Everything you need to know about the FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers

MUNICH (Germany) - The 2022-23 edition of the FIBA Europe Cup gets underway this week as 22 teams battle it out to make it to the Regular Season.

The Qualifiers consist of four tournaments taking place in Mitrovica, Kosovo;  Jonava, Lithuania; Samokov, Bulgaria; and Cholet, France from September 27-30.

The winner of each tournament will advance to the Group Phase of the competition, while there will also be three lucky loser spots available to teams that finish as runners-up.

Here's a look through the four tournaments:

Qualifying Tournament A

Mitrovica, Kosovo

Two debutants meet in one of two Quarter-Finals as German side BG Gottingen take on BC Trepca of Kosovo, while Iceland's Thor Thorlakshofn make their first appearance with a meeting with Petrolina AEK as the Cypriot side return for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

FIBA Europe Cup regulars Telenet Giants Antwerp and Sporting CP await in the Semi-Finals. The two teams were in the same Regular Season group in the 2021-22 edition and both advanced with Sporting progressing further to the Quarter-Finals for the first time.

Familiar face: Avery Woodson has made a summer switch from Kyiv Basket to Antwerp after averaging 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in last season's FIBA Europe Cup.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - Petrolina AEK v Thor Thorlakshofn - Sep 27
Quarter-Final - BG Gottingen v BC Trepca - Sep 27
Semi-Final - QF 1 winner v Telenet Giants Antwerp - Sep 28
Semi-Final - QF 2 winner v Sporting CP - Sep 28
Final - SF 1 winner v SF 2 winner - Sep 30

The winner of this group will be placed into Group G of the Regular Season alongside Anwil Wloclawek, Karhu Basket and Egis Kormend.

Qualifying Tournament B

Jonava, Lithuania

Hosts CBet Jonava are one of three teams looking to make it to the Regular Season of the competition for the first time. The Lithuanian side take on Romania's SCMU Craiova with fellow debutants KK Cedevita Junior facing BC Kalev/Cramo, who last competed in the inaugural season in 2015-16.

Kapfenberg Bulls also competed in the first edition and are aiming to make it to the Regular Season for a sixth time as they await in the Semi-Finals, while Kosovo's Sigal Prishtina are attempting to make their return having made five consecutive appearances from 2015-20.

Familiar face: Romanian veteran Giordan Watson has plenty of FIBA Europe Cup experience having played for both CSM CSU Oradea and U-BT Cluj Napoca in the competition. The 36-year-old is now suiting up for another side from Romania after joining Craiova.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - BC Kalev/Cramo v KK Cedevita Junior - Sep 27
Quarter-Final - SCMU Craiova v CBet - Sep 27
Semi-Final - QF 1 winner v Sigal Prishtina - Sep 28
Semi-Final - QF 2 winner v Kapfenberg Bulls - Sep 28
Final - SF 1 winner v SF 2 winner - Sep 30

The winner of this group will be placed into Group F of the Regular Season alongside Happy Casa Brindisi, Donar Groningen and BC Budivelnyk Kyiv.

Qualifying Tournament C

Samokov, Bulgaria

Rilski Sportist will be targeting another Regular Season appearance as they host the tournament with a new-look roster under returning head coach Ludmil Hadjisotirov. The Bulgarian side will meet either Aris or ambitious new Lithuanian franchise BC Wolves in the Semi-Finals.

The other pairing in the last four is already set as Finland's Kataja Basket will take on Hapoel Haifa from Israel. Kataja are most familiar with the competition having made four previous appearances, joining at the Round of 16 stage in the 2016-17 season for their best showing.

Familiar faces: Experienced guard Adas Juskevicius is part of the new BC Wolves side and previously helped lead Parma to the Final Four of the 2020-21 season. Meanwhile, Josh Hagins will represent a third different Greek side at Aris after spells with Peristeri and Iraklis as well as playing for Keravnos in the competition.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - Aris v BC Wolves - Sep 27
Semi-Final - Kataja Basket v Hapoel Haifa - Sep 28
Semi-Final - QF winner v Rilski Sportist - Sep 28
Final - SF 1 winner v SF 2 winner - Sep 30

The winner of this group will be placed into Group B of the Regular Season alongside Gaziantep, OCS Swans Gmunden and one of the lucky losers.

Qualifying Tournament D

Cholet, France

ZZ Leiden made it all the way to the Semi-Finals of the competition last season, but must come through a tough Qualifying Tournament this time around in their post Worthy De Jong era. They await the winner of the Quarter-Final meeting of potential debutants Czarni Slupsk of Poland and Sweden's Jamtland Basket.

There's also a blockbuster Semi-Finals clash between tournament hosts Cholet Basket and Besiktas JK. The Turkish side made their debut in the competition in the 2020-21 edition but failed to advance beyond the Group Phase, while Cholet could become the first team from France to compete in the Regular Season in five seasons.

Familiar face: Amir Smith is back in the FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers after posting 23 points and 8 rebounds for Skopje last season. The American will be hoping for better fortunes this time around as part of the historic venture of Jamtland.

Schedule:
Quarter-Final - Czarni Slupsk v Jamtland Basket - Sep 27
Semi-Final - QF winner v ZZ Leiden - Sep 28
Semi-Final - Besiktas JK v Cholet Basket - Sep 28
Final - SF 1 winner v SF 2 winner - Sep 30

The winner of this group will be placed into Group E of the Regular Season alongside CSM CSU Oradea, Kangoeroes Mechelen and one of the lucky losers.

All games will be available to watch live on the FIBA YouTube channel.

FIBA