BILBAO (Spain) – After missing out on the FIBA Europe Cup Final last season, Bilbao Basket hopes that its international contingent can help them take that extra leap this time around.
The Spanish side have an overall 24-4 record in the midst of its second season in the competition, as they once again reach the latter stages - with a matchup with Tofas Bursa in the Quarter-Finals awaiting.
Bilbao's run to the Semi-Finals last season was their best in Europe since finishing as runners-up in EuroCup in 2013, and the club has put full faith in emerging players from across the continent.
Swedish international Melwin Pantzar, Estonian guard Kristian Kullamae, Icelandic giant Tryggvi Hlinason and Belgium's rising talent Thijs De Ridder were on that team last season and have returned to the fold with one goal in mind.
They make up part of a talented international spine in the roster; when you also factor in Slovenian veteran Zoran Dragic, Norway's scoring leader Harald Frey and Poland's Tomasz Gielo, as well as recent Saudi Arabian international Muhammed-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Senegal's Amar Sylla from outside of Europe, too.
"It's a nice feeling - we all share something in common," Pantzar said of the international mix. "When it's the national teams, we go together, sitting at the airport, and we all root for each other.
"We come from different backgrounds, but we all have this common feeling that we want to do well for Bilbao - and we are representing our countries in every game.”
Kullamae added: "It's a little bit different. But competition is really high every day, and I think every player wants to have that to be able to get better."
Bilbao have bolstered their squad with the signing of Malcolm Cazalon - a silver-medalist for France at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in 2018 - to further signify their clear strategy when it comes to recruitment - enlisting a potent blend of emerging continental stars to mold their style of play.
22-year-old Spaniard Ruben Dominguez is enjoying a breakout campaign, while there is the veteran presence of FIBA Basketball World Cup winner Xavi Rabaseda and American Marvin Jones to compliment the squad.
"The team has made a bet for some seasons now on young talent," explained Bilbao's Sporting Director, Rafa Pueyo. "We feel comfortable making those bets because we trust in the talent of the player.
"The good thing is that I think that the players and their agents are seeing that Bilbao is a good place to take another step in their career and to grow as players and improve in order to then take another step."
Pantzar - who joined the club in 2023 - added: "Bilbao has been a really good place for me - both for my development as a player, but as a person also. They gave me the chance to be in the highest league and to play in Europe, and I am really grateful."
Undoubtedly, Bilbao has laid the foundation this season for being a real force on their home floor. Starting with a convincing 95-59 blowout of Lithuanian side Neptunas Klaipeda in the Qualifiers, they have gone on to win all seven of their home games - with an incredible winning average of 21.4 points.
They have only lost once so far this term, against Cholet Basket; however, Bilbao has consistently proven why they have been one of the best teams in this competition. But it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.
Bilbao needed a record comeback from a 19-point first leg deficit against Legia Warszawa to reach the last four 12 months ago, before coming up short against eventual champions NINERS Chemnitz - something they are keen to atone for.
"Our home court is really important," stated Kullamae. "At the beginning of the season, we wanted to win this competition so the job is not finished."
There is the added feel-good factor for the likes of Pantzar, Kullamae and Hlinason having returned to club duties off the back of guiding their respective national teams to this summer's FIBA EuroBasket.
An added lift as they head into crunch time in FIBA Europe Cup action.
"Qualifying was really, really important for us. We're already waiting for the EuroBasket in August, and I hope that a lot of Estonians will come there," said Kullamae.
"It was an amazing feeling [to qualify]," Pantzar added. “After 12 years, doing that with the group we have in front of our fans and my family in Stockholm, I think it was one of the best days of my life, my career.
"I feel like we have done a good campaign in FIBA Europe Cup. It's not an easy competition, so we look forward to continuing and trying to win."
Incidentally, one of Bilbao's greatest players, Alex Mumbru - who had his number 15 jersey retired - will also be at EuroBasket after leading Germany to qualification, with the Spaniard playing in the club's last European Final 12 years ago.
This current crop of talented players from around the continent have the opportunity to also make themselves part of Bilbao's history books if they can inspire a European triumph.
FIBA