ratiopharm Ulm celebrated its second victory of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by beating Joventut Badalona 87-83 at Ratiopharm Arena on Tuesday. 

Ulm beats Joventut, 87-83, for second straight win

ratiopharm Ulm celebrated its second victory of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by beating Joventut Badalona 87-83 at Ratiopharm Arena on Tuesday. The hosts were in control of the game from the off and managed to maintain their lead throughout. Following its first win on home soil this season, Ulm now has a 2-0 record, with Joventut dropping to 1-1.

Nelson Weidemann paced Ulm with 17 points and Ben Saraf added 15, with the two Ulm guards scoring 13 apiece in the last quarter. Alfonso Plummer registered 13 points and Isaiah Roby added 10. As for the visitors, Ante Tomic had 18 points, Kassius Robertson recorded 17, Devon Dotson netted 16 and Artem Pustovyi scored 12.

Game Videos

Justinian Jessup started where he finished off last week against Trefl Sopot by drilling a triple to open the scoring, but Joventut responded with baskets from Yannick Kraag and Dotson to take a 3-4 lead. A Philipp Herkenhoff triple was followed by Guillem Vives’s first bucket of the game, but Isaiah Roby put Ulm back in front by hitting 2 free throws, 10-8. Then, Herkenhoff completed a three-point play before youngsters Michael Ruzic and Noa Essengue exchanged triples to make it 18-13. Ulm’s 17-year-old forward finished the first quarter with a three-point play of his own and the hosts extended their lead to 25-17 heading into the second quarter.

Tobias Jensen opened his account from inside before Plummer nailed back-to-back triples to give Ulm a 33-19 cushion. Round 1 MVP Tomic responded with two baskets inside, but Nicolas Bretzel and Jensen netted on the other end, with Ulm maintaining a 37-23 lead midway through the second quarter. Yet, Kraag’s bucket off an offensive rebound was followed by a Robertson three-point play to trim the deficit to single digits, 37-28. Then, Tomic, Pustovyi and Robertson netted a basket each before Roby drilled a triple, with Ulm leading 43-36 at the break.

Game News

Ulm went on a 7-0 run to kick off the second half, as a jumper from Saraf was followed by 5 points from Jessup to extend their team’s lead to 50-36. Joventut was held scoreless for almost 3 and a half minutes before Robertson scored a bucket from inside and then hit 2 free throws to reduce the deficit to 51-40. Yet, Ulm replied with Marcio Santos and Plummer knocking down a triple each for a 57-42 lead. But Pustovyi responded with 7 points and Dotson drilled a triple from deep to beat the third-quarter buzzer-beater, 59-52.

Dotson sandwiched triples around a Weidemann three-point play before Tomic and the Ulm guard traded baskets from inside to make it 66-60. Tomic made 3 of 4 from the line to respond to another Weidemann three-pointer before Robertson nailed one from deep to reduce the deficit to 71-66. What followed was an exchange of blows from behind the arc before a Tomic three-point play kept Joventut within 77-72 with 3 minutes to go. Then, Robertson nailed a layup, but Saraf responded with a three-point play on the other end to extend Ulm’s lead to 81-74 and practically finished the game.

Ban Saraf came alive late to keep Ulm perfect on the season

ratiopharm Ulm v Joventut Badalona (2024-10-01T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem got its first BKT EuroCup win, not only this season but in nearly seven years as it downed 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 74-94 on Tuesday night. 

Jerusalem hit from downtown in long-awaited win

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem got its first BKT EuroCup win, not only this season but in nearly seven years as it downed 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 74-94 on Tuesday night. Jerusalem returned to the competition this season for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, and its last win came against none other than Lietkabelis, a 93-81 decision in November 2017 in Jerusalem.

