

With bigger groups and a longer schedule than ever, the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season offers all kinds of intriguing storylines about what teams will gain the upper hand after 18 games. Here's the early take on 10 solid contenders in Group B.
### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica will set a record in October by starting its 15th EuroCup season, one more than any other team in the competition's 20-year history. Buducnost comes off a satisfactory EuroCup season in which it came close to reaching the semifinals for the first time. Buducnost has dominated Montenegrin basketball since the country became independent – 13 league and 14 cup titles since 2007. It has also been an Adriatic League powerhouse, winning that competition in 2018 and challenging for the title on a regular basis. Its fans know the EuroCup inside-out and should be ready to push their team further than before!
### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

A proud and always-ambitious club from the Slovenian capital, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana was 2 seconds away from securing a place in the EuroCup Quarterfinals last season but ended up eliminated in the Top 16. There is no doubt this team will be gunning for greater heights now. An established core of home-grown players led by Jaka Blazic, the EuroCup's top overall performer last season, meshes well with a coach who also played for the club, Jurica Golemac, giving Cedevita Olimpija a strong anchor of tradition and know-how. The Slovenian champion has been getting stronger from year to year, and this season should be no different.
### Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Up-and-coming Turkish club Frutti Extra Bursaspor will be competing in the 7DAYS EuroCup for a second consecutive season. In its debut, the team started with seven consecutive defeats before finishing the regular season on a high note, winning three of its last four games under newly arrived young coach Dusan Alimpijevic. Now, Bursaspor will be looking to use its experience from last season to set the foundations for a competitive campaign from the start. Reaching the single-game elimination rounds would be Bursaspor's reward for learning well.
### Gran Canaria

A classic team in the competition, Gran Canaria is set to start its 14th EuroCup campaign while coming off one of its finest efforts to date. The islanders reached the semifinals of the EuroCup last season for the third time in club history. Their best result had come in reaching the 2015 EuroCup Finals but finishing as runner-up. The club has all it takes to be successful – it always features players with a lot of experience, competes in one of Europe's best venues, Gran Canaria Arena, and delivers in big games. Last season, Gran Canaria rallied from a 0-3 start in the Top 16 to reach the playoffs. That fighting spirit will be needed all season long.
### Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse faced a huge challenge in making its international debut in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season but lived up to the expectations by reaching the Top 16. The goal for Bourg in its sophomore EuroCup campaign is to keep making noise. Bourg learned some valuable lessons from it's first season in European competition and will expect to be even more competitive this time around. Since winning the French second division title in 2017, Bourg has only gotten better, becoming one of the country's most solid teams. A longer EuroCup Regular Season should help Bourg find consistency and keep growing.
### Promitheas Patras

Already in its third consecutive EuroCup campaign, Promitheas Patras is one of the fastest-growing teams in Europe. Promitheas has invested a lot in infrastructure, with a strong youth program and a state-of-the-art practice facility. Its senior team is also living up to expectations, advancing to the Greek Cup final in each of the last two seasons. Promitheas had a strong EuroCup debut in the 2019-20 season, sitting as one of the top-seeded teams in the playoffs when the competition stopped. It second EuroCup season was less competitive, but the Greek powerhouse will be poised to bounce back in the 2021-22 campaign.
### ratiopharm Ulm

It has become hard to imagine a EuroCup season without ratiopharm Ulm, which has slowly but deservedly become a mainstay in the competition. The German club is entering its ninth EuroCup season in the last 10 years since its debut in 2012. Indeed, this season, Ulm is set to enter top 10 in EuroLeague games played. That debut season remains the only one in which Ulm reached the quarterfinals, but it was close to making longer runs on a couple more occasions. This year, Ulm will benefit from head coach Jaka Lakovic being there for a second season and look to go as far as possible in the EuroCup.
### Umana Reyer Venice

Despite coming off an underwhelming 2020-21 EuroCup season, Umana Reyer Venice is in the middle of a golden age. After 74 years without lifting trophies, Reyer won four titles in as many seasons, from 2017 to 2020. It has made basketball more popular than ever in one of the most unique cities in the world, and hopes to use that popularity to rebound in the 2021-22 EuroCup. While becoming a force in Italian basketball, Reyer's best EuroCup run was a 12-4 record before the 2019-20 season was short-circuited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reyer has all it takes to bounce back under the new 18-game regular season format.
### Valencia Basket

