Hamburg Secures First Eurocup Victory in Dominant Display
After six consecutive losses, Veolia Towers Hamburg finally tasted victory in the Eurocup group stage, defeating Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 86-83. The triumph came at the Veolia Towers Hamburg, a renowned basketball venue in Hamburg, and relegated their Slovenian opponents to the bottom of Group A temporarily. Aljami Durham scored a game-high 21 points for the German Basketball League side.
The Towers held the upper hand throughout the first quarter but fell 19-22 behind shortly before the break. Durham then ignited a 9-0 run in the second period, propelling Hamburg to an 11-point advantage.
Following the interval, Towers continued their impressive performance and extended their lead to 70-42 after a remarkable 18-2 surge covering five-and-a-half minutes. Despite Ljubljana's relentless efforts and cutting the deficit to just two points with around two minutes left, Mark Hughes sealed the victory with a pair of free throws in the dying seconds.
Victory over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in the Eurocup marked a significant milestone for Veolia Towers Hamburg in their basketball journey.
Behind the Scenes
In the 2024-2025 EuroCup season, Hamburg endured a rollercoaster ride, with their form varying between strong wins and disappointing defeats. They tucked away a win against their tricky opponents in R18 (February 5, 2025), clinching the game 80-62, with Jaizec Lottie (17 points), Johnathan Stove (13 points), and Kur Kuath (10 points) delivering key contributions.
Hamburg also notched up a notable overtime victory over Aris Midea Thessaloniki on January 29, 2025, which represented their first road win since 2023. Hamburg finished the regular EuroCup season with five victories in 17 games and placed ninth in the standings.
However, Hamburg had long lost their playoff aspirations by the time they faced Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Their recent upset victory over the Slovenians showed resilience and strong team dynamics, which made their seasonal conclusion more satisfying.
In this Eurocup season, Hamburg had some disappointing losses, including one to Valencia Basket by a 78-86 margin on December 10, 2024. They were victorious against Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, securing a 82-80 win on December 17, 2024, while they narrowly missed out to U-BT Cluj-Napoca in a tight game where they lost by a single point. They also avenged their earlier defeat to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in Round 18.
The triumph over Cedeiva Olimpija Ljubljana symbolized the turning point in Hamburg's Eurocup season, giving them an uplifting end to their campaign.
