MUNICH (Germany) - It's been a highly competitive first half of the FIBA Europe Cup season, with the stakes getting even more intense heading in 2025.
There are 16 teams all vying for eight spots in the Quarter-Finals, but who is nicely positioned and who is on the ropes?
Let's check out how the 16 teams are faring right now.
1 - Tofas Bursa
Season record: 8-0
Currently unbeaten in the competition with eight wins in a row, the Turkish side has put the rest of the field on notice as the team to beat going into 2025.
Ranked number one in points per game at 97.5, shooting 57.3 percent, and dishing out 26.8 assists a contest, Tofas has been an offensive juggernaut throughout, led by free-scoring Marquise Reed’s 16.9 points per game, and Alex Perez dishing out 7.6 assists. They will take some beating moving forward.
2 - Bilbao Basket
Season record: 10-0
Bilbao has been securing wins this season collectively as a team with all that steps onto the floor, which is a threat to the opposition. Like Tofas, they are unbeaten in this season’s FIBA Europe Cup, but having to go through the Qualifiers, sit at 10-0.
The Spanish side have scored the second most points overall in the competition and three players averaging double digits, led by Estonian international Kristian Kullamae’s 12.3 points across those 10 games. They also get incredible production from Belgian youngster Thijs De Ridder and Swedish international Melwin Pantzar.
3 - PAOK mateco
Season record: 7-1
Amongst one of the pre-competition favorites, PAOK has showcased their true ability, with the one speed bump being the loss on the road to FC Porto. Otherwise, they have been dominant, winning their Regular Season games by an average margin of 16 points.
Led by the ominous trio of Shavar Reynolds, Frank Bartley, and Devonte Upson, the Greek side has a consistent scoring threat that can hurt opponents in many ways. On top of that, PAOK also has a solid cast of role players led by Dimitrios Katsivelis, Cedric Henderson Jr., and Jackson Kreuser.
4 - MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
Season record: 7-1
MHP RIESEN, like PAOK, has suffered the one slip-up during the Regular Season, but it’s their form at home that has been devastating so far. The German side have won all five games at home with an average winning margin of 17.4 points and currently sit 2-0 in Group N.
However, they have got to where they are as a team, with various players able to step up and take control. Justin Simon leads a balanced scoring effort with 13 points per game, with Yorman Polas and Joel Scott averaging 12.8 points. Without question, they will be a tough nut to crack in 2025.
5 - Cholet Basket
Season record: 7-1
The former runners-up might have lost their last game of the year to Bilbao – their first in the competition – but have certainly been exciting to watch as they aim to go as far as they can in the FIBA Europe Cup.
The team is ranked second in points per game at 92.8 and boasts offensive firepower fronted by Bastien Vautier, who averages 13 points and 5.9 rebounds a game, and Stefan Smith’s 12.8 points and 3 assists per contest.
6 - Casademont Zaragoza
Season record: 6-2
Zaragoza have quietly gone about their business efficiently, advancing from the Regular Season with the one loss, but were soundly beaten by Maroussi to end the year, leaving them at 1-1 in Group K.
Another of the pre-season favorites coming in, Zaragoza has a squad that has the potential to go all the way, with Trae Bell-Haynes averaging a team-high 15 points and 6.8 assists per game. Jilson Bango, Bojan Dubljevic, and Santi Yusta have played their part in some of the team’s best showings this season, and it’s all about how they bounce back when they resume play on January 8 against the in-form Tofas Bursa.
7 - CSM CSU Oradea
Season record: 6-2
Oradea are a team led by veterans - and have a long history with the competition. A solid Regular Season saw them as one of the first teams to qualify for the Second Round, and they have made a good start despite the narrow loss to PAOK mateco to end 2024.
Crafty veterans Donatas Tarolis and the prolific Kris Richard have been in sublime form this season, with Richard averaging just shy of 15 points and Tarolis posting 14.8 points and 7 rebounds per game. Still, they have help from Brandon Brown and Paulius Petrilevicius, and rest assured; the Romanian side will not be taken lightly.
