For fans of defensive basketball, the Round 18 clash between Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and FC Barcelona delivered.

Devon Hall, Wade Baldwin come to the rescue as Fenerbahce topples in-form Barcelona

For fans of defensive basketball, the Round 18 clash between [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) and [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) delivered.

Both teams made scoring a grind, and the outcome wasn’t decided until the final seconds. [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) and [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/) emerged as the difference-makers, with Baldwin sinking three free throws before Hall’s lockdown defense on [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) forced a contested look that Baldwin swatted away, sealing a 72-71 win for Fenerbahce in its final game of 2025 – a year that notably included the club’s second EuroLeague title.

“Amazing. Devon did incredible defense on Punter, who had been amazing all game long,” [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/), who finished with 8 points and 10 rebounds, told EuroLeague TV afterward. “And Wade knocking down all three free throws to take the lead. Amazing job.

“Details at the end matter. We were better than them at the end, and that’s why we got the win. Amazing win, playing defense and playing as a team. This is what matters.”

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-FC Barcelona | Round 18 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Coach Saras Jasikevicius echoed those sentiments in his post-game comments, singling out Hall while framing the victory as further evidence of his team’s championship mentality.

“Everybody knows what kind of defender Devon Hall is,” Jasikevicius said. “We chose to leave him one-on-one on the last possession. Devon did the job, others came to help, and then it was scrambling at the end.

“It’s just another character win for our guys. This is why they are champions.”

Fenerbahce’s 72 points marked its fourth-lowest output of the season, but Barcelona was held to a season-low 71. While Jasikevicius would like to see more offensive consistency, the result mattered most – Fenerbahce’s eighth win in its last nine games.

“As a coach, at some point you want to start playing better basketball,” Jasikevicius said. “But what can I say? It’s the same speech I’ve been giving for three months. We’ll take the win, go home, watch the video tomorrow. Hopefully it starts clicking offensively. For now, we’re doing it with defense and grit.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Ataşehir’de unutulmaz bir akşam daha! 🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/N9SgIeGd0d">pic.twitter.com/N9SgIeGd0d</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/2003551918858387512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The outcome could easily have gone the other way. Fenerbahce led for much of the game, from late in the first quarter through the closing minutes of the third, before [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) swung momentum back Barcelona’s way. The guard scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, while Punter – held in check after 16 first-half points – appeared to deliver the dagger with a three-pointer inside the final minute that put Barcelona 67-69 ahead.

Instead, Baldwin responded with five points in the final 43 seconds. Jasikevicius also came away impressed by a Barcelona side revitalized under Xavi Pascual, who has now lost just twice since returning as head coach – both defeats coming in Istanbul, following an earlier loss to Anadolu Efes before a five-game winning streak.

“This was a big game, and in big games you don’t settle – you take the ball to the rim,” Jasikevicius said. “Our decisions could have been better in terms of creating shots off kick-outs, but Barcelona with Xavi is a big-time contender.”

Fenerbahce now sits at 11-6 after an impressive turnaround from a 3-5 start. Barcelona, also trending upward under Pascual, is 12-6 through 18 games. Barcelona hosts AS Monaco on December 30, while Fenerbahce travels to face Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on January 2.

Game News

Punter had a chance to win it, but Hall’s defense and a Baldwin block carried the defending champions over the line

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v FC Barcelona (2025-12-23T17:45:00.000Z)

Is McKinley Wright the EuroLeague monthly MVP for December in waiting?
Dwayne Bacon certainly thinks so, after watching his Dubai Basketball teammate maintain his outstanding form by spearheading a solid 99-90 victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday evening.


Bacon hails Wright as MVP-in-waiting after combining to down Milan

Is McKinley Wright the EuroLeague monthly MVP for December in waiting?

Dwayne Bacon certainly thinks so, after watching his Dubai Basketball teammate maintain his outstanding form by spearheading a solid 99-90 victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Tuesday evening.