On this night in Lithuania, Jerusalem's most dangerous weapon was its three-point shooting. The team finished the game making 12 triples on 25 attempts, good for 48.0%. Those threes came from five different players, most of all from Yovel Zoosman, who was 5 for 6 in the game, but 4 for 4 in the first half. It was his long-range daggers that got Jerusalem back to the game after falling behind by 13 points in the opening quarter.

In the second half, however, it was Chris Johnson and Speedy Smith who stepped up to the plate. Both players hit twice from long range in the final two quarters, with Johnson hitting a buzzer-beating shot to end the third quarter and make it 56-60. Then, Speedy Smith hit three-pointers on each end of a 2-12 run which turned a 62-62 score into a 64-74 Jerusalem advantage and paved the way to its first Group B win.

It leaned on the threeball to grab a Round 2 win

Jerusalem lit it up from deep to frustrate Lietkabelis again... seven years on

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2024-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul romped to an 87-66 win over its more fancied city rival Besiktas Fidabanka Istanbul for a second successive BKT EuroCup win, having returned to the competition for the first time in three years.

Bahcesehir blows away Besiktas in Istanbul derby, 87-66

Bahcesehir College Istanbul romped to an 87-66 win over its more fancied city rival Besiktas Fidabanka Istanbul for a second successive BKT EuroCup win, having returned to the competition for the first time in three years.

Marko Simonovic led Bahcesehir’s effort against his former club with 14 points, scoring 12 in the fourth quarter. Sehmus Hazer, who also joined Bahcesehir from Besiktas, added 13 while Jaleen Smith, Tyler Cavanaugh and Tai Odiase chipped in with 12 each. Mateusz Ponitka netted 11 points in a free-flowing team effort which forced Besiktas on to the back foot in the final three quarters.

At the other end, Conor Morgan stood out for below-par Besiktas with a game-high 15 points. Emanuel Terry scored 13 and Kelan Martin added 12 for the visitors, who were stifled out on offense and overran defensively by a rampant home side.

It was a first-ever meeting between the two sides in the EuroCup and Bahcesehir showed the makings of a team capable of winning the competition after dominating the contest throughout, apart from a brief spell in the first quarter.

The home team scored the opening 6 points of the game before Besiktas hit back with a 0-11 run which saw the visitors edge ahead on the back of some fine shooting by Needham. That, however, was as good as it got for last season’s semifinalist, which got outplayed in every department from there on.

With Bahcesehir winning the opening period 23 -21 and then nosing ahead 30-27 early in the second, the host pulled away thanks to an 11-0 streak as Cavanaugh hit a pair of successive three-pointers before Smith also netted from downtown off the glass.

Bahcesehir led 47-32 at halftime and kept its feet firmly on the gas after the break, with Montenegrin forward Simonovic hitting top gear in the fourth on offense after being a defensive pillar in the opening 30 minutes.

Besiktas guard Derek Needham fizzed out after a bright start to the game and finished the game on a mere 9 points in the wake of aggressive Bahcesehir defense, which forced the visitors to take a barrage of tough shots from both inside and outside.

The less heralded team of the two Istanbul rivals in the EuroCup produced a masterclass performance from start to finish 

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2024-10-01T16:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Jerusalem used a huge fourth quarter to pull away to a big 74-94 road win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys on Tuesday night at Kalnapilio Arena.

Hapoel Jerusalem runs away late to sink Lietkabelis, 74-94

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem used a huge fourth quarter to pull away to a big 74-94 road win over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys on Tuesday night at Kalnapilio Arena. Jerusalem moved to a 1-1 record, while Lietkabelis dropped to 0-2 in Group B action.

Lietkabelis opened the game with a 23-10 lead, but Jerusalem erased the deficit by early in the second quarter and spent the majority of the game in front. Then, in the fourth quarter, the visitors ran away, scoring 34 points and allowing just 18. 

Jared Harper paced Jerusalem with 23 points and 5 assists, while Yovel Zoosman scored 16 of his 20 points, on 5-of-6 three-point shooting, in the first half. Justin Smith scored 15 and Chris Johnson added 12 points in the victory, with each player also pulling down 7 rebounds. For the hosts, Dovis Bickauskis scored 13, and Georgios Kalaitzakis and Oleksandr Kovliar had 12 points apiece in the loss.

