Name: Weathers thanks Groselle with a dunk! Magic Moment
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys snapped its four-game losing streak by handing Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse its first defeat of the season, 84-80, in the opening game of Round 5 on Tuesday

Winless Lietkabelis upsets undefeated Bourg, 84-80

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys snapped its four-game losing streak by handing Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse its first defeat of the season, 84-80, in the opening game of Round 5 on Tuesday. Marko Pecarski pulled off a man-of-the-game display, going 9-for-9 on field goals and allowing the Lithuanian side to improve their record to 1-4. Having suffered a loss for the first time in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup campaign, Bourg dropped to 4-1.

Pecarski recorded a team-high 22 points, going a perfect 8-for-8 from inside the arc, 1-for-1 from deep and 3-for-3 from the line. Dovis Bickauskis made 4 triples to end the game on 16 points, Georgios Kalaitzakis scored 14 and Andrija Stipanovic added 11. For the visitors, Xavier Castaneda scored a game-high 23 points and Joel Ayayi netted 11.

Pecarski opened the scoring with a triple, but Brandon Paul set up Kevin Kokila before netting a jumper to put Bourg ahead, 3-4. The back and forth continued, with Pecarski taking his tally to 7 early points for an 11-7 lead. Yet, the visitors responded with a 2-11 run, as Joel Ayayi netred one from beyond the arc to put Bourg back in front, 13-18. Then, Kalaitzakis and Mantas Rubstavicius opened their accounts off the bench, cutting the difference to 18-20 after 10 minutes.

Bourg hit the ground running in the second, with Ayayi scoring two straight baskets to extend its lead to 19-26. A few Bourg turnovers allowed the hosts to go on a 9-2 run, with Martynas Varnas drilling one from deep and Stipanovic netting one from inside to put his team back level, 28-28. Bickauskis beat the buzzer with a triple to give Lietkabelis the lead and Varnas netted another three-pointer for a 34-30 cushion. Then, Bickauskis nailed another triple to take his tally to 10 first-half points before Nelson made 2 from the line to trim the deficit to 39-36 at the break.

Game Videos

Following a quiet first half, where he recorded just 2 points, Castaneda opened the second with two straight triples to put Bourg ahead 41-42. Yet, Pecarski netted from inside and Bickauskis scored his third triple of the clash for a 46-42 Lietkabelis lead. Then, the two teams exchanged blows, with Pecarski taking his tally to 17 points for a 54-47 cushion. Kalaitzakis made a couple of free throws to give Lietkabelis a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, 58-47, but Bourg responded with a 3-9 run capped off by a Castaneda triple just before the third-quarter buzzer. 

Stipanovic netted two straight buckets to open the closing quarter, but baskets from Mehdy Ngouama, Castaneda and Jordan Usher brought Bourg within 65-62. Yet, a Pecarski monster block on Castaneda shifted the momentum, with Bickauskis and Kalaitzakis netting one each from deep to extend Lietkabelis’s lead to 75-64 with 03:32 left on the clock. The visitors tightened up their defense and a few trips to the charity stripe brought them within 77-75 with 1 minute remaining. Then, Kalaitzakis made 1 of 2 from the line before Castaneda scored a floater, 78-77. But Pecarski netted a huge buzzer-beating jumper before two free throws from Kalaitzakis clinched it for the hosts.

Game News

Marko Pecarski dominated for the hosts with a career night

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2024-10-22T16:00:00.000Z)

Groselle makes the most of an inside pass to feed Weathers, who finishes strong

Weathers thanks Groselle with a dunk! Magic Moment

 Groselle makes the most of an inside pass to feed Weathers, who finishes strong

Trefl Sopot v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2024-10-22T17:45:00.000Z)

Nice assist from Hanga, releasing Pustovyi for a monster one-handed slam!


 Monster dunk from Pustovyi! Magic Moment 

 Nice assist from Hanga, releasing Pustovyi for a monster one-handed slam!


Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Joventut Badalona (2024-10-22T17:00:00.000Z)

Great steal and recovery from Dotson, releasing Pustovyi for a monster two-handed slam!