Wright compiled a PIR of 30 after spending more than 32 minutes on the floor, scoring 19 points on 5-of-8 two-point shooting and making 10 of his 11 free throws. He also dished 9 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds and snared 2 steals in an all-action performance.

Those numbers ensured that Wright played a big part in allowing Dubai to lead from start to the finish, especially in the fourth quarter as he netted 11 points to hold off Milan’s numerous attempts to take the lead for the first time.

That marked a continuation of a superb run of form by the EuroLeague rookie, who has now averaged 19 points, 9.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals for a stellar PIR of 29.8 over the course of December’s five games, which have seen Dubai solidify its position in the middle of the standings by compiling a 3-2 record with wins over Anadolu Efes Istanbul, FC Bayern Munich and now Milan.

And Bacon believes that those numbers are deserving of individual glory for the 27-year-old Wright, who has stepped up seamlessly to the EuroLeague after catching the eye during two impressive seasons in the EuroCup with Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

 “We played together, and we got an MVP point guard of the month in McKinley Wright,” Bacon told EuroLeague TV. “He should win MVP point guard of the month. He’s been playing great this whole month. It took him a minute \[at the start of the season\] to find his way, but once he got in he’s been playing great this entire month, phenomenal.”

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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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Monthly MVP selections tend to come from teams that have won the most games, so Dubai’s dropped games against Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv might mean that Wright is left unrewarded for his heroics, but more importantly, he has certainly set them on a good path to challenge for a playoff position in the second half of the regular season.

The victory was Dubai’s seventh on its home court so far this season, with its 7-2 record better than every team in the league other than Spanish pair Real Madrid and Valencia (both 7-1 at home). And Wright revealed that staying strong in the Coca-Cola Arena was a specific motivation for Jurica Golemac’s men as they headed into the game.

“We knew we needed it, we lost the last one at home, so we needed to protect the home court,” he said. “Coach told us we couldn’t lose any more at home and we were all on the same page. As long as we execute the game plan and play defense, we can win a lot of games.”

Wright’s main accomplice in the victory was Bacon, who marked his second appearance since returning from injury by pouring in 25 points – with 20 of those coming during a first half that saw Dubai set the tone for the rest of the game by grabbing a series of double-digit leads.

Bacon also grabbed 8 rebounds to help underline Dubai’s physical commitment and solid organisation, and the former Monaco and Panathinaikos star praised the collective ethic, which he believes could take the team a long way this season.

“Everybody just trusted each other and played together. Hopefully, we can stay on this winning streak. It’s a very tough league, so we want to take it one game at a time, one practice at a time, trust in each other, have each other’s back and the sky’s the limit.”

With Wright and Bacon side by side, Dubai certainly will not be an easy team to beat.

Dubai’s dynamic duo totalled 44 points to inspire a solid home victory

Dubai Basketball v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-12-23T16:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv will be without center Zach Hankins for the next two to three weeks following an MRI scan that revealed a bone bruise above his ankle.

Maccabi's Zach Hankins to miss 2–3 weeks with bone bruise

[Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/tel/) will be without center [Zach Hankins](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zachary-hankins/013304/) for the next two to three weeks following an MRI scan that revealed a bone bruise above his ankle.

Hankins experienced persistent discomfort above his ankle after Sunday’s Israeli League game against Ness Ziona and was immediately removed from the court for further evaluation. Subsequent MRI results confirmed a bone contusion in the lower leg, with no fracture detected – a relatively mild but still limiting injury for the big man.

The big man joined Maccabi two weeks ago to add size and a back-to-the-basket presence to the frontcourt. He played 5 minutes in his EuroLeague debut last week - a victory over Valencia Basket - and has made two appearances in domestic action.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">עדכון: זאק הנקינס חש כאבים מעל הקרסול אחרי המשחק מול נס ציונה. הסנטר עבר בדיקת MRI, בה התגלתה חבלה בעצם. השחקן צפוי להיעדר שבועיים-שלושה מהמגרשים</p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/2003485387352891599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Maccabi news

The recent signing was diagnosed with the injury following a game in the Israeli League

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2025-12-26T17:00:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade gave its backcourt a significant boost by signing guard Cameron Payne, the club announced on Tuesday. 

