Name: The year Luka Doncic dominated the EuroLeague | MVP 2017-18
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Aris Thessaloniki big man Georgios Tanoulis has been ruled out long-term after suffering a serious knee injury 

Aris center George Tanoulis suffers serious knee injury

[Aris Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki/roster/ari/) big man [Georgios Tanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/georgios-tanoulis/010631/) has been ruled out long-term after suffering a serious knee injury on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old center was hurt in the fourth quarter of the friendly game against TFT Skopje. On Thursday he underwent an MRI, which revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial meniscus, and medial collateral ligament (MCL).

Tanoulis is scheduled to undergo surgery, after which he will begin his rehabilitation program. A native of Thessaloniki, Tanoulis joined [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/) on a long-term deal in 2023 and has spent most of the past two seasons away on loan.

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More from Aris Thessaloniki

The big man, who is on loan from Olympiacos, could miss the entire 2025-26 season

The 32-year-old Efes point guard helped Turkiye remain undefeated 


EuroBasket 2025: Larkin, Turkiye down Serbia 

In arguably the best game at EuroBasket 2025 so far, Turkiye claimed first place in Group A by downing Serbia 85-90 in Riga, Latvia. Both teams were undefeated before the game. Turkiye is set to play Sweden in the Round 16, in which Serbia will face Finland. Panathinaikos AKTOR head coach [Ergin Ataman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/ataman-ergin/)'s team finished the game with 27 points and 11 assists, and Anadolu Efes Istanbul star point guard [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) had to do a lot with that. 

Larkin had his best game in the tournament, finishing it with 23 points, 9 assists and no turnovers. He was the perfect counterpoint to Alperen Sengun, who barely missed a triple-double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/) of Panathinaikos had yet another solid game for Turkiye with 16 points and [Ercan Osmani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ercan-osmani/012710/) of Efes had 10, guarding Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic in the final minutes of the game. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shane Larkin dances, Shane Larkin hits.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/TBF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TBF</a> 🇹🇷 <a href="https://t.co/hXXzUpNTRd">pic.twitter.com/hXXzUpNTRd</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1963311837723623756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


Larkin found the way to be effective throughout the game. He fired in 4 of 5 three-pointers on his way to collect 12 points and 6 assists before the break. Far from being done, Larkin went to the foul line and found a couple of backdoor layups to round a truly all-around performance. Serbia tried to surprise Turkiye by placing Jokic and another center, Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos, together on court, but Larkin always found the right rhythm and took good decisions on offense to lead Turkiye to an important victory. 

Jokic led Serbia with 22 points. [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) of EA7 Emporio Armani Mialn added 12 and [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) of Dubai Basketball had 11 for Serbia. Added to Bogdan Bogdanovic's absence, [Vasilije Micic ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/)of Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv and [Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) of Dubai saw limited playing time due to respective physical problems. It went all down to the final minute with Serbia leading 89-90. Sengun and Larkin made free throws, Jokic missed a highly-contested shot from downtown, then Sengun sealed the win from the foul line. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🇹🇷 BU TAKIMA İNANIYORUZ <br><br>👏 Son 16 turuna lider gidecek Milli Takımımıza başarılar dileriz! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuYolculukHepimizin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BuYolculukHepimizin</a> <a href="https://t.co/0WBXCC6nes">https://t.co/0WBXCC6nes</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1963335269211672736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

For EuroLeague fans, it was the first opportunity to see Larkin go against Micic after being Efes teammates for five seasons. Larkin and Micic made history with Efes along with Coach Ataman, winning back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, as well as reaching another Championship Game in 2019. Only time will tell if Larkin and Micic cross paths again at EuroBasket 2025. If not, the next time they go against each other on a basketball court should be on October 3, when Efes faces Hapoel in Round 2 of the EuroLeague regular season. 

More EuroBasket 2025 coverage

In the 2017–18 EuroLeague season, a 19-year-old Luka Dončić became the youngest MVP in EuroLeague history. Leading Real Madrid to the EuroLeague Championship, he earned Final Four MVP, All-EuroLeague First Team, and Rising Star honors, finishing the season with 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.

The year Luka Doncic dominated the EuroLeague | MVP 2017-18

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has signed American big man Armando Bacot for the 2025–26 season, the club announced on Wednesday

Fenerbahce finds frontcourt fix in Armando Bacot

[Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/) has signed American big man Armando Bacot for the 2025–26 season, the club announced on Wednesday.

Bacot (2.08 meters, 25 years old) arrives from the Memphis Hustle, where he made his professional debut during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds over 50 games with Memphis. The big man ranked ninth in the league in rebounds.

At Fenerbahce, Bacot will help fill the void created by the injury that Jilson Bango suffered recently at AfroBasket 2025.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Armando Bacot Fenerbahçe Beko’da! ✍️💛💙<br><br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/tS7proSNlP">https://t.co/tS7proSNlP</a> <a href="https://t.co/IdWbWf3Sr7">pic.twitter.com/IdWbWf3Sr7</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1963248681181716819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A five-year contributor at the University of North Carolina, Bacot helped the Tar Heels reach the 2022 NCAA Championship Game and graduated as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles. His 1,715 rebounds rank ninth in NCAA Division I history.

Bacot has also represented his native United States internationally. He helped the USA win the gold medal at the U18 FIBA AmeriCup in 2018 in Canada.

The move marks Bacot’s first experience in European basketball as he joins a Fenerbahce squad looking to defend its domestic and continental titles under head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.

