By Aris Barkas / barkas@eurohoops.net
A 3–4 record may not sound impressive at first glance, but context tells a different story.
Sitting in a five-way tie for fifth place in Group A is a significant achievement for a club with such a storied past.
The 18-time Polish League champion and 14-time Polish Cup winner is a true institution in its homeland, and between 2001 and 2004, it even competed in the EuroLeague. Today, three wins in seven games are enough to stir memories of those golden years.
The last time Slask reached five wins in a EuroCup season was 15 years ago, back when the competition was still called the ULEB Cup. That was the 2007–08 season, when the team finished 5–7. It then took more than a decade for the club to return to the EuroCup in 2021–22.
Since then, the results have been harsh:
2021–22: 3–14 record
2022–23: 1–17 record
2023–24: 2–16 record
After a brief stint in the Basketball Champions League (1–5 in 2024–25), Slask is back in the EuroCup — and this time, it feels different.
With Canadian guard Kadre Gray leading the charge and veteran Latvian coach Ainars Bagatskis calling the shots, Slask has already won three of its four home games. That includes a thrilling 94–93 victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca, which is currently fourth in the group with a 4–3 record.
Next up is a major test: a home clash against Bahcesehir College Istanbul, the group leader with a 6–1 record. For Slask, it’s a game with little to lose and everything to gain.
The recent addition of forward Angel Nunez, who spent two seasons with the club before finishing last year in Spain with Leyma Coruna, adds another boost to a team eager to prove its strength against a heavyweight opponent.
On paper, Bahcesehir is the clear favorite. But Slask is no longer the pushover of recent years. And if it manages to pull off an upset, the dream of reaching the eighth finals suddenly becomes very real.