FIBA Europe Cup (2025-2026)
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FIBA Europe Cup 2025-26
Bilbao Basket first ever back-to-back FIBA Europe Cup champion
FIBA Europe Cup Final: Surne Bilbao Basket - PAOK Mateco Thessaloniki 73-79 Bilbao (Jaume Ponsarnau): Margiris Normantas 17, Darrun Hilliard 16, Luke Petrasek 14, Tryggvi Hlinason 9, Harald Frey 9, Melwin Pantzar 14, Justin Jaworski 5, Martin Krampelj 0, Bassala Bagayoko 2, Aleix Font 3, Amar Sylla 0, Kepa De Castro 0 FIBA Europe Cup Standings 2025-26
Group K
Group L
Group M
Group N
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
- qualified to the play-offs ↑ - newly prompted Stats Leaders 2025-26
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
 Szombathely Player of the Week: Round 6 (Stg2) Szombathely FIBA Europe Cup Final  Bilbao Basket becomes first back-to-back FIBA Europe Cup Champion (Photo: FIBA)
Arrived: Stefan Lazarevic (KK FMP SoccerBet Beograd), Bassala Bagayoko (Teknei Bizkaia Zornotza), Harold Yu (Zhejiang Golden Bulls)
Left: Sergio Garcia (coach Guuk Gipuzkoa Basket San Sebastian)
Average Height: 201.1 cm (6'7.2'')
Average Age: 26.8
 Bilbao Basket become first back-to-back FIBA Europe Cup champions with emphatic Miribilla comeback-Apr 29, 2026
Surne Bilbao Basket wrote a new chapter in European basketball history on Tuesday night, overturning a six-point first-leg deficit with a devastating 89-74 victory over PAOK at a thunderous Bilbao Arena to claim their second consecutive FIBA Europe Cup title — the first team ever to win the competition in back-to-back seasons. Trailing 73-79 on aggregate after falling in the first leg at PAOK's Palataki in Thessaloniki last week, Jaume Ponsarnau's side needed to win by seven or more. They won by 15, rolling to a 162-153 aggregate triumph behind an extraordinary team performance that featured 54.7 percent shooting from the field and six players in double figures. Margiris Normantas (194-SG-1996) was sensational, scoring 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting — including a perfect 4-of-4 from two-point range and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line — to go with four rebounds, registering a game-high 20 efficiency. Darrun Hilliard (198-SG-1993, college: Villanova) added 16 points with five assists, connecting on three triples, while Luke Petrasek (206-PF-1995, college: Columbia) caught fire from deep with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting (3-of-3 from three). Melwin Pantzar (190-PG-2000), playing his final game for the club before departing for Unicaja, delivered a fitting farewell with 14 points, five assists, and 8-of-11 from the charity stripe. Tryggvi Hlinason (215-C-1997) dominated inside with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, while Harald Frey orchestrated proceedings with nine points and three assists. Bilbao set the tone immediately, winning the first quarter 23-19 to bring the aggregate level, then stretching the advantage with an 18-16 second period to lead 41-37 at halftime — ahead 114-116 on aggregate with PAOK's away-goals cushion already neutralized. The third quarter was the knockout blow: Bilbao outscored PAOK 27-16 with suffocating defensive intensity, and Patrick Beverley (185-PG-1988, college: Arkansas) fouled out in the fourth as the Greek side's frustration boiled over. The final period was a celebration as much as a contest, with the Bilbao Arena already shaking with anticipation long before the final buzzer. For PAOK, Breein Tyree (188-G-1998, college: Ole Miss) led with 19 points but shot just 7-of-22 from the field, struggling to find any rhythm against the wall of noise inside Miribilla. Tomas Dimsa (196-SG-1994) added 13 points on four three-pointers, Ben Moore (203-F-1995, college: SMU) had 11 points and five rebounds, and Beverley contributed nine points and six rebounds before his disqualification. But the visitors shot just 40.3 percent overall, managed a paltry seven assists as a team, and committed 10 turnovers — overwhelmed by Bilbao's intensity and the raucous home support. The victory was the crowning moment of Ponsarnau's tenure in Bilbao. The Catalan coach, who celebrated his birthday on the day of the game, delivered two European trophies in two seasons and called it the perfect farewell gift. Bilbao went a perfect 6-0 in this season's FIBA Europe Cup knockout rounds, including a dramatic victory at the Palataki during the group stage sealed by Justin Jaworski (190-G-1999, college: Lafayette)'s free throws. Eurobasket.com All-FIBA Europe Cup Awards 2026-May 2, 2026
 Breein Tyree, 28-year old American guard finalist team PAOK Mateco Thessaloniki from Greece, earned the Player of the Year at the Stoiximan Basketball League.
