Union Olimpija Ljubljana Edges BAXI Manresa in Hard-Fought EuroCup Opener

Date

2025-10-01

Venue

Round

Round 1

Attendance

1763

Team Leaders

Dominant First Quarter Sets the Tone for Ljubljana's Victory

Union Olimpija Ljubljana kicked off their EuroCup campaign with a hard-earned 76-69 victory over BAXI Manresa at home in front of 1,763 spectators. The Slovenian side established their dominance early, racing to a commanding 29-18 lead after the first quarter that would prove crucial in securing the seven-point triumph on opening night of Round 1.

The home team's explosive start caught the Spanish visitors off guard as Ljubljana's offense clicked on all cylinders in the opening period. The 11-point advantage built in those first ten minutes provided the cushion that Ljubljana would need throughout the contest, as Manresa mounted several comeback attempts but could never quite close the gap completely.

Second Quarter Defensive Masterclass

If the first quarter belonged to Ljubljana's offense, the second period showcased their defensive prowess. In a remarkable display of defensive intensity, the home side held Manresa to just nine points while adding 13 of their own. This stifling defensive performance extended Ljubljana's halftime lead and effectively put them in control of the contest.

The 42-27 halftime scoreline reflected complete domination by Union Olimpija Ljubljana, who had found the perfect balance between offensive efficiency and defensive solidity. The visitors struggled to find any offensive rhythm, managing just 27 points in the entire first half as Ljubljana's defensive schemes disrupted their flow repeatedly.

Manresa's Spirited Second-Half Comeback Attempt

The third quarter saw BAXI Manresa emerge with renewed determination and a clear adjustment to their offensive approach. The Spanish side won the period 22-19, finally finding some offensive consistency and beginning to chip away at what had been a seemingly insurmountable deficit. Their improved ball movement and more aggressive offensive rebounding started to pay dividends.

The fourth quarter continued Manresa's improved play, as they outscored Ljubljana 20-15 in the final period. However, the deficit proved too large to overcome completely, and despite their best efforts in the second half, the visitors came up seven points short. The comeback attempt showed character, but the first-half hole was simply too deep.

Nikolic Leads Balanced Ljubljana Attack

Aleksej Nikolic delivered an outstanding all-around performance for the home side, leading the team with 17 points while adding six assists, showcasing his dual-threat ability as both scorer and facilitator. The Slovenian guard shot an efficient 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. His efficiency rating of 19 and plus-minus of +12 underscored his impact on the game.

Thomas Kennedy recorded an impressive double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, all of which came on the defensive glass. The Irish center was a force in the paint, adding three assists and earning five trips to the free-throw line. His efficiency rating of 19 matched Nikolic's, and his +14 plus-minus was the second-best on the team, highlighting his two-way contribution.

Nikos Chougkaz also flirted with a double-double, contributing 10 points and nine rebounds while leading all Union Olimpija Ljubljana players with a +11 plus-minus. The Greek forward drew five fouls and provided steady interior presence throughout his 28 minutes of action.

Deep Rotation Pays Dividends for Ljubljana

DJ Stewart made his presence felt with nine points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-5 on two-point attempts. His +19 plus-minus was the best on the team, indicating that Ljubljana was particularly effective during his time on the court. Stewart's ability to finish around the basket provided an important scoring punch.

Joseph Girard III came off the bench to provide a spark with nine points, two rebounds, and three steals. His defensive activity and ability to get to the free-throw line, where he converted all four attempts, gave Ljubljana important energy in the second unit.

Jaka Blazic, another experienced Slovenian guard, added six points in just under 15 minutes while shooting efficiently at 2-of-3 from the field. His veteran presence helped steady the team during various stretches of the game.

Reyes Shines in Losing Effort

For BAXI Manresa, Alex Reyes was the bright spot, leading all scorers with 16 points on outstanding 5-of-7 shooting, including an impressive 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Spanish forward's efficiency rating of 14 was team-high, and his shooting kept Manresa within striking distance during the second half.

Louis Olinde provided valuable production off the bench with 11 points and three rebounds. The German forward shot 4-of-8 from the field and showed versatility by hitting 2-of-3 three-point attempts. His presence in the second unit gave Manresa a lift during their comeback attempt.

Hugo Benitez orchestrated the offense with eight assists while adding 10 points and three steals. However, his five turnovers proved costly as Manresa struggled to maintain offensive consistency, particularly in the first half. Despite the turnover issues, Benitez's playmaking was crucial to Manresa's second-half improvement.

Golden's All-Around Game Not Enough

Grant Golden came off the bench to deliver a well-rounded performance with 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. His efficiency rating of 18 was impressive, and he provided Manresa with energy and versatility. Golden's ability to impact the game in multiple ways kept the visitors competitive, but ultimately wasn't sufficient to overcome the first-half deficit.

Marcis Steinbergs contributed eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, but the Latvian forward's three rebounds in 15 minutes weren't enough on the glass. Retin Obasohan added five points but struggled with his team-worst -14 plus-minus, indicating that Manresa was significantly outscored during his minutes on the court.

Defensive Identity Defines Ljubljana's Victory

The game statistics reveal the story of two distinct halves. Union Olimpija Ljubljana built their victory on a foundation of suffocating first-half defense that limited Manresa to just 27 points. While the visitors found more success in the second half, scoring 42 points, the damage had already been done.

Ljubljana's ability to share the basketball and get contributions from multiple players proved decisive. Six different players scored between six and 17 points, demonstrating the balanced attack that can be difficult for opponents to defend. The home team's bench contributed meaningful minutes, with several reserves providing important scoring and defensive intensity.

The rebounding battle was relatively even, but Ljubljana's ability to limit second-chance opportunities in the crucial first half set the tone. The home side also did an excellent job of getting to the free-throw line and converting, shooting an efficient percentage from the charity stripe when the game was on the line.