Kovliar opened the scoring for the hosts before they started feeding its big men and scored in transition as Lietkabelis jumped in front 9-3. Jerusalem looked to get going through Khadeen Carrington, but Marko Pecarski’s third bucket of the night made it 15-8. After a timeout, back-to-back threes by Kovliar and Martynas Varnas extended the margin to 13. But Zoosman made his third three-pointer of the quarter to revive Jerusalem, which trimmed the gap to 25-18 after 10 minutes.

Zoosman then drilled a three and stole the ball before scoring a layup early in the second, which was followed by Justin Smith’s three-point play to complete a 0-15 run as Jerusalem took a 25-26 lead. The two teams started trading buckets, and leads, but Jerusalem had a strong finish to the half. A basket from Johnson before 5 points from Carrington, including a triple, fueled a half-ending 0-11 run to give the visitors a 36-44 halftime lead.

Jerusalem extended its advantage to double digits right away in the third, but Kalaitzakis nailed a pair of threes to cut the margin to 46-49. A corner three from Johnson restored a 48-56 lead, but 5 points from Bickauskis, including a triple of his own, helped cut it to 56-57 before Johnson ended the quarter with a buzzer-beating corner three, making it 56-60 after 30 minutes.

At the start of the fourth, a three-point play from Gabrielius Maldunas and a fast-break triple from Mantas Rubstavicius tied the score at 62-62. However, shortly after a Speedy Smith's triple started a 0-9 run which also saw Justin Smith and Harper contribute, another three from Speedy Smith extended it to 66-76 with 5 minutes left. The hosts never threatened again, and Jerusalem scored the final 11 points in the last 2 minutes of the game, ending with a big win.

The Israeli side grabbed its first win in the EuroCup this season

Jerusalem runs away late to sink Lietkabelis, 74-94

Aris Midea Thessaloniki has completed the signing of Rawle Alkins, who has signed a deal for the 2024-25 season.

Alkins (1.96 meters, 26 years old) most recently played for Ironi Ness Ziona, averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 32 Israeli League games.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ro" dir="ltr">‼️ O RAWLE ALKINS ΣΤΟΝ ΑΡΗ Midea <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> to<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheEmperor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheEmperor</a><a href="https://twitter.com/KingRawle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kingrawle</a><br><br>Read more 👉 <a href="https://t.co/YchF7wLy7G">https://t.co/YchF7wLy7G</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBC</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISFAMILY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISFAMILY</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBCTRANSFERS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBCTRANSFERS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBC425?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBC425</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qn3PikwKa8">pic.twitter.com/Qn3PikwKa8</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1841141665706180872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He has also played for the Chicago Bulls, the Windy City Bulls, FC Porto, the Raptors 905, Gießen 46ers, Riesen Ludwigsburg, and the Salt Lake City Stars

This will be his first experience in the EuroCup

Aris brings in Rawle Alkins

The second round of the 2024-25 EuroCup season is here, with drama guaranteed in several key clashes.

Game Center: Round 2 begins

## Wednesday, October 2

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki 63-68 Turk Telekom Ankara

Turk Telekom Ankara recorded its second victory in the 2024-25 EuroCup season by defeating Aris Midea Thessaloniki 63-68 at the Palais De Sports on Wednesday. The visitors bounced back thanks to their rigid defense after the break despite trailing by 17 in the second quarter and turned the game around. Yet, Ismet Akpinar and Anthony Brown were clinical for Turk Telekom in the closing stages to clinch the win. The visitors improved to a 2-0 record, while Aris dropped to 0-2.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Deplasmanda zafer bizim 💪🏻<br><br>Maç Sonucu: Aris Midea Thessaloniki 63-68 Türk Telekom<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaizen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaizen</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreHereForAReason?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreHereForAReason</a> <a href="https://t.co/xTXeRiCHTG">pic.twitter.com/xTXeRiCHTG</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1841569563097362678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 86-89 Dreamland Gran Canaria