He graduated from the Ole Miss six years ago.
Tyree received multiple other awards, picked up the Defensive Player of the Year, Import Player of the Year, Guard of the Year, and earned a spot in the First Team, Imports Team and Defensive Team.
With Tyree's excellent performance, the finalist team PAOK Mateco Thessaloniki achieved the best record of the season in the league, finishing with an impressive 5 to 1 in the regular season.
His best performance made his team reach the finals but they unfortunately lost against Bilbao 1 to 1.
Tyree was the Player of the Week honoree in the league.
He orchestrated his way to the third spot in points per game, showcasing a dazzling average of almost 18.
Tyree also averaged almost 4 assists per game in the league.
His 29 points against Murcia were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Cleveland Melvin, 34-year old American forward PAOK Mateco Thessaloniki from Greece, was named the Forward of the Year of Basketball Champions League.
He Is the DePaul alumni from 2014.
Melvin collected multiple other honors, was voted to the First Team and Imports Team.
His best performance made his team reach the finals but they unfortunately lost against Bilbao 1 to 1.
Melvin was previously named to Honorable Mention back in 2024.
He recorded almost 15 points and over 4 rebounds per game that season in the league.
Melvin has totalled 7 games of 20 or more points on the year.
His 29 points against the Panionios were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Tryggvi Hlinason, 28-year old Icelandic center champion team the Surne Bilbao from Spain, was voted the Center of the Year at the Liga Endesa.
He received multiple other awards, was selected to the First Team, Honorable Mention and Defensive Team.
Hlinason's best performance made his team reach the finals but they unfortunately lost against the PAOK 1 to 1.
He registered almost 9 points and 6 rebounds per game over the season in the league.
Hlinason had double-doubles in 2 games during the event.
His 17 points against the Rio Breogan were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Hlinason's team won the FIBA Europe Cup the past two years in a row.
Ty Nichols, American guard Peristeri Betsson Athens from Greece, was chosen to the First Team of Stoiximan Basketball League.
He Is ex Keene State College from 2019.
Nichols was also named to the Imports Team.
He conducted his way to the fifth position in averaging a commendable over 16 points per game.
Nichols also averaged almost 5 assists per game in the league.
He has totalled 10 games of 20 or more points on the year.
Nichols' 25 points against Zaragoza were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards he played in the final of the Czech Republic League for two years in a row (2023 and 2024).
He was also selected as the Eurobasket All-Czech Republic NBL Player of the Year in 2024.
Nichols was selected as the Eurobasket All-Czech Republic NBL Import Player of the Year in 2024.
He was also selected to the Eurobasket All-Czech Republic First Team as well as the All-Imports Team back in 2023.
Ben Moore, 30-year old American forward PAOK Mateco Thessaloniki from Greece, earned a spot in the First Team at the Basketball Champions League.
He Is alumni of the Southern Methodist from 2017.
Moore collected multiple other honors, was voted to the Imports Team and Defensive Team.
His best performance made his team reach the finals but they unfortunately lost against Bilbao 1 to 1.
Moore recorded over 10 points and almost 7 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He logged double-doubles in 7 games at the event.
Moore's 20 points against AEK BC Athens were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Among many awards he was selected to the Eurobasket All-Balkan First Team as well as the All-Israeli League Honorable Mention back in 2023.
He was also selected to the Latinbasket Puerto Rican BSN All-Imports Team as well as the All-Puerto Rican BSN Second Team back in 2022.
Player of the Year:  Finals MVP: Defensive Player of the Year: European Player of the Year:  Import Player of the Year: Guard of the Year: Forward of the Year: Center of the Year:  Coach of the Year:  Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup First Team 2026  Tyree  Nichols  Melvin  Hlinason  Moore First Team Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup Second Team 2026 Perl  Pantzar  Cacok  Barea  Petrasek Second Team     Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup Third Team 2026  Van Tubbergen  Jaworski  Font  Krampelj  Cate Third Team    Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup Honorable Mention 2026  Atic  Franke  Beverley  Forrest  Allen  Nzekwesi  Bagayoko  Payne Honorable Mention    Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup All-Europeans Team 2026 Perl Pantzar Hlinason Font Krampelj All-Europeans Team Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup All-Imports Team 2026 Tyree Nichols Melvin Moore Barea All-Imports Team Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup All-Defensive Team 2026 Tyree Van Tubbergen Hlinason Moore Cacok All-Defensive Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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