FIBA has announced the list of thirty teams that will compete in the next edition of the main European men's club basketball tournament. Among them, the Biscay team Surne Bilbao will play for the third time in its history, after not qualifying for the Eurocup.
The BCL will feature the top three finishers from last season: Rytas Vilnius, AEK Athens (the only team to have participated in all eleven editions), and Unicaja. The Liga Endesa will also be represented by Joventut and UCAM Murcia, while Breogán will face a challenging preliminary round to secure a spot.
The draw for the eight first-round groups will take place on July 8 in Mies, Switzerland. Surne Bilbao could face familiar opponents such as Falco Szombathely, Peristeri, Legia Warsaw, Porto, or Cholet, as well as teams like Nanterre, Bamberg, Alba Berlin, Telekom Bonn, Nymburk, or Igokea.
While comparisons to the Eurocup can be made, the BCL appears to be a more balanced and manageable competition. Notable contenders this season include Turkey's Trabzonspor, the new Nymburk, competitive French teams, and the classic Cibona Zagreb. In the preliminary round, Manchester Basketball is also participating.
