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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Joventut Badalona made official on Saturday morning the signing of swingman Brandon Paul for the next season

Joventut brings back Brandon Paul

Paul already played in Badalona during the 2015-16 season. Since then, Paul played a couple of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague seasons with Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Olympiacos Piraeus, and he also played in the 2013-14 7DAYS EuroCup with Nizhny Novgorod. Paul arrives from the Australian league, where last season he played with the Adelaide 36ers, as he appeared on 20 games averaging 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.



<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">✍ El Club Joventut Badalona fitxa Brandon Paul!<br><br>Segona etapa del jugador nord-americà a la Penya .<br><br>🤩 Welcome back <a href="https://twitter.com/BP3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BP3</a> <br><br> 👉 <a href="https://t.co/KQ43MCHPUn">https://t.co/KQ43MCHPUn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/6cOQAE4NBI">pic.twitter.com/6cOQAE4NBI</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1413800286750191616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Joventut Badalona made official on Saturday morning the signing of swingman Brandon Paul for the next season.

Umana Reyer Venice announced on Saturday morning a new contract extension with guard Julyan Stone, who will be playing his sixth season with the team, fourth consecutive

Venice, Stone together again

Stone (1.98 meters, 30 years old) averaged 5.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 10 appearances last season with Reyer in the 7DAYS EuroCup. This will be his third appearance in the competition. After all these years in Venice, Stone has become the best assist-man in the history of the club, and also third-best rebounder having played a total 219 games with the club's jersey. 

"I have achieved great things with Reyer, but the journey is not over yet" said Stone. "I still can help achieve some things and I will put in my hard work to give us the best chance at success. My role in the team may change, but my motivation will continue to grow."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">✍️🇺🇸<br>Miglior assist-man della storia della Reyer,<br>terzo rimbalzista all time,<br>219 partite con noi, nono nella storia.<br>🏆🏆🏆<br>“Il mio ruolo in squadra cambierà, la mia motivazione continuerà a crescere”.<br><br>👉 Julyan Stone per la sesta stagione insieme a noi: <a href="https://t.co/ZlRbY2KpHW">https://t.co/ZlRbY2KpHW</a> <a href="https://t.co/A8nJ1Rdkkj">pic.twitter.com/A8nJ1Rdkkj</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1413762215082070019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Umana Reyer Venice announced on Saturday morning a new contract extension with guard Julyan Stone, who will be playing his sixth season with the team, fourth consecutive.

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7DAYS EuroCup returnee Slask Wroclaw keeps adding names to its roster this summer as on Saturday morning it announced the arrival of small forward Luka Asceric, who will play in the Polish team for the next two seasons

Slask adds Luka Asceric

Last season, Asceric (2.02 meters, 24 years old) played in JL Bourg, where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.4 boards and 1.8 assists in 14 EuroCup games. Asceric made his pro debut in his native Austria, and then he played in France with Lille and then Hyeres-Toulon. Later, he would move to Serbia to play with Mega Belgrade right before joining Bourg. This will be his second season in the EuroCup.

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">Luka Ašćerić w Śląsku Wrocław! 🔥<br><br>24-latek ostatnio występował w JL Bourg, rywalizując we francuskiej ekstraklasie i EuroCupie. Reprezentant Serbii podpisał z WKS-em 2-letni kontrakt. Dobrodošli u Vroclav! 👋<br><br>Więcej ➡ <a href="https://t.co/HrPhryUB8a">https://t.co/HrPhryUB8a</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hej%C5%9Al%C4%85sk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HejŚląsk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSEuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/HQ4yUPuDBx">pic.twitter.com/HQ4yUPuDBx</a></p>&mdash; WKS Śląsk Wrocław - koszykówka (@WKS_SlaskBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKS_SlaskBasket/status/1413800163911602177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

7DAYS EuroCup returnee Slask Wroclaw keeps adding names to its roster this summer as on Saturday morning it announced the arrival of small forward Luka Asceric, who will play in the Polish team for the next two seasons.

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Slask Wroclaw added depth to its backcourt by inking point guard Lukasz Kolenda to a one-year deal, the club announced Friday.

Slask tabs point guard Kolenda

Kolenda (1.96 meters, 21 years old) arrives from Trefl Sopot, where he averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 assists in 34 Polish League games last season. He joined Sopot in 2012 and spent 10 seasons with his former club. Kolenda has also been a member of the Polish national team. "I decided to come to Slask Wroclaw because of the opportunity to develop my skills in high-level EuroCup games, and to fight for the highest goals in the Polish league," Kolenda said. "I am glad that I will have the opportunity to represent Slask in the coming season, both internationally and locally."