 Big dunk from Pustovyi! Magic Moment 

Great steal and recovery from Dotson, releasing Pustovyi for a monster two-handed slam! 

Xavier Castaneda drives through the Lietkabelis defense and pulls up for the layup, but Pecarski rejects him with force!

Pecarski’s monster block to on Castaneda! Magic Moment

Gabrielius Maldunas goes for the layup in transition, but Pansa chases him down for the big block!

Pansa rejects Maldunas! Magic Moment

 Gabrielius Maldunas goes for the layup in transition, but Pansa chases him down for the big block!

Stipanovic posterizes Jean-Marc Pansa after a smart Kalaitzakis inbound pass!

Stipanovic dunks in front of Pansa! Magic Moment

 Stipanovic posterizes Jean-Marc Pansa after a smart Kalaitzakis inbound pass!

Ahead of AS Monaco taking on Paris Basketball in Round 5 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season, Mike James and TJ Shorts have taken part in a feature interview on the Rivalry Series Game of the Week.

TJ Shorts: 'Monaco vs. Paris is going to be a true rivalry'

Round 6 brings a French derby between AS Monaco and Paris Basketball. The Rivalry Game of the Week is a rematch of last season's French League Finals, as well as the first chance to see last season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP and BKT EuroCup MVP face to face: [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) and [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/), respectively.

James is the reigning EuroLeague MVP, as well as the competition's all-time top scorer. He also led Monaco to a second consecutive French League title last season, downing Paris 3-1 in the finals. He believes Paris is an interesting project that is on the rise.

"Paris is a big market for us. It's always tough being a first-year team and trying to figure out how to navigate each game and try to figure out the fatigue factor," James says. "But hopefully they do a good job. I hope they have a good season besides against us."

Shorts led Paris to the best-ever EuroCup record, 22-1. He earned season MVP and EuroCup Finals MVP honors, dominating the competition like few players did before. Shorts sees Monaco as one of the toughest teams to beat, being a talented team that plays many times against his squad.

"Monaco, they are kind of at the top of the mountain, so we're kind of trying to climb to reach them. I would say, personally, Paris vs. Monaco is going to be the maybe the truest rivalry in the years to come," Shorts says about the rivalry. "We know what they've done over the years. We know the talent level that they have. The expectations are going to be the same. To try and put up a big fight to win the game."

Monaco hosts Paris at Salle Gaston Medicin on Wednesday at 20:30 CEST. 

Round 6 brings a French derby between AS Monaco and Paris Basketball. The Rivalry Game of the Week is a rematch of last season's French League Finals, as well as the first chance to see last season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP and BKT EuroCup MVP face to face: Mike James and TJ Shorts, respectively.

This will be their first-ever meeting in Europe's premier club competition

AS Monaco v Paris Basketball (2024-10-24T17:00:00.000Z)

Stipanovic produces magic to connect with Bickauskis!

Stipanovic with a brilliant behind-the-back assist! Magic Moment

 Stipanovic produces magic to connect with Bickauskis!

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary sanctions pertaining to incidents that occurred in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Latest disciplinary sanctions

**Round 2**

- Andrea Trinchieri, head coach of Zalgiris Kaunas, has been sanctioned with a fine of €5,000 for comments regarding the officiating performance, in accordance with Article 24.2.c) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

**Round 3**

- Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade has been sanctioned with a fine of €5,000 for the lighting of flares in its arena during the game Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade – Bayern Munich, under 29.2.e) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.
- The protest submitted by Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens on occasion of the game Paris Basketball – Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been dismissed.
- Luca Banchi, head coach of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, has been sanctioned with a fine of €6,500 for comments regarding the officiating performance, in accordance with Article 24.2.c) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

**Round 4**

- Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade has been sanctioned with fines totaling €25,000 for the throwing of objects onto the playing court and the offensive chants directed towards an individual, on occasion of the game Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade – FC Barcelona, under 29.2.f) and h) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary decisions pertaining to incidents that occurred in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Latest disciplinary decisions

Imagine stepping into the shoes of a EuroLeague player for a day. Well, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz forward Chima Moneke wants to bring fans as close as he can to the action through his YouTube channel.

