Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 12 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season.

Round 12: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Friday, January 2

### Neptunas Kleipeda vs. Umana Reyer Venice (17:00 CET)

*Reyer will be without Jordan Parks and Ky Bowman for this game due to injuries.*

**Neven Spahija, Reyer head coach**

"A very tough game awaits us. Neptunas has improved a lot since we faced them at Taliercio. They are the team that scores the most three-pointers in the entire EuroCup, averaging 11.5 per game. Playing at home, they will certainly be a difficult opponent. We, as always, go there trying to win. Being without two starters, we will play with a different lineup, for the first time this season. I see the team is in good shape, but as always, the court will give the answers."

**Denzel Valentine, Reyer guard**

“It is a must-win game for us. With Parks and Bowman out, we need to come together even more; everyone has to step up, take on more responsibility, and seize the opportunity to contribute more. We are going to Klaipeda with the goal of winning. We must stay united for the entire game, come out with high energy, and execute the game plan. If we do that, I believe the result will be positive.”

Denzel Valentine: 'It is a must-win game for us'

### ratiopharm ulm vs. Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:00 CET)

\--

## Tuesday, December 30

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (17:00 CET)

**Benka Barloschky, Hamburg head coach** 

"We are currently going through a difficult phase. Niklas twisted his ankle in the final quarter of the game against Oldenburg and won't be traveling with us. On top of that, we are unfortunately affected by a flu epidemic, like so many people at the moment. At the level we have to perform at in every game, it's all about the details and the last two or three percent. When several players are affected at the same time, it can only be compensated for in the short term. We already felt that against Oldenburg. Now it's about pulling together and getting through this phase together. The game against Istanbul is a challenge – they have a lot of quality at the top and in the depth of their squad – but we want to turn it into something positive."

**Zacharie Perrin, Hamburg center**

"The fact that we are fighting against relegation in the BBL is a completely different situation than we imagined at the start of the season. But we are facing up to reality. And that means we are facing the best teams in Europe during the week. I remember that Istanbul plays very fast. They have very strong teamwork between their point guard and their center. They also play very physically, which makes them a very difficult opponent."

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Slask Wroclaw (18:00 CET)

**Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach**

"This winning streak means a lot to us, because we are winning our home games. Of course, we want to have this kind of streak not only at home, but also on the road. I’m happy that we’ve managed to win the last four games and we keep moving forward, because we don’t want to stop here. Every game is important, especially in the EuroCup, where the battle for the top six spots is extremely tough. The next game is against Slask Wroclaw and we really want to get our revenge and win this game, because I believe we should have beaten them on their home court and have one more win by now. We have been very focused on this game and I think we are prepared. We are waiting for our fans to come in large numbers to support us and be with us, because this is an extremely important game and we want to add another win."

**Fatts Russell, Cluj guard**

"We know they are a tough team, they have more size, especially at the point guard position. We have to be ready to fight, protect our home court and execute our game plan. In the last game they used a lot of different defenses that kind of slowed us down. We had a 16-point lead, but we gave it away, so this time we have to make sure we stay focused for 40 minutes. Looking at Group A, all the teams are very close to each other, so we are trying to create some separation and place ourselves in the top three."

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (18:15 CET)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Bourg head coach**

"We're in a great run of form and we want to keep it that way, but we'll have to be careful against this Athens team: even with changes to the squad and the coach, they have quality and can be dangerous. We need to stay focused on our team, because this home game is a real opportunity to pull ahead of a direct rival."

**Darius McGhee, Bourg guard**

"We have to be ready for this game! Making sure we are playing our basketball and protecting our home floor. We need to be focus from the start to the end!"

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:00 CET)

**Andrej Zakelj, Buducnost head coach**

"We know how important this game is for both teams. In these two practices, we need to get the most out of our preparation and focus more on our own game, because we know what to expect. Turk Telekom is a very strong team — they recently beat Efes in the domestic league, which says a lot about their quality and ambitions in the EuroCup. Still, we are playing at home. We need to show more aggressiveness, intensity, and toughness than in the previous games. Hopefully, with the support of our fans, we can get a win."