More Fenerbahce news

The former North Carolina standout will make his European debut with the Turkish powerhouse

The preseason run-up to the 2025-26 EuroLeague season is underway across Europe, with individual friendly games and prestigious tournaments serving to help all teams take what they are preparing at training camp onto the court for testing.

EuroLeague team-by-team 2025-26 preseason calendar, results

The preseason run-up to the 2025-26 EuroLeague season is underway across Europe with individual friendly games and prestigious tournaments serving to help all teams take what they are preparing at training camp onto the court for testing.

Find below the preseason calendar and results for all EuroLeague teams so you can monitor their results in the buildup for the start of the regular season.

### SEPTEMBER

3: **Anadolu Efes Istanbul 87-72 Bandirma Bordo**, Friendly game, Istanbul, Turkiye

10: **Anadolu Efes Istanbul 70-84 Bahcesehir College Istanbul**, Gloria Cup, Antalya, Turkiye

12: **Anadolu Efes Istanbul 84-88 Lokomotiv Kuban**, Gloria Cup, Antalya, Turkiye

14: **Anadolu Efes Istanbul 69-90 Zalgiris Kaunas**, Gloria Cup, Antalya, Turkiye

### SEPTEMBER

13: **Olympiacos Piraeus 80-83 AS Monaco**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

14: **AS Monaco 79-86 Crvena Zvezda**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

20: **AS Monaco 95-70 Boulazac,** Supercoupe 2025, Semifinal, Paris, France

21: [AS Monaco 78-55 Le Mans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-seeking-sweet-taste-in-euroleague-after-french-super-cup-triumph/), Supercoupe 2025, Final, Paris, France

### SEPTEMBER

12: **San Pablo Burgos 90-88 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**, Friendly game, Burgos, Spain

19: **Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 84-99 Valencia Basket**, X torneo EncestaRias, Pontevedra, Spain

20: **Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 80-87 Real Madrid**, X torneo EncestaRias, Pontevedra, Spain

23: **Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 94-98 Pallacanestro Trieste**, Friendly game, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

25: [Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 95-91 Surne Bilbao Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/diallo-samanic-lead-baskonia-to-last-preseason-win/), Euskal Kopa, Barakaldo, Spain

### SEPTEMBER

4: **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 109-62 Radnicki**, Friendly game

9: **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 105-103 Igokea**, Friendly game

12: **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 70-107 Paris Basketball**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

14: **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 86-79 AS Monaco**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

19: **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 77-67 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

21: **Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 83-86 Olympiacos Piraeus**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

24: **Crvena Zvezda 67-89 CSKA Moscow**, VTB SuperCup, Belgrade, Serbia

25: **Crvena Zvezda 82-80 Dubai Basketball,** VTB SuperCup, Belgrade, Serbia

### SEPTEMBER

6: **Galatasaray 92-87 Dubai Basketball**, Friendly game, Istanbul, Turkiye

8: **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 92-93 Dubai Basketball**, Friendly game, Istanbul, Turkiye

15: **Dubai Basketball 108-93 Bosna BH Telekom,** Friendly game, Dubai

18: **Dubai Basketball 97-98 CSKA Moscow**, Friendly game, Dubai

24: **Dubai Basketball 103-107 Zenit St Petersburg**, VTB SuperCup, Belgrade, Serbia

25: **Dubai Basketball 80-82 Crvena Zvezda,** VTB SuperCup, Belgrade, Serbia

### SEPTEMBER

6: **EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 91-64 Gran Canaria**, City of Cagliari , Cagliari, Italy

7: **EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 89-75 FC Bayern Munich**, City of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

10: **EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 81-70 Derthona Basket**, Memorial Bottacin, Vigevano, Italy

13: **Germani Brescia 85-90 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**, Friendly game, Brescia, Italy

19: **Olympiacos Piraeus 76-71 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

21: **EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 69-73 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

27: **EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 93-86 Virtus Bologna**, SuperCoppa, Milano, Italy

28: [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 90-76 Germani Brescia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/the-main-takeaways-olimpia-milano-wins-the-italian-super-cup/), Final, SuperCoppa, Milano, Italy

### SEPTEMBER

6: **FC Barcelona 91-90 Paris Basketball**, Trofeu Encamp, Encamp, Andorra

12: **Basquet Girona 77-88 FC Barcelona**, Torneig Platja d'Aro, Platja d'Aro, Spain

17: **FC Barcelona 90-81 Morabanc Andorra**, Lliga Catalana, Tarragona, Spain

19: **FC Barcelona 80-81 Joventut Badalona**, Lliga Catalana, Tarragona, Spain

26: **Hiopos Lleida 74-63 FC Barcelona**, Trofeo Ciutat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain

### SEPTEMBER

2: **FC Bayern Munich 102-69 Swans Gmunden**, Friendly game, Munich, Germany

6: **Dinamo Sassari 86-89 FC Bayern Munich**, 15th City of Cagliari Tournament, Cagliari, Italy

7: **FC Bayern Munich 75-89 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**, 15th City of Cagliari Tournament, Cagliari, Italy

13: **Virtus Bologna 90-89 FC Bayern Munich**, Friendly game, Bologna, Italy

21: **FC Bayern Munich 105-69 SIG Strasbourg**, Friendly game, Munich, Germany

### SEPTEMBER

4: **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 82-91 Galatasaray**, Friendly game, Istanbul, Turkiye

8: **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 92-93 Dubai Basketball**, Friendly game, Istanbul, Turkiye

13: **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 69-74 Esenler Erokspor**, Friendly game, Istanbul, Turkiye

17: **AEK Basketball 102-102 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**, Friendly game, Athens, Greece

19: **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 67-77 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

21: **Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 73-69 EA7 Empirio Armani Milan**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