Chima Moneke shows fans what a EuroLeague game day entails

Imagine stepping into the shoes of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague player for a day. Well, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz forward [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) wants to bring fans as close as he can to the action through his YouTube channel.

During [Baskonia’s Round 1 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/baskonia-grinds-down-partizan-88-82-thanks-to-cohesive-team-effort/), Moneke walks EuroLeague fans through his game-day routine.

1ST GAME OF THE EUROLEAGUE SEASON VS PARTIZAN

Starting with preparing his breakfast at home, the 28-year-old – now in his second season with Baskonia and third EuroLeague campaign overall – then explains his plans for his YouTube channel and previews the Partizan game before getting himself ready and leaving for Buesa Arena.

Once he arrives at Baskonia’s gym, clearly excited ahead of the team’s EuroLeague opener, he goes through his warmup alongside his teammates. Following the team introductions, which sees Moneke get a warm reception from the crowd, he goes on to provide a commentary of how he saw the game while highlights run.

Moneke is your typical EuroLeague player, even accepting that his performance in the first half against Partizan was not up to his usual standard, but he is leading the way when it comes to bridging the gap between players and fans.

Make sure to subscribe to [Moneke’s YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@chimdoggg) in order to watch more of his videos during the EuroLeague season. You can also catch up on the content he has produced in the past, which has featured [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/), [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and Ergin Ataman, plus many more.

The Baskonia forward published his latest video on YouTube

CB Gran Canaria takes on ratiopharm Ulm in a fascinating EuroCup game this Tuesday night.

Gran Canaria is Ulm's last stop of a memorable road trip

Two teams that belong to BKT EuroCup royalty historically-speaking go up against each other when [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/carousels/dreamland-gran-canaria/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22can%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Dreamland%20Gran%20Canaria) hosts [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/carousels/ratiopharm-ulm/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22ulm%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=ratiopharm%20Ulm) in Round 5 on Tuesday night (21:00 CEST).

Indeed, Ulm and Gran Canaria have been in the competition for a long time. Ulm in its 12th EuroCup season and has played in every EuroCup campaign over the last 10 years. Gran Canaria is in its 17th EuroCup season and won the competition in 2023, the same year Ulm lifted the German League title.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘂𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 🏝️<br>📷 | <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GranCanariaCB</a> <br>📷 | Gran Canaria Arena<br>📷 | 21 Uhr, Magenta Sport<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canyoufeelit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#canyoufeelit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bkteurocup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bkteurocup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/lottobw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lottobw</a> <a href="https://t.co/gs5VGMjW4c">pic.twitter.com/gs5VGMjW4c</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1848590102789775596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gran Canaria leads the all-time standings in points scored (20,414), rebounds (8,817), assists (4,338) and games played (231). Ulm ranks eighth in games played (171) and is set to climb two spots in the standings this season, going past ALBA Berlin (174) and Rytas Vilnius (179).

It will most certainly be a very special game for Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic. After a legendary playing career that saw him win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title with FC Barcelona in 2010, Lakovic coached Ulm for three seasons – from 2019 to 2022 – before joining Gran Canaria.

Both teams have very different approaches when it comes to constructing their rosters, too. This past summer, for example, Gran Canaria looked for ready-made players while Ulm found some of the biggest young talents in European basketball, in addition to investing in players with no previous EuroCup experience.

Andrew Albicy and John Shurna combine for 253 EuroCup appearances.

Albicy, Shurna still going strong

Gran Canaria still has five players that helped the team win the EuroCup title in 2023: [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/), [Jovan Kljajic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jovan-kljajic/007560/), [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/), [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) and [Miquel Salvo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/miquel-salvo/005005/). Albicy is arguably the most experienced EuroCup player in the competition this season, ranking second all-time in assists (620) and steals (178), as well as 10th in games played (124).