**Fletcher Magee, Buducnost guard**

"We know this is a big game — one of the most talented teams in our EuroCup group. I expect a high level of basketball, and we know we will be ready for the fight. It’s going to be a fast and physical game. They have a lot of talented players, especially strong one-on-one players, so we expect an intense and close matchup."

### Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. BAXI Manresa (19:00 CET)

\--

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija head coach**

"Another in a series of very demanding EuroCup games is ahead of us. Compared to our first head-to-head meeting in Ljubljana, the Aris team has further strengthened its roster with two EuroLeague-caliber players – Danilo Anđušić and Amin Noua – which clearly shows the seriousness and high ambitions of our opponents. I expect a very demanding game in a hot atmosphere, the kind that home fans know how to create. Aris is certainly at a higher level today than it was at the beginning of the season. Not all of our players have fully recovered from illness and injuries yet, but on Tuesday we will give everything we have to try to surprise the home team and fight for the win."

**Miha Cerkvenik, Cedevita Olimpija forward**

"An extremely demanding game awaits us. We know that a hellish atmosphere will prevail in the arena and that it will be extremely difficult to play. We will focus on what we can do on the court. We will give everything we have to return to Ljubljana with a win. Every game is important, and every win means a lot for the continuation of the season. We approach every game as if we are playing in the EuroCup final, and with that mentality we must step onto the court."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. London Lions (20:00 CET)

**Davide Dusmet, Trento assistant coach**

"After the game in Udine, another match comes right away, giving us the opportunity to get back on the court immediately, reset, and analyze what didn’t work on Saturday. It’s a chance to bring renewed energy and greater focus ahead of the EuroCup game. In the first leg against London we delivered an underwhelming performance, so we start again with a strong desire to show that over these months we’ve grown and that we can be much better than the version seen in London. It will be crucial to defend well in transition, control the rebounds, and manage the pace of the game. We need to start again from the willingness to help each other on defense and to be solid for all forty minutes, following our principles, which allow us to be aligned both offensively and defensively and to compete together within the game."

**Khalif Battle, Trento guard**

"It will be a very important game for us against the London Lions. London are coming off a good run of form winning against Besiktas and we lost the first meeting, so we have a strong desire to show what we are capable of. We will need to bring a lot of energy onto the court: we feel that game was within our reach, and not being able to win it gives us even more motivation to get back to winning ways. The Lions are a team with excellent players, well coached and full of confidence, qualities that make them very dangerous. We are preparing in the right way and we want to put on a great performance."

**Tautvydas Sabonis, London head coach**

"Tough game, away. Always hard to play away in EuroCup against a team coming off beating Venezia, Buducnost, Bourg, had couple of tough losses now, but in very good shape we gotta be prepared. I feel like my gentlemen are ready for the task at hand and we’ll see on Tuesday night. We have to be disciplined defensively, but when we’re in the right mindset for the game on the defensive end, our offence comes."

**Deane Williams, London forward**

"We know they’re gonna come out and play hard. Given the last result they’re not gonna be happy about that. We’ve gotta play hard, stay focused, make sure we play for 40 minutes, because in the last game we played for about 30 and in the fourth quarter they changed up their defence and gave us some problems and managed to close the gap so we have to stay focused for 40 minutes."

**London Lions injury report**: Four players are out: Morayo Soluade (knee), Joel Scott (hamstring), Kameron McGusty (hand) and Ovie Soko (hand).