Dreamland Gran Canaria looked as though it was going to see itself home on the road at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica when it led 63-75 with five minutes to go in regulation, but a late resurgence by the hosts saw the game head to overtime. In the extra period, the 2023 BKT EuroCup champion secured an 86-89 triumph on a John Shurna corner three-pointer – his first points of the night.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ro" dir="ltr">🏀 Final:<br><br>🔵 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 86<br>🐥 Dreamland Gran Canaria 89<br><br>🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosGranca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosGranca</a> <a href="https://t.co/nsvLn2txj1">pic.twitter.com/nsvLn2txj1</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1841559776636923923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 84-71 U-BT Cluj-Napoca

Last season’s finalist Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse improved to 2-0 with another strong showing as it downed U-BT Cluj-Napoca 84-71 at home in Group B. Bourg, which beat Veolia Towers Hamburg by 20 points on the road in Round 1, put the game away with a 26-10 third quarter and forced Cluj into 22 turnovers thanks to a club record 19 steals. Xavier Castaneda led Bourg with 18 points, Adrian Nelson scored 11 points and both Mehdy Ngouama and Kevin Koklia added 10 points in the win. Cluj is left asking questions with a 0-2 record in the group despite Sasu Salin scoring 18 points and Zach Hankins picking up 17 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">VICTOIRE ✅<br><br>JL Bourg 84 🆚 73 <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UBTCluj</a><br><br>Match terminé ! Une prestation solide des Rouge et Blanc qui permet de repartir avec la 1ʳᵉ victoire européenne à Ekinox 💪🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a>｜<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> ｜<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/vL5SbMkeXO">pic.twitter.com/vL5SbMkeXO</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1841565075749908955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Dolomiti Energia Trento 84-78 Trefl Sopot

Dolomiti Energia Trento chalked up its first win of the season in the BKT EuroCup after guard Jordan Ford produced a masterclass second-half performance to lead the Italian side to an 84-78 home victory over Polish rival Trefl Sopot. Ford scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as he shot the lights out of the battling visitors. Anthony Lamb netted 13 points for Trento and Quinn Ellis added 12, while Selom Mawuge scored 9 and Saliou Niang chipped in with 7 to go with 8 boards. At the other end, Jakub Schenk and Aaron Best amassed 16 points each for Trefl, Marcus Weathers racked up 15 and 8 rebounds while Tarik Phillip and Jaroslaw Zyskowski scored 11 points each.

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### Valencia Basket 105-78 Veolia Towers Hamburg

Valencia Basket advanced to 2-0 by overcoming winless Veolia Towers Hamburg, 105-78, in a triumphant homecoming to La Fonteta for head coach Pedro Martinez. Hamburg stayed close during a high-scoring first half, and initially hung in the game even after Valencia advanced into double-digit leads after the break. But Valencia finished the third quarter with a 17-2 run, taking control for good. Matt Costello excelled with 23 points on his Valencia home debut, while Stefan Jovic and Brancou Badio both scored 14, and Jean Montero had a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists. Billy Ivey led the way for Hamburg with 19 points, while Jaizec Lottie scored 14.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔥 𝙑𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙎𝙎𝙎🔥<br><br>¡Primer partido en casa y primera victoria en casa! ¡Qué bonito volver a casa ganando! 😍<br><br>🏆 J2 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a><br>🟠 <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> 105<br>⚫ <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hamburgtowers</a> 78<br>🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/pamesaceramica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pamesaceramica</a> <br><br>¡El sábado, a por la segunda, familia! 🧡 <a href="https://t.co/xtMtsLFajH">pic.twitter.com/xtMtsLFajH</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1841575047804121296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Tuesday, October 1