Shurna is another with plenty of experience, having taken part in 129 showdowns, ninth overall, ranking eighth in rebounds (474) and eighth in three-point shots made (182).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">en bucle <a href="https://t.co/pK1C0l89Ei">pic.twitter.com/pK1C0l89Ei</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1848655755030716840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gran Canaria also made sure that most of its newcomers knew what the competition was about, particularly its big guys. [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/) won the EuroCup with Valencia Basket in 2019; center [George Conditt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/george-conditt-iv/012016/) and scoring ace [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/) were teammates at Promitheas Patras in the 2022-23 EuroCup season; and [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) has also appeared in the competition with Veolia Hamburg Towers. Only playmaker [Carlos Alocen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/carlos-alocen/010623/) is a EuroCup newcomer after four years with EuroLeague perennial contender Real Madrid. 

Ulm is in the middle of a six-game road trip that has seen the team rack up plenty of air miles, with stops in Istanbul, Portland and now Gran Canaria. Only [Tommy Klepeisz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/thomas-klepeisz/010582/) and [Nicolas Bretzel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-bretzel/007952/) have 50 or more games of EuroCup experience, but Ulm does boast two of the best young players on the planet – and they are leading the team at present.

[Ben Saraf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ben-saraf/011437/) is surprising everybody in his first EuroCup season. At age 18, Saraf has started every one of Ulm’s EuroCup games, averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 fouls drawn and a PIR of 14.8. What’s more, he has posted double digits in scoring and PIR in all four of those contests. Saraf has joined forces with another prospect who is making plenty of headlines.

[Noa Essengue](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/noa-essengue/011391/) turns 18 on December 10 but is playing like a veteran, coming off the bench to average 12.2 points on solid shooting (66.7% 2FG, 40.0% 3FG), 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 6.2 fouls drawn and a PIR of 17.5 in over 26 minutes on the court. Essengue and Saraf rank first and second on the team in PIR, with three-point threat Justinian Jessup (14.5 PIR) right behind.

Born in 2006, Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf are leading ratiopharm Ulm this season.

Essengue, Saraf are a highlight reel in Ulm

Fatigue may be an issue for Ulm in its current tour de force around the Northern Hemisphere. Its last win came against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius on October 8, 76-94. That game was the first of a road trip that concludes in Gran Canaria this Tuesday night, with Ulm having lost four consecutive games: two in the German League, one in the EuroCup (107-74 against Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul) and another one in its exhibition game against the Trail Blazers.

Both teams started the EuroCup season with three consecutive victories and want to bounce back from their first losses of the season. Tune in for a highly entertaining game at Gran Canaria on Tuesday night.

They will go to battle this Tuesday night

Gran Canaria is Ulm's last stop of memorable road trip

Dreamland Gran Canaria v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-10-22T19:00:00.000Z)

KK Crvena zvezda has revealed that Joel Bolomboy has hyperextended his knee and avoided an ACL tear.

Joel Bolomboy hyperextends knee, avoids ACL tear

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade has confirmed that [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) has avoided a meniscus or ligament injury after suffering an injury during the team's ABA League game at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Monday night.

The 30-year-old did, however, hyperextend his right knee and suffer bruising to the bone. As Crvena Zvezda states, Bolomboy will receive conservative therapy and won't have to go under the knife. Crvena Zvezda confirmed to [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) on Wednesday that he will be out for four to six weeks.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">Након извршених прегледа и тестирања, КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет обавештава јавност о стању Џоела Боломбоја након повреде у 5. колу регионалне лиге.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://t.co/9KKmB1DQdh">https://t.co/9KKmB1DQdh</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1848668047189373024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Like many at Crvena Zvezda, Bolomboy had enjoyed a great start to the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, averaging 12.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.0 block and a 16.5 PIR through the first four games. He ranks second overall in rebounds and leads Zvezda in PIR.

More Crvena Zvezda News

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 5 in the BKT EuroCup, as well as who might be missing in action. 

Round 5: Pre-game quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, October 22

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"We know it won't be an easy trip. We are expecting a big game at Panevezys, we will have to put in the energy and intensity for this away game."

**Maksim Salash, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse player**

"We know it will be a difficult game, they always play good at home. But we want to continue winning and improve our game."

**Injury report:**

All of Bourg's players are healthy.

### Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Joventut Badalona

\--

### Trefl Sopot vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius

**Robert McGowens, Trefl Sopot guard**

"Wolves have a lot of players who can score well. They are really good in transition, good in ISO, one of the best in the EuroCup from percentages and analytics standpoint. We are just going to go out there and compete. We have been putting together really good days and getting better. Hopefully, it will finally pay off. We have to stick to our principles and do the little things, and keep competing at a high level."

**Injury report:** All of Trefl's players are available.

McGowens and Sopot welcome Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"We are recovering players, and it's a key factor for our game. Unfortunately, the schedule doesn't help us because we play again just 48 hours \[after Italian League game\]. Hamburg is a tough team, they haven't won yet, but we know them and their coach from last year, and they will come here to compete. We want to win another game, together with our fans. The constant must be the defense we showed in Pistoia."

**Kyle Wiltjer, Umana Reyer Venice forward**

"We are excited to play in front of our fans again, we want to show our value now that we are getting several players back. I believe it's the start of a new chapter for us, the season starts now. We need to play our basketball, defend hard, and gain more confidence. We want to deliver a great game for our fans."

**Injury Report:**

Reyer's Xavier Munford has a cartilage injury to his right knee, he is OUT for the game.

Reyer's Jordan Parks: experienced a muscle strain in his right thigh. OUT for the game.

Hamburg's Niklas Wimberg is out with a broken leg.<br>
Hamburg's Zsombor Maronka is out as he recovers from an ankle injury.<br>
Hamburg's Benedikt Turudic is out with back problems.

### Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. ratiopharm Ulm

**Ty Harrelson, ratiopham Ulm head coach**

"It's been a rapid journey. I hope that the night in our own beds from Sunday to Monday helped us to recover a little for the game in Gran Canaria. We know the quality of this team and what a great job Jaka is doing on the sidelines. We want to play more concentrated from the start tomorrow and show a reaction."

**Marcio Santos, ratiopham Ulm center**

"The game against Gran Canaria will be a real challenge. They are a strong team and have the home advantage on their side. We will go out with full energy to control the game from the start and give everything to win."

Ulm center Marcio Santos in action

## Wednesday, October 23

### Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca

**Yonatan Alon, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem head coach** 

"Cluj is an excellent team with experienced players and a very deep, high-quality roster. It will be a tough game, but we are ready. We are happy to face two of our former players – Mareks Mejeris and Zach Hankins. Zach gave a lot to Hapoel Jerusalem, and it's always good to play against players you know and can prepare for better."

**Chris Johnson, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem forward**

"We need to be locked in for 40 minutes and stay together. It's very important that we execute our game plan that our coach has for us  and play as hard as we can."<br>
**Injury report:**<br>
Jerusalem's Nimrod Levi is out with an ankle injury.

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca coach**

"This is an important game for us and we want to show that we are in good shape. We do not have any injuries, everybody is healthy and we made it to Bulgaria, so we are preparing for this game. We are focused on playing well. They have really talented players and I believe that defense will be one of the keys of the game. We need to stop their scorers and then use our own weapons!"

**Zach Hankins, U-BT Cluj-Napoca center**

"Hapoel Jerusalem is a great team, but we have to keep the same energy level that we had for the last games, playing our style and playing our pace. We have to focus on slowing Harper down and not let him get to the fault line as much as he is used to. It comes down to the style we want to play, being aggressive on the ball and better on the offensive boards. We want to control the game and it will be a really good challenge!"

### Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Valencia Basket

\--

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

**Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach**

"We have another very important game ahead of us in the EuroCup competition. We are in a situation where we are seeing continuous progress. So, regardless of whether we are talking about a league game or a EuroCup match, our primary focus is on our team. We need to keep improving in the areas of the game where it's necessary, and from there, the key is to show up just as hungry and highly motivated to achieve a winning result."

**Vasilis Toliopoulos, Aris Midea Thessaloniki guard**

"We know we have a very difficult game ahead. Cedevita's team is at 3-1, while we are at 1-3. We absolutely need to win in order to keep our chances of advancing to the next round. We will give it our all and hope for a positive result."

