Balkan & Josh stun Vladov's Bahçeşehir 78–73 as Cyber EuroCup Debuts at Arena Botevgrad in front of gathered fans at Arena's fanzone

October 20, 2026 | Arena Botevgrad, Bulgaria

BC Balkan Botevgrad representative Joshua Tzvetkov delivered a major upset, defeating Bahçeşehir Koleji and ECSO CEO Viktor Vladov 78–73 in the first Cyber EuroCup game hosted at Arena Botevgrad. The match took place in the newly established Fan/Gamezone ahead of Balkan's real-life BKT EuroCup clash against Lietkabelis Panevėžys.

A New Era for eBasketball in Botevgrad

The official partnership between BC Balkan Botevgrad and the European Cyber Sports Organization (ECSO) brought competitive NBA 2K basketball directly into a professional basketball arena. Numerous young supporters, Balkan fans, arena staff and security personnel gathered around the Fan/Gamezone to watch the action unfold.

Balkan's official Cyber EuroCup representative, Joshua Tzvetkov, faced Viktor Vladov, ECSO CEO and Bahçeşehir's representative in the online league. Despite more than 85% of pre-game SofaScore votes favoring Vladov, the newcomer produced an outstanding performance in front of his home supporters.

From 21–9 Down to a Dramatic Finish

Balkan started brilliantly, racing into a 23–12 first-quarter lead as Vladov struggled to find his shooting rhythm. Bahçeşehir responded in the second quarter, winning it 19–12 to reduce the halftime deficit to 35–31.

Vladov then made a surprising tactical adjustment, switching to a 2–3 zone defense despite Tzvetkov's excellent perimeter shooting. The defensive repositioning disrupted Balkan's offense, and a 10–2 run brought Bahçeşehir back within striking distance.

Balkan nevertheless maintained its composure, winning the third quarter 20–17 to lead 55–48 heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter delivered the night's biggest drama. Bahçeşehir completed its comeback and briefly took the lead, but Alex Ducas became a key factor in crunch time, hitting two heavily contested three-pointers.

A frantic sequence of loose balls and missed opportunities underneath Balkan's basket ultimately proved decisive. Balkan capitalized with a three-pointer at the other end, then converted its free throws as Bahçeşehir attempted to stop the clock. Vladov's team could not find the baskets needed to complete another comeback.

Final score: Balkan Botevgrad 78–73 Bahçeşehir Koleji.

Lietkabelis Star Daniel Baslyk Joins the Action

The event also connected virtual basketball with the professional game. Lietkabelis Panevėžys player Daniel Baslyk, wearing his No. 9 jersey, met Viktor Vladov inside Arena Botevgrad ahead of his club's real-life EuroCup fixture against Balkan.

In one of the evening's funniest moments, Baslyk asked whether his three-point rating in NBA 2K could be increased following the game.

The interaction highlighted the growing connection between professional basketball players and their virtual counterparts, adding another memorable moment to the Fan/Gamezone experience.

Balkan Moves to 2–0

The evening brought further good news for Balkan. A separately scheduled matchup against BC Roma SPQR and Italian gamer Alexander Mayorga ended in a forfeit victory after Mayorga failed to appear.

Consequently, Balkan improved to 2–0 in Cyber EuroCup Group D, sitting second behind unbeaten PAOK Thessaloniki. Bahçeşehir dropped to 2–2.

For Tzvetkov, it was an exceptional start to his Cyber EuroCup campaign: two victories, an unbeaten record and a major upset against one of the league's most recognizable competitors.

"I am still shaking and sweating.", Joshua said excited after the game and added "I hit so many threes".

"When it rains, it pours- that's how it went for Joshua as per his shooting night. Hands were up in shooters face but he still hit them. I started bad and nervous, we had people watching us, Balkan fans, especially young people gathered around us. But I am happy. It was a showdown, I came back twice and the league is growing more and more with the partnerships with Balkan & Hapoel. Also it's time for the new Generation of young eSports players to shine. There is nothing to regret from my side. Student beat the teacher. Happy to see Josh growing alao tactically in the eBasketball scene.", Vladov added proudly.

ECSO and BC Balkan: Building Something Bigger

The successful event represents an important milestone for ECSO and its recently signed official partnership with BC Balkan Botevgrad. Alongside its premium partnership with Hapoel Tel Aviv, ECSO continues expanding its connections with established European basketball organizations.

All participating ECSO representatives also receive VIP courtside access to Balkan's home games, strengthening the relationship between the club's professional basketball operations and competitive esports.

ECSO and Cyber EuroLeague CEO Viktor Vladov extend their sincere thanks to the entire BC Balkan Botevgrad organization for its hospitality, cooperation and support in making the Fan/Gamezone possible.

An enthusiastic crowd, a professional arena, a real EuroCup player and a dramatic underdog victory made this much more than an ordinary online match. The first Cyber EuroCup evening at Arena Botevgrad demonstrated the potential of bringing professional basketball and competitive gaming together—and offered an encouraging glimpse of what this new partnership can achieve.