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 12 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season

Round 12: Pregame quotes

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-12-30T17:15:00.000Z)

ratiopharm ulm v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2026-01-02T18:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-12-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Neptunas Klaipeda v Umana Reyer Venice (2026-01-02T16:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v London Lions (2025-12-30T19:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v BAXI Manresa (2025-12-30T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-12-30T18:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Slask Wroclaw (2025-12-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-12-30T16:00:00.000Z)

At just 21, Tobias Jensen has become a leader at ratiopharm Ulm. Discover how the Danish guard rose from youth prospect to EuroCup standout and embraced a veteran role.

From prospect to leader: Tobias Jensen’s Journey at ratiopharm ulm 

[Tobias Jensen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tobias-jensen/010726/) is just 21, but at [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/), he’s already the voice of experience. The Danish point guard arrived at the Orange Campus as a 16-year-old in 2020. Six seasons later, he’s not only a fixture in the lineup but a leader on and off the court.

This year marks Jensen’s breakout. After averaging 2.6 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.0 assist across his first 36 EuroCup games, he’s now producing 11.7 points, 4.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in nearly 30 minutes per game—while hitting 42.3% from three-point range. For a player once seen as a long-term project, the leap has been dramatic.

The transformation began last spring and accelerated in February, when injuries opened the door and Jensen seized the moment. “I started every game and kept performing,” he said. “From then on, I was playing a lot and just needed to get more comfortable on the court.”

Best of Tobias Jensen (Rounds 1-11, 2025-26)

Jensen’s rise coincided with the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, where he starred for Denmark during the national team window. In two games, he totaled 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in 50 minutes — a confidence boost that carried into Ulm’s season.

“We had the February national team window, where I played and performed (well). And then when I got back after that window, I started every game and I kept performing,” Jensen said. “From then on, I was playing a lot and I just needed to get more comfortable on the court, which also showed in the box scores as I started scoring a lot more.”

By the German League Finals against FC Bayern Munich, Jensen was one of Ulm’s best players, averaging 9.8 points on 60% three-point shooting, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in nearly 30 minutes per game during the five-game series.

“Now to be able to be involved in the game and have a voice or having to do something is very nice.”


### From young gun to locker room leader

Jensen debuted for Ulm’s pro team on November 20, 2022, but his role has evolved dramatically. “I've been here for many years and worked my way up from the youth teams to the first team,” he said. “In the beginning, I was just one of the young guys. I didn't play much. And now to be able to be involved in the game and have a voice or having to do something is very nice.”

He won’t turn 22 until May, yet Jensen is now one of Ulm’s longest-serving players. With veteran Tommy Klepeisz and only two other returnees — Nelson Weidemann and Alec Anigbata — Jensen has embraced a leadership role.

“It was something I had to get used to,” he admitted. “In the beginning, I was always used to other people on the team who could explain concepts to a new person. Now I have that job. I have to help my teammates with stuff they don't know, or tell them if they're doing something wrong. That’s definitely been a change.”

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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRuWuc6jbbl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tobias Jensen (@tobias.brahe.jensen)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Family ties and offseason growth

Ulm’s philosophy of giving young talent a platform has shaped Jensen’s journey. From Killian Hayes to Juan Núñez, the club has consistently trusted teenagers with big roles. “It helps you in the way that you’re not the only young guy trying to figure everything out,” Jensen said. “There are other players my age, other players who are not that experienced. So it helps me in the way that there are other people I can talk with about stuff outside of practice.”

After last season, Jensen returned to Denmark for the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifiers and spent the summer training with his father, Jens Jensen, a Danish basketball legend who won 10 league titles and played 58 games for the national team.

“We worked a lot on me creating stuff for myself with the ball,” Tobias said. “Either the mid-range jump shot, creating a shot for myself, or different finishes around the rim.”

Growing up, Jens was both coach and dad — a dynamic Tobias remembers well. “He was always the ‘dad coach’, and it wasn’t easy going between ‘Okay, now we’re at practice, now he’s the coach; now we’re at home, now he’s the dad,’” Jensen recalled.