### [7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 74-94 Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys-hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/U2024/16/)

Jerusalem used a huge fourth quarter to pull away and beat Lietkabelis on Tuesday night at Kalnapilio Arena. Jerusalem improved to 1-1, while Lietkabelis dropped to 0-2 in Group B action. Lietkabelis opened the game with a 23-10 lead, but Jerusalem erased the deficit by early in the second quarter and spent the majority of the game in front. Then, in the fourth quarter, the visitors ran away, scoring 34 points and allowing just 18. Jared Harper paced Jerusalem with 23 points and 5 assists, while Yovel Zoosman scored 16 of his 20 points - on 5-of-6 three-point shooting - in the first half. For the hosts, Dovis Bickauskis scored 13.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">תוצאת סיום.<br>לילה שקט לכל בית ישראל 🙏🏼🇮🇱 <a href="https://t.co/DFwWyhnXR9">pic.twitter.com/DFwWyhnXR9</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1841178176094867504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Bahcesehir College Istanbul 87-66. Besiktas Fibabank Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/bahcesehir-college-istanbul-besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/U2024/13/)

Bahcesehir romped to a 21-point win over its more fancied city rival for a second successive EuroCup win. Marko Simonovic led Bahcesehir’s effort against his former club with 14 points - including 12 in the fourth quarter. Sehmus Hazer, who also joined Bahcesehir from Besiktas, added 13. At the other end, Conor Morgan stood out for Besiktas with a game-high 15 points. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">💪 YENİ SAHAMIZDAKİ İLK KARŞILAŞMAMIZDAN GALİBİYETLE AYRILIYORUZ<br><br>BKT EuroCup | A Grubu 2. Maç | Maç Sonucu | Bahçeşehir Koleji 87 - 66 | Beşiktaş Fibabanka<br><br>* Marko Simonovic: 14 sayı, 5 ribaund<br>* Şehmus Hazer: 13 sayı, 2 asist<br>* ⁠Jaleen Smith: 12 sayı, 2 ribaund, 5 asist<br>* Tai… <a href="https://t.co/5YEVTM3b7a">pic.twitter.com/5YEVTM3b7a</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1841174562362253672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [ratiopharm Ulm 87-83 Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/ratiopharm-ulm-joventut-badalona/U2024/15/)

Ulm celebrated its second victory of the EuroCup season by beating Joventut at Ratiopharm Arena on Tuesday. The hosts were in control of the game from the off and managed to maintain their lead throughout the duel. Following its first win on home soil this team, Ulm now has a 2-0 record, with Joventut dropping to 1-1. Nelson Weidemann paced Ulm with 17 points and Ben Saraf added 15, with the two Ulm guards scoring 13 apiece in the last quarter. Ante Tomic led Joventut with 18 points and Kassius Robertson recorded 17 in defeat. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Wer bleibt ungeschlagen? 𝙐𝙐𝙐𝙇𝙈𝙀𝙍 😤🏀<br>Wir geben die Führung kein einziges Mal ab und sichern uns wettbewerbsübergreifend den vierten Sieg ❤️‍🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canyoufeelit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#canyoufeelit</a> | 📸 Florian Achberger <a href="https://t.co/Y9N5nIcL84">pic.twitter.com/Y9N5nIcL84</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1841193907335381324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 89-84 Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-wolves-twinsbet-vilnius/U2024/14/)

Hapoel had to wait till the last minutes before wrapping up the win over Wolves at Samokov Arena. Despite dominating 59-45 right after the intermission, the hosts saw Wolves return to the game and take a 73-77 lead with 7 minutes to go. Patrick Beverley showed up then with 11 points in a 15-5 run that turned the tables and fueled Hapoel to the victory. Jonathan Motley paced Hapoel on offense with 16 points, 6 boards and 6 assists, followed by Beverley and Tomer Ginat with 14 points apiece. Tre’Shawn Thurman led all scorers with 29 points - including 5 three-pointers - in the losing effort.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First W of the season for <a href="https://twitter.com/hapoeltelavivbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hapoeltelavivbc</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/SnwC7YwTd5">pic.twitter.com/SnwC7YwTd5</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1841210896275685457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 87-82 Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-umana-reyer-venice/U2024/18/)

