Valencia returns to the EuroCup by convincingly beating Hapoel Jerusalem

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

Both Valencia and Hapoel Jerusalem returned to the BKT EuroCup and faced each other in the opening round of this year’s competition. The Spanish side won on the road in Bulgaria 80-64.

Making his first appearance in the competition after four years, Matt Costello led the team in scoring with 16 points after leaving Baskonia; Jean Montero (10 points and 7 assists), Semi Ojeleye (12 points and 7 rebounds), and Nate Sestina (10 points and 6 rebounds) also delivered in Valencia’s opening win.

Facing his former team in his International debut for the Israeli side, Jared Harper had a 27-point losing effort over a perfect shooting night from the line (13/13). Speedy Smith had 10 points and 7 assists.

Earlier in the day, ratiopharm Ulm won a thriller OT encounter 96-93 on the road in Poland against debuting Trefl Sopot. Justinian Jessup was decisive with a dagger and ended as the team’s top scorer with 20 points, followed by 2006-born Noa Essengue (18 p) and Ben Saraf (17 p, 10 a).

Turkish teams Besiktas and Bahcesehir both won their respective games against Buducnost (94-76 in Istanbul) and BC Wolves (80-69 in Vilnius); moreover, other two teams went over the 90-point margin.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana was dragged by Devin Robinson (20 points) and Brynton Lemar (18 points) to get the 93-86 victory on the road in Romania against U-BT Cluj-Napoca; at the end of the night, Reyer Venezia beat Aris by 20 points (95-75) with 17 points by Jordan Parks.

BKT EuroCup 2024-25 – Round 1

Group A

Joventut Badalona – Hapoel Tel Aviv 78-75
Gran Canaria – Trento 84-81
Wolves – Bahcesehir 69-80
Besiktas – Buducnost 94-76
Trefl Sopot – Ulm 93-96 OT

Standings

1. Besiktas 1-0
2. Bahcesehir 1-0
3. Gran Canaria 1-0
4. Joventut 1-0
5. Ulm 1-0
6. Trefl Sopot 0-1
7. Trento 0-1
8. Hapoel Tel Aviv 0-1
9. Wolves 0-1
10. Buducnost 0-1

Group B

Turk Telekom – Lietkabelis 72-66
Hamburg Towers – Bourg-en-Bresse 80-100
U-BT Cluj Napoca –  Cedevita-Olimpija 86-93
Hapoel Jerusalem – Valencia 64-80
Umana Reyer Venezia – Aris 95-75

Standings

1. Bourg-en-Bresse 1-0
2. Venezia 1-0
3. Valencia 1-0
4. Cedevita Olimpija 1-0
5. Turk Telekom 1-0
6. Aris  0-1
7. Cluj Napoca 0-1
8. Lietkabelis 0-1
9. Hapoel Jerusalem 0-1
10. Hamburg Towers 0-1

PHOTO CREDIT: BKT EuroCup

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