With his contract expiring last season, Jensen drew interest from other German clubs — especially since he counts as a domestic player. But he chose to stay. “Out of those teams, Ulm was by far the best option in terms of the facilities, but also because they play EuroCup and have a good history with young players improving in their program. So that was not really a no-brainer,” he said.

And so, Tobias Jensen remains Ulm’s steady hand — a veteran at 21, guiding a new generation while writing his own next chapter.

More from ratiopharm ulm

Jensen’s rise reflects Ulm’s commitment to youth – and his own relentless work ethic

NINERS Chemnitz stunned Besiktas GAIN Istanbul at home last Tuesday in the first – and, at that point, only – game from Round 12 of the BKT EuroCup, winning by a score of 97-95.

Even Besiktas couldn't do anything against him: This is Amadou Sow, Chemnitz's hero in the EuroCup last week

NINERS Chemnitz stunned Besiktas GAIN Istanbul at home last Tuesday in the first – and, at that point, only – game from Round 12 of the BKT EuroCup, winning by a score of 97-95.

Besiktas is having a great season, with a 13-0 record in the Turkish League and an 8-4 mark in the EuroCup. One of the four teams that has defeated them in Europe is now Chemnitz after a game packed with drama in Germany.

The hero of the German team's victory was Malian center Amadou Sow, who finished the game against Dusan Alimpijevic's team with 27 points (8/13 for two, 2/4 for three, 5/5 free throws) and 4 rebounds.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1912964/even-besiktas-couldnt-do-anything-against-him-this-is-amadou-sow-chemnitzs-hero-in-the-eurocup/).

Last week saw just one EuroCup game played, but that was enough for us to get a new hero

Panionios BC Cosmorama Travel announced the signing of American guard Joe Thomasson, who brings experience from top European leagues and domestic titles in Poland and Israel. Thomasson joins after playing for TOFAŞ Bursa earlier this season and Gran Canaria last year.

Panionios pounces on playmaker Joe Thomasson for backcourt boost

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens strengthened its perimeter with the addition of experienced guard [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/), the club announced Wednesday. Thomasson (1.93 meters, 32 years old) arrives after starting the current season with Tofas Bursa in Turkiye and playing last season for Gran Canaria in Spain.

Thomasson averaged 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 12 Turkish League games this season, though his role has dipped over the past month. He had not played more than 15 minutes in a game since mid-November, when Furkan Korkmaz joined the team.

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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7AesRCNga/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7AesRCNga/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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This season will be Thomasson's third in the EuroCup. He debuted with Promitheas Patras in January 2023 before suiting up for Gran Canaria last season. Thomasson averaged 8.1 points on 42.1% three-point shooting last season to help Gran Canaria reach the EuroCup Finals. In between, he made his EuroLeague debut with Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2024-25 campaign.

Thomasson brings Panionios proven experience and leadership to a struggling Panionios team that has undergone a series of coaching changes this season, most recently hiring Nenad Markovic as its new bench boss on Tuesday.

After playing college basketball at State Fair Community College and Wright State University, Thomasson made his professional debut in Romania with Dinamo Bucharest and has since played in the G League (Maine Red Claws, Erie Bay Hawks), Poland (Starogard Gdansk, Start Lublin, Stelmet Zielona Gora), Russia (Burevestnik Yaroslav, Zenit St Petersburg), Israel (Hapoel Galil Gilboa, Maccabi Tel Aviv), Spain (Manresa, Granada, Gran Canaria), Greece (Promitheas), and Turkiye (Tofas). He has won national championships in Poland with Zielona Gora in 2020 and Israel with Maccabi in 2024.

More Panionios news

Thomasson brings championship pedigree and proven shooting to Panionios

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem turned a tense first half into a 105-69 demolition of Manresa, fueled by a suffocating third-quarter surge and relentless defense. Cassius Winston led six double-digit scorers as Jerusalem extended its winning streak to nine and tightened its grip on first place in Group A.

