While KK Cedevita Olimpija has done a number of important things well on both ends as they have climbed the standings, they have done so while also building perhaps one of the league’s best highlight reels to this point.

Stats review: Getting up above the rim

Round 15 of the BKT EuroCup saw [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) score a [key victory over Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-holds-off-jerusalem-70-74-to-rise-into-second-place/) to climb into sole possession of second place in Group B. While the club has done a number of important things well on both ends as they have climbed the standings, they have done so while also building perhaps one of the league’s best highlight reels to this point.

As the table above suggests, no team has played above the rim more often than Cedevita this season. Explosive swingman [Devin Robinson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/), young big man [Joan Beringer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/joan-beringer/012996/), and bouncy guard [DJ Stewart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dj-stewart/012700/) give the Slovenian club a trio of players who finish around one dunk per game. While two points is two points, dunks do not come easy at this level, and there’s momentum to be seized when a player springs free to finish a lob or make a highlight reel play. 

Robinson is currently in a three-way tie for second place in individual dunks with [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/)'s [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) and [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/)'s [Noa Essengue](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/noa-essengue/011391/), who has propelled the German outfit towards the top of this list. The 18-year-old French forward has had a dunk in every game this season as he’s turned a bit of a corner with his assertiveness offensively in his second season in the EuroCup.   

[Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/)'s [Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/) led all players with three dunks in Round 15, and his ability to rise up to finish lobs and put backs above the square makes things interesting every time he finds an angle to the rim. He and Kyle Alexander give Turk Telekom perhaps the best duo of lob-catching big men in the EuroCup this season.

[Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) of [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) not only leads all players in dunks, but his single-game high of five back in Round 10 is one of the highest marks in recent history. The powerfully built big man is a physical presence around the rim and his 2.79-meter standing reach makes him an easy target for quick alley-oop passes in close proximity of the rim. 

Dunks only make up around 5% of all shots in the EuroCup as defenses give up few easy looks inside. It is a luxury at this level to have a player so gifted that they can find ways to regularly make acrobatic plays rolling to the rim, cutting backdoor, or getting out in transition and perhaps no team has benefited from that as much as Cedevita as they position themselves for a postseason bye with only three games remaining.

Some players have been lighting up the EuroCup with their big dunks this season

Bahcesehir College Istanbul star Jaleen Smith spoke with David Hein about his EuroLeague and EuroCup journey to this point, and what lies ahead.

Jaleen Smith: ‘Being at ALBA was like learning basketball all over again’

[Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) is clearly one of the leaders of [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) and a big reason why the Turkish club hopes it can win the BKT EuroCup, which would give it a direct spot in next year’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. A major portion of that leadership stems from his move to [ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/ber/) back in 2021 – a massive change during which he admits to struggling to find his game.

Smith has averaged 13.3 points per game as one of four Bahcesehir players in double figures for the team that leads Group A with a very impressive 13-2 record.

“We're pretty good right now. We're achieving what we set out to do, what I thought we could do at the beginning of the season,” Smith told David Hein. “So now we just got to keep it rolling and, keep this momentum going into these last couple of games and also into the playoffs as well.”

The 30-year-old arrived in Istanbul this past offseason and is in his first year in the EuroCup after spending the last three years in the EuroLeague. And he has been impressed with the level.

“It's very fast-paced – maybe a little bit faster than the EuroLeague. It’s a little less physicality than the EuroLeague, but it's still good basketball. And the teams are also ambitious to get to the EuroLeague. They're trying to put their money in to try to get to the EuroLeague for the following season,” said Smith, who suited up for ALBA for two years in the EuroLeague and then for [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) and [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) in the 2023-24 campaign.

“Bahcesehir wanted a project to be one of the best Turkish League teams up there with Fenerbahce \[Beko Istanbul\] and \[Anadolu\] Efes \[Istanbul\] and the ambition to go to the EuroLeague. So I came in with a mindset of we're going to try to win the EuroCup, try to win the Turkish League and be a part of a project of getting the team to the EuroLeague.”