Cameron Payne brings NBA pedigree to Partizan

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/roster/par/) gave its backcourt a significant boost by signing guard [Cameron Payne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cameron-payne/014213/), the club announced on Tuesday. Payne (1.91 meters, 31 years old) arrives in Belgrade with a wealth of experience from the NBA, where he played for several teams over nine seasons, most notably helping the Phoenix Suns reach the 2021 NBA Finals.

A dynamic floor general known for his scoring bursts and playmaking ability, Payne averaged 7.8 points and 3.2 assists over 477 NBA games. He also appeared in 72 playoff contests. Payne began his professional career after being selected 14th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before that, he played two seasons of college basketball at Murray State, where he was the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and the 2015 Lute Olson Award winner as the most outstanding men's college basketball player.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Kameron Pejn je novo pojačanje Partizana Mozzart Bet!⚫️⚪️<br><br>Kameron Pejn je novo pojačanje Partizana Mozzart Bet. Tridesetjednogodišnji američki plejmejker je sinoć doputovao u Beograd i već danas će se priključiti treninzima crno-belih. <br><br>Četrnaesti pik sa NBA drafta 2015. godine… <a href="https://t.co/453S1mVA1w">pic.twitter.com/453S1mVA1w</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/2003390530097455598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Payne brings speed, creativity, and a fearless approach to the backcourt. His ability to push the pace in transition and create off the dribble should complement Partizan’s athletic wings and bigs, while his experience running pick-and-rolls adds another weapon to the team’s offense. Known for his energy and leadership, Payne can provide instant scoring and facilitate ball movement, which could help stabilize Partizan’s attack in late-game situations and improve efficiency against the EuroLeague’s elite defenses.

This marks Payne’s first stint in European basketball, where he will join forces with [newly appointed head coach Joan Penarroya](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-taps-joan-penarroya-eyeing-euroleague-revival/) to boost Partizan’s backcourt depth and offensive creativity. His arrival comes as Partizan looks to climb the EuroLeague standings.

More Partizan news

Payne’s arrival adds depth and creativity to Belgrade’s backcourt rotation

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade has named Joan Penarroya as its new head coach, the club announced on Tuesday. Penarroya, 56, takes over the reins of the Serbian giant after a recent stint with FC Barcelona

Partizan taps Joan Penarroya, eyeing EuroLeague revival

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade has named Joan Penarroya as its new head coach, the club announced on Tuesday. Penarroya, 56, takes over the reins of the Serbian giant after a recent stint with FC Barcelona, where he posted a 27-21 EuroLeague record across a season and a half, before parting ways last month.

Penarroya arrives with a wealth of experience in European basketball. A former player turned coach, he began his coaching career with CB Olesa and later guided MoraBanc Andorra from Spain’s lower divisions to the elite, winning the third division in 2012 and the second division in 2014. He spent eight seasons with Andorra, including a EuroCup campaign in 2017-18.

His breakthrough came with San Pablo Burgos, where Penarroya led the club to back-to-back Basketball Champions League titles in 2020 and 2021, as well as the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2021. After two seasons in Burgos, he joined Valencia Basket and steered the team to the EuroCup Semifinals in 2022.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Đoan Penjaroja je novi trener KK Partizan Mozzart Bet!⚫️⚪️<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/KMAnqKkErQ">https://t.co/KMAnqKkErQ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://t.co/irSHY6yP3G">pic.twitter.com/irSHY6yP3G</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/2003383685018693687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Penarroya made his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2022, guiding the team to the brink of the playoffs in his first season. He later coached Barcelona, inheriting a squad that reached the EuroLeague Playoffs in 2024 and competing at the highest level until November 2025.