As the competition's original and most-crowned champion, Valencia Basket is always a top contender to win the EuroCup title. No other team comes close to the club's four titles – in 2003, 2010, 2014 and 2019, the last time Valencia was in the competition – not to mention runner-up finishes in 2012 and 2017. Valencia returns with an experienced roster, including some former EuroCup winners, a loyal fan base and facilities that are second to none. Once again, the right combination of talent and ambition makes Valencia a fierce opponent for all and a favorite to try to claim the EuroCup title for a fifth time.
### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Virtus Segafredo Bologna comes off one of the best seasons by any team in EuroCup history. Virtus finished the 2020-21 EuroCup season with a 19-2 record after winning its first 19 games, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semifinals before UNICS Kazan stood on its way to the finals. Virtus bounced back and won its first Italian League title in 20 years, however, showing that its setback was an aberration. Few teams should be more motivated next season than Virtus, which returns to the EuroCup with the same two goals: qualifying to the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and becoming the first Italian team to win the 7DAYS EuroCup.


With bigger groups and a longer schedule than ever, the 7DAYS Eurocup Regular Season offers all kinds of intriguing storylines about what teams will gain the upper hand after 18 games.

Group B at a glance

Valencia Basket reached an agreement with experienced forward Victor Claver until the end of the 2023-24 season. Claver (2.08 meters, 32 years old) arrives from FC Barcelona, where he averaged 2.3 points in 15 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. He helped Barcelona win the Spanish double - league and cup titles - in 2021. Claver also lifted back-to-back Spanish Cup trophies with Barcelona in 2018 and 2019. Claver started his career with Valencia, his hometown club, and became a full-time member of its first squad in the 2006-07 season. He helped Valencia win the 7DAYS EuroCup in 2010, reaching another EuroCup Championship Game in 2012, and made it to the 2011 EuroLeague playoffs, being one win away from reaching the Final Four. Claver was chosen as the EuroCup Rising Star in the 2009-10 season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">He&#39;s back! 🧡<br><br>Cas 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/Victor_Claver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Victor_Claver</a> vuelve a casa para su segunda etapa en Valencia Basket<a href="https://t.co/ltno6B86fh">https://t.co/ltno6B86fh</a><br><br>Val 👉 Víctor Claver torna a casa per a la seua segona etapa a Valencia Basket<a href="https://t.co/NeTAfbOim1">https://t.co/NeTAfbOim1</a><br><br>Eng 👉 <a href="https://t.co/WhaCv8Ue89">https://t.co/WhaCv8Ue89</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EAct%C3%ADVate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EActíVate</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q0aM6QrZud">pic.twitter.com/Q0aM6QrZud</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1414887344684118020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He has also played for Portland of the NBA, Idaho of the D-League, as well as for Khimki Moscow Region and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in Russia. He helped Lokomotiv and Barcelona reach the Final Four in 2016 and 2021, respectively. Claver is also a regular member of the Spanish national team. He helped Spain win respective gold medals at EuroBasket 2009, 2011 and 2015, as well as in the 2019 World Cup. Claver also helped Spain get two Olympic medals - silver in 2012, bronze in Rio 2016 - and a bronze one at EuroBasket 2013. He also helped the Spanish U20 squad get a bronze medal at the 2008 European Championships.

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Valencia brings back forward Claver

Late Tuesday MoraBanc Andorra announced the addition of guard Codi Miller-McIntyre for the next season.