Cedevita picked up its second victory in as many games by fending off Reyer at home. Devin Robinson and Jaka Blazic both scored 17 points and Aleksej Nikolic added 12 points and 5 assists - plus 2 free throws to ice the game with 7.3 seconds left. Reyer fell to 1-1 despite Tyler Ennis flirting with a triple-double as he collected 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists while Mfiondu Kabengele chipped in 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DRAGONS WIN! <br><br>Perfect record for 🟢🟠 after 2 rounds of the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> season! 🔥🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DragonFamily?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DragonFamily</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/A0mn40miNY">pic.twitter.com/A0mn40miNY</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana - English (@KKCedOL_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL_EN/status/1841206468596347143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Which teams can maintain their 100% record, or which sides can get back on track after an opening-round defeat?

Game Center: Two road winners during Wednesday night's action

Valencia Basket v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2024-10-02T18:30:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Trefl Sopot (2024-10-02T18:00:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-10-02T17:30:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Turk Telekom Ankara (2024-10-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-10-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2024-10-01T17:45:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Umana Reyer Venice (2024-10-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Jordan Ford, a former chess star as a child, excelled for Dolomiti Energia Trento on his BKT EuroCup debut.

Former chess prodigy Jordan Ford looks to deliver a checkmate in the EuroCup

Celebrating a winning shot by shouting "checkmate" would be cold, but what if an actual chess player pulled that off? In this year's BKT EuroCup, somebody could turn that hypothesis into reality and he was actually close to it in Round 1.

Debuting in international competition with a 32-point effort and shooting 11 for 11 from two-point range against the 2022-23 champion, Dolomiti Energia Trento guard [Jordan Ford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-ford/013270/) left quite an impression in Gran Canaria.

What's even crazier is that the 26-year-old guard could have chosen a much different trajectory rather than spreading quickness and explosiveness on basketball courts. By second grade, he was already a two-time California State chess champion and ranked in the top 10 nationally for his age group.

Read more of this story [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1720397/jordan-ford-trento-bkt-eurocup-interview/).

Once a chess prodigy in California, Jordan Ford made everybody aware of his scoring ability on his BKT EuroCup debut

The EuroLeague is celebrating its 25th anniversary, with fans encouraged to join in the conversation with the #EuroLeague25 and #ONLY25 hashtags.

2024-25 season to mark the EuroLeague’s 25th anniversary

It was the year 2000 when the EuroLeague came to fruition. Later that year, on October 15, the first-ever game of the modern EuroLeague was played, with Real Madrid hosting Olympiacos Piraeus. After 24 seasons filled with endless iconic moments, the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign marks a historic milestone as the league enters its 25th anniversary. 

This season will be a celebration of the EuroLeague's rich history, legendary moments, and exciting future, all while showcasing the best talent on the court. A season-long series of events will pay tribute to the legacy of the league and its clubs, honoring the players, coaches, and all those who have helped build the league into a global basketball powerhouse.

Throughout this landmark season, Euroleague Basketball will recognize the contributions of its entire family – from past and present players to coaches and fans. These celebrations will honor the pivotal moments that have shaped the league, while also looking ahead to the next 25 years of growth and success.

 “Since its inception, the EuroLeague has witnessed historic moments with the brightest stars of pan-European basketball. Now, it's time to recognize these achievements while looking ahead to the future. Our goal is to make this season truly memorable, staying true to our mission of bringing the most competitive basketball to millions of fans around the world,” stated Dejan Bodiroga, President of Euroleague Basketball.

