# Inside the EuroCup Group A Chessboard: What Hapoel Jerusalem and Derthona Bring to the European Stage

**By Jordan Wells**  \nPublished July 26, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> As Group A takes shape for the upcoming EuroCup campaign, Hapoel Jerusalem and Baglietto Derthona Tortona step into a demanding 32-team European landscape.

When the BKT EuroCup draw in Barcelona mapped out the 32-team landscape across four groups for the 2026/2027 season, it immediately established a merciless barometer for every contender involved. Among the headline fixtures driving anticipation across the continent is Group A, a pool featuring heavyweight clubs, historic European pedigree, and distinct tactical profiles. Within this bracket, the intersection of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem and Baglietto Derthona Tortona sets up a fascinating study in pace, roster depth, and continental ambition.

For Hapoel Jerusalem, European nights carry unique operational demands. As noted in prior competition cycles regarding their neutral-venue arrangements, the club's logistical reality places a premium on resilience. Tactically, Jerusalem has historically favored high-possession stretches and aggressive backcourt pressure, traits that were visible in domestic and continental outings where they routinely pushed opponents into high-scoring shootouts. Yet, maintaining defensive discipline across a grueling 14-game regular season remains their central challenge. When opponents manage to puncture their perimeter containment, Jerusalem's margin for error narrows swiftly, as evidenced by previous European encounters where late-game defensive lapses threatened commanding leads.

On the Italian side of the equation, Baglietto Derthona Tortona brings a calculated, physical approach to Group A. Derthona's recent domestic battles against Italian powerhouses like Umana Reyer Venezia underscore a squad built to absorb contact, grind possessions down into half-court execution, and contest every passing lane. When Derthona matches up against faster, transition-heavy opponents, their success hinges entirely on half-court shot selection and limiting second-chance points on the offensive glass. If they can dictate a slower, more deliberate tempo, they possess the structural discipline to frustrate high-octane backcourts.

## The Group A Equation and Standings Pressure

The mathematics of the new EuroCup format leave very little room for early-season slip-ups. With 32 teams split into four groups, only the top four finishers in each group secure passage to the playoffs. Starting September 29, every single possession carries direct weight for the standings:

- **Regular Season Length:** 14 games total (7 home, 7 away).

- **Playoff Qualification:** Only the top 4 teams advance out of Group A.

- **Knockout Phase:** Single-elimination or series formats from the eighth-finals onward, culminating in high-stakes elimination rounds.

This narrow qualification window changes how clubs manage rotation depth. Teams cannot afford to punt away early group matches while integrating new acquisitions or managing player workloads. Every roster addition made during the summer transfer window—whether seasoned veterans meant to anchor leadership roles or incoming scorers designed to elevate offensive efficiency—will be tested immediately under continental lights.

## What to Watch When the Matchups Tip Off

When analyzing how Hapoel Jerusalem and Derthona Tortona stack up against fellow Group A entrants like Le Mans Sarthe Basket, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Aris Thessaloniki, San Pablo Burgos, and debutants like the Rostock Seawolves, the narrative goes far beyond simple talent accumulation. Success in this group will be decided by three distinct variables:

- **Transition Defense vs. Half-Court Control:** Can Jerusalem push the pace and force chaotic turnovers, or will structured defensive units like Derthona lock down the paint and force tough perimeter jumpers?

- **Foul Trouble and Depth Management:** High-intensity defensive schemes frequently lead to foul accumulation. Teams with reliable bench units that can maintain defensive intensity without sending opponents to the free-throw line will survive the winter stretch.

- **Travel and Venue Resilience:** With multiple cross-border trips and alternative venue logistics factoring into the schedule, mental toughness on the road will separate group leaders from the chasing pack.

As Sportdirektor Kevin Anstett observed regarding the group's overall caliber: Es sind ultrastarke Teams, gegen die wir im BKT Eurocup spielen werden. Kevin Anstett

Ultimately, the battle lines in Group A are drawn not by reputation, but by stopwatch reality and execution. As the opening tip approaches on September 29, both Hapoel Jerusalem and Derthona Tortona understand that early consistency will determine whether their European ambitions extend deep into the post-season bracket.

## Sources

- [tagesschau.de](https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/mecklenburgvorpommern/eurocup-basketball-gegner-der-rostock-seawolves-stehen-fest,mvregiorostock-3994.html) — original
- [nordkurier.de](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/rostock/rostock-seawolves-erwischen-hammergruppe-im-eurocup-4705687) — original
- [sportbild.bild.de](https://sportbild.bild.de/sportmix/basketball/eurocup-hammer-los-fuer-bbl-rivalen-ulm-und-chemnitz-6867c7a24a482933f5248e4e) — original
- [live-result.com](https://www.live-result.com/basketball/matches/match357537_Umana_Reyer_Venezia-Hapoel_Jerusalem-online) — original
- [kreisbote.de](https://www.kreisbote.de/sport/fcb-basketball/fcb-baskets-siegen-auch-ihrem-dritten-eurocup-duell-jerusalem-zr-8808523.html) — original
- [Medien](https://seawolves.de/2026/07/eurocup-auslosung-seawolves-treffen-auf-europaeische-schwergewichte/) — original