Known for his tactical adaptability and emphasis on team chemistry, Penarroya now faces the challenge of leading Partizan in one of the most competitive environments in European basketball. His appointment signals the club’s ambition to turn things around after the winningest coach in EuroLeague history, Zeljko Obradovic, stepped down last month.

The Spanish tactician brings EuroLeague experience and a history of success in European competitions to the Serbian powerhouse

With Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs unavailable this week, Sport 24's Vasiliki Karamouza goes through the options with unlimited trades this week, but also looks back at Round 17, which brought total chaos to EuroLeague Fantasy Basketball. Kevin Punter was the one who stole the spotlight with a historic performance, exploding for massive fantasy points output in a triple-overtime thriller.

Vasiliki covers the biggest fantasy traps, injury updates, and late-game risks that managers must consider heading into Round 18 to help you make smarter, and safer, fantasy decisions.

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Unlimited trades are here again!

With Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs unavailable this week, Sport 24's [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fkaramouza_vas&data=05%7C02%7Cgeoff.gillingham%40euroleague.net%7C8f23c17ba6e24a938a4c08ddff3a0ce8%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C638947346960937569%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RuVg%2FRj%2BbH%2FiJbU%2BYkpXVo6vX%2B39lXvvomI9gNtMJLs%3D&reserved=0) goes through the options with unlimited trades this week, but also looks back at Round 17, which brought total chaos to EuroLeague Fantasy Basketball. Kevin Punter was the one who stole the spotlight with a historic performance, exploding for massive fantasy points output in a triple-overtime thriller.

Vasiliki covers the biggest fantasy traps, injury updates, and late-game risks that managers must consider heading into Round 18 to help you make smarter, and safer, fantasy decisions.

Virtus Bologna v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-12-26T19:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Real Madrid (2025-12-26T18:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-12-23T19:45:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-12-23T19:45:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-12-23T19:00:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-12-23T18:30:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-12-23T18:00:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich has decided to bring back Svetislav Pesic as its new head coach, with the 76-year-old agreeing to take over until the end of the 2025-26 season. He takes the place of Gordie Herbert, who parted ways with the club on Saturday.

Svetislav Pesic replaces Gordie Herbert as Bayern head coach

[FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) has decided to bring back Svetislav Pesic as its new head coach, with the 76-year-old agreeing to take over until the end of the 2025-26 season. [He takes the place of Gordie Herbert](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-coach-gordon-herbert-part-ways/), who parted ways with the club on Saturday.

Having previously coached Bayern from the fall of 2012 until 2016, Pesic is well remembered for his time in Munich after bringing a first German League title to the club in 2014.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">🚨 Coach Svetislav Pešić kehrt zurück <br><br>Er übernimmt bis Saisonende - Mehr dazu auf unserer Website.<br><br>📰 <a href="https://t.co/WkTuk1tvxa">https://t.co/WkTuk1tvxa</a><br>_____<a href="https://twitter.com/freelanceDE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freelanceDE</a> wünscht viel Erfolg im neuen Job. <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBayern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBayern</a> Basketball Update <a href="https://t.co/7lWDrxWACX">pic.twitter.com/7lWDrxWACX</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/2003130505550758195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Svetislav knows Munich, he knows Bayern and both leagues; some of us also know him very well – so his adjustment period should be short. That, along with his enormous experience, gives us a good feeling about this decision,” said Bayern sporting director Dragan Tarlac.

With a 102-71 career record in the EuroLeague, Pesic led Bayern in its first three EuroLeague seasons between 2013 and 2016. He also coached FC Barcelona on two occasions in the competition – from 2002 to 2004, then 2017 to 2020 – and Valencia Basket in 2010-11.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Auf geht&#39;s. <a href="https://t.co/LVYK5Zt5A4">pic.twitter.com/LVYK5Zt5A4</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/2003137117527191823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More recently, he has been the head coach of the Serbian national team, a role he held between 2021 and 2025. He stepped down after EuroBasket 2025 this past summer.

