By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
Dubai Basketball secured a hard-fought 79-75 victory over Anadolu Efes at the Gloria Cup Summer Games 2026, earning an important preseason win in Antalya.
In a tightly contested matchup, Dubai held its nerve against a strong Anadolu Efes side and came through in the decisive moments to claim a four-point victory.
McKinley Wright led the way for Dubai with 14 points, while Mfiondu Kabengele added 13. Tornike Shengelia contributed 11 points, Dwayne Bacon scored 10, and Elie Okobo finished with eight as Dubai produced a balanced offensive effort.
Anadolu Efes was led by Dario Saric, who delivered a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mike James added 14 points, and Matthew Strazel scored 13, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Dubai from securing the win.
The game was part of the Gloria Cup Summer Games 2026, where both teams are preparing for the new season.
Maccabi hold off Aris to open Cyprus Tournament with a win
Maccabi opened its preparation tournament in Cyprus with a hard-fought 92-87 victory over Aris Thessaloniki, overcoming a competitive Greek side in a game that remained close through the final three quarters.
Maccabi made the stronger start, taking a 21-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. Bonzie Colson immediately set the tone for the Yellow-and-Blue, scoring eight points in the opening period and providing an early spark on offense.
The first quarter also marked the return of T.J. Leaf, who stepped onto the court for the first time since February 2026, adding another positive note to Maccabi’s preseason preparations.
Aris responded strongly after the break. The Greek side cut into Maccabi’s lead during the third quarter, setting up a tense finish. At the end of the period, Maccabi remained in front 68-65, with the momentum shifting toward Aris.
Maccabi, however, managed to withstand the pressure in the fourth quarter and ultimately closed out the game 92-87 to begin the Cyprus tournament with a victory.
Bonzie Colson was the standout performer for Maccabi, finishing with 23 points and leading the Yellow-and-Blue in scoring. Brissett added 19 points, while Roman Sorkin and Jaylen Hoard each contributed 12.
Zalgiris Kaunas finishes preseason with a win
Zalgiris Kaunas finished their London tournament on a high note, securing a convincing victory over Slask Wroclaw in the third-place game.
With the final podium spot at stake, Zalgiris took control of the contest early and carried an eight-point advantage into halftime, leading 40–32. The Lithuanian side maintained its composure after the break, keeping Slask at arm’s length and ultimately sealing a comfortable win.
Attention now turns to the domestic season, with Zalgiris set to begin their LKL campaign on September 17 with an away game in Gargzdai.
Victories for Olympiacos and Panathinaikos
Olympiacos booked their place in the final of the Neofytos Chandriotis tournament against Maccabi Tel Aviv after edging Crvena Zvezda 89–87 in a thrilling and closely fought encounter. Sasha Vezenkov once again led the Greek side, finishing with 22 points and playing a key role in a game that remained in the balance until the final minutes.
Crvena Zvezda pushed Olympiacos all the way, with Chima Moneke and Jordan Nwora leading the Serbian team with 17 points each. Despite their efforts, Olympiacos managed to hold on for the narrow two-point victory and will now face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the tournament final.
In the Rhodes tournament, Panathinaikos also advanced with a convincing 78–56 victory over AEK, with their defense taking center stage. The “Shamrock” controlled the game through their defensive intensity and never allowed their opponents to find a consistent offensive rhythm.
Sylvain Francisco led Panathinaikos in scoring with 13 points, while Lefteris Mantzoukas, back with the club for a new stint, added 11. For AEK, Giorgos Tsalbouris and Lukas Lekavicius finished with 11 points apiece, although Lekavicius struggled to make an impact against Panathinaikos’ aggressive defensive approach.
Plenty of Euroleague action
Meanwhile, Kosner Baskonia secured a place in the final of the XI Torneo EncestaRías after surviving a high-scoring thriller against ALBA Berlin. The Spanish side prevailed 101–99 in a game dominated by offensive production, with Baskonia doing just enough in the closing stages to seal their ticket to the final.
Kosner Baskonia’s opponent in the final will be Valencia Basket, who defeated Monbus Obradoiro by 95-108.
Virtus Bologna, by contrast, enjoyed a much more comfortable evening. The Italian side overwhelmed Pesaro 110–67, establishing their superiority from the opening minutes and cruising to a 43-point victory.
Partizan were equally dominant in their matchup with Fuenlabrada, securing a commanding 98–55 win. The Serbian side left little room for a contest, controlling the game from start to finish and completing another emphatic preseason performance.
Real Madrid opened the Costa del Sol Tournament with a 97-90 win over La Laguna Tenerife. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot led the way with his best performance of the preseason, while Facundo Campazzo and Walter Tavares also played key roles. For Tenerife, Kyle Guy made an impressive return, scoring consistently from deep, with Jaime Fernández also making an impact.
Barça qualified for the Lliga Catalana final against iLERNA Lleida after defeating Kids&Us Manresa 77-90. Despite Timmy Allen’s 18 points, a game high, Justin Robinson (17 points) and Joel Parra (15 p.) guided Sekulic’s team to the final.
The final game of the day featuring EuroLeague teams was London Lions vs. Paris Basketball, which ended in a 84–75 home win.
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