To commemorate this special occasion, a unique 25th Anniversary logo has been unveiled. The design maintains the iconic orange-colored ball with the 'e' of the EuroLeague logo proudly emblazoned on it, representing the essence of the EuroLeague brand while integrating shapes that form the number "25". This modern design reflects the EuroLeague's storied history and its bright future, with the disjointed shapes symbolizing the ongoing evolution of the league. The logo also hints at an infinity symbol (∞), representing the endless excitement it continues to deliver to millions of fans worldwide.

The anniversary celebrations officially tipped off with the release of a short film titled "Where’s the Party?" — a comedic tribute featuring 29 active and former players and coaches. This is the first time such a large group of EuroLeague legends have come together to reflect on some of the most iconic moments in the league's history. Set at a fictional anniversary party, the film humorously portrays the EuroLeague’s top figures trying to attend the celebration, highlighting both legends of the game and current players who are poised to shape the future of the league.

Fans will also play a pivotal role in the celebrations by participating in the selection of the 25th Anniversary All-Time Team. Through exclusive content—videos, graphics, and more—fans can relive some of the EuroLeague’s most iconic moments under the hashtags #EuroLeague25 and #ONLY25.

The celebration will extend to the games as well, with select teams donning throwback jerseys that commemorate some of their most significant moments. These special jerseys will be worn during specific rounds of the season, offering fans a nostalgic glimpse into the league’s storied past.

The 25th Anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the season with a series of events, initiatives, and programs aimed at celebrating players, fans, and their communities. The momentum will build until the grand finale at the Final Four, where Euroleague Basketball will continue to honor its past and embrace its future.

A Season-Long Tribute to the Past, Present, and Future

Bahcesehir College Istanbul center Tai Odiase sat down with Euroleague.net's Javier Gancedo to discuss how his third EuroCup season, Bahcesehir and much more.

Tai Odiase, Bahcesehir: 'We want to make the playoffs'

Bahcesehir College Istanbul started the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season with a bang, [downing Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 69-80 to win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs1-report-wol-bah/) in its return to the competition after a three-year break. Center [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) was one of the pillars of Bahcesehir's balanced offense, finishing the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 5 fouls drawn for a team-high PIR of 20. 

Now in his third EuroCup season with as many teams, Odiase made his EuroCup debut with Germani Brescia Leonessa in 2022 before suiting up for Prometey Slobozhanske last season. He helped both teams reach the EuroCup Playoffs and believes that should be Bahcesehir's initial goal: challenging for a playoff spot, as he told Javier Gancedo in an interview for [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com). 

"Right now, we're just focused on making it in the top six. We want to make the playoffs and then go from there," Odiase said. "Personally, I don't look too far ahead. I try to take things one step at a time. So I think our main goal is to just make these playoffs and then make a run from there."

Tai Odiase finished the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5 fouls drawn and a team-high PIR of 20. Bahcesehir College Istanbul beat Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 69-80 in Round 1.

Odiase led Bahcesehir to opening-round win

**Hello, Tai. Congratulations on beating Wolves in Vilnius. How important was it to get that first win right win in Bahcesehir's return to the competition?**

"Thanks. It's always good to get that first win of the season and start the season off right, heading in the right direction. We still have some things we need to work on defensively, but I think overall it was a good first game."

**You started the season in great shape, too. What did you do this summer to show up in such great physical condition?**

"I didn't stop playing basketball. So right after I left Prometey last season, which ended in about April, about a week after that, I went to Puerto Rico and played until the beginning of August. And then about a few days after that came the training camp in Istanbul. So I just kept playing all summer. I think some people might see that as a negative because I didn't really get any rest, but in my opinion, I think it was a positive because I just kept playing basketball. I stayed sharp instead of having to get into game shape again during preseason, so I just kept playing basketball."

**I am sure you had many offers in the offseason. Why did you choose Bahcesehir?**

"I wanted to play in a good \[international\] competition and also play in a good local league as well. You know, Prometey played the EuroCup last season but the local league wasn't as strong as the Turkish Basketball League. So that was one of the main factors, just playing good competitions all year round. And you have a great group of guys, a great coach, a great staff here. So that was one of the biggest factors leading to my decision."