**Đorđe Adžić, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana assistant coach**

"We are eagerly looking forward to the game against Aris. I think that playing in Thessaloniki is one of the toughest away games in all competitions, especially in the EuroCup. This will be a new experience for us this season. Aris is a well-constructed team, though they had some difficulties at the beginning of the season. Our opponents have a very strong backcourt, and their big men are extremely athletic. Defensively, our primary focus should be on covering their guard duo, Vassilis Toliopoulos and David DeJulius, both complemented by Eleftherios Bochoridis, who has played at the EuroLeague level for many years. We also need to pay attention to their big men due to their specific playstyle, which involves deep rolls and offensive rebounds. Their defense is very aggressive, something we have already faced this season, but we need to be even more cautious and control our game under pressure."

**Rok Radovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana forward**

"We are expecting a very tough game in Greece. Everyone knows that Aris always plays very well on their home court. With the support of their fans, they are always extremely aggressive on both ends of the floor. We are preparing diligently for our opponents, and we are heading to Thessaloniki with one goal – to win. We are satisfied with our start in the EuroCup, but we are taking it game by game. We cannot be satisfied with the current number of wins; we know we can achieve more, and we approach every game aiming for victory."

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul

\--

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv

**Paolo Galbiati, Dolomiti Energia Trento head coach**

"For us, playing the EuroCup is a source of pride because being able to play against teams and players of the caliber of Patrick Beverley makes us happy and I think it should be the same for the fans, too. I would like many to come and support us in the cup also to see these players. They are a top-level team but for us playing against them is very stimulating and we will give one hundred percent to win. The club's motto is We Die Hard and we certainly will not give up after a slap."

**Jordan Ford, Dolomiti Energia Trento guard**

"We are very happy with a \[Italian League\] victory but we absolutely want to return to winning in the EuroCup too. We know that they are a very strong team and we will have to put the best version of ourselves on the court to counter their talent. The match up with Beverley? In basketball you play five against five, so we will have to face it all together."

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2024-10-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-10-23T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-10-23T16:30:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2024-10-23T17:30:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v Valencia Basket (2024-10-23T16:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2024-10-22T18:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Tel Aviv BC expects Tamir Blatt to miss the next three weeks due to a hamstring tear.

Tamir Blatt sidelined with hamstring tear

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/) is expected to be out for the next three weeks after suffering a 'small tear in his hamstring,' the club confirmed on Monday.

With fellow backcourt player [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/) also sidelined for another couple of weeks [after breaking his thumb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabi-loses-rokas-jokubaitis-to-a-broken-thumb/), Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash will have to heavily lean on new signing [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/), as well as the experienced [John DiBartolomeo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-dibartolomeo/007990/) and 18-year-old prospect [Omer Mayer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omer-mayer/011433/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">עדכון: תמיר בלאט, שנפצע אמש במשחק מול גלבוע/גליל, עבר היום בדיקת MRI. הרכז סובל מקרע קטן בשריר הירך האחורי. צפי היעדרות: כשלושה שבועות <a href="https://t.co/NSdl9cgJlT">pic.twitter.com/NSdl9cgJlT</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1848386173502099890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Tamir Blatt, who was injured last night in the game against Gilboa/Galil, underwent an MRI today," read Maccabi's statement. "The guard suffered a small tear in the hamstring. Expected absence: about three weeks."

Blatt has enjoyed a red-hot start to the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, earning MVP of the Round honors in Round 1 and coming close to recording a triple-double in Round 4. For the season, he is averaging 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and a 19.0 PIR.

More Maccabi News

The club expects him to miss the next three weeks 

The EuroLeague 25 spot featured many of the league's best players and coaches from the last 25 years. Here is the behind-the-scenes video from that shoot.

Behind the scenes of the EuroLeague 25 spot

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans knew that something big was coming for the league's 25th anniversary, and the season spot certainly lived up to expectation.

Many of the EuroLeague's greatest players and coaches embarked upon Istanbul, Turkiye, for the shoot, with [the final result being broadcast in the lead-up to the 2024-25 campaign](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VufJFLCpA&t=12s) getting underway. At the time of writing, the video has almost half a million views on YouTube.

Obviously, the shoot also had some funny moments involving the key protagonists, so check out the behind-the-scenes video above that was published on the EuroLeague's YouTube channel today.

