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mar 30 2026The BKT EuroCup semifinal will pit two teams that have already come close to winning the title. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse and Turk Telekom Ankara seek another chance to reach the European competition's final in a matchup that promises balance between two of the tournament's most solid defenses.
Bourg arrives at the series with a 13-5 record, while Turk Telekom holds a 12-6 mark, figures that reflect the consistency shown by both teams throughout the season. The French team already reached the final in 2024, after eliminating Besiktas in the semifinals before falling to Paris Basketball. The Turkish squad, meanwhile, reached the final in 2023, after overcoming Prometey, though they lost the title to Gran Canaria.
The Road to the Semifinals
Bourg has built its season on strong home performance, with only two losses at home during the entire campaign. In the quarterfinals, they eliminated Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 83-79, with Adam Mokoka leading the victory with 20 points. On the offensive end, Darius McGhee has been the team's primary reference with 13.7 points per game, followed by Both Gach (13.6) and Mokoka himself (11.4).
Turk Telekom, meanwhile, had to win two elimination games to reach this round. They first defeated BAXI Manresa 98-81, and then secured a dramatic 90-91 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem in Belgrade, decided by a game-winning three-pointer from Kyle Allman. The American point guard is the team's leading scorer with 13.8 points per game, ahead of Jaleen Smith (13.6) and Kyle Alexander (9.9).
Interestingly, Bourg won both head-to-head matchups during the regular season: 88-80 in France and 76-80 in Ankara.
Defensive Battle Points
One focus will be on Darius McGhee, who posted 23 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in the first matchup between the two teams. His primary defender could be Dogus Ozdemiroglu, the 2018 EuroCup champion and the competition's current steals leader with 2.1 per game.
In the paint, Kyle Alexander will be Turk Telekom's anchor. The Canadian center ranks fifth all-time in EuroCup blocks (86) and is approaching third place in the standings. His battle with Kevin Kokila and Tre Mitchell will be another determining factor.
Two of the Tournament's Best Defenses
The statistics anticipate a very tight series. Turk Telekom allows the fewest points in the EuroCup (76.2), while Bourg allows 77.0, the second-best mark in the tournament.
The Turkish team also stands out for its 58.2% two-point shooting, the best in the competition, and for forcing 16.1 turnovers per game. Bourg, meanwhile, excels with its perimeter defense, holding opponents to 30.6% from three-point range, the best record in the championship.
With two elite defensive structures facing off, the ability to execute in crucial moments could determine which team returns to the EuroCup final.