Jerusalem’s second-half surge crushes Manresa in 36-point rout 

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem rode a ferocious second half and a suffocating third-quarter surge to a 105-69 blowout of Manresa on Tuesday night at Pais Arena, avenging its earlier loss in Spain and tightening its grip on first place in Group A. The hosts turned a tight, nervous first half into a runaway, winning their ninth straight game to improve to 10-2, while snapping Manresa’s three-game winning streak and dropping the Spanish side to 6-6.

For much of the first half, though, it looked nothing like a 36-point game. Austin Wiley set the tone early, scoring twice in a 12-2 first-quarter run that seemed to put Jerusalem in control. Manresa refused to go away, chipping back to 23-22 after 10 minutes. Pierre Oriola, Grant Golden and Kao Akobundu-Ehiogu all made key plays and the visitors nosed ahead. By halftime, Manresa had seized a 45-49 lead, having silenced the arena and flipped all of the early momentum.

The game’s defining stretch came shortly after the break. Manresa still led 50-53 when Yovel Zoosman ignited Jerusalem’s turnaround, pouring in 6 points during a stunning 13-0 run that transformed a 3-point deficit into a 63-53 advantage. That burst encapsulated everything head coach Yonatan Alon preaches about this team’s identity.

“When we play defense, good things happen to us,” he said afterward. “Obviously, we played both sides of the floor. I am really happy with how we showed up for the second half. This is how we make our life easy.” One defensive stop bled into the next, and suddenly Manresa, which did not score for nearly 4 minutes, couldn’t buy a clean look or protect the ball.

By the end of the third quarter, Jerusalem had outscored Manresa 27-8 in the period, turning a 4-point halftime deficit into a double-digit cushion that felt insurmountable. From there, the hosts only poured it on in the fourth, running the floor, hunting turnovers and letting the Pais Arena crowd carry them.

“It’s our focus on our principles. It’s not something special. It’s how we do things, not what we do,” Alon explained, summing up a half in which his team’s defensive habits choked off Manresa’s offense and fueled transition.

The box score told the same story. Jerusalem dominated the glass 43-32, with Wiley at the heart of that effort as he continued to justify his status as the EuroCup’s leading rebounder at 8.7 per game. The big man finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds and framed his performance in purely team-first terms.

“I just want to do whatever I can for our team to be successful,” Wiley said. “I know crashing the glass and being on the boards helps us win a lot, so I try to do that every game.”

Jerusalem turned that rebounding edge into repeated extra possessions and quick outlets that punished a tired Manresa defense.

Turnovers were even more brutal. Manresa coughed the ball up 20 times, while Jerusalem committed only 9. Those miscues translated into a 30-7 landslide in points off turnovers, a differential that essentially decided the game on its own.

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Once Manresa started missing threes and losing control of the boards, there was no way back. Their head coach, Diego Ocampo, admitted as much: “In the third quarter, we didn’t have the energy and concentration that we needed. We have to play 40 minutes concentrated with a lot of physicality and we didn’t start the third quarter like that. We didn’t make three pointers, we turned the ball over a lot and we lost control of the rebounds. And Hapoel took advantage.”

Offensively, Cassius Winston orchestrated everything with poise and aggression. He led six Jerusalem scorers in double figures with 20 points. Justin Smith and Khadeen Carrington chipped in 15 points apiece, Jared Harper added 14 points and 7 assists, Zoosman matched him with 14 and Wiley’s double-double rounded out a perfectly balanced attack.

If the numbers told one part of the story, the crowd told the rest. The third-quarter run felt amplified by the wave of noise in Pais Arena, something Alon highlighted. “Our big advantage here in Jerusalem is that one run sometimes kills the game,” he said. “The fans lift you on a wave. That’s a major difference (playing at home).”

On Tuesday night, that wave carried Jerusalem all the way from a shaky first half to another emphatic statement at the top of Group A.

