Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 15 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.
Round 15: Pregame quotes and injury reports
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8 Mins read
Wednesday, January 15
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (17:30 CET)
Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach
"Turk Telekom Ankara is an absolute top team that has strengthened its guard positions compared to the first leg. Speedy Smith is strong, can create his own shot and set players up. It's almost a bit crazy how much quality they have in their team. The team really is incredibly deep. They've already had their difficulties this season, so perhaps that's why they're not quite as solid yet. But it's a very ambitious program. And when they click, they are simply really good."
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:00 CET)
Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach
"We have to face a team with great athleticism and quality. After some losses in a row, JL Bourg returned to positive results and they have a big motive to win tomorrow, as they are trying to qualify to the next round of BKT EuroCup. From our side, we have to be ready and give our best in both ends of the court, to chase the positive result, in front of our fans."
Lefteris Bochoridis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki guard
"We have a difficult game ahead, against a very good team. JL Bourg is last season’s finalist and has a very deep roster, with a lot of quality. We have to be determined and focused for the whole game, especially in the defensive end, in order to get the result we want. We may not have chances to qualify, but we will fight till the last game, that’s what Aris stands for."
Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach
"Aris is a team that plays hard. From now on, every game is important, it will not be easy, and we will have to be ready to take up the challenge by also imposing our game."
Brandon Jefferson, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse guard
"It’s an important game for us. We need to be locked on this team of Aris both offensively and defensively. Every game will be a war. We need to stay together and play with confidence and our basketball! We know the rankings and this is a crucial game for us."
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (19:00 CET)
Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach
"We’re playing against the team currently leading the ABA League alongside Red Star, and they’re at the top for a reason – they have quality, a well-structured game, and an excellent coaching staff. They have at least two players in every position who can provide the same outcome without the team losing control. Their guards are highly creative, and they receive great support from their bigs and forwards. This team has it all. On the other hand, we’re coming after a very poor performance against Hapoel Jerusalem, and we’re determined to bounce back immediately. We’ve worked hard in practice and put significant effort into ensuring we don’t lose games like that again. Performances like that won’t happen again. We’re motivated to bounce back – for ourselves, for the effort we’ve invested, and for the hours we’ve spent watching film and working on the court."
Marcus Foster, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard
"With the EuroCup season come to an end it is very important to continue to improve and be at our best against a very good team that is fighting for playoff position. We must bounce back after the weekend game against Hapoel Jerusalem."
Trefl Sopot vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)
Darious Moten, Trefl Sopot forward
"Our ability to win this game has more to do with us coming together and developing the chemistry that we've been trying to build over these couple of weeks, how well we execute, and how well we play our game."
Umana Reyer Venice vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (20:00 CET)
Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach
"We want to win, as always. Facing Cluj won’t be easy at all because they are a good team, competitive and with offensive talent. We are eager to continue on our path. We are a completely different team from the first-leg match, where we performed very well for 70% of the game but lost it in the remaining 30%. There were many aspects of that game I didn’t like, and we want to do better. We need to keep up everything we’ve been doing lately. We draw a lot from our defense, and the recovery of our players gives us versatility."
Amedeo Tessitori, Umana Reyer Venice center
"We need to give continuity to the work of these past weeks to maintain our positive streak. Each of us has to give our best for the team by bringing solidity, teamwork, and defense to the court, everything that defines us. We are working very well, everyone is in good spirits, but our focus is always on the next game."
Reyer injury report: Rodney McGruder (adductor) is out.
Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach
"We will play against a really strong team. They are in good shape, winning the last five games. Venice is a strong team, especially in the paint. They are really good doing the isolation, so they know how to benefit from every situation. We want to play well and win! We need to be aggressive, especially defending their bigs and then score easy baskets in transition."
Adam Mokoka, U-BT Cluj-Napoca guard
"It is going to be a tough game, especially at their crib. We know they are a physical team, they got more weapons compared to the first game. We need to be consistent for 40 minutes and not give them any chances to believe they can win."
