Hapoel Jerusalem and Turk Telekom both win their openers: Dusan Miletic and Jerrick Harding shine

The opening round of the 2026-26 European club basketball season ended with two victories decided in completely different ways. In Ljubljana, Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Cedevita Olimpija 75-64 through tight defense and control of the game's tempo. In a game played at the same time, Turk Telekom beat Maxima Roma 92-77 thanks to an explosive final quarter. Four teams, two results, but both games left useful tactical hints for the rest of the season.

Hapoel Jerusalem build on defense

Hapoel Jerusalem entered the game on Cedevita Olimpija's home floor as the higher-rated side, and they proved it with a controlled performance. The visitors never allowed a scoring race, deliberately slowed the pace and forced Cedevita to attack against a set half-court defense. That approach explains why the total score stopped at 139 points, a fairly low figure by modern European basketball standards. When the pace is dragged down, the advantage belongs to the more disciplined defensive team, and Hapoel Jerusalem showed exactly that quality across all four quarters.

Center Dusan Miletic was the standout for Hapoel Jerusalem with 14 points and eight rebounds. Those numbers are not overwhelming, but Miletic's value lay in his efficiency inside the paint: he read roll situations well after screens, finished cleanly near the rim and constantly pressured the Cedevita defense. Miletic's rebounding also helped the visitors limit second-chance opportunities for their opponents, a decisive factor in such a slow-paced game.

Alongside Miletic, David Roddy contributed 12 points and Kenneth Lofton added 11, forming a balanced interior scoring trio for Hapoel Jerusalem. That distribution shows the team does not depend on a single individual but operates on ball sharing and exploiting the opponent's weaknesses. Roddy brought physical strength and scoring from the forward position, while Lofton added energy and strong contesting under the rim. With all three interior players scoring in double figures, Cedevita had to spread its defensive resources and could not lock down any single player.

Cedevita Olimpija fight hard but lack a second option

For Cedevita Olimpija, Noah Kirkwood was the top scorer with 17 points, while Anthony Cowan contributed 14. The pair carried most of the home team's offensive burden, but support from the remaining positions proved insufficient to create a turning point. When Kirkwood and Cowan were guarded more tightly in the decisive stretch, Cedevita struggled to find a third scoring option, and that was precisely the gap Hapoel Jerusalem exploited.

Notably, Cedevita kept the margin relatively safe for most of the game but never truly produced a long enough scoring run to turn things around. The lack of well-timed three-pointers and a modest conversion rate on long-range attempts kept the home team chasing. The 11-point final margin fairly reflects the reality: Hapoel Jerusalem did not explode offensively, but controlled the game better at every important moment. This is the kind of defeat that troubles a coaching staff more than a heavy loss, because the team was never truly dominated in terms of game flow.

Turk Telekom explode in the final quarter

If the game in Ljubljana was a story of control, the clash between Turk Telekom and Maxima Roma resembled a chase decided by the final quarter. Turk Telekom won 92-77, a scoreline that clearly reflects the difference in offensive efficiency during the decisive ten minutes. Turk Telekom accelerated at the right time, made the most of fast-break situations and turned psychological momentum into points on the board.

Jerrick Harding was Turk Telekom's main spark with 20 points, the highest figure across both games mentioned. Harding scored in a variety of ways: drives, mid-range shooting and individual one-on-one plays. His ability to generate independent scoring kept Turk Telekom from relying solely on ball movement, especially when Maxima Roma increased its defensive pressure. A player who can create his own shot is the most effective solution when an opponent disrupts collective offensive rhythm.

Behind Harding was a reliable supporting cast: Dogus Ozdemiroglu contributed 13 points, Tony Taylor added 12 and Anthony Lamb scored 11. Four players reaching double figures created impressive balance, allowing Turk Telekom to maintain constant offensive pressure even when Harding rested or was tightly guarded. This is the attacking model many teams aim for: one star leading, but not the only option. Tony Taylor brought composure in playmaking, Ozdemiroglu added penetration, while Anthony Lamb helped stretch the floor with his shooting range.