8 - Maroussi BC
Season record: 7-3
Debutants Maroussi has got to this stage through the Qualifiers and built an impressive 7-3 record overall. They will no doubt be boosted by their last win, a nine-point success over Zaragoza, giving them a 1-1 record in Group K.
Iceland international Elvar Fridriksson pulls the strings, leading the way in overall efficiency at 16.6 and averaging 13.3 points and 6.8 assists. Cameron Reynolds leads the team in scoring at 17.6 a game, with Ismael Sanogo posting a consistent 10 points and 6.6 boards. They have the talent and the tools to succeed in a tough group.
9 - JDA Bourgogne Dijon
Season record: 7-3
Dijon were locked in a two-way battle for top spot with MHP RIESEN Lugwigsburg in Group H during the Regular Season but despite an early stutter against Oradea, they bounced back to beat BC Kalev/Cramo to improve to 1-1.
They return to action away against PAOK mateco, which will be a stern test, especially as their counterparts are unbeaten at home. They will count on the scoring exploits of Phil Booth and the all-round skillset of German Christian Sengfelder to challenge for a Quarter-Final place.
10 - Banco di Sardegna Sassari
Season record: 6-2
The 2019 champions have gone from being king of the hill in the Regular Season to bottom of the pile in the Second Round in a blink of an eye.
Sassari side finished a perfect 6-0 in Group D and looked dangerous heading into the next phase with the basketball they were playing. However, two defeats on the bounce have left them reeling, and heading into the New Year, they need to get results fast - in what is probably the most difficult group on paper.
11 - ESSM Le Portel
Season record: 5-3
Le Portel finished as one of the best runners-up in the Regular Season and has so far held its own in Group L in what is a tough group with Bilbao, Cholet, and Sassari.
With the solitary win so far against Sassari, the French outfit might face an uphill battle on paper, but they certainly have the firepower and the belief that they can climb to the summit - with revenge over domestic rivals Cholet potentially a crucial hurdle.
12 - Fribourg Olympic
Season record: 5-3
Fribourg has certainly been one of the competition’s more unpredictable sides this season, and they started the Second Round in stunning fashion with a dominant 30-point win in Belgium.
The Swiss giants have won their five games by a staggering average margin of 24.8 points but lost their three games by a margin of 14.3 points. Inconsistency has been a downfall for them, and they need results if they are to get out of Group N.
13 - Spirou Basket
Season record: 6-4
Like Fribourg before them, Spirou has been inconsistent in the Regular Season, which has carried over into the Second Round, where they are currently 1-1 in Group N.
Led by the exciting duo of Cobe Williams - at 13.8 points and 4.3 assists - along with Yordan Minchev, who averages 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, Spirou has a talented group of players that can bring them over the line, but will it be enough? It feels like it might be a three-way battle to follow MHP RIESEN out.
14 - FC Porto
Current record: 5-3
One of last season’s fairytale stories, FC Porto, might have left the Regular Season as one of the best runners-up, but they are facing a stiff challenge in Group K this time.
With three established teams in Tofas Bursa, Maroussi BC, and Casademont Zaragoza and in a 0-2 hole, Porto will continue to fight and restore pride. Still, this season’s repeat fairytale might not have a happy ending.
15 - BC Kalev/Cramo
Season record: 5-3
After winning their first five games, and sealing qualification to the Second Round, Kalev/Cramo were playing sublime team basketball led by Kasper Suurorg and Leemet Bockler.
Since then, the Estonian side has sunk to three straight defeats, including losing their proud unbeaten home record in the first game of the Second Round to PAOK. They are trending in the wrong direction and slumped to 0-2 in Group M. One of the top teams in the Regular Season, is the Second Round a step too far?
16 - Anwil Wloclawek
Season record: 4-4
The 2023 FIBA Europe Cup champions were eliminated in the Regular Season last season. This time around, they advanced to the Second Round but have fallen to consecutive defeats to leave themselves in trouble in Group N.
Can they rediscover their form that lifted them to a title two seasons ago? Right now, it’s a tough ask.
*The power rankings are put together by our expert panel. They are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.
FIBA