By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The roster outlook for the BKT EuroCup ahead of the 2026–27 campaign came into sharp focus following two marquee player announcements on Tuesday. Both Recoletas San Pablo Burgos and Neptunas successfully secured elite continental talent, infusing the tournament with championship pedigree and extensive high-level experience.
The Liga Endesa participant finalized a major reunion by welcoming back Slovenian forward Vlatko Cancar for his second stint at the Coliseum. The 2.03-meter national team star previously anchored the Burgos frontline before departing for the NBA, where he captured a title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Following a brief spell with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan that was disrupted by a knee injury, the Koper native is working through his recovery process to spearhead the Castilian club’s ambitious domestic and continental campaigns.
Cancar spent six seasons in the Colorado capital after being selected 49th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm. The versatile forward developed into a reliable frontcourt rotation piece, appearing in 158 total games, including 13 in the Playoffs. Representing Slovenia, he has earned caps in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, two installments of EuroBasket, capturing gold in 2017, and various qualifying tournaments.
PROTAGONISTAS | Vlatko Cancar retorna al Coliseum
➡ El alero esloveno iniciará su segunda etapa en el club en la temporada 2026/27 de Liga Endesa @ACBCOM y de BKT @EuroCup
📝 https://t.co/dlBSXBxGEf#BienvenidoCancar 💙 pic.twitter.com/Y1qYq5NhmS
— Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos (@SanPabloBurgos) July 21, 2026
Meanwhile, the Klaipeda outfit bolstered its roster by inking veteran forward Martynas Echodas to a one-year contract. The 29-year-old Kaunas native returns to Euroleague Basketball’s second-tier competition fresh off capturing the Basketball Champions League crown with Rytas. A decorated European competitor, Echodas boasts 72 career appearances in the tournament and famously earned the Rising Star award during the 2018–19 season.
Also on Tuesday, Umana Reyer Venice announced a contract extension for 29-year-old Leonardo Candi, a veteran of 40 EuroCup games.
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