Game News

Austin Wiley’s double-double and relentless rebounding set the tone for a statement win in the Israeli capital 

KK Cedevita Olimpija controlled its game at Aris BC from start to finish, silencing the crowd at Palais des Sports with a dominant 60–89 road victory.

Cedevita Olimpija returns to winning ways, claims convincing win over Aris

“Another in a series of very demanding EuroCup games is ahead of us,” Zvezdan Mitrovic said ahead of [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/)’s visit to [Aris Thessaloniki Betsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-thessaloniki-betsson/ari/) on Tuesday night. “I expect a very demanding game in a hot atmosphere, the kind that home fans know how to create.”

The atmosphere delivered. Aris did not.

Cedevita controlled the game from start to finish, silencing the crowd at Palais des Sports with a dominant 60–89 road victory.

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Both teams opened with intensity, applying pressure on defense and keeping the score low early. But once Cedevita settled, Mitrovic’s side began to pull away. The visitors built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and went into halftime up 13, with Aris heading to the locker room to a chorus of boos.

The game unraveled completely for the home side after the break. Cedevita moved the ball crisply, defended with discipline and quickly stretched the margin to 20. Aris endured a brutal six-minute scoring drought in the third quarter, effectively ending the contest. By the final buzzer, Cedevita had secured a 29-point win.

The victory lifts Cedevita to 8–4, snapping a two-game losing streak and pulling it level for second place with next week’s EuroCup opponent, Bahcesehir College Istanbul. After reasserting itself in emphatic fashion, the Slovenians will look to build momentum as the season gathers pace.

American guard [Umoja Gibson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/umoja-gibson/013855/) said the team continues to draw motivation from being overlooked.

“We feel like we’re the underdogs – nobody expected us to have a season like this,” Gibson said. “We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing, playing together, playing as one and keep fighting.”

Gibson delivered a strong all-around performance with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) led all scorers with 23 points, adding 3 rebounds and 4 assists, while [DJ Stewart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stewart/012700/) chipped in 11.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">ZMAGA! <a href="https://t.co/PVNtKMu9qH">pic.twitter.com/PVNtKMu9qH</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/2006110112994164963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The stat sheet tells a clear story. Cedevita dominated the glass, outrebounding Aris 46–26. [Nikos Chougkaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nikos-chougkaz/011396/) led all players with 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.

Despite the lopsided result, the home crowd continued singing until the final seconds. The issues, however, were familiar. In the teams’ previous meeting, Aris managed just 59 points, avoiding an even worse outcome only with a late three-pointer. Head coach Igor Milicic again pointed to the physicality of the opposition.

“Very difficult night,” Milicic said. “They showed us how to play with energy, how to play with contact, how to play with poise. Every one of their players gave them something. It’s not that we didn’t want it – my players tried hard – but we have to put ourselves in a position where we can compete with this level of physicality.”

The loss drops Aris to 6–6, with a quick turnaround ahead of next Tuesday’s matchup against BAXI Manresa.

Umoja Gibson and Aleksej Nikolic shined bright in Thessaloniki

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica earned its first-ever win over Turk Telekom Ankara with a 91-81 home victory, securing the head-to-head tiebreaker in Group B. Rasheed Sulaimon led the way with 25 points, while Nikola Tanaskovic and Yogi Ferrell provided key contributions in a game that showcased playoff-level intensity.

Buducnost cautiously optimistic after historic “double-win” over Turk Telekom 

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has a lot to celebrate after its important first-ever victory over Turk Telekom Ankara in the BKT EuroCup - what can also be considered a double-win. But at the same time, the Montenegrin team also knows the road ahead is still long.

Buducnost entered the home game with a 0-6 record against the Turkish side but finally came out on top with a 91-81 triumph in a crucial showdown in the Group B standings. Turk Telekom had registered a 79-72 home win in Round 3 and Buducnost overcame that result with a 10-point victory to hold the tiebreaker.