Pesic has worked with current Bayern players Vladimir Lucic and Stefan Jovic during his time with Serbia, even naming Lucic as the team’s captain at one point, while he also overlapped with Tarlac, who worked for the Serbian federation before becoming Bayern’s sporting director.

More Bayern News

The veteran play-caller has penned a deal until June 30

I know, I know… You were expecting to see Javier Gancedo or maybe even Frankie Sachs in this column, right? Well, as the calendar throws us a curveball and the EuroLeague schedule tightens, it’s my turn to step in. Think of me as the sixth man off the bench, ready to provide a spark when it’s needed most.

Fantasy tips, Round 18: Navigating the festive schedule

I know, I know… You were expecting to see Javier Gancedo or maybe even Frankie Sachs in this column, right? Well, as the calendar throws us a curveball and the EuroLeague schedule tightens, it’s my turn to step in. Think of me as the sixth man off the bench, ready to provide a spark when it’s needed most.

This is a strange week for [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) managers, with the competition going into full end-of-year mode. We have seven games on Tuesday, December 23, followed by just three on Friday, December 26. With that in mind, what I’ve tried to do – at least for guards and forwards – is offer one recommendation for Turn 1 (Tuesday) and another for Turn 2 (Friday). So, without further ado, let’s unwrap this week’s fantasy picks.

### McKinley Wright, Dubai Basketball (14.4 credits)

Sometimes the smartest move is simply to ride the hot hand. [McKinley Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) has been on fire lately, posting fantasy scores of 30.8, 42.0 and 38.5 over the last three rounds. Facing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan at Coca-Cola Arena, a venue where he has been particularly impressive, Wright looks primed for another big performance. If you’re searching for a reliable spark, he ticks all the boxes.

### Luca Vildoza, Virtus Bologna (9.3 credits)

Do you believe in revenge games? Because I certainly do. [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) racked up 27.0 fantasy points last week on the road at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, one of his former clubs. On Friday, the Argentinian guard comes up against another of his former employers in Olympiacos Piraeus. For just 9.3 credits, Vildoza offers strong value – and late-December EuroLeague nights have a habit of adding a little extra drama.

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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRknKkvDXxi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Luca Vildoza (@lucavildoza)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Joel Parra, FC Barcelona (6.7 credits)

History has a funny way of repeating itself, and [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-parra/007464/) could be in line for another memorable showing on the road at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Last season, Barcelona’s masked man – currently wearing protective gear once again – delivered a career-high 26 PIR, along with 15 points and a career-best 12 rebounds, as the *Blaugrana* escaped with a win. Having logged more than 30 minutes in each of Barcelona’s last two games, Parra looks excellent value at 6.7 credits.

### Jaylen Hoard, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (15.1 credits)

He may sit at the higher end of the price range, but [Jaylen Hoard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jaylen-hoard/006835/) remains one of the safest bets in the game. His importance to Oded Kattash’s team is clear, and he enters Round 18 averaging 21.5 fantasy points across his last four outings. With Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade enduring a difficult stretch – including a 20-point home loss in Round 16 and a 41-point defeat on the road in Round 17 – Hoard could pile on the pressure once again. In a round full of uncertainty, sometimes boring is beautiful.

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### Richaun Holmes, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (10.9 credits)

For the first time in months, Ergin Ataman has all three of his centers available following [Richaun Holmes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/richaun-holmes/014011/)’s return from injury. In his first game back, Holmes played 26 minutes and scored 19 points in a Greek League win over the weekend, suggesting he could see solid minutes on the road at Zalgiris Kaunas. [Listed as available for Round 18](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/injury-report-round-18-el2526/), Holmes could prove a major differentiator if he reestablishes himself as Panathinaikos’s first-choice center ahead of Kenneth Faried and Omer Yurtseven – something I’m expecting to see.