Maxima Roma and concerns about closing games

For Maxima Roma, Miro Bilan was the standout performer with 14 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. Bilan showed his familiar stability in the paint, his ability to exploit his height advantage and his experience in close-range situations. However, Bilan alone could not compensate for the team's drop in efficiency during the final quarter.

Aaron Holiday made his mark with 13 points and eight assists, showing his role as a playmaker in organizing the offense and creating chances for teammates. At the same time, Holiday's eight assists hint at a paradox: he created good opportunities, but Maxima Roma's conversion rate did not match. When open shots were missed and Turk Telekom accelerated, the 15-point final margin became inevitable. Maxima Roma's problem was not creating chances, but finishing them and maintaining focus in the last ten minutes.

Lessons about roster depth

Both games highlighted the importance of roster depth. Hapoel Jerusalem won thanks to three players scoring in double figures and a defense that knew how to close out a game. Turk Telekom won thanks to four players reaching double figures and the ability to explode at the right moment. By contrast, Cedevita Olimpija and Maxima Roma relied too heavily on two or three key individuals, and that cost them when the game entered its decisive phase.

In modern basketball, the gap between teams in European competition keeps narrowing. A team can lead for three quarters, but losing rhythm for seven or eight minutes is enough to lose the game. That is why sustaining performance quality in the final quarter and having a quality bench matter more than flashy offensive statistics.

Format context and the meaning of the opening round

In a long-format competition with a dense schedule, every opening-round win carries psychological value greater than that of an ordinary victory. Hapoel Jerusalem and Turk Telekom started well, giving themselves more room to experiment with lineups and manage fitness for the road ahead. Meanwhile, Cedevita Olimpija and Maxima Roma must correct mistakes early, because in a competition where point differential and standings can be decided by very small margins, dropping points at home or letting a direct rival win always leaves unpredictable consequences.

Travel between countries, time-zone differences and a heavy workload are also variables all four coaching staffs must manage. Teams with good roster depth tend to navigate this period more easily, and the two games just played sketched that difference to some degree.

A view from Vietnam

For Vietnamese basketball, these two games offer worthwhile lessons. First, the role of a center who finishes cleanly and rebounds effectively remains the foundation of any system, as shown by Dusan Miletic or Miro Bilan. Domestic teams often prioritize imports who score from long range, but a player who operates effectively in the paint creates much greater balance.

Second, evenly distributing scoring among four or five players is a sign of a mature offensive system. Teams in Vietnam's professional basketball league that want to go far need to build a ball-sharing style instead of depending on one individual. Third, the ability to defend in the final quarter is a trainable quality, and this is an area where Vietnamese teams still have plenty of room to improve.

What to watch next

After the opening round, Hapoel Jerusalem and Turk Telekom hold important psychological advantages. However, one opening win is not enough to confirm status, especially in a long competition format. For Hapoel Jerusalem, the question is whether their defense can maintain discipline against opponents with more varied offensive options. For Turk Telekom, the challenge lies in stabilizing offensive efficiency and avoiding the need to wait until the final quarter to explode.

As for Cedevita Olimpija and Maxima Roma, both need to find additional scoring options to ease the load on their key players. Cedevita needs a third player ready to shoulder responsibility when Noah Kirkwood and Anthony Cowan are locked down. Maxima Roma needs to improve its finishing from the chances Aaron Holiday creates, while reducing dependence on Miro Bilan in the paint.

Conclusion

The opening round revealed two different winning profiles: one team winning with defense and control, the other with speed and offensive depth. Dusan Miletic, David Roddy, Kenneth Lofton, Jerrick Harding, Dogus Ozdemiroglu, Tony Taylor and Anthony Lamb were the names that left the clearest marks. On the other side, Noah Kirkwood, Anthony Cowan, Miro Bilan and Aaron Holiday still showed their individual value, but basketball is a team sport, and that was once again confirmed on the scoreboard.