24: [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 85-83 Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-wins-turkish-supercup-fourth-trophy-in-2025/), President Cup, Turkiye

### SEPTEMBER

3: **Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 107-71 Balkan Botevgrad**, Friendly game, Sofia, Bulgaria

5: **Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 89-72 Rilski Sportist**, Friendly game, Sofia, Bulgaria

8: **Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 95-74 BC Vienna**, Botevgrad Tournament, Botevgrad, Bulgaria

9: **Balkan Botevgrad 66-108 Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv**, Botevgrad Tournament, Botevgrad, Bulgaria

13: **Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 116-63 Ness Ziona**, Winner Cup

16: **Kiryat Ata 66-101 Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv**, Winner Cup

17: **Beer Sheva/Dimona 76-92 Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv**, Winner Cup

25: **Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 98-86 Beer Sheva/Dimona**, Winner Cup

### AUGUST

30: **LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 77-69 PAOK**, Friendly game, Olonne, France

### SEPTEMBER

5: **LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 86-73 Elan Chalon**, Ain Star Game, Bourg-en-Bresse, France

7: **LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 92-57 Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse**, Ain Star Game, Bourg-en-Bresse, France

13: **LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 67-78 Le Mans**, Trophee Sable Sarthe Pays de la Loire, Sable-Sur-Sarthe, France

14: **LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 75-54 BCM Gravelines**, Trophee Sable Sarthe Pays de la Loire, Sable-Sur-Sarthe, France

19: **Dijon 70-73 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne**, Friendly game, Dijon, France

### SEPTEMBER

7: **Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 87-100 Bnei Herzliya,** Friendly game, Tel Aviv, Israel

12: **Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 102-77 Zenit St Petersburg,** Open Air 2025, Belgrade, Serbia

13: **Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 103-96 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade,** Final Open Air 2025, Belgrade, Serbia

17: **Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 99-66 Maccabi Raanana,** Friendly game, Tel Aviv, Israel

21: **Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 79-84 Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem,** Super Cup, Tel Aviv, Israel

### SEPTEMBER

7: **Olympiacos Piraeus 95-67 Promitheas Patras,** Friendly game, Athens, Greece

13: **Olympiacos Piraeus 80-83 AS Monaco**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

14: **Olympiacos Piraeus 87-90 Paris Basketball**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

19: **Olympiacos Piraeus 76-71 Emporio Armani Milan**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

21: **Olympiacos Piraeus 86-83 Crvena Zvezda**, Crete tournament, Crete, Greece

### SEPTEMBER

18: [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 91-82 Partizan Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-and-partizan-make-history-in-australia/), Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, Melbourne, Australia

21: [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 106-89 Adelaide 36ers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-partizan-leave-australia-on-winning-note/), Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, Sydney, Australia

### SEPTEMBER

2: **Orleans 73-82 Paris Basketball**, Friendly, Orleans, France

6: **FC Barcelona 91-90 Paris Basketball**, Trofeu Encamp, Encamp, Andorra

8: **MoraBanc Andorra 90-103 Paris Basketball**, Trofeu Comu d'Encamp, Encamp, Andorra

12: **Paris Basketball 107-70 Crvena Zvezda**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

14: **Olympiacos Piraeus 87-90 Paris Basketball**, Tournament Neofytos Chandriotis 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus

20: **Paris Basketball 87-90 Le Mans**, Supercoupe 2025, Semifinal, Paris, France

21: **Paris Basketball 80-96 Boulazac**, Supercoupe 2025, 3 Place, Paris, France

### SEPTEMBER

6: **Napoli Basket 83-101 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade,** Carlo Lovari Trophy, Lucca, Italy

7: **Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 99-70 Virtus Bologna,** Carlo Lovari Trophy, Lucca, Italy

12: **Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 96-87 PAOK**, Open Air 2025, Belgrade, Serbia

13: **Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 96-103 Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv**, Final Open Air 2025, Belgrade, Serbia

18: [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 91-82 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-and-partizan-make-history-in-australia/), Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, Melbourne, Australia

21: [Sydney Kings 90-93 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-partizan-leave-australia-on-winning-note/), Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, Sydney, Australia

### SEPTEMBER

6: **Real Madrid 90-65 ALBA Berlin**, XIV Torneo Costa del Sol, Torremolinos, Spain

7: **Unicaja Malaga 82-89 Real Madrid**, XIV Torneo Costa del Sol, Malaga, Spain

13: **Real Madrid 94-64 Casademont Zaragoza**, Friendly game, Segovia, Spain

19: **Rio Breogan 83-78 Real Madrid**, X torneo EncestaRias, Pontevedra, Spain

20: **Real Madrid 87-80 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**, X torneo EncestaRias, Pontevedra, Spain

27: **Real Madrid 72-71 La Laguna Tenerife**, Supercopa Endesa 2025, Malaga, Spain

28: [Real Madrid 94-98 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/de-larrea-leads-valencia-to-spanish-supercup-title/), Final Supercopa Endesa 2025, Malaga, Spain

### SEPTEMBER

7: **UCAM Murcia 92-85 Valencia Basket,** Costa Calida, Yecla, Spain

10: **Casademont Zaragoza 80-98 Valencia Basket**, Memorial Pepe Lanzuela, Teruel, Spain

19: **Valencia Basket 99-84 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**, X torneo EncestaRias, Pontevedra, Spain

20: [Rio Breogan 78-101 Valencia Basket vs. Rio Breogan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/valencia-gets-two-convincing-wins-in-pontevedra/), X torneo EncestaRias, Pontevedra, Spain