“This was a big game, an intensive game. All the credit to Turk Telekom. But I’m very satisfied. That was a playoff atmosphere. That’s why you want to play in EuroCup. I am so glad we came out with the win tonight,” said Rasheed Sulaimon, who led Buducnost with a season high 25 points, including 5 three-pointers.

Nikola Tanaskovic totaled 17 points and 13 rebounds and Yogi Ferrell finished with 16 points for Buducnost, which is now 8-4, including a 5-1 mark at home. Thanks to a victory over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul earlier this season, Buducnost now sits in second place.

“For us and all our goals for where we want to go this year, this was a must-win,” Sulaimon said. “I am so proud of our guys. We stepped up to the plate and believed in each other and ourselves and that’s why we got the result.”

The 91-81 final score was much higher than most would have predicted, given it was a showdown of the third-best scoring defense (Buducnost - 78.4 ppg) and second-best (Turk Telekom 74.8 ppg). But Buducnost shot 59.4 percent on two-pointers - well above Turk Telekom’s top-ranked defense of 48.6% inside the three-point line.

The game was tight throughout, with no team leading by more than 5 points in the first 33 minutes. The combination of Skylar Mays and Ferrell turned the game around with Mays scoring 6 straight points to make it 77-69 with 5 minutes to go, and then Ferrell tallied 8 points in a row to make it 87-79 with under 3 minutes to play.

“I must congratulate the players, especially in the second half, for their defense. The first half, we were not aggressive or physical enough. That was the main problem. On offense, we were okay, but not on defense in the first half. In the second half, the defense was better. We were tougher and more physical and in the end, this brought us the win,” said Buducnost coach Andrej Zakelj, who also knows there are still six rounds of games in the regular season. “It’s a double win, but it’s far away until the end.”

<center>
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Turk Telekom was paced by Jaleen Smith, who drained 6 three-pointers for 18 points, while Kyle Allmann added 17 points. But they were not enough in falling to 7-5. Erdem Can’s team had won five straight road games.

“We did not execute anything of our plan offensively or defensively. We allowed our opponent to play in their rhythm. We didn’t use our aggressiveness in the right way. There were so many offensive and defensive mistakes. It’s impossible to win on the road receiving 91 points. And we gave up a lot of cheap points,” Can said.

“This was a very important game for the standings but there are still a lot of games in front of us. It’s a long season. EuroCup is so tough. We need to be focused on the next one.”

Buducnost finally won its first game over Turk Telekom and grabbed the tiebreaker too

Buducnost cautiously optimistic after historic 'double-win' over Turk Telekom 

From the opening tip, [DeVante’ Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devante-jones/013260/) was intent on putting on a show for the [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) fans with the [London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/lli/) in town.

Jones led Trento in scoring in all four quarters and poured in a career-high 33 points, surpassing his previous best of 24 set in Round 2 this season. He did it with remarkable efficiency, going 8-of-9 inside the arc, 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 11-of-12 at the free-throw line. The outburst was the highest single-game total by a Trento player this season and the second-highest in club history, trailing only the 37 points Alessandro Gentile scored against Asseco Arka Gdynia in 2019–20.

“I couldn’t do it without my team,” Jones said after Trento’s 85–73 win against London. “My teammates give me confidence, my coaches give me confidence every day. When you have a whole team that trusts you and believes in you, it makes it easier to play this way.”

Dolomiti Energia Trento-London Lions | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

The victory capped another strong showing during a significant upswing in form for Trento, which has now won four straight. That run includes road wins at ratiopharm ulm (100–87) and Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (91–73), followed by a narrow home victory over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (91–90) and now London. With the win, Trento improves to 7–5 in Group B, opening some separation from the Lions, who fall to 5–7.

