ratiopharm Ulm roared for a 104-87 home victory over Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul to extend its winning streak to five games in a crucial Group A matchup. 

Ulm overpowers Besiktas 104-87

ratiopharm Ulm roared for a 104-87 home victory over Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul to extend its winning streak to five games in a crucial Group A matchup. Ulm lost a 13-point first-half lead but never allowed Besiktas to get back ahead and cruised to a 9-4 record, including a 5-1 mark at home. Ulm had six players score in double figures in reaching the 100-point mark for the third straight game.

Marcio Santos and Justinian Jessup both scored 16 points while Thomas Klepeisz had the game of his season with 15 points - two more than his combined total thus far, and Ben Saraf added 10 points and 6 assists. Besiktas dropped to 7-6 with a second straight loss after a three-game winning streak. Kelan Martin was the top scorer for the visitors with 17 points and Dustin Sleva and Jonah Mathews both had 13 points. 

Game Videos

After Derek Needham opened the proceedings with a three-pointer for Besiktas, there were three lead changes and Ulm used 2 triples to go up 12-7. A second long ball from Jessup gave Ulm its first double-figure advantage at 19-9. Santos took over with 9 straight points for Ulm in building a 27-14 cushion. Besiktas pulled within 9 points but trailed 34-23 after 10 minutes.

After giving up 34 points in the opening frame, Besiktas held the hosts to just a put-back basket in the first 3 minutes of the second quarter and Martin scored 6 points in a 2-10 run to get the deficit down to 36-33. Besiktas erased the 13-point gap on a Mathews layup to knot it up 38-38. Jessup answered with a three-pointer and Saraf sparked the offense with three scores as Ulm led 50-42 and went into the break ahead 52-44.

Game News

Noa Essengue threw down a dunk and Klepeisz drained a triple as Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic called a timeout just 51 seconds into the second half. Isaiah Roby followed with 5 points for Ulm, which pushed the advantage to 64-47. Klepeisz drained his third triple and Ulm increased the margin to 20 points - 72-52. Besiktas was not ready to hand over the game and trimmed it to 74-60. The home side led 81-64 after 30 minutes.

Ulm got two transition baskets in the first 2 minutes of the fourth quarter for an 85-66 lead and Alimpijevic called another timeout. Ulm kept up the pace and Nelson Weidemann hit 2 three-pointers for a 95-70 lead with 5 minutes to play. The only question was if Ulm could actually catch the 33-point deficit from the road game in Istanbul. But that was the closest the German side could make it.

Ulm captures big win in fight for top spots in Group A

ratiopharm Ulm overpowers Besiktas 104-87

ratiopharm Ulm v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2024-12-26T18:00:00.000Z)

Maxime Courby is not only the EuroCup’s deadliest three-point shooter this season, but the face of the JL Bourg franchise ranks first all-time in competition history for long-range accuracy. But slowly he is thinking about calling it a day – starting with handing over the captaincy.

Face of Bourg franchise Maxime Courby: Last season was ‘magical’, but end is coming soon

[Maxime Courby](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/maxime-courby/010450/) is not only the BKT EuroCup’s deadliest three-point shooter this season, but the face of the [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) franchise ranks first all-time in competition history for long-range accuracy. But slowly he is thinking about calling it a day – starting with handing over the captaincy.

The 34-year-old Courby has been with Bourg since 2015, signing with the team from east-central France when they were still in the second division ProB. And his journey with the club crescendoed last season by reaching the EuroCup Finals, where it lost to Paris Basketball.

“It was magical because when I signed with Bourg, we grew up fast,” Courby told David Hein. “It was amazing because we are a small city, so everybody talked about the EuroCup games every week. When I signed with Bourg, the first two years we were in ProB. And now they talk about us everywhere in Europe. We reached a level that we were not supposed to. And it's amazing.”

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All this was not really part of the plan for Courby, who hails from Roubaix in northern France.

“When I signed, the goal was just to move up to ProA and stay there,” he said. “Now the goal is to each year be second, third or fourth in the championship so we are close to AS Monaco, Paris and \[LDLC\] ASVEL \[Villeuerbanne\]. We are a big, big team in France now.

“I could not have imagined when I signed 10 years ago that we would reach this level. It was a really big dream for me to play at this level. But I never imagined playing in the EuroCup in Bourg-en-Bresse. For me, it was just a step. And afterward, I would try to find another club to play at this level.”