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Smith remembers well his first season in the EuroLeague back in 2021-22 – the first of his two years with ALBA. He had just won the German League MVP award in his second season with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. But things did not go so smoothly for Smith in the German capital at first.

Smith was a star for Ludwigsburg as he averaged 15.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals in taking home the top individual honor. But he was playing for a head coach in John Patrick whose whole philosophy is based on defense.

In his first season in Ludwigsburg, which was his first year in the German first division after two years with Heidelberg in the ProA, Smith had a very strong core of teammates including Nick Weiler-Babb, Khadeen Carrington, Marcos Knight and Tanner Leissner.

“John Patrick had a lot of rules. Even guys who didn't really play defense, he even made those guys play defense,” he said. “It was a crazy experience, but it helped me in the future. Now guys that come out of that system, everybody sees them as defensive players because that's how John Patrick is. And that's what he demands out of his players. I think that kind of helped me throughout these last couple of years, just realizing that I'm a defensive guy.”

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In his first season there, he was a glue guy who averaged 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals. Then after many of the team’s top players left, Smith became the star of the team.

“I ended up showing what I could do without those guys being there, while also being the defensive guy that I am now. So that kind of helped me,” he said.

That offseason he went from Ludwigsburg to ALBA Berlin – the first season in which Israel Gonzalez had taken over for Aito Garcia Reneses.

“It was a complete contrast. ALBA’s offense: run and gun, different defensive rules. It was like night and day,” he remembered. “I think in ALBA, that's where I learned about team ball. Ludwigsburg is more one-on-one and defense, but in ALBA, it's fast-paced, quick shots – if you're open, shoot it. Spanish defense. It was so different, and it was basically like learning basketball all over again.”

Smith averaged 8.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals for a PIR of 3.2 over the first 20 games in the EuroLeague in 2021-22, but he eventually turned things around and collected 11.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 steals for a PIR of 10.6 in the final 14 games.

“They brought me in as a ‘1’, but then I started to show my versatility and I moved to the ‘2’. And that's where I really found my shooting stroke.”

The 2021-22 season also ended with Smith helping ALBA secure the German League and German Cup double – his first championships since high school.

“Man, that was awesome. I think that cements you in history that you're a part of a championship team,” he said “It’s an amazing accomplishment. And it's crazy to still think that we won it that year.”

<center>
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Smith followed that with averages of 11.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the EuroLeague in 2022-23. And then, after six years in Germany, last season saw him move to Virtus. Three months into the season, Smith then upped sticks and joined Partizan.

Despite the move, Smith was one of four EuroLeague players last year to shoot 50% on two-pointers, 40% on three-pointers and 90% on free throws.

“It's great to have that, even through all the adversity and everything that happened: the midseason switch and me going from playing to not playing. It was tough,” he recalls. “I think it just goes to the confidence that I had in myself and the work that I put in just to get to that. I put a lot of time in just to get like numbers like that.”

Now, Smith is not worried at all about his numbers but only winning the EuroCup and using the lessons he learned in his first season in the EuroLeague to get his team to the best league in Europe.

More Bahcesehir News

The Bahcesehir star explains how going to the German EuroLeague team helped turn him into the leader he is today

Look back at all the action in Round 15 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 15

Look back at all the action from Round 15 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana took control late in the third quarter and never let up to record a 78-88 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys at Kalnapilio Arena on Thursday night

Cedevita overpowers Lietkabelis, 78-88, in rescheduled Round 13 game

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana took control late in the third quarter and never let up to record a 78-88 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys at Kalnapilio Arena on Thursday night. Cedevita improved to 10-5, moved within a whisker of clinching a playoff berth and strengthened its grip on second place in Group B. Lietkabelis fell to 4-11 and saw its already slim playoff hopes come to an end.