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Joventut Badalona (21:00 CET)
Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach
"Now we have a difficult competitive situation because we have no margin to make a mistake. We must come into the game with a very good mentality because we can only think about that game, we cannot think beyond that. We know that we will have to do very well because [Gran Canaria] are a team that has shown their character many times. They are coming off playing a very good game against Barça and from beating Ulm in the EuroCup. They are a very prestigious opponent."
Joventut injury report: Michael Ruzic and Miguel Allen are both out.
Tuesday, January 14
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Valencia Basket (18:00 CET)
Matt Costello, Valencia Basket center
"We lost to them the first time. They're really physical, they play every possession super hard and super confidently, so we need to come tomorrow and keep playing how we've been playing: fast, keep trying to make shots, and try to shut them down on defense the best we can. We haven't that lost much this year, so to be able to play the team again after we lost to them, you want to prove yourself again. We've got an opportunity tomorrow and we've got to be ready for it. We've had a lot of 5s going down this year, but as far as 4s, this is the first time. Being able to fill those positions, I think Semi may play a little bit more of a 4 for us with the system we've got going on. It's a little bit different of a look, but I think we'll be able to figure it out."
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (18:00 CET)
Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach
"It's a very important game. We have the same record, and we won at home. They are a completely different team when they play in their loud and crowded arena. They are coming from three defeats on the road. We are coming from a bad game at home. We must try to prove ourselves, try to overcome the group and go into the playoffs. So it will be a crucial game."
Matas Jogela, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius forward
"Playing in Istanbul is difficult for everyone because they have very good fans who create a strong atmosphere, so they play much better at home. We need to stay focused and united. It will be a tough game. We must withstand their physicality and execute our game plan."
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:00 CET)
Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach
"Hapoel Jerusalem is undoubtedly one of the best teams in our group. With the return of Smith, they are even stronger. Our opponents are playing very well again, as they demonstrated in their last game when they defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv, one of the strongest teams in the EuroCup. They are an experienced team that has been playing together for several years, which we could see and feel in our first encounter when they convincingly beat us on their home court. We’ve just come back from a challenging trip to Bulgaria, and on Tuesday, we will step on the court and try to give it our all."
Devin Robinson, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana forward
"A real battle awaits us in a game we must win. We have to give it everything we've got because our opponents defeated us on our home court, so we need to do everything we can to settle the score."
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. ratiopharm Ulm (20:00 CET)
Paolo Galbiati, Dolomiti Energia Trento head coach
"When I found out that Toto [Forray] would become the player with the most EuroCup appearances, several things came to mind. The first is definitely the memory of the amazing EuroCup season that Trento had in 2015-2016. The second is a thought about who Toto is and how I would like everyone to have the same mentality as him. I remember his beginnings when so many thought he would not make it, first in A2 then in the LBA and EuroCup. This record is one more medal that enriches an incredible career and shows how he has been able to exceed all expectations and how he has an incredible mentality. As for Ulm, they are an interesting team, with a well-defined playing philosophy, very talented youngsters and a lot of athletes around. I expect a great game, because they also play with a high tempo and love to run."
Toto Forray, Dolomiti Energia Trento guard
"To become the player with the most appearances in the EuroCup is an incredible achievement. Thinking back, I remember the first game, in Slovenia against Ljubljana: entering that arena was a unique feeling. I also remember the series against Milan, a team coming down from the EuroLeague, a very special moment. Over the years, the EuroCup has grown a lot, going up a level. We faced teams of the highest caliber like Paris, Bologna, Partizan, Lokomotiv Kuban, Valencia and many others. It has been a journey full of challenges and great emotions. Looking ahead to tomorrow's game, we have to do everything we can to win, not only to change our momentum, but also because we still have hopes of making it through the round, although we know it will not be easy. Playing at home will give us an extra factor in our favor, and we definitely want to bring home these two points."
