The European basketball landscape is undergoing constant transformation. On one front, the Euroleague is expanding to 20 teams. On another, the looming shadow of the NBA threatens with a new competition, though Adam Silver has delayed its potential launch until at least 2027. Amid these present and future shifts, two other competitions—the Eurocup and the Champions League—are vying for the remaining pieces of the sporting pie. The former is organized by the ECA, the latter by FIBA, with the two organizations remaining irreconcilable rivals for now.
In recent times, the Champions League appears to be gaining the upper hand. A few weeks ago, Alba Berlin announced it was leaving the Euroleague umbrella after 24 years to return to FIBA tournaments, joining the Champions League. Now, two Spanish teams, traditional Eurocup contenders, are taking the same path: Joventut Badalona and Dreamland Gran Canaria will compete in the Champions League next season.
This shift, combined with Valencia Basket being one of the clubs the Euroleague is set to add to its roster, effectively removes all three Spanish teams that competed in the Eurocup this year from the equation for the upcoming season. The prospect of a Eurocup without Spanish representation in 2025-26 is very real.
The news about Joventut broke first, reported by Eduald Serra on Catalunya Ràdio, though rumors of the Penya switching continental competitions had been circulating for some time. The Badalona club has submitted all necessary documentation to FIBA, and a meeting of the governing body is expected in the coming days to decide which teams will be included in its tournament. The case of Gran Canaria is more striking: the club was the Eurocup runner-up last season and, after winning its only title in 2023, declined a spot in the Euroleague because it was not financially viable. According to an article in *La Provincia*, the decision—which had been looming since Sitapha Savané became president—stems from a lack of interest from the Euroleague in its second-tier competition. The club feels that the only incentive offered was an increase in prize money for knockout rounds, which Gran Canaria considered insufficient to continue.
Toward a Record Number of Spanish Teams
Currently, five Spanish teams compete in the Champions League: four with permanent spots (Unicaja, La Laguna Tenerife, UCAM Murcia, and Baxi Manresa in 2024-25) and one that had to go through qualifying (MoraBanc Andorra, which failed to advance). But this year, the number of ACB teams in the FIBA-organized competition could rise to six. The four fixed spots—determined by the domestic league standings, excluding Euroleague teams (Real Madrid 1st, Valencia Basket 2nd, Barça 5th, Baskonia 8th)—would go to Tenerife (3rd), Unicaja (4th), Joventut (6th), and Granca (7th). Moreover, FIBA is reportedly considering granting an additional fixed spot to the Liga Endesa, which would go to UCAM Murcia (9th). Additionally, Surne Bilbao Basket, as champion of the FIBA Europe Cup (the second-tier competition behind the Champions League), has the right to enter the qualifying round. If the Basque team succeeds, there could be six Spanish clubs in the next Champions League, clearly outshining the Eurocup.
