MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League celebrates the 10-year anniversary as Season X tips off on October 7, with the usual format.
Eight teams will gain access to the Round of 16 by winning their respective group, while the fourth-placed teams will be out of contention after the first six games of the campaign.
The second and third-placed teams from adjacent groups (E2 vs. F3, F2 vs. E3) will face each other in the Play-Ins, in best-of-three series, with the winners of these eight series making their way to complete the Sweet 16.
With this kind of a competition system, it's important to know what's going on in the other group, which is why we are previewing the Regular Season two groups at a time.
Let's now focus on Group E and Group F, where the Lions will approach the competition hungry and the Queen hope to get crowned at the end of Season X.
The favorites
Group E: When Galatasaray MCT Technic officially entered the 2024-25 Basketball Champions League Final Four, everybody was already satisfied: the team's ceiling was reached, and that could be the beginning of a new era on the red-and-yellow side of Istanbul.
Looking at their runners-up finish, they thought it was time for "now or never."
The transfer market in Galatasaray's office was particularly busy, as they not only confirmed three key assets like Will Cummings, James Palmer Jr., and Bugrahan Tuncer, but they also welcomed high-level players to increase their status to an absolute contender for the title.
Coach Yakup Sekizkok will now have on board the returning Errick McCollum and a stellar forward package thanks to the additions of Christian Bishop, Jerome Robinson, Fabian White Jr., and John Meeks.
If that wasn't enough, Freddie Gillespie also came to the rescue to strengthen the Lions' frontcourt.
Group F: Coming off the BCL Final Four played at home in Athens, AEK BC decided to keep going with head coach Dragan Sakota on board, confirming other important players of their core, such as RaiQuan Gray, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, and the team's captain, Dimitris Flionis.
At the same time, having to replace the iconic backcourt composed of Hunter Hale and Prentiss Hubb, they bring over Frank Bartley, coming off a stellar season in the FIBA Europe Cup with PAOK, and Adonis Arms, an exciting scorer who's ready to get the black-and-gold fans erupting in the stands of SUNEL Arena.
Moreover, they bet on a completely different player than Grant Golden, adding the high flyer and shot-blocker Chris Silva.
If Vasilis Charalampopoulos has managed to recover well from the ACL injury suffered back in October 2024, make sure not to underestimate his contribution as well.
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Play-In series material
Group E: Last season, Igokea m:tel finished at the bottom of their group in the Regular Season, playing also against Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets.
Aiming to compete for more in 2025-26, they added guys used to the toughness of the competition, such as Breein Tyree and Nighael Ceaser.
They look one step ahead of the Germans, just like Pallacanestro Trieste. Yes, this will indeed be their first apperance in the BCL, but what a team they built: Juan Toscano-Anderson, Colbey Ross, Jahmi'us Ramsey, Markel Brown, Mady Sissoko, and Jeff Brooks, all on the same roster, coached by Israel Gonzalez, with beautiful jerseys.
Group F: While Dragan Sakota's team seem the clear favorite in Group F, it's gonna be a battle until the very gameday to figure out how the remaining three teams will classify heading to the Play-Ins.
Surely, VEF Riga have experience on their side. Mainly thanks to the evergreen Latvian sharpshooter and captain Dairis Bertans, to Zahir Porter and Arnaldo Toro, who had 10.2 points and 12.2 rebounds for Riga back in 2023-24, the Latvians look favorite on paper to grab home-court advantage.
Patrioti Levice joined the competition in crazy fashion following a last-second three-pointer, while NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz at least had a previous Regular Season appearance.
Don't rule out either of the two, for now.
Potential Cinderella stories
Group E: In 2024-25, Wurzburg made their first-ever Basketball Champions League appearance, and they caught everybody by surprise not only by making it to the Round of 16, but also unveiling Hannes Steinbach's specialty.
However, the young German gem isn't in town anymore, and a new Dirk Nowitzki is nowhere to be seen. Against solid rosters like Trieste's and Igokea's, it would be huge for them to book a Play-In ticket.
Group F: Not only did Levice manage to become the first team from Slovakia - now the 30th country competing in the competition - to qualify for the BCL Regular Season, but they did it in unbelievable fashion.
Winning a double-overtime game in the Qualification Round Tournament Final against Bakken Bears, they joined Group F.
Why not dream even more about advancing to the next stage? Will Carius' buzzer-beater looked prescient.
Players to watch
Group E: We all know what Juan Toscano-Anderson or Colbey Ross can bring to the table in Israel Gonzalez's Trieste. But what about Jahmi'us Ramsey, who awaits his first professional season in Europe?
He had 10.0 points per game with Team USA at FIBA AmeriCup 2025, while he has scored more than 20 points per game in four straight seasons with the Oklahoma City Blue, winning the 2023-24 NBA G-League.
Be ready.
Group F: Usually, players coming off strong seasons in the BNXT League follow with a solid campaign in the BCL as well. Therefore, why should Le'Tre Darthard be an exception?
Szolnoki will need more than a single weapon to survive in Group F, but it looks like he will be the main offensive source of the Hungarians. He had 16.6 points on 51.6 percent from deep with Heroes Den Bosch.
Youngsters to follow
Group E: Recruiting him from Reyer Venezia, where he grew up, Pietro Iannuzzi was welcomed with open arms in Trieste a few weeks after winning the gold medal at FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2025.
He should get some playing time here and there. Make sure to follow the 2008-born Bosnian Mico Milovanovic as well.
Not only one of the youngest players in Season X, but also a promising guard in the making.
Group F: "Is the next Dairis Bertans in town?", or should we phrase it better, like "Is the next Dairis Bertans playing alongside Dairis Bertans?" It's a reasonable question, since the 2007-born Adrians Andzevs plays for Riga.
He might not have the same shooting skills as Dairis, but he surely is among Latvia's most interesting prospects. Andzevs had 12.3 points and 4.0 assists at FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, reaching the third-place game.
Must-watch games
Group E: Please, don't make plans for October 15 at 20:30 CET. That's when European basketball will return to Trieste's court, as the red-and-white side will host Group E's favorites, Galatasaray.
Israel Gonzalez's high-tempo game and a beloved crowd on one side, a stacked contender on the other: this game has all the ingredients to become an all-time classic of Season X in the BCL.
Group F: We already spoke about Patrioti Levice's unbelievable run to get to the BCL Regular Season, but we haven't mentioned how passionate their fans were on the road in Bulgaria.
That's why you should tune in for their first home game of the season, hosting the 10-time participants AEK in Slovakia on October 28 at 18:00 CET.
A clash characterized by unstoppable support from the stands.