The game was a rescheduled Round 13 fixture that was postponed due to the weather conditions, which resulted in widespread flight cancellations and made it impossible for Cedevita to reach Panevezys for the original date, on January 2, 2025. <br>
Brynton Lemar led the Cedevita attack with 19 points, D.J. Stewart paired 15 points with 6 rebounds, Aleksej Nikolic tallied 14 points and 5 assists, Devin Robinson also scored 14 and <br>
Devante Jones added 10 points. Dovis Bickauskas matched his career-high with 17 points and also dished 5 assists for Lietkabelis, Martynas Varnas scored 16 and Georgios Kalaitzakis added 15 in defeat.

Game Videos

Dorde Gagic scored the game’s first points for Lietkabelis from the foul line right after having his initial offering blocked by Joan Beringer. Nikolic netted Cedevita’s first basket with a floater and Lemar followed to give Cedevita the lead. Lietkabelis was held scoreless for 4 minutes as the margin stretched to 2-7, however baskets on back-to-back possessions tied it. Vytenis Lipkevicius came alive for the hosts, though Cedevita answered each time he scored and Robinson’s jumper made it 9-11. Paulius Danusevicius twice scored fastbreak layups that gave the hosts the lead and both times Lemar answered for Cedevita. A free throw by Kalaitzakis gave Lietkabelis an 18-16 edge after 10 minutes.

Bickauskas fired in a pull-up three to open the second quarter. Stewart replied with a three-point play and Beringer evened things at 21-21 with a slam. Bickauskas put Lietkabelis on top again with a triple, but Andrija Stipanovic took over with 4 straight points and Stewart scored in transition to cap a 3-13 run, which prompted a timeout taken Coach Nenad Cacak. Grantas Vasiliauskas ended the drought only to see Nikolic extend the lead to 26-34 with a three-pointer and a floater. A pair of threes by Varnas helped revive the home team’s attack bringing Lietkabelis within 34-38, but Robinson and Lemar kept Cedevita in control. After a timeout, Bickauskas made a scoop shot and Kalaitzakis, Bickauskas and Vasiliauskas added free throws to trim the deficit to 40-45 at the break.

Game News

Bickauskas and Nikolic traded threes for the first points of the second half. Kalaitzakis shined with a three-point play on the offensive glass and Bickauskas drained his fourth triple of the night to get Lietkabelis within 49-50. Robinson answered for Cedevita with a jumper only to see Varnas knock down a three that evened the score midway through the quarter. The teams traded points with the score being tied at 52-52, 54-54 and 56-56. Jones broke the trend with a layup and a triple that put the visitors up 57-63. Varnas threw down a remarkable reverse alley-oop slam, but Stwart and Blazic helped Cedevita to a 59-67 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Danusevicius swished a three and Bickauskas collected a steal as Lietkabelis looked to change the momentum, but Jones stole the ball right back and fed Stewart for a slam. Robinson buried a baseline jumper and scored on the break to give Cedevita its first double-digit lead, 63-73. Gagic fouled out and Stweart added to the visitors' lead. A three-pointer by Nikolic stretched the margin to 15 with less than 5 minutes remaining. Kalaitzakis three by Kalaitzakis elicited a cheer from the home crowd, but it would prove to be too little, too late. Lemar's next three made it 67-83 and Lietkabelis would not threaten again.

The result ended the hosts' playoff hopes and strengthened Cedevita’s grip on second place

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-01-16T17:30:00.000Z)

A stunning individual performance in a come-from-behind victory allowed Jaleen Smith of Bahcesehir College Istanbul to earn Round 15 MVP honors with a PIR of 39 – the second round in succession he has been the MVP.

Round 15 MVP: Jaleen Smith, Bahcesehir College Istanbul

A stunning individual performance in a come-from-behind victory allowed [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) of [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) to earn Round 15 MVP honors with a PIR of 39 – the second round in succession he has been the MVP.

Smith led Bahcesehir to a 76-81 road win over Trefl Sopot with 25 points on 5-of-9 two-pointers, 2-of-6 three-pointers and 9-of-10 free throws. He added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 10 fouls drawn for a PIR of 39, a new personal-best effort. Smith earned MVP of the Round honors for the first time in Round 14 and has now achieved the same feat in Round 15 – his 15th appearance in the BKT EuroCup. He remains the third Bahcesehir player to be MVP of the Round in EuroCup history, after Jamal Jones (Round 8, 2020-21) and Axel Bouteille (Round 5, 2024-25), but Smith’s 39 PIR in Round 15 is a new club-high mark.

[Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) of U-BT Cluj-Napoca amassed a PIR of 36 in his team's 77-88 road victory over Umana Reyer Venice. Simpson had 25 points on 7-of-12 two-pointers, 1-of-1 three-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 5 fouls drawn. 

In that game, [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) of Reyer had 17 points on 5-of-7 two-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 6 fouls drawn, good for a PIR of 30. 

[Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) of Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul also reached a PIR of 30 in his team's 79-77 home win over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, getting 27 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 7 fouls drawn. 

[Berk Ugurlu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/berk-ugurlu/003783/), also of Besiktas, with a PIR of 27, completes the top individual performances in Round 15. Ugurlu had 20 points on 3-of-4 two-pointers, 3-of-4 three-pointers and 5-of-5 free throws, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and zero turnovers.

### Individual highs: Justinian Jessup, Ulm, 6 steals

Jonah Mathews of Besiktas led all scorers in Round 15 with 27 points. [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem ranks first overall with 22.6 points per night. 

[Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/saliou-niang/012687/) of Dolomiti Energia Trento led all rebounders in this round by pulling down 12 boards. Mfiondu Kabengele of Reyer is the EuroCup's best rebounder with 9.5 per game.

Three players had 8 assists apiece in Round 15: Harper, [Devon Dotson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devon-durrell-dotson/013285/) of Joventut Badalona, and [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) of Valencia Basket. Zavier Simpson of Cluj leads the assists table with 7.0 dimes per game.

[Justinian Jessup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justinian-jessup/013290/) of Ulm collected 6 steals, matching this season's best mark, against Trento. [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) of Dreamland Gran Canaria ranks first overall with 2.0 steals per night.

[Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) of Turk Telekom Ankara had 4 blocks in Round 15. He is also first overall with 2.2 blocks per game.

Kabengele (17 points, 10 rebounds), Veolia Towers Hamburg’s [Kur Kuath](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kur-kuath/013313/) (10 points, 11 rebounds) and Wolves’ [Marek Blazevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marek-blazevic/008186/) (10 points, 10 rebounds) each had a double-double in this round.

The guard has been the MVP of the Round in back-to-back games

Congratulations to Michael Clavaud, our 15th winner in the 2024-25 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Michael's team, 'Team Sacha', posted a score of 226.35.

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Round 15 winner

Congratulations to Michael Clavaud, our 15th winner in the 2024-25 [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Michael's team, 'Team Sacha', posted a score of 226.35.

Michael had the following starting lineup: Jaleen Smith of Bahcesehir College Istanbul as team captain, and his teammate Tai Odiase, then Turk Telekom Ankara duo of Berkan Durmaz and Yoan Makoundou, as well as Dustin Sleva of Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul. Adam Mokoka of U-BT Cluj-Napoca was the sixth man.

The head coach of Michael's team was Turk Telekom's Erdem Can, while the four bench players were Brynton Lemar of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Anthony Lamb of Dolomiti Energia Trento, Joel Ayayi of Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse and Yovel Zoosman of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem.

The prize for finishing first in Round 15 is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Michael!

The leader in the overall standings remains Milos Mihajlovic and his squad, 'BallIsLife', which has a total of 2,619.15 points after the first 15 rounds. Trades are now open for Round 16. Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become EuroCup Fantasy Challenge's next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager, so get in the game and go for the gold!

Joventut used a balanced attack to defeat Gran Canaria 77-83 and improve to 6-9 in Group A - just one victory behind both Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius for the last spot in the playoff zone

Joventut still breathing after beating Gran Canaria again

Go back to December 11, 2024 and it looked like an almost certainty that the illustrious [Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2024-25) would miss the BKT EuroCup playoffs. Fast forward just more than a month and the Spanish side is alive and well in the race for the post-season after knocking off Spanish rival [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/roster/can/?season=2024-25).

