Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 13 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.
Round 13: Pregame quotes and injury reports
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Thursday, January 2
Trefl Sopot vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)
Jakub Schenk, Trefl Sopot guard
"It’s a really physical team, so we have to be ready on the perimeter and under the baskets. Rebounding is going to be a big key. I hope we can execute our targets offensively and be solid against their switching defense, because they switch a lot. We know how to punish that, we just have to be successful doing that."
Injury report, Trefl: Andy Van Vliet is no longer with the team.
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (18:00 CET)
Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach
"An important game, but under unusual circumstances. We are still in Belgrade, having been to the airport twice, but due to weather conditions, we couldn’t take off either time — something entirely beyond our control. Unfortunately, we were unable to reschedule the game against Lietkabelis and we’ll see if conditions on Thursday allow us to travel to Panevezys. For the team, this time spent at the airport, returning, and sleeping in a hotel has been very taxing. We extend our gratitude to Partizan Mozzart Bet for providing us with a training session in a small gym at the Belgrade Arena. After all the waiting and standing around, we wanted to activate the players a bit and prepare them for the game and everything that lies ahead. On Thursday, we’ll wake up at 4:00 AM and travel directly to the game. Our priority will certainly be to take care of the players in such a situation. If an opportunity to win the game presents itself, we will seize it, as this game is extremely important for us. Had our trip to Panevezys gone as originally planned, our ambitions and motivation would have been entirely different. First, we must take care of the players, and then we’ll see where we stand."
Joan Beringer, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana center
"A very important game, as we are fighting to make the EuroCup Playoffs. A good game awaits us in the great atmosphere of Lietkabelis's home fans. We must be prepared for the game and the battle and give it our all to secure a win on Thursday."
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs Aris Midea Thessaloniki (19.00 CET)
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Umana Reyer Venice vs Valencia Basket (20:00 CET)
Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach
"We are facing the best team in the EuroCup at the moment. A team with immense talent, great versatility in their game, and a deep bench. They are a team suitable for the EuroLeague, just as Paris Basketball was last season. We have been training well and have found the right chemistry for our system, which allows us to fight until the end. Playing in front of our home crowd will be extremely important."
Aamir Simms, Umana Reyer Venice forward
"It will be a very physical game. Valencia is at the top of the EuroCup standings, but we need to win to secure a spot in the playoffs. As long as we maintain control of their breaks and continue to defend the way we know how, we will be able to take the game. Playing in front of our home crowd is very important for us, and we want to win for them."
Injury report, Valencia: Ethan Happ did not travel with the club for this game. Jean Montero's participation is in doubt due to a sprained right ankle.
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (21:00 CET)
Jaka Lakovic, Dreamland Gran Canaria head coach
"I think the team, despite the defeat in Badalona, is in a good moment. The most important thing will be to see how the team recovers after a few days of rest, among them this end of the year, to prepare for the game and compete well against a great team built to try to win the EuroCup and play in the EuroLeague. I think the game is very important for us. To continue adding points in the EuroCup, to continue in an upward line and in the positions that take us to the playoffs. We already know Hapoel. It's full of experienced players at the EuroLeague level, with a lot of quality and talent. That's why we have to be very well prepared, play very physically and know how to impose our pace of play."
Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach
"We are facing a very strong team, one that has built a solid core of players and coaching staff over the past few years. They won the EuroCup in the 2022-23 season and recently beat Valencia. This is a team with impressive size and versatility. They can play both small-ball and big-ball styles, and they operate at a very high pace. We’ve been practicing well and are looking forward to this game as an opportunity to test ourselves against such a high-quality and intelligent opponent."
Tomer Ginat, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv forward
"The game against Gran Canaria is a big challenge for us, as they are one of the strongest teams in the group. We are all aware of the importance of this match, and we will come focused and aggressive, doing everything we can to rise to the challenge."
Injury report, Gran Canaria: Andrew Albicy injured his leg in the Spanish League on Monday. His participation this week is in question.
Injury report, Hapoel: Marcus Bingham is sidelined with pericarditis. Patrick Beverley and Noam Yaacov are both out with quadriceps injuries.
Friday, January 3
Turk Telekom Ankara vs Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (17:30 CET)
Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach
"Ankara is a very talented team and has one of the best defenses. The goal will be to start the year in the best possible way by playing our best basketball and also being able to take another step towards qualification."
Jordan Usher, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward
"We are ready to start the new year off right. Every win is a big game in terms of qualification. We need to keep a good rhythm and play hard to beat this talented Turk Telekom team."
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs Veolia Towers Hamburg (18:00 CET)
Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach
"This is an extremely important game, because the competition is very tight, especially in our group. We need to win our home games and gain confidence. We had some good practices before this game and we have the right mindset. We are confident we can win this game, even though Karel Guzman might not play. He is still facing that injury, but we want a victory!"
Sasu Salin, U-BT Cluj-Napoca guard
"It is going to be a different game than it was in Hamburg. They have recovered some of the players and actually got some new ones. They are going to be very dangerous so we have to respect them. At the same time, we need to show we are playing at home and we have to give the first hit. We need to be ready for the beginning, it is the time we are fighting for the playoffs. We have to do a great job, especially in defense, where we have been struggling lately. Our team needs to play good for 40 minutes and take the win."
Benka Barloschky, Veolia Hamburg Towers head coach
"Cluj is statistically strong at both ends of the floor. They have a lot of length and physicality. Imposing our game against them will be the biggest challenge. They have a very strong playmaker in Zavier Simpson. He creates over 35 points per game through his scoring and assists. Containing him will be the biggest challenge defensively. We did a very good job in this regard against Jerusalem's Jared Harper - and we want to build on that."
Injury report, Cluj: Karel Guzman's participation is in question.
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs Joventut Badalona (18:00 CET)
Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach
"It's a very important game for us. It's the first game of the new year and very important for the standings. We are happy even watching that game, respecting what we did in the first game in Badalona. But now they are in a different moment, they are winning games, even in their domestic league, and signed new players. From our side, we want to keep running to achieve our goals. We know exactly how important this home game against Joventut is for the standings."
Arnoldas Kulboka, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius
"Badalona will be determined after their first-round home loss to us. They are coming to Vilnius on a strong winning streak, so a tough game awaits. Both teams need to win for the standings. We are prepared to fight until the very last minute, staying fully focused and physical. We know Joventut will be seeking revenge. We will give our all to secure the victory in front of our fans."
Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach
"We have a situation in the standings where it is very important to win the next two games to stay alive. When there are possibilities, we have to do our best to achieve them. We have to understand why we have not been competitive so far and come out with the initiative to win. In the EuroCup, we are not playing well and we want to change this trend and add victories."
Injury report, Joventut: Miguel Allen and Michael Ruzic will mis this game. Joventut has released Pep Busquets.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs Bahcesehir College Istanbul (20:00 CET)
Jordan Bayehe, Dolomiti Energia Trento center
"Bahceşehir is a very strong team made up of very experienced players, many of whom also have experience in the EuroLeague. We are working hard to prepare for this game as best as possible, knowing that it will be essential to defend aggressively to limit their high shooting percentages, especially from three points. We are coming off a less-than-brilliant performance in the league, but we have practiced well in recent days. We know that difficult games can happen, but what matters is to react the right way and we are ready to do so."