More Fantasy Challenge News

Geoff Gillingham is on hand to offer his recommendations for this week

A festive slate of fixtures in Round 18 of the regular season is headlined by the reigning champ hosting the current co-leader, along with lots more exciting meetings in the race for the playoffs. Don’t miss your overview of the upcoming games.

At a glance: A festive slate packed with thrilling matchups

A festive slate of fixtures in Round 18 of the regular season is headlined by the reigning champ hosting the current co-leader, along with lots more exciting meetings in the race for the playoffs. Don’t miss your overview of the upcoming games.

## Tuesday, December 23

### Dubai Basketball vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (17:00 CET)

The round begins with a key matchup between direct rivals in the middle of the standings as Dubai (8-9) welcomes Milan (9-8). Dubai boosted its confidence with a hard-fought win at Efes last time out, and is led by arguably the league’s hottest player with guard McKinley Wright recording an average PIR of 35.0 in the last three games. Milan is aiming to bounce back from a defeat to Fenerbahce and will look to contain Wright through the energy of Quinn Ellis, while Shavon Shields will look to recover his usual accuracy after going 3-of-14 from the field in last week’s loss. On that note, Dubai is currently ranked last in the league in three-point shooting (31.7%), despite veteran shooter Davis Bertans finding form with six triples in the last two games.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. FC Barcelona (18:45 CET)

Co-leader Barcelona (12-5) will look to make it five wins in a row by overcoming reigning champ Fenerbahce (10-6) and former coach Saras Jasikevicius. After somehow surviving last week’s record-breaking triple overtime thriller against Baskonia, Barca will hope that Kevin Punter can continue the sharpshooting which saw him net 43 points in that game. The visiting team will have to cope without injured Will Clyburn, while former Fener big man Jan Vesely faces a fitness battle to take part. Fenerbahce will be led by a red-hot Talen Horton-Tucker, who has averaged 23.0 points in the last three games and now faces a great matchup with Punter. The hosts will also look for Tarik Biberovic to continue his upturn in form, after netting seven triples in the last two games.

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19:00 CET)

An all-green affair will see Zalgiris (10-7) attempt to climb into the top six at the expense of inconsistent Panathinaikos (11-6). Zalgiris got its home form back on track by blitzing Partizan last time out, and big man Moses Wright will relish the opportunity to continue his strong form after recording 17 points and 6 rebounds in that win. He faces a bruising battle with Panathinaikos star Kenneth Faried after his 8 points and 11 rebounds helped defeat Hapoel in Round 11. The backcourt features an all-star showdown between the league’s leading distributor Sylvain Francisco (6.9 assists per game) and third-highest scorer Kendrick Nunn (19.1 points per night). Zalgiris boasts the second-best defense in the league (81.5 points allowed), and can also count on a crackling atmosphere for this crucial matchup.

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (19:30 CET)

After finally ending a seven-game road odyssey, Bayern (5-12) will hope for home comforts as it welcomes co-leader Hapoel (12-5). The German team won no games on its extended road trip, leading to the departure of coach Gordie Herbert on Saturday. Bayern needs to improve defensively after allowing 103 points against Monaco last week, but it does have a shooter in fine form with Spencer Dinwiddie netting at least 10 points in eight straight games. Hapoel is looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Panathinaikos and will hope for another strong performance from guard Tyler Ennis, who took advantage of extended playing time by netting 16 points with four triples. The visitors rank second in two-point shooting accuracy (59.4%), so Bayern will need strong interior defense as it begins its new coaching era.

### Valencia Basket vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:00 CET)

Valencia (11-6) will attempt to get back on the winning track against hungry Baskonia (6-11). The visiting team is still looking for its first road win after last week’s triple-overtime heartache at Barcelona, and will cross their fingers that key scorers Timote Luwawu-Cabarrot and Markus Howard will recover from injuries sustained in that game. Valencia’s five-game winning run was ended by a narrow defeat at Maccabi last week, but the Taronjas boast the EuroLeague’s best home record (7-1) and will look for in-form big man Matt Costello to deliver another strong performance against his former club. He is part of a Valencia unit which ranks second in the league in offensive rebounding (13.6 per game), and Braxton Key is another physical presence waiting to unsettle Baskonia after grabbing 4 offensive boards last time out.

