The Rostock Seawolves embark on their first appearance in the BKT EuroCup on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, traveling to face Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem in the opening round of Group A. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM local time at the Ranko Zeravica Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, with live coverage broadcast on Magentasport.
A Historic Milestone in Belgrade Behind Closed Doors
Tuesday’s fixture marks the first time the Seawolves will face an Israeli opponent in official club competition, as well as their maiden appearance in the Serbian capital. The match carries unique circumstances, as it will be contested as a closed-door fixture in the 5,000-capacity Ranko Zeravica Hall rather than in front of a packed hostile crowd. Seawolves center Philipp Hartwich acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion ahead of the trip, noting the excitement within the club about representing the city on a continental stage and testing themselves across two demanding parallel competitions.
Facing a Group A Heavyweight Backed by Major Investment
Hapoel Jerusalem enters the EuroCup campaign as one of the clear favorites in Group A, following a quarterfinal run in the competition last year. The Israeli club heavily reinforced its roster during the offseason, bringing in former Alba Berlin head coach Sasa Obradovic to direct operations from the sideline. The squad features players with extensive high-level experience, including Shake Milton with 359 NBA appearances, 2021 Basketball Bundesliga MVP Jaleen Smith, Lorenzo Brown with 103 NBA games, and Kenny Lofton Jr. with 45 games in the NBA. Seawolves supporters will also recognize center Davontae Cacok, who caused problems for Rostock last season while playing for Murcia.
Tackling the Underdog Role Without Captain Robin Amaize
Seawolves head coach Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz emphasized that his side enters the opening matchup firmly as the underdogs, pointing to Jerusalem’s financial investment and veteran pedigree. Frasunkiewicz added that the team hopes to capitalize if their opponents experience an off night while executing their own game plan from the opening tip. Rostock will be without team captain Robin Amaize for the journey to Belgrade. Amaize is continuing his rehabilitation and physical conditioning following a recovered Achilles tendon injury, with the club exercising caution for load management. Twenty-year-old youth player Matthes Tilsen takes Amaize’s spot in the traveling squad, earning an opportunity to gain valuable experience on Europe’s second-tier basketball stage.
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