27: **Unicaja Malaga 87-93 Valencia Basket**, Supercopa Endesa 2025, Malaga, Spain

28: [Valencia Basket 98-94 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/de-larrea-leads-valencia-to-spanish-supercup-title/), Final Supercopa Endesa 2025, Malaga, Spain

### SEPTEMBER

3: **Virtus Bologna 87-82 Verona,** Friendly, Asolo, Italy

6: **Virtus Bologna 85-65 Libertas Livorno** Carlo Lovari Trophy, Lucca, Italy

7: **Virtus Bologna 70-99 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade,** Carlo Lovari Trophy, Lucca, Italy

13: **Virtus Bologna 90-89 FC Bayern Munich,** Friendly, Bologna, Italy

21: **Tortona 56-75 Virtus Bologna,** Friendly, Tortona, Italy

27: **Virtus Bologna 86-93 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**, SuperCoppa, Milano, Italy

### SEPTEMBER

2: **Zalgiris Kaunas 75-58 Sabah**, Friendly, Kaunas, Lithuania

6: **Zalgiris Kaunas 87-82 Lietkabelis Panevezys**, Friendly, Kaunas, Lithuania

14: **Anadolu Efes Istanbul 69-90 Zalgiris Kaunas**, Gloria Cup, Antalya, Turkiye

17: **London Lions 63-68 Zalgiris Kaunas**, Friendly, London, United Kingdom

How has your team performed in the lead-up to the 2025-26 EuroLeague season?

Team-by-team 2025-26 preseason calendar, results

Virtus Bologna duo Saliou Niang and Momo Diouf both starred for Italy in its EuroBasket 2025 win over Spain, which spells good news for their club team heading into the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Saliou Niang, Momo Diouf give Virtus fans reason for hope in Italy win over Spain

Italy can start looking ahead to the Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025 after a 67-63 win over Spain on Tuesday night, a game that saw [Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) pair [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/saliou-niang/012687/) and [Momo Diouf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mouhamet-diouf/013374/) really come to the fore.

At Cyprus's Spyros Kyprianou Arena, this highly anticipated matchup between Mediterranean foes saw Spain open the game with a 13-0 run and it ended up staying in front until Diouf tied things up at 25-25 midway through the second quarter. But it wasn't until Niang netted the final basket of the third frame that Italy enjoyed its first lead of the night at 49-47. Spain led twice the rest of the way (49-50, 62-63) but four free throws by Marco Spissu and one by Giampaolo Ricci were enough to give Italy the victory.

Come the final buzzer, Niang finished a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in addition to 2 blocks in 15 and a half minutes while Diouf posted 14 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal in 19 minutes. Notably, the Virtus duo led Italy in PER (Niang 20, Diouf 19). 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 58th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Saliou Niang.<br><br>Already got a double-double in 15 minutes.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MakeYourMark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MakeYourMark</a> <a href="https://t.co/S1khKJDMRY">pic.twitter.com/S1khKJDMRY</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1962970659534844099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Niang, 21, and Diouf, 23, are two of the brightest prospects in Italian basketball and it won't be long until we see them playing together for Virtus in the EuroLeague, following the former's move from EuroCup side Dolomiti Energia Trento this summer. 

Diouf already made a positive impact in his rookie EuroLeague season last year but he will be given a more leading role in 2025-26 given that Ante Zizic has now departed the club. For Niang, he will be trying to fill the Isaia Cordinier-shaped hole in Virtus's team next season as he looks to build on an impressive sophomore campaign in the EuroCup.

Time will tell what kind of impact Niang and Diouf have for Virtus next year, but head coach Dusko Ivanovic must be licking his lips about what lies ahead. The key will be trying to get them to replicate the level of performance they showed for Italy on Tuesday night on a regular basis in the EuroLeague next season.

More Virtus Bologna News

The big men were two of the Italians' star performers on Tuesday night (PHOTO: FIBA)

FC Bayern Munich guard Rokas Jokubaitis is set to miss significant time after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Lithuania at EuroBasket 2025. The 24-year-old point guard was injured in the fourth quarter of Monday’s group stage game against Finland in Tampere, which Lithuania won 81–78. Tests carried out on Tuesday morning confirmed ligament damage to Jokubaitis’s left knee. He is expected to be sidelined for at least six months

Bayern's Rokas Jokubaitis suffers knee injury

[FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/roster/mun/) guard [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/) is set to miss significant time after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Lithuania at EuroBasket 2025. The 24-year-old point guard was injured in the fourth quarter of Monday’s group stage game against Finland in Tampere, which Lithuania won 81–78. Tests carried out on Tuesday morning confirmed ligament damage to Jokubaitis’s left knee. He is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, ruling him out until next spring.

Jokubaitis, who joined Bayern this summer from Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv on a three-year contract, had been one of Lithuania’s leaders at EuroBasket. Through five games, he averaged 17.3 points on 49.3% two-point and 56.6% three-point shooting, along with 8.3 assists. Against Finland, he posted 16 points and 9 assists before the injury cut his night short.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">„Bayern“ gynėjas Rokas Jokubaitis dėl traumos iškrenta iš rikiuotės - sužinokite daugiau dabar ⤵️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1962810540394201530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Injuries are unfortunately part of sports, but for Rokas this one is especially painful,” said Bayern sporting director Dragan Tarlac. “We watched him at EuroBasket with great joy — he played brilliantly and led his team like a true leader. With his spirit and competitiveness, we are sure he will come back even stronger. We will support him in every way so that he can return to the court next year.”

Jokubaitis will undergo surgery in Munich in coordination with the Lithuanian national team. Bayern is also monitoring Johannes Voigtmann, who recently arrived in Munich and will undergo a minor procedure that will keep him out for a few weeks.