### Paris Basketball vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:45 CET)

Paris (5-12) will attempt to turn around its recent freefall against a Zvezda team (10-7) fighting hard to stay in the playoff places. The French team will need to recover its morale after a fourth-quarter collapse led to last week’s loss at Real, but knows it can rely on another scoring alternative to Nadir Hifi following a great start from new signing Jared Rhoden, who netted 19 points in Madrid. Zvezda last’s game saw the Serbian team show great spirit – helped by a double-double from chief orchestrator Codi Miller-McIntyre (21 points, 10 assists) – to edge out Virtus and snap a three-game losing streak. But that game took place in Belgrade and Zvezda has desperately struggled on its travels, losing four straight, and knows it will need maximum intensity to survive Paris’s whirlwind style.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:45 CET)

Two teams struggling in the lower reaches of the standings are looking for a boost with ASVEL (4-13) hosting Efes (6-11). Pablo Laso’s honeymoon as Efes coach was cut short by last week’s home loss to Dubai, although the performance of do-it-all Nick Weiler-Babb (12 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds) suggests that he might be starting to find top form. ASVEL will hope that at least one of its key trio of Nando De Colo, Armel Traore and Zac Seljaas will recover from injury, and it needs big man Mbaye Ndiaye to stay strong in the paint after averaging 5.3 rebounds in the last three games. This is a meeting between the league’s lowest and third-lowest scorers (77.0 and 80.4 points per game respectively), pointing towards a tight and defensively dominated encounter.

## Friday, December 26

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (18:00 CET)

Partizan’s (6-11) troubled season faces its latest test with a visit from a Maccabi team (7-10) flying up the standings after four straight wins. The Israeli team’s latest success saw recent signing Iffe Lundberg exert his growing influence with 12 points and 7 assists, and he’ll be keen to shine once more against his former team. Partizan fans will be impatient to see a big improvement from their team’s 41-point loss at Zalgiris on Friday, with particular improvement needed in the long-range shooting department after netting only five triples in that loss. Partizan ranks last in the league in rebounding (31.4 per game) and faces a Maccabi which excels in crashing the glass (12.5 offensive boards per night), so denying the likes of Jaylen Hoard will be a point of emphasis for the hosts.

### AS Monaco vs. Real Madrid (19:30 CET)

Two ambitious teams currently locked in a tie for sixth place go head-to-head as Monaco (10-7) welcomes Real Madrid (10-7). Monaco showed its collective potential as seven different players scored in double digits as a two-game losing streak was snapped against Bayern on Friday, with Alpha Diallo once again proving his all-round value by combining 12 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Real Madrid is increasingly leaning on the talents of Theo Maledon, who scored 21 points – including a history-making one millionth EuroLeague point – to inspire Round 11’s comeback win over Paris. But *Los Blancos*, who rank first in defensive rebounding (26.3 per night) need to sharpen up defensively as they prepare to face a Roca Team which leads the league in both assists (20.8) and turnovers (10.4).

### Virtus Bologna vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:30 CET)

The round concludes with another clash of direct rivals as Virtus (8-9) looks to start another home winning streak against Olympiacos (9-7). Get ready for a bombardment from two of the league’s most prolific three-point shooters, with Carsen Edwards (2.7 triples per night) hoping to outscore Reds marksman Tyler Dorsey (2.8 per game). Dorsey’s 22 points were accompanied by 21 from fellow long-ball expert Evan Fournier as Olympiacos shrugged off poor previous form to ease past ASVEL last week, and the Greek giant will now look to embark upon a long winning run as the regular season’s midway point approaches. Doing that against a Virtus team which has the third-best defense in the competition – 82.2 points per game – will not be easy.

Andy West previews the upcoming round of fixtures in the EuroLeague campaign