European victories in preseason: Madrid, Barça, and Greeks progress

The European preseason records intense competitive activity with multiple simultaneous tournaments that allow clubs to refine details before the start of the official campaign. From the Glory Cup in Antalya to the tournaments in Cyprus and London, teams showcase their tactical and offensive evolution in high-level matches.

Dubai and Maccabi advance in their respective tournaments

Dubai Basketball achieved a hard-fought victory of 79-75 against Anadolu Efes in the Glory Cup Summer Games 2026, securing an important win in Antalya. The match was very close, with Dubai staying calm in the decisive moments to seal a four-point victory. McKinley Wright led the Emirati team with 14 points, while Mfiondu Kabengele contributed 13. Tornike Shengelia added 11 points, Dwayne Bacon contributed 10, and Elie Okobo finished with eight, reflecting a very balanced offensive performance.

On their part, Anadolu Efes had Dario Saric as their main reference, who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mike James added 14 points and Matthew Strazel scored 13, although their efforts were not enough to prevent the Turkish defeat.

Maccabi, meanwhile, began their preparation tournament in Cyprus with a 92-87 victory over Aris of Thessaloniki. The Israeli team had a better start, finishing the first quarter with a 21-15 lead. Bonzie Colson set the pace from the beginning, scoring eight points in the first period. The return of T.J. Leaf, who played his first game since February 2026, added a positive note to Maccabi's preparation.

Aris reacted strongly after halftime, closing the gap during the third quarter and setting up a tense finish. At the end of the third period, Maccabi was still ahead 68-65, although the momentum was beginning to favor the Greek team. However, Maccabi managed to withstand the pressure in the final quarter, closing the game with solid defense. Bonzie Colson was the standout player, finishing with 23 points and leading in scoring. Brist added 19 points, while Roman and Hord contributed 12 each.

Victories for Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in Greece

Olympiacos advanced to the final of the Neofytos Chandriotis tournament against Maccabi Tel Aviv after a tight 89-87 win over Crvena Zvezda. Sasha Vezenkov once again led the Greek team, finishing with 22 points and playing a key role in a match that remained open until the last minutes. Crvena Zvezda pushed Olympiacos to the limit, with Chima Moneke and Jordan Nwora as the Serbian team's top scorers, both with 17 points. Despite their efforts, Olympiacos managed to maintain the lead and take a close victory by two points.

In the Rhodes tournament, Panathinaikos also advanced with a convincing 78-56 victory over AEK. Defense was the main protagonist in this match, with the “Clovers” controlling the game thanks to their defensive intensity. They never allowed their opponent to find a consistent offensive rhythm. Sylvain Francisco led Panathinaikos in scoring with 13 points, while Lefteris Mantzoukas, returning to the club for a new stint, added 11. For AEK, Giorgos Tsalbouris and Lukas Lekavicius finished with 11 points each, although Lekavicius struggled to impact against the aggressive rival defense.

Zalgiris wraps up in London and action in the Euroleague

Zalgiris Kaunas capped off their tournament in London with a convincing victory over Slask Wroclaw in the third-place match. The Lithuanian team took control from the first minutes and reached halftime with an eight-point lead (40-32). After the break, they kept calm, maintaining a distance from Slask and ultimately securing a comfortable victory. Now, the focus shifts to the domestic season, with Zalgiris set to begin their journey in the LKL on September 17 with an away game in Gargzdai.

Kosner Baskonia qualified for the final of the XI EncestaRías Tournament after surviving a thrilling high-scoring game against ALBA Berlin. The Spanish team won 101-99 in a match dominated by attacking play, where Baskonia did enough in the final minutes to secure their ticket to the final. Their opponent in the final will be Valencia Basket, who defeated Monbus Obradoiro 95-108.

Virtus Bologna enjoyed a much more comfortable afternoon. The Italian team overwhelmed Pesaro 110-67, asserting their superiority from the first minutes and achieving a 43-point victory. Partizan also clearly excelled in their match against Fuenlabrada, achieving a resounding win of 98-55. The Serbian team left little room for contention, controlling the game from start to finish.

Real Madrid and Barcelona advance in Spanish tournaments

Real Madrid opened the Costa del Sol Tournament with a 97-90 victory over La Laguna Tenerife. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot led the team with his best preseason performance, while Facundo Campazzo and Walter Tavares also played important roles. For Tenerife, Kyle Guy made a notable return, scoring regularly from the three-point line, while Jaime Fernández also had a significant role in the visiting attack.

Barcelona qualified for the final of the Catalan League against iLERNA Lleida after defeating Kids&Us Manresa 77-90. Despite the 18 points from Timmy Allen, the top scorer of the match, Justin Robinson with 17 points and Joel Parra with 15 guided Sekulic's team to the final. The last match of the day featuring Euroleague teams was the London Lions-Paris Basketball, which ended with a local victory of 84-75, completing a day of varied results across Europe.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Victorias europeas en pretemporada: Madrid, Barça y griegos avanzan