Courby has now totaled 74 appearances for Bourg in the EuroCup, dating back to the 2020-21 season. He has connected on 79 of 159 three-pointers in his EuroCup career for a breathtaking 49.7% clip. That is top all-time, with Jurica Ruzic ranking second at 48.3% followed by Sergei Chikalkin at 48.2%.

“I can’t believe that because when I was young, I didn’t have a good shooting form and I worked \[on it\] a lot,” he added. “And it's just about working, because it was not natural at the beginning. I don't shoot a lot; I have a good selection of my shots so maybe that's why I have a high percentage. But it's a lot of work.”

Despite turning 34 on November 23, Courby is actually having his best shooting season thus far – hitting 11 of 16 three-point attempts for 71.4% in 11 games. That comes after he had his poorest shooting season last year.

After making 50.7%, 64% and 42.9% respectively his first three seasons in the EuroCup, Courby connected on just 26.3% in 2023-24.

“I think it was just a mental thing because I was not in a good shape mentally last season to reach the high percentages than I had before,” he commented “I was sometimes mad because I didn't play, so it was tough last season. When you don't play some big games, you are naturally a bit sad.”

Courby’s mind was also preoccupied with another matter last year. At the end of last season, he received his coaching degree. The veteran also worked last season as an assistant coach for Bourg’s U21 team that won the French championship.

“It was a really good experience for me,” he stated. “It's another way of looking at basketball. It's not the same when we are players as when you are outside of the court. It's really interesting. When I come back to my home, it's not the same. We think about basketball differently. It's interesting to prepare the practice for the young teams. It's really different. So it was a good experience.”

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Another big difference between this season and last is that Courby is no longer the team captain. He handed that honor over to Hugo Benitez. The team’s starting point guard will turn 24 in January but has been with the club since starting in the youth ranks in 2016.

"It was natural to give the captain armband to Hugo,” Courby said of Benitez, who has now played in 72 EuroCup games, all with Bourg. “He's the new generation. He's really talented. He's our point guard. He has been playing all the time – not just for a few weeks – and is in the starting five. He's important for us. So for me, it's normal.”

Courby is slowly wondering how much longer he will play the game. In October 2023 he agreed to a contract extension until 2026.

When asked if he plans on playing after that, he said: “That’s the question I don’t know at the moment. If my health is good, maybe I can keep playing, but I don't know.”

About the possibility of something in coaching, he mentioned: “If the club proposes me something...”

Until then, Courby will just continue to knock down those three-pointers.

Latest Bourg News

The most accurate three-point shooter in EuroCup history has handed the captaincy to Hugo Benitez and is already thinking about the future 

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys has reunited with veteran center Djordje Gagic, who previously played for the club from 2020 through 2022

Lietkabelis reunites with center Djordje Gagic

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys has reunited with veteran center [Djordje Gagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/djordje-gagic/004229/), who previously played for the club from 2020 through 2022. Gagic (2.10 meters, 33 years old) played for Wolves Vilnius last season and averaged 7.3 points on 60% shooting in less than 12 minutes over 10 BKT EuroCup games.

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DD2ReAaMB2j/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DD2ReAaMB2j/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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Gagic has also played for Partizan Belgrade, Borac Cacak and Hemofarm Vrsac in Serbia; Mornar Bar in Montenegro; Tenerife in Spain; Tsmoki Minsk in Belarus; Royal Hali Gaziantep, Yesilgiresun Belediye and Istanbul BB in Turkey; Aris Thessaloniki in Greece, Igokea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brindisi in Italy, Blois Basket in France and Sports Club Doha in Qatar. He is a two-time Serbian League champion, won the Serbian Cup twice and the Adriatic League in 2013. Gagic has also been a member of the Serbian national team, with which he won a bronze medal at the 2013 World University Games.

The latest Lietkabelis news

This will be his seventh season in the EuroCup 

Lietkabelis Panevezys pulled off the shock of the 2024-25 EuroCup season so far on Friday night by beating Valencia Basket 106-107 in overtime at La Fonteta. 

Lietkabelis stuns Valencia in OT, 106-107

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys pulled off the shock of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season so far on Friday night by beating Valencia Basket 106-107 in overtime at La Fonteta. This was a rescheduled game from Round 6, as the initial matchup had to be postponed due to the severe floods in the Community of Valencia. Lietkabelis improved to a 4-8 record, while Valencia is now 11-1.

Oleksandr Kovliar had a night to remember for Lietkabelis with a career-high 25 points, while Martynas Varnas had a personal-best 21, Dovis Bickauskis 14, Georgios Kalaitzakis 13, and Danielius Lavrinovicius 12. Valencia had six players finish in double figures in points: Xabi Lopez-Arostegui (20), Semi Ojeleye (17), Nate Sestina (12), Jean Montero (11), Brancou Badio (11), and Josep Puerto (10).

Lietkabelis started the game the way it intended to go on, scoring the first 5 points of the night to take a 0-5 lead. Valencia soon came back into it and took an 11-10 advantage on the back of 5 points by Nate Sestina, but Lietkabelis went on a 7-0 run to go 11-17 ahead again. Both teams were scoring with relative ease, and it was 26-24 after 10 minutes.

Valencia led for the majority of the second quarter, only falling behind once at 33-34, after a triple by Bickauskis, and the hosts' advantage swelled to nine points at 48-39 after a 12-3 stretch in which Ojeleye scored 7 straight points. It became a double-digit ballgame soon after, with Badio opening a 14-point lead at 57-43, but Kovliar's basket ensured there was a 12-point difference, 57-45, at the interval.

Badio's three-pointer to open the third period restored a 14-point edge for Valencia, 59-45, then Puerto opened a game-high 16-point lead at 61-45 with a couple of free throws. But from that point on, Lietkabelis decided to step up in the face of adversity. Two of the visitors' players reeled off 13 straight points to make it a one-possession contest at 61-58, with Kovliar scoring 6 points in that stretch and Kalaitzakis netting 7. Kalaitzakis later made it 65-65, and a 10-0 Lietkabelis run to finish the quarter saw it take a 72-79 lead into the final frame.

Lietkabelis stayed in front for the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter, even if Valencia kept hitting back and making in a one-possession affair time and time again. It looked as though Lietkabelis's effort was not going to pay off when Ojeleye drained a couple of free throws and Lopez-Arostegui converted a three-point play to put Valencia back in front at 97-95, but Kovliar had a chance to win it after being fouled on a three-point shot by Lopez-Arostegui with just over one second left on the clock. In the end, Kovliar missed his first free throw but hit the following two, setting a 97-97 score and forcing the extra session.

It was Valencia which struck first in overtime, with Lopez-Arostegui making a couple of free throws, before Varnas returned the favor down the other end. Free throws were the order of the day through the first two and a half minutes, but Badio's triple with 2:17 minutes left gave Valencia a 104-101 edge. Varnas made more free throws, then Bickauskis scored a high-arcing layup to put Lietkabelis 104-105 ahead. Lopez-Arostegui responded in kind for the hosts, but Gabrielius Maldunas became the hero with a clutch layup with 16.7 seconds remaining, which proved to be the last score of the game. 

The Spanish side's unbeaten run in the EuroCup has come to an end

Valencia Basket v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-12-20T19:30:00.000Z)

Look back at all the action in Round 12 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 12

Look back at all the action from Round 12 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Hapoel Tel Aviv BC secured a crucial win over Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in Round 12, which means both teams are now on a 7-5 record, and its two wins over the Turkish side this year could prove to be crucial in the playoff race.

Hapoel Tel Aviv has its destiny in its hands after winning 'the more difficult way'

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) could have done it in a much easier way, but eventually it needed overtime to [beat Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 109-101](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-goes-to-ot-to-beat-besiktas-109-101/) on Wednesday night. It was a high-stakes game and a big win for Hapoel, which has now swept its two games against Besiktas, with both teams holding a 7-5 record with six games left in the regular season.

Despite the absence of injured point guard [Patrick Beverley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/patrick-beverley/001927/), Hapoel seemed in complete control and was up 91-81 with under 3 minutes to go, but three turnovers on the next four possessions allowed Besiktas to rally. The main source of the visitors' comeback was [Yigit Arslan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yigit-arslan/007914/), who caught fire.

"Luckily, we managed to put it out," said one of Hapoel's heroes on the night, [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/).

Arslan hit back-to-back threes within 16 seconds, before baskets from [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/) and [Dustin Sleva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dustin-sleva/011927/) tied things up.

But Blakeney, who led Hapoel by scoring 21 points in regulation, netted the first 5 points in overtime and then started Hapoel's 12-0 run that allowed the team to close the game out without further drama.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">חמש שלשות, 27 נקודות, מצטיין אחד!<br><br>אנטוניו בלייקני הוא האיש על גלוית הניצחון שלנו על בשיקטאש. <br><br>יאללה בלייקני, יאללה הפועל! <a href="https://t.co/xuBJDgt6V7">pic.twitter.com/xuBJDgt6V7</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1869645783840227356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Once in overtime, you just want to win," Blakeney pointed out. "We don't care if it is by one \[point\], we just wanted to win the game."