"Having [Nemanja Bjelica] as a GM is a great thing because he played basketball and understands how we feel."

**You also have a lot of experienced players in the competition. How much of a good thing is that?**

"I think it's really good for us. We have Jaleen \[Smith\] and Ponitka, they have EuroLeague experience and we have a lot of EuroCup-experienced guys. I think that is going to help us, especially towards the end of the game when we have to make right decisions. Just having that experience can help us later in games and later in the season."

**Nemanja Bjelica retired from basketball is now your club's general manager. How great is it to have such a successful player running things off the court?**

"Having him as a GM is a great thing because he played basketball and understands how we feel, so he always tries to relate to us from a player-to-player standpoint. And that helps us get acclimated to the team and be comfortable and just only worry about basketball."

**Bahcesehir is a very special club, with schools and colleges everywhere and loads of students at the games. How much are you looking forward to that?**

"I'm looking forward to it a lot because last year we didn't have this situation with the team. We didn't have our fan base, so I didn't get to enjoy having that. But this year we get to enjoy the fan base, having the college behind us. And it should be a lot of fun. I'm very excited for it. We play in a big arena. I hope they fill it up."

"Playing against Besiktas should be fun, having them also in Istanbul should bring out a lot of people... a great, exciting atmosphere."

**Your next opponent is Besiktas. Both teams won in Round 1 and are based in the same city. Is that something you looked forward when you signed for a Turkish team, the derbies?**

"I wasn't really thinking about the derbies per se. I just wanted to be on a team that was good, so we could win a lot of games. But playing against Besiktas should be fun, having them also in Istanbul should bring out a lot of people, bring out the crowd. This should be a great, exciting atmosphere, and I think we will do everything we need to prepare to hopefully win that game."

**Are you in touch with your former Prometey teammates?**

"I talk to each of them from time to time. Ondrej Balvin recently wished me a happy birthday and I wished him the same because he had his birthday shortly after mine. So yeah, I talked to them from time to time. We keep up with each other. I think the chemistry was even stronger because, of the situation. Everybody was in Riga where they were not at home, in their hometown or home country of Ukraine. So I think the chemistry was a lot stronger because we had to deal with things that normal teams don't really have to deal with, playing at an Olympic center all year, where other teams are using the same things and other kids are working out, so we had to work around schedules and just certain things. Waking up at five in the morning for the travel so we could travel on time, and a lot of things that teams don't really deal with. So I think the chemistry was even stronger based on that."

**Have you had time to go around Istanbul and taste some of the great food there?**

"I haven't had much Turkish food. I have been to a lot of restaurants, but not Turkish food. My favorite restaurant so far has been Zuma. There are a lot of malls here, it's actually very overwhelming because I live in Chicago and I figure that's one of the biggest cities. But coming to a city that's similar in size is crazy. So I didn't have the time to really explore. We got here, went to training camp straight away for a couple of weeks, and we have been traveling and playing games. But anytime I have a free day, we try to go around Istanbul, whether it's to a mall or somewhere where the kids will enjoy and just look around. But I have, what, eight-nine more months to explore. So I think by the end of the season, I'll have had my fair share of looking around and traveling around Istanbul."

**The season just started. What can we expect from Bahcesehir going forward? What would be a satisfactory result for you?**

"Right now, we're just focused on making it in the top six. We want to make the playoffs and then go from there. Personally, I don't look too far ahead. I try to take things one step at a time. So I think our main goal is to just make these playoffs and then make a run from there. Like you said, we have a great group of guys with a lot of experience, so I think that alone will take us where we need to be."

More Bahcesehir News

Tai Odiase in action for Bahcesehir College Istanbul against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius in Round 1 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

The 29-year-old is dreaming big after a strong Round 1 performance