Croatian basketball clubs Cibona and Cedevita Junior will once again take to the European stage this September and October, competing in the FIBA Europe Cup. This tournament is among the more significant European basketball competitions, featuring aspiring clubs from dozens of countries vying through qualification rounds and group stages. For Cibona and Cedevita Junior, this season brings unique challenges and opportunities to establish themselves in European basketball.
Cibona will begin its journey with the qualification rounds scheduled for late September and early October. The Zagreb-based club learned it will face Slovak side BC Prievidza in its quest for a place in the group phase. The first match between Cibona and Prievidza will be played on September 24 in Zagreb, with the return leg a week later in Slovakia. This knockout series will determine who advances to a strong group featuring established European teams like JDA Dijon (France), Pallacanestro Reggiana (Italy), and Elan Chalon (France). For Cibona, this challenge is an opportunity to return to the European basketball scene, and both the players and coaching staff are working hard to secure advancement.
On the other hand, the younger Zagreb club, Cedevita Junior, has skipped the qualifiers and starts the competition directly in the group stage. Drawn into Group D, they will compete against three international opponents: Patrioti Levice from Slovakia, Keravnos BC from Cyprus, and Pelister Bitola from North Macedonia. This group presents a diverse mix of basketball styles and traditions. The group phase starts on October 15, with Cedevita Junior aiming to advance to the next round—a significant achievement for a young team built on talented domestic players and promising young talent.
Cedevita Junior has already claimed respect in past seasons through its performances in national and regional competitions, and playing in the FIBA Europe Cup offers further motivation and a challenge for the continued growth of its players and coaching staff.
The European basketball scene demands maximum concentration, preparation, and quality in every game. Through such competitions, Croatian clubs like Cibona and Cedevita Junior have the chance to prove their worth and attract attention from the wider European basketball community and experts. International results also impact the status and reputation of Croatian basketball, which has always held significance throughout history.
Fans and supporters of Croatian basketball will closely follow their clubs, cheering them on in their efforts and celebrating any successes that bring pride to the local basketball community. The FIBA Europe Cup season thus becomes a new chapter in the history of Zagreb’s clubs and an opportunity for Croatian basketball to demonstrate its continued importance in European competitions.
In summary, Cibona will begin its European challenges through difficult qualifiers against the Slovak team BC Prievidza, while Cedevita Junior will have the opportunity to start directly in the group stage, facing Patrioti Levice, Keravnos BC, and Pelister. Both teams bring strong ambition and motivation for success, and their performances in the coming months will certainly be a key part of the basketball landscape in Croatia and the region.