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">Piątek, piąteczek... a do tego dobre informacje z samego rana 😍<br><br>Łukasz Kolenda nowym zawodnikiem Śląska Wrocław! Reprezentant Polski podpisał roczną umowę z WKS-em. Witamy we Wrocławiu! 🇮🇹<br><br>Więcej ➡ <a href="https://t.co/yxPga8Jsdm">https://t.co/yxPga8Jsdm</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hej%C5%9Al%C4%85sk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HejŚląsk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a> <a href="https://t.co/WiOFc1Ha4g">pic.twitter.com/WiOFc1Ha4g</a></p>&mdash; WKS Śląsk Wrocław - koszykówka (@WKS_SlaskBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKS_SlaskBasket/status/1413407636498915330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>


Reaction was swift from the clubs chosen in the 7DAYS EuroCup draw for the 2021-22 regular season on Friday in Barcelona, Spain. See what the representatives from the teams in Group A had to say about the upcoming challenge!

#### Zoran Savic, Sports Director, Partizan NIS Belgrade

"Of course, this is a very difficult draw, two groups that are very similar, but the most important thing in each of them is to get the home-court advantage in the future. It's very difficult because you need to be ready to compete from the very first game. I hope that we can finish first or second in our group to have that home-court advantage in later, very important games, because they will be just one game and every one of them will be life or death."

#### Zeljko Obradovic, Head Coach, Partizan NIS Belgrade:

"I hope our fans will recognize the strength of these opponents and come to support us. I think it is the most important we construct our team and start training, maybe little earlier than usual, because everything is new for us and the season will be tough against opponent we need to respect. But there is no doubt, we will enter the EuroCup this season with the highest ambitions. Because of the competition, it is important to have good training camp, we hope all the players will be healthy, and we be ready to be at the highest level from the start, so we play the EuroCup the way we desire and end up where we want to be next season."

#### Jordi Marti, Sports Director, Joventut Badalona

"All the teams in our group are strong. We can highlight names like Partizan, Lokomotiv, Boulogne Metropolitans 92 or Turk Telekom, but we cannot talk any less about the rest of the teams. It will be a tough, difficult road. This is a very powerful EuroCup. We will see good basketball and I hope that, at last, our fans can enjoy these good games in our arena."

#### Ginas Rutkauskas, Vice President, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

"Our group is a combination of strong teams, many of which are counting on a ticket to the Euroleague. This is our task too. The formation of the team today is in line with our long-term goals - and the recruitment of the roster at the very beginning. We understand that the format of the tournament has changed, but our tasks are the same - the development of youth and the targeted strengthening of the roster with which we can achieve high results. A three-year EuroCup license will help ensure that we can meet this challenge. "

#### Salvatore Trainotti, General Manager, Dolomiti Energia Trento

"It's always exciting to take part in the 7DAYS EuroCup, and it will be even more so this season: the new competition format allows us to face many top-level opponents and to compete with some of the best organizations in Europe. This competition is very fascinating, on and off the court. We are really happy to take part in the cup for the sixth time; for our club, it is a source of great pride. We will give our best to accomplish the best possible results and, as always, we will try to learn from this international experience and grow as a club in all aspects."

#### Emanuele Molin, Head Coach, Dolomiti Energia Trento

"Thanks to the new format of the competition, the way in which we have to think about the regular season group we have also changes: it is a real season within a season. We will play 18 games against teams with ambition, tradition and talent. We participate in this EuroCup with great enthusiasm, and it will be a fascinating European adventure full of travels, challenging trips, difficult courts to conquer. It will be a new experience, different from those of recent years. We need to have a wide-ranging vision: we will compete against great opponents and we will do our best."

#### Marvin Willoughby, General Manager, Hamburg Towers

"Playing on the European level is completely new to us. But we are really looking forward to taking our first steps in this tough competition this season. The field of participants in Group A is really strong. It won't be easy as a newcomer. But we want to learn, gain experience and grow through the challenge." 

#### Francesc Solana, General Manager, MoraBanc Andorra

"We are in the same group as two of the favorites to win the EuroCup, Loko and Partizan. Like the rest of the teams in the group, we're ready to fight until the end to finish in the eight first positions. It will be exciting and very attractive for our fans. We want to be competitive as we were in recent seasons. We're very happy to be in this EuroCup because, as we always say, the level of the teams is amazing year after year."

