Two recent Eurocup Finals participants went toe-to-toe to open the new season in Group C, with last season's runner-up, Bilbao Basket, finally hanging on for an 82-77 victory over visiting Cedevita Zagreb. Alex Mumbru's back-to-back three-pointers with less than 90 seconds left broke what had been a contentious game most of the way in favor of the hosts. Mumbru finished with 19 points and fellow-veteran Raul Lopez 14, with each making 4 shots from downtown. Mumbru added 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Fran Pilepic chipped in 12 points and Axel Hervelle 10 for the winners. Cedevita relied on Nolan Smith for 24 points and 6 assists, with Marko Tomas scoring 13 more and Goran Suton 10. Cedevita's low shooting percentages, however, meant it could not capitalize on a 15-3 advantage in steals.

Bilbao rode quick baskets by Mumbru and a triple by Lopez to an early 9-5 advantage, but Suton, Smith and Luka Babic scored the next 9 points to put Cedevita in front, 9-14. Tomas piled on 4 points in a row before Roger Grimau and German Gabriel trimmed the difference to 15-18 after 10 minutes. The same duo re-gained the lead for Bilbao at 23-20 before 8 free throws in a 2-10 run sparked by Nolan took it back for Cedevita. Antanas Kavaliauskas got Bilbao close again and Lopez rang up a triple for the hosts to lead 37-36 at the half. Neither team went away, as Nolan's 4 points in a row made it 42-43 for Cedevita soon after halftime. Jackie Carmichael's 4 in a row gave Bilbao breathing space at 56-50 before Lopez capped the third quarter with a three-pointer to make it 61-53. Cedevita chased to within 64-61 on triples by Tomas and Nolan, but the veteran Grimau kept the visitors from getting closer until Mumbru sandwiched back-to-back threes around one by Suton to make it 80-74 with 41 seconds left, enough for Bilbao to manage the ending for a victory.