After a drought of six long years BC Prievidza are celebrating silverware again. A Cup-tivating and high quality Final Four weekend ended with the Miners lifting the trophy, capitalizing on nail-biter wins over Nitra Blue Wings (82-79) in the semi-final and tournament hosts Patrioti Levice (80-77) in the final.

The stage was set on Friday evening at Haleon Aréna, where Prievidza faced a heavily reinforced Nitra Blue Wings in a semifinal that was as tense as it was thrilling. Neither side could build a commanding lead, and both teams traded momentum like prizefighters exchanging blows.

In particular Nitra combo guard Jordan Jones seemed impossible to contain at times. He finished with a game-high 28 points. Eventually, however, BC’s more balanced approach would prevail. Multiple contributors stepped up, embodying the “neúprosní” true team ethos that Head Coach Gareth Murray has been cultivating all season.

A cold-blooded Noah Reynolds spot-up three to make it 82-79 proved to be the dagger that allowed Murray’s Men to move on to the final. Him, James Bishop and Naje Smith combined for 38 points off the bench, compared to only nine bench points for Nitra.

If Friday wasn’t enough, Saturday’s final pushed the drama meter even higher. Prievidza squared off against SBL league leaders Patrioti Levice and the Miner fans' considerable travelling contingent gave its all to neutralize Levice’s home court advantage.

The game began with Levice firing on all cylinders, jumping to an early lead behind a barrage of threes, orchestrated by mid-season MVP favourite Rickey McGill. But Prievidza, unfazed by the hostile atmosphere, methodically fought back with their trademark tenacious defense and team chemistry that refuses to crack under pressure. The hosts kept the lead for most of the contest but Prievidza always managed to stay in striking distance.

In the fourth stanza the game went back-and-forth. The high usage now started to take a toll on Levice’s key contributors and the black-and-white appeared fresher and more alert in the deciding moments of the contest. A backdoor cut dunk by Davontrey Thomas and two calmly drained Naje Smith free throws combined with stingy defense sealed the victory and silverware glory for BC.

After the game, Coach Murray summed it up perfectly when he highlighted the team’s winning formula: defensive resolve, unity, and team effort without egos, values that he himself personifies. While James Bishop was deservedly crowned Final Four MVP and Davontrey Thomas and Naje Smith rightfully made the Final Four All Star squad, the entire weekend was an exercise in collectivity and team cohesion. No title without Noah Reynolds’ scoring threat. Without Maros Zeliznak’s hustle and rebounding. Without Sage Tolbert’s above-the-rim plays, Dalibor Hlivak’s three-point accuracy or captain  Joe Toussaint’s aggressiveness, grit and tenacity. The list could go on but the names are of secondary importance. BC Prievidza, Slovak Cup Winner 2026, that is all that counts.

But, as legendary German soccer coach Sepp Herberger famously said, after the game is before the game. The job for BC Prievidza, edition 2025/2026, is only halfway done. Good teams rest on their laurels, great teams reload. So enjoy the celebrations, then refocus on the ultimate goal.