Andorra brings in Miller-McIntyre

Miller-Mcintyre (1.91 meters, 27 years old) arrives from JL Bourg of France, but he started the season with Partizan NIS Belgrade, where he averaged 13.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 12 7DAYS EuroCup games, all of them as a starter. This will be Miller-Mcintyre's fourth EuroCup season as he has also played one year each with Zenit St Petersburg and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Miller-McIntyre will bring firepower in spades for Andorra.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🔝🔝🔝<br>PATAPUMBABOOOOOOOOOOOOM‼️⚡️<br>FITXATGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE‼️⚡️🔥<br><br>El Codi ja és nostre <a href="https://twitter.com/CMMPatience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMMPatience</a> <a href="https://t.co/AORYvo3xnn">https://t.co/AORYvo3xnn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CodiCorrecte?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CodiCorrecte</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaiSol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaiSol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaiPor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaiPor</a> <a href="https://t.co/rWIltzaLDq">pic.twitter.com/rWIltzaLDq</a></p>&mdash; MoraBancAndorra (@morabancandorra) <a href="https://twitter.com/morabancandorra/status/1415002473157234694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Joventut Badalona will make homegrown guard Pep Busquets part of its roster next season, the club announced on Monday

Joventut brings back Busquets from on loan

Busquets (1.98 meters, 22 years old) has spent last season on-loan with Girona of the Spanish second division, where he averaged 11.7 points and 3.0 rebounds. He re-joined Joventut at the end of the season, and made two appearances in the Spanish League. Busquets grew up with Joventut, and made his 7DAYS EuroCup debut with the team, making three appearances during the 2019-20 season. During his career, he spent time with CB prat, Arenys Basquet and Alicante.

Joventut Badalona will make homegrown guard Pep Busquets part of its roster next season, the club announced on Monday.

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ratiopharm Ulm announced on Monday brining forward Michael Rataj for the upcoming season

Ulm invests in future with Rataj

Rataj (2.03 meters, 17 years old) arrives from FC Bayern Munich where he grew up. He averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the German third division last season, while posting 7.5 points in two appearances for Bayern's U19 teams. Rataj also play for Germany in youth categories.


ratiopharm Ulm announced on Monday brining forward Michael Rataj for the upcoming season.

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JL Bourg en Bresse added depth to its backcourt by inking playmaker Axel Julien to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday

Bourg signs guard Julien

Julien (1.84 meters, 28 years old) arrives from JDA Dijon Bourgogne, where he averaged 11.8 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 35 French League games last season. He helped Dijon reach the French League and the French Cup championship games, losing against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Julien started his career with Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket and joined Dijon in 2015. He helped Dijon win the French Leaders Cup and reach the Basketball Champions League final four in 2020. Julien has also been a member of the French national team. He helped France win a silver medal at the 2012 U20 European Championships.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 🔴⚪️<br>Hey, <a href="https://twitter.com/julienaxel5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@julienaxel5</a> a un petit message pour vous !<br><br>Notre nouvelle recrue a activé le mode vacances avant d’entamer cette nouvelle saison et d’enfiler son maillot de guerrier ! 👊<br><br>On s’arrête quelques minutes sur son parcours 👉<a href="https://t.co/Rh3vJYZWL6">https://t.co/Rh3vJYZWL6</a> <a href="https://t.co/cDg23AWPm6">pic.twitter.com/cDg23AWPm6</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1414611834884272141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

JL Bourg en Bresse added depth to its backcourt by inking playmaker Axel Julien to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. 



With bigger groups and a longer schedule than ever, the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season offers all kinds of intriguing storylines about what teams will gain the upper hand after 18 games. Here's the early take on 10 solid contenders in Group A.
### Boulogne Metropolitans 92

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 comes off a fantastic 2020-21 7DAYS EuroCup season in which the team fought through injuries and adversities to win two groups on its return to the quarterfinals. Metropolitans managed to finish first in its regular season group with a 7-3 record and did the same in the Top 16 (4-2) against more-experienced teams like Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, Partizan NIS Belgrade and Dolomiti Energia Trento. Metropolitans, however, had a bittersweet end to a great season after getting swept by Herbalife Gran Canaria in the first round of the playoffs. Metropolitans showed what it is capable of and now hopes to use that experience while playing consecutive EuroCup seasons for the first time since 2015.
### Dolomiti Energia Trento

One of the EuroCup's stalwarts of late, Dolomiti Energia Trento proves year after year to be a club that cannot be taken lightly. A former EuroCup semifinalist, Trento will make its fifth consecutive EuroCup appearance, having gotten past the regular season in three of those chances. Last season, Trento opened its campaign by winning the first six games to become one of the first to book a Top 16 spot. It was also on the verge of making the EuroCup Quarterfinals – only to miss out on a tie-breaker by 2 points. Its ability to build on past experiences could make Trento one of the dark horses in the competition, ready to raise some eyebrows once again.
### Hamburg Towers