#### Michal Lizak, General Manager, Slask Wroclaw

"First of all, we are proud that we are coming back to the EuroCup family and we can take part in such a prestigious competition. We can't wait to host such great clubs as Partizan Belgrade in our city. Even a friendly game with that kind of club would be a great thing, not to mention competing in the EuroCup together. Zeljko Obradovic coached many great teams, worked in the biggest organizations, and won a lot of trophies, so we are really excited to host him and his team in Wroclaw once again. We also can't wait for October 20 and our first home game with Lietkabelis Panevezys. Every match will be a really big thing for the whole organization and the city of Wroclaw. The draw is obviously tough, because anyway we would play with really good teams. We have big respect for all of our opponents and I believe that every game is going to be a big show. I hope that a lot of fans will be able to participate in the games and cheer us from the stands."

#### Petar Mijovic, Head Coach, Slask Wroclaw

"It is going to be a big challenge for Slask to play in one of the best European competitions, back after almost 15 years. Both groups are tough. A lot of teams with a big experience in Europe, some of them with EuroLeague budgets. But in the end, I think we will have our chance. First of all, we have to finish our roster, other team need to finish their roster, and after that we can talk more about our group. Favorites in our group are Lokomotiv, Andorra and Partizan after Zeljko Obradovic took over the head coaching position. I see our chance if we build our team, if we bring players with attitude, and if we work well like I hope we will. Also, if we find a way to build a strong atmosphere. Every game will be a big challenge for us, but also a chance for us to grow and try to do everything to fight for one of the eight spots to go to the next phase." 

Reaction was swift from the clubs chosen in the 7DAYS EuroCup draw for the 2021-22 regular season on Friday in Barcelona, Spain.

Post-draw comments: Group A



The 20 participating teams of the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup gathered in a remote meeting on Friday, July 9, to prepare for the new season ahead of the competition draw, which is also being held on Friday at 13:15 CEST and streamed on YouTube and Facebook, as well as by other broadcast rightsholders across Europe.

The clubs were updated on the league's performance during the 2020-21 season, where 21 games (11% of total) were rescheduled due to COVID-19-related restrictions, and two were relocated to alternative venues. The 7DAYS EuroCup saw a 19% growth in interest levels compared to the latest complete season (2018-19), according to Nielsen Sports, while the competition’s social media platforms have experienced a 17% growth in engagement levels.

Additionally, clubs reviewed the updates in the competition bylaws, highlighted by:

-New player registration to match with new format:

* Player roster additions allowed until Round 14 of the Regular Season.
* Player changes between EuroCup clubs can take place between Regular Season Rounds 8 and 10.

-Marketing transitory provisions approved for the 2020-21 season to remain in place for the 2021-22 season, to offer clubs with more opportunities to mitigate COVID-19 impact on revenue generation.

- Clubs to be integrated within the EuroLeague Business Operations and Clubs Services unit, which provides consultancy services on business topics and promotes information and experience-sharing among Euroleague Basketball teams with the objective of raising the average standards of the league and improving business performance across the board.

- Instant Replay System (IRS) review of basket value to be performed during the next timeout or at the end of the quarter to reduce game interruptions, except in last two minutes of regular time and overtime.

- Head coaches will be allowed to call one "challenge" per game to ask the referees to review a play within the established IRS reviewable situations.

- Medical and Health & Safety Protocols to be updated including conclusions of Team Doctors and EB Medical Officer meetings.

Clubs also reviewed the 2021-22 season calendar, the first one under a brand-new competition format, with the competition set to start on October 20, 2021, and the new single-game elimination rounds on April 19, 2022.

Finally, attending club representatives were informed about the economic distribution criteria, as well as the Financial Stability & Fair Play Regulations, that will commence to be applied to the EuroCup competition in the 2021-22 season, which include, among other issues:

- Minimum team budget of €2m for the 2021-22 season and €2.5m from 2022-23 season onwards.

- Prohibition of overdue payables.

- Player salary expenses limited to 65% of total expenses.

- Shareholders contributions limited to 65% of total expenses.

- Aggregate financial deficit limited to 10% of club average budget in a three-year period.

- The Management Control Commission (MCC) will be responsible for monitoring the correct implementation of the regulations, as they already do for the EuroLeague competition.


The 20 participating teams of the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup gathered in a remote meeting on Friday, July 9, to prepare for the new season ahead of the competition draw.

EuroCup clubs meet and officially tip off the 2021-22 season

The 7DAYS EuroCup Draw on Friday, which may be followed live at 13:15 CEST on YouTube and Facebook, will mark the start of a special era as the competition enters its third decade with a new and exciting look.

The 2021-22 EuroCup will be played in a brand-new competition format that starts with a greatly expanded regular season and continues to its conclusion with dramatic single-game knock-out rounds.

