Kids&Us takes on Thessaloniki

93 PAOK Thessaloniki | Calathes 13, Hudgins 9, Osman 23, Gray 2, and Alexander 7; Mitrou-Long 7, Tyree 20, Foster 8, Persidis, Moore 2, and Bazinas 2

78 Kids&Us Manresa | Villar 2, Notae 16, Agbo 2, Allen 15, and Ongenda 9; Kolenda 3, Vila 4, Beaufort, Bassas 10, Tamba 7, Enabulele 4, and Minchev 6

Quarter scores: 21-20, 19-21, 18-15, 35-22

Kids&Us Manresa was unable to open their EuroCup campaign with a win, losing on the challenging home court of one of the title favorites, Greece's PAOK Thessaloniki (93-78).

The game began as a tight affair, with both teams trading baskets and swapping the lead. The Greek side scored seven unanswered points to build a five-point cushion (21-16), but the "Reds" narrowed the gap by the end of the first quarter (21-20).

The pattern remained much the same in the second period, with neither team able to pull away on the scoreboard. At halftime, Diego Ocampo’s men were showing grit and held a one-point lead (40-41).

Returning from the locker room, the team from Bages got off to a strong start, establishing a five-point lead (40-45). PAOK then responded, managing to finish the third quarter with a two-point advantage (58-56)—a period that saw play halted for over half an hour due to a malfunction with one of the baskets. In the final ten minutes, the home team unleashed a decisive 12-0 run, opening up a gap that proved too wide to overcome for the Manresa side, who nonetheless kept fighting until the end.

On Saturday at 9:00 PM, Kids&Us Manresa will make their debut at the Nou Congost against Río Breogán.