While Jones was the clear headliner, [DJ Steward](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-steward/013861/) provided strong support, tying his career high with 18 points – the fourth time he has reached that mark this season. Together, the backcourt duo consistently pressured London’s defense. Jones, in particular, found success against [Shavar Reynolds](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/shavar-reynolds-jr/014097/) through the first three quarters. Reynolds played under Trento head coach Massimo Cancellieri at PAOK Thessaloniki last season, and Jones may have benefited from a few scouting tips along the way.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big big one 🤩🖤🦅<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeDieHard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeDieHard</a> <a href="https://t.co/orrklghllU">pic.twitter.com/orrklghllU</a></p>&mdash; Dolomiti Energia Trento (@AquilaBasketTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/AquilaBasketTN/status/2006111930155504070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cancellieri is encouraged by Trento’s recent form in the BKT EuroCup, especially when contrasted with the team’s 87–71 loss in London in Round 3. Still, he cautioned against reading too much into the current stretch.

“If we go into this logic, we are dead,” Cancellieri said postgame. “Our team has to be judged at the end \[of the season\]. Not now. Not between games.”

Trento will look to stay hot when it travels to face Turk Telekom Ankara, which also sits at 7–5, on January 7. London, meanwhile, will try to get back on track at home against NINERS Chemnitz, also on January 7.

The guard delivered a career night in Round 12

DeVante’ Jones stars as Trento keeps rolling against London

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse held on for an 81-79 home win over Panionios on Tuesday night, moving to 10-2 and retaining first place in Group B after a tense battle at Ekinox Arena.

Bourg keeps its EuroCup momentum rolling with narrow win over Panionios

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse held on for an 81-79 home win over Panionios on Tuesday night, moving to 10-2 and retaining first place in Group B after a tense battle at Ekinox Arena.

“We’re in a great run of form and we want to keep it that way, but we'll have to be careful against this Athens team... They have quality and can be dangerous,” pointed out Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux before the game.

The matchup unfolded exactly along those lines, with Bourg having to battle until the final moments. The Group B leaders did not fully establish their offense early, as Panionios controlled the paint.

In the second quarter, Bourg’s three-point shooting set the tone, as a 15-0 run allowed the hosts to head into halftime tied at 36-36.

Bourg stayed in control after the break, leaning on timely three-pointers to maintain its edge. Panionios refused to fade, applying constant pressure in the paint as the game stayed tight until the final moments.

Both Gach stood out in the second half for Bourg. The South Sudanese forward finished with 22 points and 6 rebounds.

“It was a tough one tonight,” Gach said after the game. “Obviously, they came out with a lot of energy and made a lot of shots tonight. For us, we didn’t show the best basketball that we normally play. We made it kinda harder, but we ended up getting the win, so I’m happy about that.’’

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Another key contributor was Darius McGhee, who set the early rhythm with his first-half performance. The American guard scored 11 points and dished out 7 assists to keep the offense flowing, while also making his presence felt defensively with 3 steals.

Bourg also leaned on its work on the boards. The hosts pulled down 45 rebounds overall, including 15 on the offensive glass, with Kevin Kokila leading the way with 10 rebounds and Tajuan Agee adding 8.

“The most important (thing) tonight, it was a win,” said Coach Fauthoux after the game. ‘‘It was… okay, it wasn’t a good game, but it’s difficult. We played a lot and we won, and that’s the most important.”

Panionios made the trip without head coach Ilias Zouros and star guard Jaylen Hands; the former resigned his post on Saturday and the latter was released. Still, the Greek side stayed in the game until the final moments. Jackson Kreuser led the visitors with 16 points, Matt Lewis added 14, and Nate Watson and Stedmon Lemon each scored 12.

Perimeter shooting, however, proved costly, as Panionios went 7 of 24 from three. Giorgos Tsalmpouris briefly sparked hope with two timely triples, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.

In Round 13, Bourg will open the new year on the road against Lietkabelis Panevezys, aiming to extend its lead in Group B, while Panionios hosts Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in search of its second win of the season.

Both Gach stood out for the home side with 22 points