Hamburg Towers is the only newcomer to the 7DAYS EuroCup this season, which marks yet another step forwards for a young club that was still competing in the German second division in 2019. Hamburg comes off its best season ever, which allowed the German powerhouse to be invited to the EuroCup, and will not strive to make the most of this opportunity. The team has only competed since 2014, so competing in the EuroCup is, by far, its biggest challenge to date. Hamburg has been ambitious since day one, putting together a really solid structure and investing in the right staff, like sports director Marvin Willoughby and head coach Pedro Calles. Expect Hamburg to surprise a lot of EuroCup fans.
### Joventut Badalona

Former EuroCup champion Joventut Badalona enters its eighth EuroCup campaign with great ambition, ready to keep building on its recent results. After a full decade away from the competition, Joventut returned to the EuroCup in the 2019-20 campaign, reaching the Top 16. Joventut did even better in the 2020-21 season, grabbing as many as six road wins. That allowed the team to reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals for the first time since the club won the title in 2008. Joventut remains loyal to its winning formula: homegrown talents coming from one of the best youth programs in world basketball, and a good number of veterans handling high-pressure situations. Expect Joventut to be a tough contender.
### Lietkabelis Panevezys

Lietkabelis Panevezys enters its fourth 7DAYS EuroCup season in six years ready to learn from its previous experience and go past the regular season for the first time since its debut in 2016-17. Fully established as one of the best teams in a basketball-crazy country like Lithuania, Lietkabelis enters the 2021-22 EuroCup in search of the consistency required to qualify for the new knock-out stage. Staying strong at home should be critical for all teams, and Lietkabelis relies on its fan base to make the difference at Cido Arena. Lietkabelis's best EuroCup result was a Top 16 finish in 2017, which if repeated would mean reaching the playoffs under the new format.
### Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar heads into its ninth EuroCup season as one of the top candidates to lift the trophy. Lokomotiv won its only EuroCup title in 2013 and has remained a very strong contender most of the way. Last season, Lokomotiv returned to the EuroCup playoffs but lost against UNICS Kazan in the quarterfinals. By keeping head coach Evgeny Pashutin, it is guaranteed that Lokomotiv should keep offering its fun-to-watch, past-paced basketball brand. The Russian powerhouse is undergoing many roster changes but a longer regular season works in its favor to adjust, get better month by month and, of course, be ready to fight when the title is on the line.
### MoraBanc Andorra

Slowly but steadily, MoraBanc Andorra is becoming a classic team in the EuroCup. Andorra first entered the competition in 2016 but is already in its fifth consecutive campaign at this level. It may be a small country, but its basketball team is the pride of the whole nation and its biggest sports reference. Its slogan, Mai Por (Never Afraid) defines its trademark character. Andorra made it all the way to the EuroCup semifinals in 2019, in what has been its best season in the competition to this date. It reached the Top 16 in each of the last two seasons, too. Andorra hopes to use its experience to adjust to the new format and reach higher than ever in the 2021-22 EuroCup.
### Partizan NIS Belgrade

It's early in the summer, but few places have had or likely will as an exciting an offseason as Partizan NIS Belgrade. The Serbian powerhouse brought back home nine-time EuroLeague champion Zeljko Obradovic, the man who started his coaching journey with the club exactly 30 years ago. Partizan left behind an underwhelming last season that saw the team miss out on all its trophy hopes and is now in the midst of a roster revamp, too. The club enters its fifth consecutive year in the EuroCup, but with the bar set at an all-time high, it is looking to compete for all the glory. With Obradovic guiding the team on the bench and the support of the incredible black-and-white fans, everyone who knows basketball around the continent will have their eyes on Partizan in the new edition of the 7DAYS EuroCup.
### Slask Wroclaw

The most decorated team in the history of Polish basketball returns to the 7DAYS EuroCup after a long hiatus as it is looking to get back on the path of restoring its old glory days. Slask Wroclaw has won 17 Polish League titles, but none since 2002. The team previously played twice in the EuroCup and got through the regular season each time. But during the 13 years since its last EuroCup appearance Slask has faced relegation to the lower ranks of Polish basketball – twice. The team is poised to build on the last season's domestic success and continue making progress as it attacks new goals.
### Turk Telekom Ankara

