On Wednesday, October 28, at 19:30, defending FIBA Champions League titleholders Rytas Vilnius will host Group A leaders Trabzonspor on home hardwood. For the capital’s club, this matchup serves as the first major home test of their title defense against an opponent loaded with former NBA and EuroLeague standouts.
Through the first two rounds, the Turkish side remains spotless, having defeated Nanterre 92 at home (93:83) and dispatched Sabah Baku (100:83). Vilnius opened their Champions League campaign with an 82:73 victory over Sabah—fueled by Gytis Radzevičius, who earned Player of the Week honors with 21 points and 12 rebounds—before stumbling on the road in France in Round 2. With only the top spot in the four-team group guaranteeing direct qualification to the Top 16, a home victory is essential for Rytas Vilnius to reignite their push for first place.
Following a sixth-place finish in the Turkish Super League last season that left them outside European competition, Trabzonspor overhauled their roster over the summer to make an ambitious return to international play. Guided by head coach Selçuk Ernak, the team has collected five wins and just one defeat across all competitions this season—falling only to EuroLeague contender Beşiktaş Istanbul (81:90) in domestic action, where they currently sit third.
The visitors boast a wealth of elite experience. Leading the backcourt is 35-year-old veteran guard Isaiah Canaan, whose resume includes stints with NBA franchises Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Chicago Bulls, alongside two EuroLeague Final Four appearances with Olympiacos Piraeus. Canaan is flanked by a potent guard tandem: Marcus Keene, who poured in 18.1 points per game for SIG Strasbourg during the 2022–2023 Champions League campaign, and Troy Caupain, who contributed 13.4 points per contest for Italian side Reggio Emilia in the FIBA Europe Cup. Up front, the frontline features a familiar face to Lithuanian basketball fans in Brady Manek alongside former NBA big man Xavier Tillman.
For Rytas Vilnius, this fixture offers an opportunity to build on the historic legacy forged last season. Five months ago in Badalona, the Vilnius side became the first Lithuanian club to lift the FIBA Champions League trophy, outlasting AEK Athens 92:86 in an overtime thriller. This season’s title defense carries even higher stakes, with tournament finalists earning a berth in the inaugural NBA Europe season.
“The defeat in France left a bitter taste, so there is immense determination within the team to bounce back,” said Rytas Vilnius head coach Nedas Pacevičius ahead of the clash. “Trabzonspor has abundant individual talent and players who have competed at the highest levels, so any lapse in concentration on offense or defense will be punished immediately. Playing at home, we have to dictate the physical tone from the opening second and not allow them to set the tempo.”
Tickets for the game are available at Bilietai.lt.