MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League Season X started with 16 games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday gives us time to reflect on the best individual performances.
The first Team of the Week saw players from Karditsa Iaponiki, Hapoel Netanel Holon, NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz, Galatasaray MCT Technic and Tofas Bursa make the cut.
The best guard on a winning team this week was Brandon Jefferson. The 33-year-old is known for his clutch performances and pushing underdogs to new heights, as evident by SIG Strasbourg's run to the Semi-Finals in 2021.
Now with Karditsa Iaponiki, he finished with 23 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds on the road at Filou Oostende, including a dagger three-pointer to get the Greek newcomers an overtime win. He made 5-of-10 from deep.
Hapoel Netanel Holon defeated Bursaspor Basketbol as hosts in Hungary, and continued their tradition of having high profile players in the backcourt.
Xavier Munford, the man they call X, started Season X with a bang, 26 points, 5-of-8 three-pointers, 8 rebounds, and an efficiency rating of 24. Holon were a +16 team with him on the floor, -6 without him.
Returning to the BCL for the first time since Season I, Hungarian champions NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz impressed in their first game, taking down Slovakian champions Patrioti Levice with ease.
Ryland Holt had the best game of his BCL career. Former ERA Nymburk man, the 24-year-old knocked down 4-of-5 threes en route to 19 points in just 21 minutes of work, with 7 rebounds and a +22 in his stat line, too.
Galatasaray MCT Technic faced Igokea m:tel at home, with the same idea as last season - reaching the Final Four. The plan looks plausible, especially because of the new big in Istanbul.
Fabian White Jr went off for 26 points, hitting 6-of-8 three-pointers, with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and an efficiency rating of 27. Perhaps the most important part of his stats: Gala were +16 in his 28 minutes.
Finally, the middle belongs to another Turkish club. Tofas Bursa's center is off to a flying start in all competitions, scoring 20+ points against Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Bnei Penlink Herzliya in a matter of days.
Marek Blazevic needed 28 minutes to pick up a monster double-double as Tofas played as hosts in Samokov, Bulgaria against the Israeli team. He finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and an efficiency rating of 28.
Vote for the Player of the Week here, the winner will be announced on Basketball Champions League social media profiles on Friday.