Turk Telekom Ankara enters its sixth EuroCup campaign – but just its second since 2010 – with strong new aspirations. Telekom comfortably made it to the Turkish League playoffs last season and is ready to keep that momentum going in its return to the EuroCup. It is a perfect fit: an ambitious club looking for new, high-level challenges. It is also a traditional club in Turkish and European basketball, founded in 1954 and backed by the national telephone company. As one of the main sports references in Ankara, the Turkish capital, Telekom has all it takes to be successful in the 2021-22 EuroCup.


With bigger groups and a longer schedule than ever, the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season offers all kinds of intriguing storylines about what teams will gain the upper hand after 18 games.

Group A at a glance

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana bolstered its frontcourt by adding versatile forward Melvin Ejim, the club announced Sunday

Cedevita adds forward Ejim

Ejim (2.01 meters, 30 years old) arrives from Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, where he averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 19 7DAYS EuroCup games last season. He had one of his best games - 20 points, 8 rebounds, 23 PIR - in Top 16 Round 6 against Cedevita, a do-or-die showdown for both teams that allowed Buducnost to reach the EuroCup Playoffs. Ejin also helped Buducnost win the Montenegrin double - league and cup titles - in 2021. Before that he played two seasons with UNICS Kazan in Russia and one with Unicaja Malaga in Spain. Ejim started his professional career career with Virtus Roma of Italy, with which he made his EuroCup debut in the 2014-15 campaign. He spent one season with Erie Bay of the D-League before joining Umana Reyer Venice in March 2016 and playing the next season and a half there. Ejim helped Reyer win the 2017 Italian championship and was named MVP of the finals. He is also a member of the Canadian national team, with which he won the gold medal at the 2015 Tuto Marchand Cup and silver at the 2015 Pan American Games.



<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">V novi sezoni bomo močnejši za Melvina Ejima, ki ima izkušnje z igranjem na najvišji ravni, v minuli sezoni pa je bil eden od ključnih igralcev <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKBuducnostVOLI</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/MelvinEjim?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelvinEjim</a>, dobrodošel v Ljubljani! 💚🧡<br><br>Več na spodnji povezavi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevoSrce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevoSrce</a> <br><br>🔗: <a href="https://t.co/BthFbBVJtl">https://t.co/BthFbBVJtl</a> <a href="https://t.co/1txQvhT6BV">pic.twitter.com/1txQvhT6BV</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1414283428212748311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana bolstered its frontcourt by adding versatile forward Melvin Ejim, the club announced Sunday.

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Herbalife Gran Canaria added another big piece into its frontcourt by signing center Ilimane Diop on a two-year deal, the club announced on Saturday

Gran Canaria adds more size with Diop

Diop (2.11 meters, 26 years old) has spent the last eight years with TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, after joining the club from UPV Alava in 2013. The Senegalese big man, who also has a Spanish passport and has played for Spanish national teams, has made 193 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague since then, and has averaged 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds for his career. Interestingly, his arguably best performance came against Gran Canaria in January 2019, when he posted 13 points and a career-best 10 rebounds for a career-high PIR 25. He has helped Baskonia reach the 2016 Final Four, and three consecutive playoff appearances between 2017 and 2019. Diop also helped Baskonai win the 2020 Spanish League title, and last season in the Spanish League he posted 4.2 points and 1.6 rebounds. Diop is now set to make his 7DAYS EuroCup debut.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🖊 OFICIAL | El Gran Canaria se hace con Ilimane Diop.<br><br>El jugador, que procede de Baskonia, firma por los dos próximos años.<br><br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/jBGP0jH6oI">https://t.co/jBGP0jH6oI</a> <a href="https://t.co/WCj2reCOd3">pic.twitter.com/WCj2reCOd3</a></p>&mdash; CB Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1413799293136379905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Herbalife Gran Canaria added another big piece into its frontcourt by signing center Ilimane Diop on a two-year deal, the club announced on Saturday.

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