For the regular season, the draw will divide 20 teams into two groups of 10. Within each group, all opponents will play in a round-robin, home-and-away format for a total of 18 games stretching from October 20, 2021, to April 6, 2022. The top eight clubs in each regular season group will advance to the knock-out phases.

Those elimination rounds consist of the eighthfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and final, all played in a single-game format in which the higher ranked team from the regular season will hold home-court advantage.

The revamped competition model provides the clubs with more guaranteed home games than ever before, which maximizes the fun for their fans. In addition, each regular season game will have an increased importance given that the higher-ranked teams from each group will serve as hosts in the elimination games.

EuroCup already allows a champion and a runner-up to qualify to the next season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague as per current regulations, and is now set to serve the players, clubs and fans with even more excitement all season long.

The 7DAYS EuroCup Draw on Friday, which may be followed live at 13:15 CEST on YouTube and Facebook, will mark the start of a special era as the competition enters its third decade with a new and exciting look.

EuroCup Draw on Friday unveils new competition format

Reaction was swift from the clubs chosen in the 7DAYS EuroCup draw for the 2021-22 regular season on Friday in Barcelona, Spain. See what the representatives from the teams in Group B had to say about the upcoming challenge!

#### Paolo Ronci, General Manager, Virtus Segafredo Bologna:

"Nice group, but Group A is also nice. It's a great level. There are three or four very important teams who are used to playing in the EuroLeague. It will be a high-level EuroCup and this is a good thing. If you want to go upstairs, it's good to understand right away what kind of opponents you're playing. It's difficult to comment on individual teams. But the comment must be made on the change of format: 18 games guaranteed, all important, every victory counts, and even the basket difference can be decisive. Then there is this much-feared novelty: the single-game eliminations starting from the eighthfinals round. You can't go wrong, and you have to arrive with the luck of having the full roster, healthy and fit."

#### Julien Desbottes, Club President, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

"I love these moments of the draw, there is a real professionalism that emerges, you immediately understand that we are playing at a high level. When we see the names of the teams around us, too, it leaves us dreaming about the first few minutes and afterwards, we especially see the extent of the challenge. We are all competitors, so we can't wait for it to start, can't wait to fight to get out of this group and potentially finish in the eight qualifiers. Our second campaign in the competition is a legacy of what was accomplished in previous years, but it is also a new story, one that we are starting to write now. We can't wait to share this with our audience, whether at Ekinox or anywhere in Europe."

#### Aleksandar Dzikic, Head Coach, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

"EuroCup has a new format of the competition, so it is sort of unknown for everybody. Our group is packed with serious teams. We have a new group of players, we will try to do our best in every game."

#### Davor Uzbinec, General Manager, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

"The new 7DAYS EuroCup season is ahead of us and we are looking forward to it. The new format of the competition will definitely increase the interest of fans to watch the games in the coming seasons. The draw determined Group B for us, and we will face nine very attractive teams. We met Valencia several times when Cedevita was still in Zagreb and Valencia played in the Euroleague last season. It is an ambitious and strong environment. Here is also the Italian national champion, Virtus Segafredo Bologna, who had one of the strongest teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup last season. Already Valencia and Virtus are strong and attractive opponents, which give extra weight to our group, and of course other very strong clubs are also present. We have a very interesting season ahead of us. I think we have a chance to be able to fight for a high ranking, and we are entering the new season even more ambitious than the previous season, when we fought for a place among the top 16 teams in the competition. Our wish is to compete for as long as possible, and above all, it is our wish that the matches can be played in front of the fans in the arenas."

#### Willy Villar, General Manager, Gran Canaria

"It is a tough group with a lot of great teams, teams that have been playing European competitions for a long time. It will be really hard but, at the same time, it will be really exciting for us and our fans. We really hope to do a good job in this first phase so we can go into the elimination part of the competition."

#### Vassilis Tountopoulos, CEO, Promitheas Patras

"We are very happy to participate in the 2021-22 Eurocup season, which is going to be very challenging due the new format of the competition. We aim to be very competitive, bring a lot of energy on the basketball court and make all of our fans proud to be a part of our organization. We will be playing against great clubs and we are eager to begin this exciting journey."

#### Walter De Raffaele, Head Coach, Umana Reyer Venice

"There are two very close and balanced groups, with a lot of high quality teams. Our group, like the other one, is very tough with very important clubs. It is hard to evaluate so far the potential of each team, because many of them are in progress, even if I think Partizan, Lokomotiv, Virtus and Valencia are teams that will for sure make a run to lift the trophy. As we always did, we look forward to compete to make our fans proud of us."

See what the representatives from the teams in Group B had to say about the upcoming challenge!