By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
ERA Nymburk fell short in a crazy double-overtime game against Elan Chalon in Kralovka Arena, despite Marcus Santos-Silva placing among the best rebounding efforts in Basketball Champions League history.
With 19 rebounds, ten offensive and nine defensive, the 28-year-old center pulled down the most rebounds in a single BCL game since January 2020, when Dyshawn Pierre also had 19 for Dinamo Sassari.
He went for 15 points behind 6/13 from the field, and also registered three steals, but his spectacular display on the boards stood out. His 19 rebounds tied for second on the all-time Champions League list.
List of players with the most rebounds in a single BCL game
| Player | Team | Season | Rebounds |
| 1. Dave Dudzinski | Telenet Giants Antwerp | 2019-20 | 22 |
| 2. Marcus Santos-Silva | ERA Nymburk | 2025-26 | 19 |
| -. Dyshawn Pierre | Dinamo Sassari | 2019-20 | 19 |
| -. Tyler Stone | Happy Casa Brindisi | 2019-20 | 19 |
| -. Keith Clanton | PAOK | 2016-17 | 19 |
| 6. Brady Skeens | NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz | 2025-26 | 18 |
| -. Allan Dokossi | JDA Dijon | 2023-24 | 18 |
| -. Arnaldo Toro | VEF Riga | 2023-24 | 18 |
| -. David Kravish | Galatasaray Nef | 2021-22 | 18 |
| -. Owen Klassen | MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg | 2018-19 | 18 |
| -. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell | Bakken Bears | 2016-17 | 18 |
| -. Vladimir Stimac | Besiktas Sompo Japan | 2016-17 | 18 |
The latest addition to the list, Santos-Silva, introduced himself to FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition with Saint-Quentin in the 2024-25 installment. Playing alongside Nolan Traore, who went on to be named Basketball Champions League Best Young Player and selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 19th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, the native of Boston tallied 2.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest over nine appearances. Switching to Czechia’s NBL champions for the 2025-26 journey, he is up to 12.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, plus 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.
An exciting start has been met by a 1-1 W-L tally for the team coached by Oren Amiel in Group B of the Regular Season, with Chalon improving to 2-0 after outlasting Nymburk in the fourth double-overtime BCL games of the calendar year.
Resuming BCL action on October 28, Nymburk faces ALBA Berlin in Uber Arena to reach the midway point of a six-game double-legged round-robin schedule. Coaching a veteran of three runs to the Quarterfinals, including last season, 53-year-old Amiel would love to bounce back with a big road win to pave the way for yet another extended run.
Basketball with football
Following NCAA stints at Texas Tech and Virginia Commonwealth, Santos-Silva initially focused on launching an NFL career. His run as a tight end was headlined by signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2022. Back to basketball, he played for LMBC in the second-tier division of France in the 2023-24 season, before moving his talents to Saint-Quentin and wrapping up the 2024-25 campaign in Israel with Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Be’er Sheva/Dimona. He also expanded his career to the international level, suiting up for Cape Verde in the AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Only three years after turning professional in American football, he is now in charge of the paint at ambitious Nymburk. His versatility is certainly a huge asset moving deeper in the Champions League expedition.