By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The upcoming 2026–27 BKT EuroCup campaign promises intense competition as clubs across the continent solidify their lineups with prominent acquisitions.
Orchestrating a major roster upgrade on Monday, Bulgarian titleholders Balkan Botevgrad secured the talents of Alex Ducas. The 25-year-old Australian swingman ventures onto European hardwood for the first time in his career. The former Saint Mary’s standout in the NCAA injects elite experience as a former NBA champion who appeared in 21 contests for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2024–25 calendar. He spent the 2025–26 season with the Brisbane Bullets in the Australasia’s NBL, averaging 8.5 points per game.
Ducas provides premier scoring threat and defensive versatility to a squad directed by tactician Bogdan Karaicic. This perimeter threat joins an already formidable group featuring Ulrich Chomche, Darnell Edge, Aleksandar Stoimenov, David Okwera, Ivan Alipiev, Nikolay Grozev, Dimitar Dimitrov, and Pavlin Ivanov. This deep unit will spearhead the organization’s aspirations as they confront the rigorous demands of Group D throughout the Regular Season in Euroleague Basketball’s second-tier competition.
On Sunday, tactical maneuvering transformed Group B, where Romanian champions U-BT Cluj-Napoca reinforced their ranks for their parallel continental journey. The management finalized a temporary transfer for 19-year-old local playmaker Luca Illes, arriving on loan from EuroLeague’s Partizan Mozzart Bet for the duration of the 2026–27 calendar.
Unul dintre cei mai promițători tineri din baschetul românesc ❤🔥 Crescut la Partizan Belgrad și chemat de Željko Obradović la antrenamentele primei echipe încă de la 17 ani.
Luca Illeș vine la Cluj! 🏳🏴 pic.twitter.com/oDnTwYwVPw
— U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@UBTCluj) August 16, 2026
The prodigious floor general injects youthful energy and vision into an ambitious collective. Illes integrates seamlessly into a balanced rotation that boasts established contributors Bobe Nicolescu, Otis Livingston II, Jalyn McCreary, Dusan Beslac, Malcolm Hill, Javon Bess, Uros Plavsic, Kristian Kullamae, and Christian Bishop.
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