More on Rokas Jokubaitis

The original diagnosis is that the guard will miss 6 months

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge is back for the 2025–26 season – and it’s bigger, bolder, and more interactive than ever.

Fans can dive into the official fantasy game of the EuroLeague, now featuring two separate competitions, enhanced gameplay, and a fresh batch of prizes that bring you closer to the action.

Level up your lineup: EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge returns with big upgrades

The [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/10) is back for the 2025–26 season – and it’s bigger, bolder, and more interactive than ever.

Fans can dive into the official fantasy game of the EuroLeague, now featuring two separate competitions, enhanced gameplay, and a fresh batch of prizes that bring you closer to the action.

### What’s new this season?

**Two separate competitions**

- *Regular Season*: Manage up to 3 teams.
- *Play-In, Playoffs & Final Four*: Start fresh with up to 2 new teams, new standings, and new prizes.

**Captain scoring update**

- Captains now earn 2x points (up from 1.5x), adding more strategy to your lineup decisions.

**Trophy Cup competition**

- Begins after Round 6 with the top 128,000 teams.
- *Group Stage* (Rounds 6–20): Head-to-head battles in groups of 16.
- *Knockout Stage* (from Round 22): Single-elimination bracket.

**Match predictor**

- Pick winners of EuroLeague and EuroCup games, view community predictions instantly, and win more prizes.

**Team customization and quick actions**

- Personalize avatars and jerseys.
- Assign captain, make trades, or substitutions directly from the player modal.

**Improved player pricing**

- A fairer, more consistent pricing model ensures balanced competition.

**Share your team**

- Post your lineup on social media with official EuroLeague branding and player stats.

### Prizes that bring you courtside

- **Regular Season champion**: VIP trip for two to the 2026 Final Four — flights, four hotel nights, and VIP tickets included.
- **Postseason champion**: Two tickets to the 2027 Final Four.
- *Full prize list available in the Fantasy Challenge portal.*

Whether you're a seasoned fantasy veteran or a newcomer ready to test your basketball IQ, this season offers more ways to play, win, and connect with the EuroLeague community.

Registration is open, so get ready to draft your dream team and compete against fans across the globe in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge 2025–26.

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge returns with new competitions, bigger prizes, and more ways to play

Euroleague Basketball has been recognized with two nominations at the 2025 Sports Business Awards, following a landmark season that blended innovation, storytelling, and celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary.

Euroleague Basketball receives two nominations at 2025 Sports Business Awards

Euroleague Basketball has been recognized with two nominations at the 2025 Sports Business Awards, following a landmark season that blended innovation, storytelling, and celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary.

Euroleague Basketball has been nominated for Best Sports Marketing Campaign – International for its season-long 25th anniversary campaign. Celebrating a quarter-century of top-tier European basketball, the effort combined heritage and innovation with retro game nights, digital fan voting, custom branding, and a global tribute to the All-25 EuroLeague Team in at the Final Four in Abu Dhabi. With more than 77 million impressions and participation from 29 basketball legends, the campaign honored the past while looking firmly to the future.

In partnership with IMG, the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four – which was held for the first time in the Middle East – was nominated for the Sports Innovation Award. Hosted at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, the event marked a historic step in Euroleague Basketball’s global journey. IMG’s world-class production brought the spectacle to life with a record 24 cameras, including immersive in-stanchion angles and RF Steadicams roaming courtside. The Final Four reached new heights in terms of social media engagement, too, reaching 40.56 million, with 208.6 million impressions on all platforms.

Beyond the games, Final Four week featured a series of engaging activations, ranging from the 25th anniversary celebrations to the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals, mic’d-up players, and live digital shows. The result was an 81% increase in global fan engagement and a clear signal of intent: to keep pushing boundaries and growing the game.

Together, these nominations highlight a season defined by ambition, creativity, and connection, with fans at the heart of it all.

2025 Sports Business Awards Nominations:

**• Sports Innovation Award:** EuroLeague Final Four 2025 – Abu Dhabi – IMG & Euroleague Basketball

**• Best Sports Marketing Campaign – International:** Euroleague Basketball

Azuolas Tubelis lifted Lithuania with a rare performance

Lithuania won its third consecutive game at EuroBasket 2025 and improved to 3-1 in Group B by holding off the group host and previously undefeated Finland, 78-81 in Monday night’s showdown in Tampere, Finland. The heroes on the night were FC Bayern Munich playmaker [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/), who unfortunately needed to leave the game and be helped to the locker room in the fourth quarter with an injury, as well as Zalgiris power forward [Azuolas Tubelis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/azuolas-tubelis/008192/).

Zalgiris [brought the big man](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-tabs-azuolas-tubelis-on-multi-year-deal/) this past July from its archrival Rytas Vilnius, setting the 23-year-old for a EuroLeague debut in the upcoming season. And if his latest performance is any indication, Tubelis will have plenty to say in Europe’s elite club competition.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zalgiris forward Azuolas Tubelis posted a double-double in the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroBasket</a> clash vs Finland - 12 points and 11 rebounds! 💪🏻🇱🇹 <a href="https://t.co/7LjbAKdeWu">pic.twitter.com/7LjbAKdeWu</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1962605071700537757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Tubelis is a great player, he is picking up fast and growing fast”, Lithuania’s star center Jonas Valanciunas praised his teammate in a conversation with BallinEurope after the game.

