Cedevita Olimpija’s Senior Team to Face Bahçeşehir in the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals

Cedevita Olimpija’s senior team will take on Bahçeşehir in the BKT EuroCup quarterfinals in Istanbul on Tuesday at 18:00 CET. The fate of the semifinal spot will once again be decided in a single game, and the Dragons aim to write a new chapter in the history of the Ljubljana club at the Sinan Erdem … Continued

The team traveled to Istanbul on Monday, where they will face Bahçeşehir on Tuesday at 20:00 local time (18:00 CET). Bahçeşehir secured first place in Group A during the regular season, granting them home-court advantage in this knockout game.

Cedevita Olimpija advanced to the quarterfinals after an excellent performance in the Round of 16, where they defeated Beşiktaş 96:86 in Stožice. The Dragons finished the regular season with ten wins and eight losses, claiming fourth place in Group B. They demonstrated remarkable resilience and teamwork, securing the victory with a dominant second-half performance. However, a tough challenge awaits them in Istanbul, as Bahçeşehir finished the regular season with 14 wins in 18 games. The Istanbul team bypassed the Round of 16, meaning they enter the quarterfinals fresher than the Dragons, who last played on Sunday against Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in Stožice.

The winner of this game will advance to the semifinals, where the matchups will be played in a best-of-three format. Ljubljana’s team is making their first quarterfinal appearance since 2022 when their EuroCup campaign also ended at this stage, following a loss to Frutti Extra Bursaspor in Stožice.

TV BROADCAST:

The game will be broadcast live on Šport TV 1, with studio coverage beginning at 17:15.

WATCH THE GAME AT WOOP! ARENA:

Join us at WOOP! Arena, located at Moskovska ulica 10, to cheer for the Dragons and experience an electric sports atmosphere. In addition to watching the game, we have planned extra entertainment – bowling!

What’s in store?

Game viewing: The game will be shown on a projector and multiple TVs in a specially designated area at 18:00.
Bowling: From 17:00 to 19:00, enjoy two hours of bowling to add some extra fun to the evening.
Additional activities: Prize games will take place during the event, and all visitors will receive a discount on tickets for the upcoming game against Zadar.

Join us at 17:00! The game starts at 18:00!

Event Details:

Bowling will be organized in groups of six per lane. Registrations will be arranged to optimize lane occupancy (limited spots available).
The game will be screened in a comfortable environment to ensure that no key moments are missed.
Cost: Watching the game is free, while bowling costs €10 per person for two hours (includes free shoe rental, with no additional fees for WOOP! cards or wristbands). Bowling fees can be paid at the WOOP! Arena reception upon arrival.

Important Registration Information:

Spots are limited, so register as soon as possible.
Registration is mandatory and can be completed via the form below.
If this is your first visit to WOOP! Arena, please register at their website.

PRE-GAME QUOTES:

“My friend and brother Dejan Radonjić took over Bahçeşehir midway through the season while I was still coaching in Turkey. He has built a serious team with high ambitions. Their commitment is evident throughout the EuroCup season, where they have dominated a tough Group A. They have a well-balanced roster with many experienced players, including those with EuroLeague and NBA experience. The club’s high aspirations are clear,” said Cedevita Olimpija’s head coach, Zvezdan Mitrović, ahead of the Istanbul trip.

“We will prepare for the quarterfinals as we do for every game this season. We are used to a demanding schedule, especially after the intense stretch in January with back-to-back games. Nothing unusual – good rest after Sunday’s game against Crvena zvezda, recovery, and then back to work,” said Aleksej Nikolić, who has taken over the captaincy in Jaka Blažič’s absence.

“Every game is important, and this one against Bahçeşehir even more so. We’re facing a strong team, which only boosts our motivation. Our recent home wins also give us confidence. We need to rest, stay focused, and keep playing the way we have,” added Devin Robinson, Cedevita Olimpija’s top scorer in the recent games against Beşiktaş and Crvena zvezda.

TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS IN THE BKT EUROCUP:

Bahçeşehir College Istanbul (82.0 PPG / 35.8 RPG / 18.2 APG / 6.6 SPG / 2.5 BPG)

Points: Tai Odiase – 14.2 PPG
Rebounds: Tyler Cavanaugh – 6.3 RPG
Assists: Jaleen Smith – 5.6 APG

Cedevita Olimpija (82.7 PPG / 35.9 RPG / 16.2 APG / 7.7 SPG / 2.6 BPG)

Points: Devin Robinson & Brynton Lemar – 15.1 PPG
Rebounds: Devin Robinson – 5.6 RPG
Assists: DeVante Jones – 3.9 APG

MATCH PREVIEW:

Cedevita Olimpija enters the matchup against Bahçeşehir following two impressive home victories. More than 15,000 fans attended the games against Beşiktaş and Crvena zvezda, witnessing the Dragons’ strong defensive efforts.

Bahçeşehir finished atop Group A (14-4), securing direct quarterfinal qualification and home-court advantage. The team features several EuroLeague-experienced players, such as Jaleen Smith, Marko Simonović, Furkan Korkmaz, and Kenan Sipahi.

Head coach Dejan Radonjić took over in December 2023. In their last Turkish league game on Friday, Bahçeşehir narrowly defeated Yalovaspor 89:88, with Tyler Cavanaugh scoring 18 points and Marko Simonović contributing 17 points and 12 rebounds.

BAHÇEŞEHIR KOLEJI ISTANBUL:

Founded in 2017, Bahçeşehir has high ambitions, winning the 2021/22 FIBA Europe Cup title. They debuted in the EuroCup in 2020/21.

BKT EUROCUP, QUARTERFINALS

Sinan Erdem Sports Hall (Istanbul, Turkey), Tuesday, March 11, at 20.00 (18.00 SLO):
BAHÇEŞEHIR KOLEJI ISTANBUL – CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA