup and on May 24, 2026 for the EuroLeague.

As part of the EuroLeague’s expansion to 20 teams, the Regular Season will increase from 34 to 38 rounds, offering fans even more high-level basketball throughout the year. The season will open with an action-packed double-Round week, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling campaign.

Additionally, games during November FIBA Qualifiers (windows) will be moved to Tuesday and Wednesday, in order to facilitate the availability of players to their National Teams.

Download the season calendar [HERE](https://euroleaguenet-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/diego_fernandez_euroleague_net/EavhRGDQio9FuFL_qLr7dRYBMlZ7PNrB0hwP_8FvfteIiw?e=bzuYAP).

**2026 and 2027 Final Four**

The Assembly reviewed the ongoing process for awarding hosting rights for the 2026 and 2027 EuroLeague Final Four editions. Discussions with candidate cities are progressing, with final decisions expected soon.

As part of the updated EuroLeague By-Laws, the Third-Place Game will be removed starting with the 2025–26 Final Four, which will now feature the two semifinals and the championship game.

**Competitive Balance Standards (CBS) Updates**

In preparation for the 20-team format, and to adapt the existing regulations to the expanded league ECA shareholders approved several enhancements to the Competitive Balance Standards, forming part of the broader Financial Stability and Fair Play framework. The CBS will be in force starting the 2025-26 season and will be progressively implemented, culminating in a full implementation by the 2027-28 season:

Key updates include:

**Base Remuneration Level (BRL):** Minimum set at €10 million net, up from €8 million net, applicable unless 40% of the Average Licensed Clubs Defined Revenues (ALCDR) falls above this threshold.

**Anchor Player Exception:** Clubs will now be permitted up to three designated anchor players under the BRL framework, increased from two.

**Transitional Financial Compensation Cap:** For the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons only, clubs exceeding the BRL will face a financial maximum compensation cap of 10% of their total net player remuneration for the relevant season.

**Extended Tenure Player Exception:** Deduction rate increased from 25% to 50%.

These changes aim to ensure financial sustainability, promote fair play, and maintain competitive balance as the EuroLeague continues its growth and evolution.

The existing regulations announced on September 16, 2024, prior to the approved enhancements, can be found [HERE](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/news/euroleague-basketball-introduces-competitive-balance-standards-for-2025-26-season/).

All decisions taken at the Assembly will be submitted to the ECA General Assembly for final approval on July 3, 2025.

EuroCup and EuroLeague teams and calendar for 2025–26 confirmed

Yonatan Alon will remain the head coach of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem for the 2025-26 season

Coach Alon to return for a third season on Jerusalem bench

[Yonatan Alon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/alon-yonatan/?season=U2024) will remain the head coach of [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/roster/jer/?season=2024-25) for the 2025-26 season, the club announced on Thursday. In his first full season on the sidelines with Jerusalem, he guided the team to the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals with an 11-8 record and to the Israeli League Finals.

Alon, 43, joined Jerusalem as the club's general manager at the start of the 2022-23 season and became head coach in March 2024 when Ilias Kantzouris was dismissed. Alon then led Jerusalem to victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in that season's Israeli Cup final.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">יונתן אלון ימשיך כמאמן הקבוצה בעונת 25/26 🔴⚫️<br>לכל הפרטים &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/7gKKCm3N49">https://t.co/7gKKCm3N49</a> <a href="https://t.co/hLip63gABS">pic.twitter.com/hLip63gABS</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1935659922995159098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alon began his career as youth coach in the Jerusalem system when he was in his early 20s and was promoted to assistant coach on the senior team in 2009, at the age of 28. Alon was also an assistant at Bnei Hasharon, Hapoel Holon and Maccabi Ashdod. He previously served as Jerusalem’s head coach at the end of the 2020-21 season

"We went through a long and intense season and maintained the club's spirit in the tough and good moments. We were able to connect our fans to our path and were able to provide some record moments. I am happy to continue as a coach of Jerusalem as well next season and believe that we are in a very healthy process with great continuity. We will try to get stronger in the right places. We have a job to finish."

More on Hapoel Jerusalem

Alon led the team to the EuroCup Quarterfinals last season

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana will have big man Ziga Daneu for at least another two seasons and the sides agreed to terms on an extension

Cedevita and big man Ziga Daneu pen extension 

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/) will have big man [Ziga Daneu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ziga-daneu/records/009431/) for at least another two seasons and the sides agreed to terms on an extension, the club announced Wednesday. Daneu (2.10 meters, 22 years old) appeared in nine EuroCup games for Cedevita last season, during which he averaged 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8:42 minutes per game.

Best of Ziga Daneu: 2024-25

A product of the Cedevita Olimpija youth system, Daneu made his EuroCup debut during the 2021-22 season and then played a season each with fellow Slovenian clubs Nutrispoint Ilirija Ljubljana and Helios Suns Domzale before returning to Cedevita a year ago. Daneu has also been a member of the Slovenian U20 and U19 national teams.

The Daneu family has been essential to Olimpija's success in the past. His grandfather Ivo Daneu was one of the greatest guards in European basketball history. Ivo helped the former Yugoslavia win the 1970 World Cup and a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics as highlights of a legendary career that helped him become one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. His father Jaka Daneu helped Olimpija reach the 1997 EuroLeague Final Four and win eight consecutive Slovenian League championships.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Žiga Daneu ostaja v Cedeviti Olimpiji! 💪<br><br>Žigo bomo v dresu Zmajev lahko spremljali še vsaj dve sezoni! 🐉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/BGnzUqoQzI">pic.twitter.com/BGnzUqoQzI</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1935276346231386560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The 22-year-old is a product of the club’s youth system