On Monday night, Tubelis was Lithuania’s key chess piece in a battle to defend Finland’s star counterpart Lauri Markkanen, delivering on both ends of the floor in a big win. In his first start, Tubelis finished the game with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists, playing a team-high 31 minutes. He became only the third Lithuanian player to combine for more than 10 points and 10 rebounds in a EuroBasket game in the 21st century, after Linas Kleiza and Valanciunas accomplished the feat in the past.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jokubaitis got him playing Twister 🫨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/axbuZwBGRX">pic.twitter.com/axbuZwBGRX</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1962578352365068510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tubelis slowed down Markkanen in the opening quarter, validating coach Rimas Kurtinaitis’s decision to start him in place of Valanciunas. Tubelis more than held his own against Markkanen, who entered the game averaging 32.3 points, but was held to just 7 in the first half.

Lithuania pulled away in the second quarter behind Jokubaitis and Valanciunas, then opened up a double-digit lead behind Tubelis. After the break, Finland led by Fenerbahce’s [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/) kept threatening to come back, but the Lithuanians held on.

The soon-to-be EuroLeague debutant had a double-double for Lithuania

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens playmaker Dimitris Moraitis will spend the 2025-26 season on loan at fellow Greek club Iraklis Thessaloniki

Panathinaikos loans guard Dimitris Moraitis to Iraklis 

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) playmaker [Dimitris Moraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dimitris-moraitis/006544/) will spend the 2025-26 season on loan at fellow Greek club Iraklis Thessaloniki. The 26-year-old guard, who in June signed [an extension](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-dimitris-moraitis-together-until-2028/) that ties him to the Greens through the 2027-28, season will play a larger role with Iraklis.

Moraitis spent the last two seasons with the Greens, with which he won the EuroLeague in 2024. He played in only one EuroLeague game last season, scoring 2 points in 4 minutes against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Round 15. He saw much more playing time in the Greek League, where he averaged 3.4 points and 1.5 assists in 17 games.

Moraitis has helped the Greens win the Greek League, the Greek Cup and the EuroLeague in his time with the club. He started his career with Panionios Athens and also played for AEK Athens, Kolossos Rhodes and Peristeri Athens before joining Panathinaikos. He has also been a member of the Greek national team and took part in the 2023 Basketball World Cup.

More from Panathinaikos 

The guard signed a long-term extension with the Greens in June

EuroLeague Basketball and Sportal.bg, Bulgaria’s leading digital sports media, part of the international Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG), are proud to announce a new official media partnership that will span over the upcoming Euroleague season.

Euroleague Basketball and Sportal.bg announce Official Media Partnership for the 2025-26 season

EuroLeague Basketball and [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg), Bulgaria’s leading digital sports media, part of the international Ringier Sports Media Group (RSMG), are proud to announce a new official media partnership that will span over the upcoming Euroleague season.

Through this collaboration, [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg) becomes the Official Premium Media Partner of the Euroleague in Bulgaria, offering basketball fans unparalleled access to Europe’s top basketball competition.

The agreement will provide Bulgarian fans with:

- **Comprehensive coverage** of all EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup games, including news, reports, statistics, and live results.
- **Exclusive digital content**, such as interviews with players and coaches, behind-the-scenes stories, and premium video highlights.
- **Strengthening the dedicated EuroLeague section** on [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg), ensuring fans have a one-stop destination for everything related to the competition.
- **Fan engagement initiatives**, including polls, interactive features, and competitions with prizes such as merchandise and match tickets.

"We are delighted to welcome [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg) as our Official Media Partner in Bulgaria," said Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Chief Marketing Communications Officer of Euroleague Basketball. "Bulgaria is a passionate basketball market, and through [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg)’s digital leadership and innovative technologies, we will be able to bring the EuroLeague experience closer and in a more engaging way to its fans and create even stronger connections with the community. At the same time, this partnership reflects EuroLeague’s ambition to explore and strengthen our presence in diverse markets across the European ecosystem, ensuring that basketball’s growth and excitement reach fans everywhere."

"At [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg), we are committed to delivering the best possible sports experience to our readers," added Stilian Shishkov, CEO of [Sportal.bg](http://Sportal.bg) and Managing Partner at Ringier Sports Media Group. "Partnering with the Euroleague, the organizer of the most prestigious basketball competitions in Europe, allows us to combine our editorial excellence with exclusive content and unique fan experiences. Together, we aim to elevate basketball coverage in Bulgaria to a new level."

Brazil is the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup champion! Brazil won the competition for the first time by downing Argentina 47-55 in the gold medal game at Polideportivo Alexis Argüello in Nicaragua on Sunday

Bruno Caboclo and Brazil lift AmeriCup crown

Brazil is the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup champion! Brazil won the competition for the first time by downing Argentina 47-55 in the gold medal game at Polideportivo Alexis Argüello in Nicaragua on Sunday. [Yago dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/), who played for [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/roster/red/) last season, led the winners with 14 points and 5 rebounds and [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) of [Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/roster/hta/) added 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Both players were chosen to the All-Tournament team. Yago was selected as the tournament MVP, too. Brazil led 24-31 at halftime and held a 36-42 margin at the end of the third quarter before opening the fourth with a 0-8 run that broke the game open at 36-52 and allowed Brazilian fans to celebrate long before the final buzzer.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmeriCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmeriCup</a> 2025 All-Star 5! 🌟 <a href="https://t.co/hSuk5cCSbS">pic.twitter.com/hSuk5cCSbS</a></p>&mdash; FIBA AmeriCup (@AmeriCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmeriCup/status/1962377263678197966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The United States of America won the bronze medal by topping Canada 85-90 behind 21 points each from Javonte Smart and [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/roster/bah/) forward [Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-cavanaugh/009601/). [Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/roster/dub/) center [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) paced Canada with 16 points and 7 rebounds. USA led 37-49 at halftime and had already sealed the outcome, 74-88, in the next-to-last minute.