So, even though the game ended with an important win, the story of the night was a near collapse that ruined all the good that Hapoel has done during the first 37 minutes.

"We're gonna analyze it and find out why," said coach Dimitris Itoudis. "It frustrates me because we have good ball handlers, inside we have the players who are point of emphasis in the paint, and we get into stupid mistakes.

"We could have ended it in regulation, but we wanted to do it the more difficult way. We looked like we were scared to win in regulation."

Antonio Blakeney led Hapoel scoring 26 points, including the first 5 points of overtime.

Blakeney starred for Hapoel off the bench

Interestingly, mistakes towards the end of regulation came from [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) and [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), two go-to guys and two players who were integral in Hapoel leading in the first place.

Motley had 21 points, but also 7 turnovers, while Madar posted 16 points along with 6 assists.

"We've got a lot of time to get better," Blakeney said in a EuroLeague TV interview after the win. "I think we got better from the last EuroCup game we played. That's the main focus, to get better every day. Get one percent better every day, that's all that matters."

Hapoel is now 2-2 under Coach Itoudis, but thanks to pulling out a win, it moved into fourth place in Group A and two wins behind second-placed [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/), which Hapoel visits next on the second day of the new year.

"We've got to continue to learn. We work hard. The transition period is obvious, but the players have a tremendous wish \[to work\]," Itoudis stressed.

He will be looking for answers for his team to get better, but also knowing that thanks to this overtime win, they hold their destiny in their own hands.

The Israeli side is now 2-2 under Coach Itoudis

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2024-12-18T18:00:00.000Z)

A career night saw Buducnost VOLI Podgorica forward Kenan Kamenjas earn Round 12 MVP honors with a PIR of 34, the highest of any winning player this week.

Round 12 MVP: Kenan Kamenjas, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

A career night saw [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/) forward [Kenan Kamenjas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-kamenjas/008325/) earn Round 12 MVP honors with a PIR of 34, the highest of any winning player this week.

Kamenjas was dominant throughout as Buducnost beat Dolomiti Energia Trento 110-108 in overtime, with the 24-year-old posting an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double – the fourth double-double in his 33-game BKT EuroCup career. His 18 points came on 6-of-8 shooting on two-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws, while 3 of his 11 rebounds came on the offensive end. Kamenjas also had 4 assists and 1 steal for a combined PIR of 34, which is a new career high. This is the first time that Kamenjas has earned MVP of the Round honors. This is the 10th time that a Buducnost player has secured this accolade.

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul guard [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/) had the highest index rating in Round 12 with a 36 PIR, but it came in defeat as his team fell 109-101 on the road at Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. Allman amassed 26 points on 6-of-9 two-pointers, 3-of-5 three-pointers and 5-of-11 free throws, as well as 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. 

Hapoel’s [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/) and Umana Reyer Venice’s [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-tshimanga-kabengele/012796/) both shared a 31 PIR, the third-best mark in this round. Blakeney netted 27 points on 4-of-7 two-pointers, 5-of-6 three-pointers and 4-of-5 free throws, in addition to grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing 2 assists. Kabengele had a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double, as well as 1 steal and 1 block in Reyer’s 99-102 win at Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse. 

Aris Midea Thessaloniki’s [Trey Woodbury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/trey-woodbury/013251/) and Turk Telekom Ankara’s [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) round out the list of top performers in Round 12, each with a 29 PIR.

### Individual highs: Kyle Alexander, Turk Telekom, 6 blocks

Antonio Blakeney of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv scored a round-high 27 points. [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem is the leading scorer this season with 22.8 points per game.

[Derek Ogbeide](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/derek-ogbeide/013263/) of Jerusalem grabbed 14 rebounds, the most of any player in Round 12. Reyer’s Mfiondu Kabengele leads the way in rebounds with 10.1 boards per night.

[Hugo Benitez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/) of Bourg dished 9 assists, more than anyone else in this round. U-BT Cluj-Napoca’s [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) is the top assist provider with 7.2 per contest.

Three players recorded 5 steals in Round 12: Kyle Alexander of Turk Telekom, [Dustin Sleva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dustin-sleva/011927/) of Besiktas, and [DJ Stewart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dj-stewart/012700/) of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Jerusalem’s [Tarik Phillip](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tarik-phillip/009649/) is first in steals with 2.1 per night.

Kyle Alexander blocked 6 shots, the most of any player this season. Alexander tops the charts in blocks with 1.9 per game.

