MUNICH (Germany) - The 2024-25 FIBA Europe Cup season begins on Tuesday, October 8, with 40 teams fighting for the coveted title won by NINERS Chemnitz last season.
There are only 16 spots up for grabs in the Second Round with the winners of each of the 10 groups joined by the six best-ranked runners-up.
Here is your guide to the Regular Season.
Group A
Tofas Bursa, Petrolina AEK, Keravnos BC, Basketball Lowen Braunschweig
Tofas Bursa, who played in last season’s Basketball Champions League, will look to make an early statement as they compete alongside Cypriot clubs Petrolina AEK and Keravnos BC, who have a storied history domestically and will continue their battles in the FIBA Europe Cup. Group A will also feature Basketball Lowen Braunschweig, who enter a continental competition for the first time in 20 years, eager to make an impact in a thrilling pool.
The favorite: Tofas Bursa Key matchup: Basketball Lowen Braunschweig vs Tofas Bursa The underdog: Petrolina AEK
The star: Marcquise Reed (Tofas Bursa)
Group B
Casademont Zaragoza, Patioti Levice, Bursaspor, Anorthosis Famagusta
Casademont Zaragoza will look to improve on their Quarter-Final showing last season with Patrioti Levice coming in from the Basketball Champions League Qualifiers, having lost in the Semi-Finals to BC Kalev/Cramo with Bursaspor a contender and Anorthosis Famagusta, who advanced from the Qualifiers also looking to make an impact.
The favorite: Casademont Zaragoza Key matchup: Bursaspor vs Casademont Zaragoza The underdog: Anorthosis Famagusta
The star: Bojan Dubljevic (Casademont Zaragoza)
Group C
Cholet Basket, Windrose Giants Antwerp, Fribourg Olympic, CSM Constanta
Group C promises to be a closely contested pool as Fribourg Olympic, Windrose Giants Antwerp, and CSM Constanta look to overcome group favorites Cholet Basket, who were runners-up two seasons ago. But make no mistake, this has the makings of an open pool.
The favorite: Cholet Basket Key matchup: Fribourg Olympic vs Windrose Giants Antwerp The underdog: CSM Constanta
The star: Andre Roberson (Cholet Basket)
Group D
Anwil Wloclawek, Dinamo Banco Di Sardegna, BC Dnipro, Sporting CP
The 2023 FIBA Europe Cup winners, Anwil Wloclawek, will be hurting from last season’s disappointment, where they were eliminated in the Regular Season, and are looking to come out the gates strong. However, Sporting CP, fresh from the Qualifiers, will be keen to advance from this group alongside Italian outfit Dinamo Banco Di Sardegna, who came from the Basketball Champions League Qualifiers. BC Dnipro, who are out not to make up the numbers, round out the group.
The favorite: Dinamo Banco Di Sardegna Key matchup: Sporting CP vs Anwil Wloclawek The underdog: BC Dnipro
The star: Eimantas Bendzius (Dinamo Banco Di Sardegna)
Group E
CSM Oradea, BC Parnu Sadam, PGE Spojnia Stargard, Fotbal Club Arges
Another tough group to call, which adds to the excitement of this group as CSM Oradea, who looked strong in their Basketball Champions League Qualifiers will look to make up for their Semi-Final elimination with a strong outing. PGE Spojnia Stargard will be tough opposition as they return to the competition this season, and Fotbal Club Arges will be a team to watch out for on debut. Estonian side BC Parnu Sadam will also be out to shake the group with solid showings.
The favorite: PGE Spojnia Stargard Key matchup: BC Parnu Sadam vs CSM Oradea The underdog: Fotbal Club Arges
The star: Donatas Tarolis (CSM Oradea)
Group F
BC Kalev/Cramo, Rilski Sportist, ESSM Le Portel, Alba Fehervar
Estonian giants BC Kalev/Cramo return to the FIBA Europe Cup for the fourth time and will look to improve on their Semi-Final place back in the 2022-23 season. But with a strong Hungarian side, Alba Fehervar, alongside newcomers Rilski Sportist and French side ESSM Le Portel, this group is wide open.
The favourite: ESSM Le Portel Key matchup: BC Kalev/Cramo vs Alba Fehervar The underdog: Rilski Sportist
The star: Severi Kaukiainen (BC Kalev/Cramo)
Group G
Spirou Basket, Norrkoping Dolphins, Sabah BC, Maroussi BC
A match-up between Spirou Basket and Norrkoping Dolphins could be a vital one to see who could potentially advance from this group based on experience and current form. Greek side Maroussi will start as favorites, and given their showing in the FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers, it’s easy to see why. And for back-to-back season, the lone Azerbaijan representative, Sabah BC will compete looking to improve on last season.
The favorite: Maroussi BC Key matchup: Spirou Basket vs Norrkoping Dolphins The underdog: Sabah BC
The star: Elvar Fridriksson (Maroussi BC)
Group H
MHP Riesen, BC Trepca, Caledonia Gladiators, JDA Bourgogne Dijon
It might be JDA Bourgogne Dijon’s first FIBA Europe Cup experience, but they will fancy their chances in this group that features Caledonia Gladiators, who narrowly missed out on advancing to the Round of 16 in their debut campaign last season, MHP Riesen, who will look to continue the strong record of German clubs and BC Trepca from Kosovo.
The favorite: MHP Riesen Key matchup: MHP Riesen vs JDA Bourgogne Dijon The underdog: BC Trepca
The star: Markis McDuffie (JDA Bourgogne Dijon)
Group I
FC Porto, PAOK, NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz, Hubo Limburg United
This group on paper looks to be a matchup between FC Porto and debutants PAOK for top spot. However, Hubo Limburg United and NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz will look to make things interesting, and the teams with nothing to lose often fight harder.
The favorite: PAOK Key matchup: PAOK vs FC Porto The underdog: Hubo Limburg United
The star: Frank Bartley (PAOK)
Group J
BC Prievidza, BC Balkan, Kutaisi 2010, Bilbao Basket
Bilbao Basket, last season’s Semi-Finalists, will look to go one further this campaign. They had to go through the Qualifiers to secure their spot in the Regular Season. They will face a stiff challenge with BC Prievidza, who also advanced through the Qualifiers. Georgian side Kutaisi 2010 and BC Balkan of Bulgaria round off the group.
The favorite: Bilbao Basket Key matchup: BC Prievidza vs BC Balkan The underdog: Kutaisi 2010
The star: Melwin Pantzar (Bilbao Basket)
FIBA