Joventut used a balanced attack [to defeat Gran Canaria 77-83](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/joventut-wins-again-beats-gran-canaria-77-83/) and improve to 6-9 in Group A - just one victory behind both [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) and [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25) for the last spot in the playoff zone.

“It’s a good feeling for us. We knew this was a must-win for us. We knew it was a big game on the road. I’m proud of the team, the way they executed. The game plan was solid. We came out and attacked from the beginning. And I liked that about the group,” said Joventut playmaker [Devon Dotson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devon-durrell-dotson/013285/), who collected 9 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in the win. “Hopefully we can keep it going in the coming weeks and try to make the EuroCup Playoffs.”

Thoughts of the post-season were fading fast back on December 11 as [Joventut lost 88-102](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ulm-downs-joventut-88-102-for-third-straight-victory/) at home against ratiopharm Ulm to fall to 3-8.

The 2008 EuroCup champion has turned its season around with three wins in the last four EuroCup games. Add the Spanish League and Joventut is 9-1 in its last 10 games. And two of those wins came against Gran Canaria - beating the islanders at home in domestic league action 89-78 on December 30.

“It was the third time we were playing against this team. We adjusted some different things,” said Joventut coach [Daniel Miret](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/miret-daniel/?season=U2024), whose team lost to Gran Canaria [76-78 after overtime at home in Round 6](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/nico-brussino-the-hero-as-gran-canaria-beats-joventut-in-ot-76-78/) of the EuroCup.

“We need to keep the momentum. We are in a sweet moment. A lot of players helped the team. We are close to the team that we want to be. We just want to focus on the things that we can control,” added the coach.

One of the main reasons Joventut prevailed was getting the better of Gran Canaria’s three-point defense. [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/?season=U2024)’s team had allowed opposing teams to shoot 31.0 percent from long range - good for fourth best in the league. But [Yannick Kraag](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yannick-kraag/010161/), [Kaiser Gates](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kaiser-evan-bray-gates/013287/) and [Miye Oni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/miye-oni/012079/) all made 2 three-pointers as Joventut converted 47.6% of its three-point attempts. That was much higher than the 33.6% the team had been shooting coming into the game.

Seven players scored at least 8 points for Joventut and the team from the Barcelona suburbs is right there in the playoff race - something many thought was next to impossible just more than a month ago.

Joventut downed its Spanish rival for the second time in about two weeks 

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Joventut Badalona (2025-01-15T20:00:00.000Z)

D.J. Seeley, Zavier Simpson and Sasu Salin played key roles by scoring or assisting in 24 of U-BT Cluj-Napoca's 28 fourth-quarter points in Round 15 of the BKT EuroCup

Cluj backcourt made the difference in the end

Having won six out of its last seven games in the competition, [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2024-25) came to its game against visiting [U-BT Cluj Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/?season=2024-25) as one of the hottest teams of the BKT EuroCup right now. So, when it managed to get ahead late in the third quarter, 60-58, after trailing all game, many thought Reyer would extend its winning streak one more time.

But Cluj didn’t step back at that moment and managed to grab [a 77-88 win in Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cluj-shocks-venice-on-the-road-77-88/) with a 0-10 run in the last 3 minutes of the game.

“I’m really proud of the way my guys reacted, they were tough,” Cluj head coach [Mihai Silvasan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/silvasan-mihai/?season=U2024) celebrated in the press conference. “They were tough in the second half, when Venice came back, evened the game and they even led with one or two points in the third quarter… But we stood tough, we made plays, we focused on each possession, even if we allowed some offensive rebounds.”

That play creation mentioned by Silvasan was enabled by a fantastic performance of his backcourt, with [D.J. Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/), [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) and [Sasu Salin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sasu-salin/002820/) playing key roles in that run and also in the entire last period. They were involved - scoring or assisting - in 24 of Cluj's 28 fourth-quarter points, making the difference for their team.