Brazil topped USA 92-77 in one of the semifinals behind 25 points from Yago and 20 from Caboclo. In the other semifinal, Argentina downed Canada 73-83 with 26 points from Jose Vildoza.

Bruno Caboclo

The 28-year-old Hapoel big man earned All-tournament honors

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv has signed rookie Clifford Omoruyi, adding a high-motor center with elite defensive instincts to its roster. 

Maccabi taps tenacious talent Clifford Omoruyi

[Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/roster/tel/) has signed rookie Clifford Omoruyi to a two-year deal, adding a high-motor center with elite defensive instincts to its roster.

Omoruyi (2.11 meters, 23 years old) joins the Israeli powerhouse after a five-year collegiate career split between Rutgers and Alabama. Known for his shot-blocking prowess and explosive athleticism, Omoruyi earned multiple All-Big Ten honors and finished his NCAA tenure as one of the most efficient bigs in the country.

Last season he averaged 7.9 points on 73.4% shooting, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for Alabama in 34 appearances. Before that, he was a Big Ten Conference All-Defensive Team selection after both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons with Rutgers.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome Big Cliff! <a href="https://t.co/xyNRkYTJtz">pic.twitter.com/xyNRkYTJtz</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1962437569779507577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We’re happy to welcome Cliff into our family,” Oded Kattash said of the signing. “He’s a player with significant size and good instincts, with a presence on both ends of the floor. He’ll bring us athleticism, rebounding, and energy. He has tremendous upside, and I have no doubt he’ll help us reach our goals.”

Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Omoruyi moved to the United States at age 14 and quickly transitioned from football boots to basketball sneakers. He starred at Roselle Catholic High School in New Jersey, earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors before committing to Rutgers. Now, the center begins a new chapter with Maccabi.

More Maccabi Tel Aviv news

Nigerian-born big man brings rim protection and raw power to Maccabi’s frontcourt

Israel shook up the standings in Group D of EuroBasket 2025 in Katowice, Poland, by scoring an 82-69 upset win at Spodek Arena on Sunday over France, which moved it into second place with a 2-1 record, the same as its opponent. The winning team was at its best when the Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv duo of Tomer Ginat and Yam Madar were on the floor. 

Hapoel duo of Ginat, Madar spark Israel to upset of France

Israel shook up the standings in Group D of EuroBasket 2025 in Katowice, Poland, by scoring an 82-69 upset win at Spodek Arena on Sunday over France, which moved it into second place with a 2-1 record, the same as its opponent. The winning team was at its best when the [Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/roster/hta/) duo of [Tomer Ginat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomer-ginat/010550/) and [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yam-madar/011052/) were on the floor.

Madar tallied 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, while Ginat amassed 14 points and 6 boards. They were second and third, respectively, on Israel in scoring behind [Deni Avdija](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/deni-avdija/007675/), who scored 23. However, their impact could be seen from their +/-: Ginat led all players with +17 in 21:46 minutes and Madar was right behind with +16 in 24:22. Third was [Roman Sorkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/roman-sorkin/011219/) of [Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/roster/tel/) with +13 in 27:47.

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Avdija spoke glowingly of both Ginat and Madar after the game.

"Tomer is a leader. It's really fun to play with him, next to him. I learn a lot from him – how to speak to guys, how to lead the team," Avdija said at the post-game press conference. "Tomer has things that you cannot teach: his touch, to be in the right place at the right time. He's a winner. And even though he didn’t start today – and for many players that would get into their heads – it didn’t affect him negatively. On the contrary, Tomer took it positively. Despite everything that happened yesterday, he gave an amazing game. Huge credit to him."

Earlier, in the mixed zone, he commented on Madar, who has been dealing with a knee injury since last season. "It’s not a surprise at all. I see this guy working, really working hard, doing everything he can. Treatments, training, everything, so that he’ll be at his very best on the court. He was born for these shots, he knows how to make them."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ISRAEL WITH AN 11-0 RUN 🔥<br><br>🇮🇱 up by 7 with 6:50 to go.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/TherealIBBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TherealIBBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/vhmdHtOb3L">pic.twitter.com/vhmdHtOb3L</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1962193776555827372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Madar, Ginat, Sorkin and Avdija all had key roles as Israel pulled away in the fourth quarter. Elie Okobo's four-point play at the end of the third quarter gave France a 55-56 lead and the AS Monaco guard opened the fourth with another triple. A minute later, Ginat subbed in and scored for Israel, sparking an 11-0 run that Madar capped with a three-pointer for a 66-59 lead.

When Paris Basketball's Nadir Hifi scored, Ginat answered with a bucket in the paint. Israel kept the pressure on and Sorkin fed Madar for a fastbreak layup that boosted the margin to double figures at 74-63. All told, Israel outscored France 27-13 in the fourth quarter with Madar netted 7 of those points and Ginat 6. Madar added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal and Ginat also corralled 3 boards in the final stanza.

Both Madar and Ginat had quiet starts as France raced to a 10-20 lead. However, Ginat drilled a three-pointer and Madar cashed in a steal for a layup to get within 17-22 after 10 minutes. The duo contributed more points early in the second quarter as Israel tied the game at 36-36 at the break. Israel kept it close in a topsy-turvy third quarter before pulling away in the fourth.