Buducnost’s Kenan Kamenjas (18 points, 11 rebounds), Mfiondu Kabengele (26 points, 10 rebounds), Kyle Alexander (11 points, 10 rebounds), Veolia Towers Hamburg’s [Kur Kuath](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kur-kuath/013313/) (14 points, 11 rebounds), DJ Stewart (13 points, 11 rebounds), Reyer’s [Jordan Parks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-parks/011909/) (13 points, 10 rebounds), Bahcesehir College Istanbul’s [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/) (10 points, 10 rebounds), Cluj’s [De’Shawn Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/de-shawn-stephens/006618/) (12 points, 10 rebounds), and Jerusalem’s Derek Ogbeide (10 points, 14 rebounds) all posted a double-double in Round 12.

Congratulations to Christine Susa, our 12th winner in the 2024-25 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Christine's team, 'BUM BUM', posted a score of 203.05.

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Round 12 winner

Congratulations to Christine Susa, our 12th winner in the 2024-25 [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Christine's team, 'BUM BUM', posted a score of 203.05.

Christine had the following starting lineup: Umana Reyer Venice's Mfiondu Kabengele as team captain, then Reyer duo Kyle Wiltjer and Tyler Ennis, and ratiopharm Ulm pair Alfonso Plummer and Marcio Santos. Ulm's Justinian Jessup was their sixth man.

Their team's head coach was Ulm play-caller Ty Harrelson, while the four bench players were Reyer duo Davide Casarin and Jordan Parks, and Ulm pair Isaiah Roby and Alec Anigbata.

The prize for finishing first in Round 12 is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Christine!

The leader in the overall standings remains Milos Mihajlovic and his squad, 'BallIsLife', which has a total of 2,066.70 points after the first 12 rounds. Trades are now open for Round 13. 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 Badalona managed to smile again after a three-game losing streak thanks to a hard-fought 92-89 victory against last-placed Trefl Sopot in front of its home crowd.

Strong start paid off for Joventut against Trefl

[Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/) managed to smile again after a three-game losing streak thanks to [a hard-fought 92-89 victory against last-placed Trefl Sopot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/joventut-survives-trefl-rally-wins-92-89/) in front of its home crowd.

The visitors had the last possession to tie the game, but a contested three-point attempt missed by [Jakub Schenk](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jakub-schenk/013298/) didn’t go in and allowed the Joventut supporters to celebrate again.

 “A win is a win. The whole team is happy that we won. I mean, we needed a win bad in the EuroCup,” Joventut’s top scorer on the night, [Yannick Kraag](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yannick-kraag/010161/), admitted after the game. “The game didn't go as we wanted. But I think it's always good to win as a team. I think everybody contributed, everybody played hard, and we fought to the end, and I think the last few possessions we executed really good.”

What Kraag was talking about when he said it didn’t go the way Joventut wanted was in relation to the last three quarters of the game, as Trefl won those three periods 21-34, 17-20 and 15-18. With that in mind, how is it possible that the visitors lost the game?

The answer is, among other factors, a nearly perfect start to the game from Joventut.

The Spanish team trailed 6-8 early in the first quarter when all hell broke loose for Trefl. A 20-2 run in 4 minutes broke the game apart, and despite a Sopot timeout, the punishment continued with another 13-7 spark that helped the hosts amass a 39-17 lead at the end of the first period. It was a record-breaking scoring mark, as Joventut’s previous best offensive performance was 34 points.

At that moment, nine different Joventut players had scored already, and the difference kept growing to 44-17 when [Pep Busquets](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/pep-busquets/006771/) became the 10th to contribute with a triple early in the second quarter. Moreover, Joventut’s shooting from two remained perfect, with [Artem Pustovyi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/artem-pustovyi/004834/) converting his team’s twelfth two-pointer in as many shots soon after. It was [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), after 14:32, who missed the first two-pointer for Joventut after 13 attempts.

 “The most positive thing is the victory and the first quarter,” Joventut head coach Dani Miret recognized. “Then we had the same problem we had in a lot of games; the physicality, the rhythm, the capability to compete to the limit.

“We had it an amazing performance in the first quarter. And after this first quarter, we didn’t play as we were supposed to do. Everything that is not our hundred percent is not enough to compete at this level. We lost the next quarters, but finally, in a very tight last minutes, we were able to we finish with a victory that that allows us to keep on fighting for the next games.”

The Spanish side set a new club record with 39 first-quarter points

Joventut Badalona v Trefl Sopot (2024-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)