BC Prievidza basketball players continue in the second phase of the FIBA European Cup (FIBA EP) waiting for a victory.
17.12.2025 21:17 , updated: 21:19
Photo: TASR, Henrich Mišovič
Pictured from the left are Amar Sylla (Bilbao) and Sage Tolbert (Prievidza) in the M-group match of the second stage of the FIBA European Cup in men’s basketball between BC Prievidza and Surne Bilbao Basket.
In the second appearance within the M-group, they lost to the defender of the winning trophy, Spanish Surne Basket Bilbao 46:83. In the table, the representative Tipos of the Slovak Basketball League (Tipos SBL) remains in fourth position with a record of two losses.
A series of home matches started for Prievidza in this competition, the next one will welcome the Portuguese Sporting CP Lisbon on Wednesday, January 14 at 19:00.
second stage of the FIBA European Cup 2025/2026 – M-group:
BC Prievidza – Surneo Bilbao Basket 46:83 (30:43)
See: Tolbert and Toussaint 11 each, Thomas 7, Alihodžič 5, Novák 4 (Zelizňák 4, Lewis 3, Smith 1, Hričo, Jašš and Maring 0)
most points – Bilbao: Hlinason 13, Pantzar 12, Lazarevic 11 (10 rebounds)
TH: 17/11 – 12/9, fouls: 20 – 20, three-pointers: 3 – 8, refereed by: Sakaci (Tur.), Jankowski (Poland), Mitrovski (S. Mac.), quarters: 12:27, 18:16, 9:16, 7:24.
Bilbao started as a paper favourite, with six points in the series and a lot of pressure on the players of Prievidza, who made mistakes and had to work hard to score. This is also why the home team lost 4:14 in the fifth minute.
After that came a better phase for coach Gareth Murray’s men, when they managed a seven-point lead, but the guests immediately took the situation into their own hands. With a 13-1 stretch, they won a 27-12 score after the first quarter.
Read more They are pulling up the whole of Slovak basketball. The fairytale journey of the Lions in the Champions League continues
In the second part, the same situation was repeated again, Prievidza picked up the game and tried to reduce the deficit to a single-digit difference, but Bilbao controlled the situation. It scored when it needed to and kept its lead at around 15 points with every player on the game roster involved. The home team finally went to the halftime break with a score of 30:43.
Prievidza came to the second half in the role of a more active team and at least in the first minutes did not let Bilbao play. However, this scenario could not be maintained for a long time and the Spanish team confidently went for the second win in the table.
He maintained a high level with frequent substitutions, while the hosts had to find solutions to still fight for a chance to succeed in front of their fans. Before the last 10 minutes, the score was 39:59. The fate of the meeting was finally decided at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Prievidza scored 0:11. The final minutes were thus only a sign of play-offs, less busy players were given space on both sides.
votes after the match /STVR: Sport/:
Gareth Murray, Prievidze coach: “They expected it to be a tough game. They are a physical team at a high level. Their defense is at a high level, they play against top teams every week. They can create good shots. We shot 25 percent, we missed some easy baskets. I have to congratulate Bilbao, they are favorites to win the whole competition again.”
Dávid Novák, Prievidze player: “It was an incredible match. We all know what a Bilbao basketball team is. We enjoyed it, we tried to compete with them as much as possible, but it’s a little different level. Now we have to look at the mistakes we made in this match and improve them for the next meeting. Sometimes there are matches when things don’t work out, but we have to rely on the defense. Failure to work out can happen in any game.”
next program in M-Group FIBA EP 2025/2026:
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 8 p.m.: Surneo Bilbao Basket – PAOK BC Thessaloniki
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 7 p.m.: BC PRIEVIDZA – Sporting CP Lisbon