The two combined for 13 fourth-quarter points in the come-from-behind win

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens big man Konstantinos Mitoglou scored 17 points in as many minutes to help Greece overpower Georgia 53-94 on Sunday afternoon at Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol, Cyprus

Konstantinos Mitoglou’s hot shooting helps keep Greece atop EuroBasket group

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens big man [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/) scored 17 points in as many minutes to help Greece overpower Georgia 53-94 on Sunday afternoon at Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol, Cyprus. Against a Georgia team whose strength resides in its frontline, Mitoglou teamed with Giannis Antetokounmpo to take charge early and roll to a convincing win. The victory improved Greece to 3-0 atop Group C, while Georgia slipped to 1-2.

Mitoglou made a pair of threes among his 8 points in the first quarter and went on to score 7 more in the second – all on perfect shooting. He was bound to miss at some point – and it happened three and a half minutes into the second half. And then Mitoglou proceeded to block Georgian big man Sandro Mamukelashvili at one end before sinking a fadeaway jumper for the game's next bucket. He was subbed out soon after and able to rest for the game’s final 15 minutes.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇬🇷 Dinos is cooooooking 🧑‍🍳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/HellenicBF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HellenicBF</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paobcgr</a> <a href="https://t.co/YZkbqkALpB">pic.twitter.com/YZkbqkALpB</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1962137954433802588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting – including 3 for 3 from deep – plus 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Mitoglou was second on Greece in scoring and PIR (24) behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo (27 points, PIR of 33). In the 17 minutes (and 23 seconds) that Mitoglou played, Greece outscored Georgia 22-49.

Greece returns to action on Tuesday afternoon to face Bosnia and Herzegovina. Georgia will face host Cyprus later that day.

The Panathinaikos big man missed only 1 shot while fueling his country past Georgia

Virtus Bologna has announced the signing of Aliou Diarra, who has penned a multi-year agreement with the Italian club.

Virtus reels in Aliou Diarra

Virtus Bologna has announced the signing of Aliou Diarra on a multi-year agreement.

Diarra (2.08 meters, 23 years old) spent last season playing for APR in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), averaging 17.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.3 blocks and 1.4 steals in eight games for the Rwanda-based team.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 🌟<br>Aliou Diarra è un nuovo giocatore dei Campioni d’Italia 💯 <a href="https://t.co/8sjdpTXRtR">pic.twitter.com/8sjdpTXRtR</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/1961738115518812161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A Mali international, Diarra's first professional season came in 2023 as he played eight times in the BAL for Malian club Stade Malien, posting 18.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 steals. That same campaign, he joined FUS Rabat in Morocco and averaged 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steal per night across four BAL appearances.

Diarra remained with Rabat for the 2024 BAL season, posting 16.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 2.2 blocks and 1.0 steal in six games before averaging 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steal in four fixtures.

Across his three years playing in the BAL, Diarra has twice been the Defensive Player of the Year (2023, 2025), is a two-time All-BAL First Team selection (2023, 2024), a three-time BAL All-Defensive Team member (2023, 2024, 2025), the BAL rebounding leader in 2023, and a two-time leader in blocks (2023, 2025).

More Virtus News

The 23-year-old center has made waves in the BAL over the last three seasons

The Virtus duo led Italy past Georgia in a key showdown

EuroBasket 2025: Niang, Akele lead Italy to first win 

In what was a critical game for both teams, [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saliou-niang/012687/) and his Virtus Bologna teammate [Momo Diouf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mouhamet-diouf/013374/) provided answers when Italy needed them most, leading their team to a convincing 78-62 victory over Georgia. Georgia was riding high after a historic win against Spain and was well on its way to a second Group C triumph. Italy had started play with a loss against Greece and could ill-afford to fall to 0-2.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chef Momo cooking in the paint 👨‍🍳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/Italbasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Italbasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/eboKreyhEh">pic.twitter.com/eboKreyhEh</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1961769077648556079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


It was harder than it looked. Georgia led for the better part of the game and used a 0-7 run to take a 37-41 edge midway through the third quarter. It didn't last long, however, as [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/) of Valencia Basket fueled an 11-0 blitz that put Italy ahead for good. Diouf and an unstoppable Niang joined forces to boost the Italian lead to 66-47 with over 6 minutes remaining, more than enough for their team to keep full control of the game until the final buzzer.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SALIOU NIANG IS TAKING OVER! 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MakeYourMark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MakeYourMark</a> <a href="https://t.co/LhoXug8GW4">pic.twitter.com/LhoXug8GW4</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1961788332268032377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Niang led the winners with 15 points in 17 minutes. Diouf was rock-solid at the starting center spot, getting 13 points and 5 rebounds in 25 minutes. Italy had five other players scoring five points or more in a great team effort. Italy also managed to keep FC Barcelona forward [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) and two-time EuroLeague champion Giorgi Shermadini scoreless. Former EuroLeague Rising Star Goda Bitadze led Georgia with 22 points. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH YOUR HEAD!<br><br>📺 <a href="https://t.co/O8gpIsQl2R">https://t.co/O8gpIsQl2R</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/Italbasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Italbasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/h46eiaiefg">pic.twitter.com/h46eiaiefg</a></p>&mdash; FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1961792449635905807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>


Virtus fans have good reasons to look to a brighter future, as two of the squad's youngest players have a significant role on the national team. Niang is 21 years old and set to make his EuroLeague debut with Virtus after two BKT EuroCup campaigns with Dolomiti Energia Trento. At the age of 23, Diouf concluded a promising EuroLeague season with Virtus, averaging 6.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a PIR of 7.9 in 31 games. Italy comes off a character win before two critical games against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday and against Spain on Tuesday.