European Basketball Champions League: Hill shines as holders, Unicaja, eliminates Elan Chalon.

The Basketball Lion contributed 20points, four rebounds and three assists as the Elan Chalon selection went down with the heartbreaking loss to the defending champions in the matchday five series of the round of 16 showdown.

The point contribution had the shooting guard completing the fixture as the overall best-performer in the match, six-points ahead of Elan Chalon’s second highest point contributor, French youngster Matheo Leray, and two points ahead of Unicaja’s Bosnian shooting guard, Nihad Dedovic who powered in 18points. 

The strong showing added to the multiple outstanding individual performances that the 28-year-old has registered for the Elan Chalon club in the continental championship and other competitions this season.

The Cameroon international chipped in a mind-blowing total of 25points, two rebounds and six assists when Elan Chalon humbled Spain’s Joventut Badalona 85-77points last February 10 in the club’s fourth game in the round of 16 series of the ongoing Champions League tournament.

The brilliant performances have earned the Cameroonian several individual awards and acknowledgements in the premier European basketball championships competition and other competitions this season.

Elan Chalon ends European expedition in style

Despite Hill’s individual excellence, Elan Chalon’s failed to avoid elimination from the Champions League competition where the club was battling to qualify for the quarterfinals stage.

Elan Chalon which will lock horns with Germany’s Würzburg Baskets on March 17 in its last game of the six-game round 16 series, has two victories and three losses in five matches in the phase. 

The performance leaves the selection sitting third in Group K of the tentative classification table, behind Spanish pair Joventut and Unicaja who have qualified for the quarterfinals with two games to spare and winning four and three of their five round 16 matches respectively.

Despite the elimination, the head coach of Elan Chalon, Elric Delord, told reporters at the end of the Unicaja clash that he is proud of the impressive run that the team registered in the 2025/2026 Champions League campaign.

“It has been a long time since Chalon played in a European competition, especially at this level. We can be proud of our journey this season. Naturally, there is disappointment because we are competitors. The further you go, the more you want. I hope that never changes. But you have to look at the overall journey, too, and recognize that reaching this point was quite a performance,” the trainer said.

“When you are disappointed about not making it out of the Round of 16 in the Basketball Champions League, considering your group which included Wurzburg, who are ranked second in Germany, Joventut Badalona, and Malaga... it means your run was honorable,” Delord added. 

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3729 of Thursday March 12, 2026