Basketball players Patrioti Levice did not use the opportunity to end the play-in series of the Champions League (LM), in the second game they lost at home to the German Fitness First Würzburg Baskets 56:74.
08.01.2026 19:41 , updated: 21:16
Photo: Pavel Neubauer
Pictured in the foreground is Rickey McGill (Levice) and on the right Alen Pjanič (Würzburg) in the second play-in match of the Champions League Patrioti Levice – Fitness First Würzburg Baskets.
In the series played for two victories, the situation is 1:1 for the matches, the decisive duel is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m. on the opponent’s board.
The winner of this series already knows who he will play against in the second phase (top 16) of the LM. The winner of the last two years of this competition, Spanish Malaga, got into the K-group.
Along with him, another Spanish team, Badalona, has a place. The winner of the play-in series between the French Chalon and the Greek Promitheas is third in the game.
Champions League 2025/2026 – 2nd play-in match /two winning matches are played/:
Patrioti Levice – Fitness First Würzburg Baskets 56:74 (33:37)
Lions line-up and points: McGill 12, Musič and Wesson each 11, Bojanovský 6, Dorsey 3 (Solčánsky 6, Kivimäki 5, Mawein 2)
Most points – Würzburg: Carr 20, Pjanic 16, Mintz and Stove 10 each
TH: 23/15 – 14/11, fouls: 15 – 21, three-pointers: 5 – 11, referees: Zurapovič (Bos. and Herc.), Krejič (Slovak), Jurčevič (Croatian), quarters: 18:18, 15:19, 14:23, 9:14.
/series status: 1:1/
Carr returned to the visiting lineup and right from the start, the Levians had a more difficult time from the offensive point of view compared to the previous matchup. But McGill and Wesson found the right recipe, they largely ensured that the home team took a close lead.
However, both teams showed great combativeness and commitment, they knew how to react to each other in a game. That is also why the first quarter ended with an even score of 18:18.
The same scenario on the scoreboard continued in the second part, but Würzburg had a slight upper hand in this phase. He gradually built up a lead with better game solutions, and a good sequence by Solčánske and the players from the left bench did not change anything.
Although the offensive production of the Patriots was stuck for a few tens of seconds, just before halftime, Dorsey made an important three-pointer to make it 33:37.
The second half brought a diametrically different scenario, but from the point of view of the Lions, it was not favorable at all. Würzburg opened the third quarter with a 13:1 run, gained a double-digit difference for its side and mainly dominated the game on the scoreboard.
The Patriots scored the first field goal in the eighth minute, but by that time they were already significantly losing to the opponent.
The situation improved a little in the end, but it was still a 13-point loss before the final 10 minutes – 47:60.
The home basketball players tried to hope for a more dramatic ending, but the visitors had the situation firmly under control. When it was necessary, he stopped the leftist pressure with points and finally won a decisive duel for participation among the 16 best teams of this year’s LM.
votes after the match /TASR, BCL/:
Michal Madzin, Levíc coach: “We faced a really strong team that came out with extreme physicality, defense and energy. We had a really hard time finding offensive solutions for the whole 40 minutes. They covered maybe some of our strengths and first options, so we had a hard time finding solutions. We created position in the third quarter, had free throws and got within three points. Then there was a stretch in about two minutes where we got about three or four threes. Taking the lead they stretched, it was an awkward moment in that they gained confidence and a cushion with which they got a little comfortable. As the minutes went by, we were losing physical energy in reversing the negative state.”
Gabe Dorsey, Lions player: “I think we didn’t play as well as we can. Games like this just come. But it’s a two-game winning streak that we can still win. We’ll go to Würzburg wanting to succeed there. We’re still looking at it positively. The opponent will start with the same attitude, but we’ll have the same attitude. We’ll be ready.”
Boris Bojanovský, Levice player: “It was a physical game, as we expected. We knew how they play, like in the first game. I think we lacked a little energy basically after that one day. They rotated more players, they got their best scorer back. That was the difference from my point of view.”
Sašo Filipowski, coach of Würzburg: “Congratulations to my team. We executed the game plan. We were in a difficult situation because we lost the home advantage and we needed to win here. It was a game for everything. From that point of view, it was important that we started with energy, we followed the instructions. We defended, we rebounded and we moved the ball in attack. We did not have a good shooting success, we usually give a lot more points. But that is part of such duels.”
Alen Pjanic, Würzburg player: “I’m proud of the lads, how we fought. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy to play games like this in two days. Everyone contributed to this win. We need to get one more win on Wednesday. Now we were able to control the transition of the Lions, that was important from my point of view and we followed the game instructions. It was our energy that was consistent from every player for the whole 40 minutes and that’s why we won.”
next program of the play-in phase of the Champions League 2025/2026 /it is played for two winning matches/:
3rd match, Wednesday 14 January, 6.30 p.m.: Fitness First Würzburg Baskets – Patrioti Levice
