MUNICH (Germany) - It's been a sensational and fiercely competitive first half of the FIBA Europe Cup campaign, with the stakes getting even more intense heading into the New Year.
There are 16 teams all gunning for eight available spots in the Quarter-Finals, and it is all to play for.
But who is nicely positioned and who is reeling as we head to 2026? Let's check out how the 16 teams are faring right now.
1 – Surne Bilbao Basket
Season record: 7-1
Ever since they lost their opening game to Peristeri Betsson, the FIBA Europe Cup holders have been simply unstoppable heading into the New Year. Bilbao have rattled off seven consecutive victories - winning by a jaw-dropping average margin of 36.7 points.
It comes as no surprise that they boast the best offense in the competition; averaging 99.3 points per game, led by Justin Jaworski’s 17.4 points. With his scoring ability and the playmaking skills of Melwin Pantzar, who dishes 7.1 assists per game, Bilbao are in a good position to do what no other team has done in the FIBA Europe Cup: retain the trophy.
2 – UCAM Murcia
Season record: 7-1
Another side from Spain flying the flag high. Having spent the last four seasons in the Basketball Champions League, Murcia have shown why they were considered one of the favorites for the title this season.
Four of their players average double figures for points in the competition, fronted by Michael Forrest’s 15.3 points on 50 percent shooting; however, this is a team where everyone gets involved. An unbelievable nine of the 12 players average six or more points per game. A fun team to watch.
3 – Aliaga Petkimspor
Season record: 6-2
LAliaga Petkimspor have been a breath of fresh air in the FIBA Europe Cup, with their exciting offensive play and ability to ground out wins or dominate against the more established teams in this competition.
Alongside Bilbao and KC Szombathely, Petkimspor are one of just three teams in the Second Round that average 50 percent or more from the field, led by Yannick Franke’s 19.5 points per game and the all-around game of David Efianayi, who is scoring a shade under 14 points and dishing out a team-high 4.5 assists.
4 – PAOK BC
Season record: 7-1
PAOK BC have certainly left it late on quite a few occasions this season, with three of their seven victories being decided by two points or less.
But they have managed to win all three of those games, highlighting the clutch gene ingrained in PAOK’s DNA in the FIBA Europe Cup. They have won their opening two games in the Second Round, and strengthened with some big-name recent signings. Have last season’s runners-up developed more of a mean streak?
5 – Pallacanestro Reggiana
Season record: 5-3
After a promising start during the Regular Season, Reggiana tumbled by losing three straight games, leaving their Second Round hopes hanging by a thread. But they thrived under pressure to win their remaining two games to advance.
They have put their rocky Regular Season form behind them and started the Second Round strong - winning both games. Jaylen Barford leads the team in scoring at 15.4 points per game, which included a competition-best of 27 in the opening match of the Second Round against Cedevita Junior. Will they keep up the momentum?
6 – Peristeri Betsson
Season record: 7-1
Led by the evergreen Ty Nichols, Peristeri have been a team no one has wanted to face. The only side to have put a blemish on Bilbao’s record this season, the Greek outfit has won all its road games in the FIBA Europe Cup so far and plays aggressively.
Nichols has been the driving force of Peristeri’s run so far, averaging 17.9 points and 5.0 assists per game, plus he also leads the competition in steals at 3.0 a contest. He has able support, led by Jake Van Tubbergen and going into the second half of the season, they fear no one.
7 – Rostock Seawolves
Season record: 7-1
The Rostock Seawolves have been efficient throughout the competition, with their sole loss coming on the road to FC Porto - a notoriously tricky place to get a result. They post 89 points per game heading into the New Year, and only Reggiana have a better three-point percentage than the Seawolves, who shoot 40.8 percent from deep.
The German side has a trio of players that can do damage on both ends of the floor, led by TJ Crockett Jr., who leads the scoring with 17.8 points, veteran playmaker DeAndre Landsdowne, who dishes out 5.8 assists, and their man under the basket, Owen Klassen, who pulls down 7.9 boards per game.
8 – KK Bosna BH Telecom
Season record: 6-2
Having qualified as one of the best runners-up, KK Bosna came into the Second Round without their leading scorer, Chase Audige, who had left the team. However, Edin Atic has stepped up in a big way; averaging 20.5 points in Bosna’s first two games - handing them a 2-0 record.
The Bosnian side has an illustrious history in Europe, and if they continue their form into 2026, they could be dark horses.
9 – Cedevita Junior
Season record: 5-3
For the first five games of the Regular Season, Cedevita Junior had the best record in the FIBA Europe Cup, were the last unbeaten team standing, and seemed the most dangerous side going into the Second Round.
However, the Croatian side has now lost its last three games and is on a slippery slope, but it is still not to be underestimated. From 0-2, they need to turn it around to reignite their last eight hopes.
10 – Dinamo BDS Sassari
Season record: 4-4
Dinamo Sassari have been unpredictable this season. They have been dazzling to watch in their victories, but have followed that up with subpar performances that have usually ended in defeat.
Still, they can’t be taken lightly going into their final four Second Round games. They narrowly lost to Petkimspor and finished the year outclassed by Peristeri, so they will look to tip off 2026 with a bang to get back on track.
11 – Casademont Zaragoza
Season record: 5-3
Despite not taking the FIBA Europe Cup by storm, Zaragoza can perform when needed, but head into their next batch of Second Round games in a sinking sandpit, having dropped their opening two games by double digits.
But led by influential Spanish international Santi Yusta and Devin Robinson, who lead the team in scoring with 13.4 and 12.7 points respectively, this team is more than capable of clawing their way out.
12 – Sporting CP
Season record: 4-4
Going into the New Year, Sporting CP have hit a brick wall in the competition, having lost their first two games in a highly challenging Group M that features last year’s Finalists.
A road trip to Prievidza awaits to start 2026, and they will want a win to avoid being left in the dust.
13 - CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea
Season record: 5-3
With Kris Richard and Emmanuel Nzekwasi in their ranks, you can never count out Oradea, but so far, the Romanian side hasn’t started the Second Round firing.
They face Cedevita Junior next, a team in freefall themselves, so this could be a good chance for Oradea to hit the reset button and get back on track.
14 - Falco Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely
Season record: 4-4
Despite being convincingly beaten by Murcia in the first game of the Second Round, Hungarian side KC Szombathely showed a great deal of fight in the following match against Rostock Seawolves. Still, they enter 2026 0-2 after a respectable Regular Season that saw them advance.
15 – BC Prievidza
Season record: 4-4
Being housed in a tough group with PAOK BC and Bilbao is always a tough ask for Prievidza, who advanced to the FIBA Europe Cup via the Qualifiers.
The Slovakian side has the explosive Noah Reynolds, who leads the team, averaging a shade under 20 points per game, but starting the year 0-2 in Group M, having lost both games by an average of 34 points, they will need a rapid turnaround.
16 – Energa Trefl Sopot
Season record: 4-4
After winning their first three games of the competition and playing fantastic basketball, the wheels have fallen off for Sopot, winning just one of their last five games.
They begin the year 0-2 in a tough group that features Szombathely, Murcia and Rostock Seawolves, like Prievidza, they need to turn their fortunes around – and fast.
FIBA