Everyone had a blast as they came together for the shoot

Rasheed Sulaimon of Buducnost VOLI sat down with Euroleague.net's Javier Gancedo in a feature interview.

Rasheed Sulaimon, Buducnost: 'We believe in ourselves'

After [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/carousels/buducnost-voli-podgorica/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22bud%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Buducnost%20VOLI%20Podgorica) started the season with a pair of losses in Group A, it managed to win its next two games and has positive momentum for a tough schedule ahead. That begins with its Round 5 showdown against top-of-the-table Bahcesehir College Istanbul. 

[Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/), who is in his third EuroCup season with as many teams, comes off a strong Round 4 performance against Trefl Sopot, in which he led Buducnost to a 92-85 home win with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn.

The 30-year-old Sulaimon won a gold medal with the U19 USA national team at the 2013 World Cup over Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic and Vasilije Micic. He has played in six different countries and seems to have found a perfect spot to showcase his talent with Buducnost, as he told [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)'s Javier Gancedo in this interview.

**Hello, Rasheed. Congratulations on beating Trefl Sopot. How tough was it to hold off their comeback?**

"Trefl has a lot of individual talent on their team, so they are a tricky matchup, as you can see. Even though they haven't won a game yet, I believe all their games have been relatively close. I thought we had a great game plan. We executed well in the first half and when we extended the lead, I thought we just had a little bit of complacency, a little bit of relax. And that's something we have to improve on, especially if we want to continue to go deep in this competition."

"Our talent in the last couple of games is starting to show."

**After a 0-2 start, Buducnost bounced back with a couple of quality wins. How did the team regroup so quickly?**

"I think we believe in ourselves. I think we have a talented roster. We have a good group of guys and also, we don't just get together on the court, but off the court as well. And that chemistry is continuing to build day by day. And as you know, with everything going on this past summer, everything kind of started quickly and right out of the gate, we played some really tough teams. In this competition, you think you might have a good team and you can go down 0-2. But we believed in ourselves, and as we continue to build that chemistry and that feel of playing with each other, I think our talent in the last couple of games is starting to show, and we are looking forward to continuing developing and trying to reach our potential as a team."

**This is your third EuroCup season after playing for Bourg and Wolves. How do you like the competition?**

"I like it a lot. It's very competitive, especially this year. If you look at it, I think from top to bottom, especially on our side of the bracket, every team is pretty much stacked or has very high-level quality players on their roster. So just from a competitive level and then, the added bonus of the opportunity to play in the EuroLeague. You look at teams like Paris Basketball and even Monaco a couple of years back that have taken that opportunity and become EuroLeague teams, so I think it's a great competition and I like playing in it."

**Have you been following your former teams? Bourg made it to the finals last season, Wolves had a huge win in Badalona just last week.**

"I'm a basketball junkie, so I follow basketball all over the world. And yes, I have been noticing the success of my past teams. Like I said, it just shows you the quality of the league from top to bottom. There are a lot of teams with a lot of quality, and it makes for good entertainment and makes for good, competitive basketball. And I'm happy to be a part of it."

"I have known Yogi [Ferrell] for a very long time, but always as rivals."

**You played against Yogi Ferrell in college. How great is it to play with him this season?**

"It's actually a big relief. A funny story about me and Yogi: when we were about 7-8 years old in America, he was from Indiana. I'm from Texas. Our teams met, I think, in the final four of nationals for 7 to 8 years old, and he beat us! And then after that, we kind of started that rivalry. We beat them the next year. I have known Yogi for a very long time, but always as rivals. So I have a big respect for his game and I think he does for my game as well. So it's a unique situation that we have never played with each other, but the chemistry just was instant because we have known each other our whole lives."

**After a good season with Wolves, what made you choose Buducnost over other options? Was playing with Yogi one of those factors?**

"It actually was a big, big pulling factor. I enjoyed my time at Wolves last year and I was hoping to stay. But you know, in this business, a lot of crazy things happen. I just kind of went for the team that had the biggest ambition and the team that showed me not only that they wanted me, but they had the ambition to build a big team and try to compete at every level. And time and time again, I think they were just always one of the teams that were in the mix. And they were always there from the beginning and just showing their relentless pursuit of me and their ambition. Talking with the coach, talking with the owner, it just felt like, 'yeah, this is a place that I want to take my next step'."

**You have played professionally in the U.S., France, Spain, Turkiye, Lithuania and now Montenegro. How is it to live in such different countries and get so many new experiences?**

"I think you just touched on the head. I mean, who would have thought a kid from Houston, Texas, with two immigrant parents, just because of a basketball, just because of a game, I get to travel and experience different parts of the world? It's been an amazing journey, and I'm grateful and honored that I have had this experience and stayed healthy enough. At 30 years old, I'm still a professional, still seeing the world, still enjoying life and making new experiences and great memories along the way. So I'm blessed, man."

Rasheed Sulaimon joined Buducnost VOLI Podgorica this season.

Rasheed Sulaimon: 2024-25 highlights

**Looking at your schedule, you play Bahcesehir, Hapoel, Ulm with its exciting young players and then a special game for you against Wolves. How much are you looking forward to all those games?**  

"The schedule here is, when you look at it on paper, you're like, 'wow, game after game, game in, night in, night out, you have to bring your A-game'. But that's why we're here, right? I love this sport for its competitive nature. So in between those games I think we played Red Star and Cedevita as well domestically. So it's one heck of a schedule and we are ready for it. This is what we signed up for. And as a competitor, there's no place I'd rather be than every game playing against the big teams and trying to show and prove that we can compete. And we are one of the top teams in competition as well."

**Generally speaking and from your own experience, do you feel like the EuroCup is underrated? And if so, why is that?**

"I think you look at everybody just especially from the American perspective, the only overseas basketball they kind of know is the EuroLeague, and which is rightfully so. But as you can see, there are a lot of teams in the EuroCup that have big rosters, that have big budgets. And I think Pat Beverley coming here is kind of putting notice on that. And now you are seeing that teams in the EuroCup can have players with the quality of a Pat Bev or Ish Wainwright or Johnathan Motley or... I'm naming one team \[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv\], but there are a lot of different teams that have big rosters as well. I think from that perspective, it's starting to get more and more eyes. And again, I think that added bonus of everybody vying for a spot in the EuroLeague adds that much, I guess, marketability to the competition."

**You and your team seem to be improving every day. What would make it a good season for you, personally, and for Buducnost?**

"I think it coincides into one goal. Like I said, I know my qualities. I think I'm a veteran at this point of my career. I know my qualities, my teammates know my qualities, everybody knows each other's qualities. But nothing means anything unless we win as a team. So whether I score 20 or I score 10, whatever it takes to win, I think if we all win, we all get the shine. So everybody is pretty locked in. Like I said, we have a talented roster, but the thing I love about this team is everybody takes their individual glory and sacrifices it and just tries to win games. And I think that's what we're trying to focus on doing."

The American is enjoying an impressive first season with the Montenegrin club

FC Barcelona has confirmed that guard Nico Laprovittola will undergo surgery after tearing his ACL and injuring the outer meniscus of his right knee.

Nico Laprovittola to undergo knee surgery

FC Barcelona has confirmed that guard [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) will undergo surgery after tearing his ACL and injuring the outer meniscus of his right knee.

Laprovittola's injury occurred during the *Azulgrana*'s Spanish League clash against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Sunday.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">[𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐄̀𝐃𝐈𝐂]<br><br>Les proves realitzades al jugador 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚́𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐚 confirmen que té una ruptura al lligament encreuat anterior i una lesió del menisc extern del genoll dret.<br><br>El jugador serà intervingut quirúrgicament en els pròxims dies.… <a href="https://t.co/93oZLHt1OU">pic.twitter.com/93oZLHt1OU</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1848334033563930753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Now in his fourth season with Barcelona, the 34-year-old was averaging 10.0 points and 6.2 assists through the first four games of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign.

As Barcelona states, it will provide another update on Laprovittola once he has undergone surgery in the coming days.

Given the nature of his injury, it is expected that the Argentine will be out long term.