Salin shined in one of the best plays of the game when he dove to the floor to convert a loose ball into an assist for [Adam Mokoka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/adam-mokoka/012698/)’s dunk early in the last quarter and became the go-to guy in the last 3 minutes by drilling a couple of threes in the 0-10 final spark that helped Cluj close the game.

But Salin’s winning shots wouldn’t have been relevant without Simpson's steady performance. The competition's assist leader took the reins when his team needed and delivered 11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 3 fouls drawn in the last 10 minutes. He finished with 25 points, 6 boards, 7 assists and 8-of-8 shooting from the line to record a career-high PIR of 36, completing a game to remember.

“It was good. Obviously, it was a tough atmosphere. The fans were really engaged, so that's always good when playing an away game,” Simpson said after the game. “We played against a good team, but we executed. They made a run in the third quarter... So I'm just happy my team was able to stick together in the tough environment, be able to come with the dub, they trusted me down the line to make plays, not just for myself, but also for others."

This win game also gave Cluj an advantage against Reyer on a potential tie-breaker at the end of the regular season, after the Romanian champs defeated the Reyer twice this season.

“I’m really happy for this win. It was a very important game for us," Silvasan continued. “They won the last five games in both competitions, so they were in pretty good shape... We managed to win, which put us in a good spot before our next game against Turk Telekom. We are enjoying this win but we have three more games and we must stay focused.”

Seeley, Salin and Simpson combined for 20 points in the fourth quarter

Umana Reyer Venice v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-01-15T19:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir improved to 13-2 on the season, and has a three game lead over Dreamland Gran Canaria, the second-place team in the group, and the only other team that could reach 13 wins in this group. But since Bahcesehir won their head-to-head tiebreaker, it has secured the first place.

Bahcesehir’s character showed up to clinch first place

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/?season=2024-25) can fly back home from Poland very happy. Even though it was not pretty against the last-placed host, [Trefl Prokom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/trefl-sopot/roster/tso/?season=2024-25), Bahcesehir pulled out a victory [to clinch first place](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-rallies-against-trefl-to-win-group-a/) in Group A.

Bahcesehir improved to 13-2 on the season, and has a three game lead over Dreamland Gran Canaria, the second-place team in the group, and the only other team that could reach 13 wins in this group. But since Bahcesehir won their head-to-head tiebreaker, it has secured first place.

And that’s a big deal, because it means Bahcesehir has not only clinched a direct berth in the quarterfinals, but there it will have home-court advantage, the same as in the best-of-three semis.

But, the victory against Trefl, which has only won one game this season was everything but easy. The hosts led by 18 points midway through the second quarter, and had dominated in all segments of the game.

“We didn’t play well from the beginning, except the last few minutes of the second quarter,” Bahcesehir head coach [Dejan Radonjic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/radonjic-dejan/?season=U2024) said. “So many mistakes, defensively we were soft, and offensively was also not good.”

But a strong finish to the second quarter, a 2-12 run that cut the deficit to 45-37 got Bahcesehir going, and the team carried that momentum into the second half.

“The second half, we changed our approach”, Radonjic said. “Our defense was totally different, we played tough, very focused with a lot of energy.”

The team erased the deficit, and went in front in the fourth quarter after back-to-back triples from [Sehmus Hazer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sehmus-hazer/011201/) and [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), but Trefl did not give up and the two team were tied entering the final minute.

That’s when Bahcesehir put the ball into the hands of its two most experienced players. Smith, who starred with 25 points and 9 rebounds, made a tough runner, then [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) made a tough baseline jumper, compensating for a rough night during which he made only 2 of his 8 field goal attempts.

Those two baskets gave Bahcesehir a 74-78 lead with 30 seconds to go, before Smith sealed the deal from the foul line.

“Credit to our team, we fought well to get back in it,” Smith said. “It just speaks of the character of our team.”

Because of the fight, energy and character, now all roads to the EuroCup Finals lead through Istanbul, where Bahcesehir is 8-0.

Thanks to a change of approach in the second half, Bahcesehir rallied from 18 points down on the road

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