Satchel Cup 2026

We’re proud to be the title sponsor of the Satchel Cup — an international preseason tournament that brought four clubs from across Europe and the Middle East to Vilnius: hosts Rytas, Turkey’s Esenler Erokspor, France’s JL Bourg Basket, and Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem. For a company that processes payments and connects businesses across borders every day, backing a tournament that brings clubs and fans together across borders felt like a natural fit – and this year’s edition delivered on every front.

A final worthy of the tournament

On Sunday, September 13, in Vilnius, our host club Rytas met Jerusalem’s Hapoel – fresh off their own semifinal win over France’s JL Bourg Basket – for the Satchel Cup title, in a final that matched the intensity of the weekend’s semifinals.

Rytas comes back to beat Hapoel Jerusalem 104:95

Hapoel controlled the opening minutes, but Rytas answered with a decisive third quarter – outscoring their opponents 36:19 in the period to seize control of the game – and held on through a tight final quarter to close it out 104:95. Quarter scores: 22:25, 20:21, 36:19, 26:30.

A statement result to open the season

Under head coach Nedas Pacevičius, Rytas took home the first trophy of the season – and the first-ever Satchel Cup – capping a run that included a 104:87 semifinal win over Istanbul’s Esenler Erokspor. Esenler Erokspor met JL Bourg Basket separately for third place. We congratulate Rytas, and every club that took part in making the inaugural Satchel Cup one to remember.

About Satchel

Satchel is a European electronic money institution licensed by the Bank of Lithuania and a Mastercard Europe partner offering advanced finance and payment solutions globally since 2018.