Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 16 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.
Round 16: Pregame quotes and injury reports
Article
4 Mins read
Wednesday, January 22
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (18:00 CET)
Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach
"We have absolutely to try to bounce back after the last two games we played. After the last game we had, we want to try to show ourselves and even our fans that we still believe, and we have the desire to reach the play-off. It will be a tough game against a very solid team. The game in Gran Canaria was great in order of the effort, the physicality, the defense, and we want to try to repeat that kind of game."
Jeffery Taylor, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius forward
"It's like a final for us. We really need to win that game. We have to approach it that way, be focused and follow our game plan. Like every other game, we're going to give it all we've got."
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Trefl Sopot (18:00 CET)
Nick Johnson, Trefl Sopot guard
"I've played them a lot myself, playing in Turkiye. They're a lot like Bahcesehir, which we played a little bit ago. Great team all around, we're going to have to do what we do as far as defending. I think you can see in the last couple of games we've been very physical. Obviously having new players is tough, but I think we're coming into our own, settling in, and meshing with the players we've got here. Just play a full game, full four quarters, and I think we can play with anybody."
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (18:45 CET)
Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach
"We are playing against Bahcesehir, the leader of our group, and they fully deserve that position. They play excellent basketball, have a strong roster, are well-coached, and have many experienced players at the EuroLeague and EuroCup levels. As for us, despite some injury issues and players being ill, we’re back on track. We bounced back in the last game (against Ramat Gan, the Israeli Cup), demonstrating character and composure while sticking to our plan. We know it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re focused on building character, developing habits, and building cooperation and good chemistry. Through this process, we are becoming a team that thrives on hustle, and that’s what should define us during this period."
Ish Wainright, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv forward
"We are facing a tough team that beat us the last time, and we must respect them. We will be locked in and ready to give it our best from the jump until the clock hits 0:0. We are confident and ready to compete."
ratiopharm Ulm vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (19:00 CET)
Ty Harrelson, ratiopharm Ulm head coach
"We have an extremely important game ahead of us. We have another chance to secure a playoff spot early. The boys will be ready to take the important step together with the fans behind them after we were unsuccessful twice recently."
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)
Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach
"We will first tackle Cedevita which is in great shape currently, but I think we have the weapons to fight against them. It will be a real fight because they play very physical, I hope we will use the confidence we gained during the road trip and the energy in the room."
Hugo Benitez, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse guard
"We know that the group is very tight, we have three games left against big teams, starting with Cedevita. It's going to be a very tough game physically, they have very talented players. We are therefore expecting a big game tomorrow, it is up to us to manage it well, if we want to win."
Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach
"JL Bourg is an excellent team, a finalist from last season, and they've shown strong performances this year, as we experienced firsthand when they defeated us in Ljubljana. Our Wednesday game holds great significance for both sides, and we expect our opponents to be highly motivated and eager for a win. This will be our fifth game in 10 days and our fourth consecutive road game, so we'll see what condition we're in. Regardless, we aim for another victory."
Jaka Blazic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard
"This will be the last of our four consecutive road games, this time in France. We need to continue with the same rhythm as in our previous games. After the Dubai game, we’ve had some time to prepare and recover. The game against JL Bourg is crucial in the playoff race, and we’re eager to step on the court."
Valencia Basket vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki (20:30 CET)
Pedro Martinez, Valencia Basket head coach
"We have to play a good game against a team that we miraculously beat on the road. It is the team that plays the hardest in our group, and I would say in the entire EuroCup. They play very aggressively in defense, it is the team that makes the most personal fouls in the competition. They are very aggressive, they create two-on-one situations, they put pressure on the entire court. We suffered a lot in [Thessaloniki]. We won because we are better, but it was not a comfortable match at any time. Let the past of that game help us to know that it is a team that made it very difficult for us. We don't have to think about the consequences of either winning or losing. We have to think about doing things well at minute 1, then at minute 2 and so on until minute 40. And if there is extra time, then until the game is over. What we have to do is prepare for difficulties and prepare for it to cost us. That's the best we can do. If it later costs you more or costs you less, you have prepare yourself for everything. And preparing for everything is not looking for what to do to be comfortable, but rather overcoming the discomfort that the rival is going to cause us for sure because they already did it [in the first game]."
Injury report: Brancou Badio will be out due to a severe right thigh bruise, while Ethan Happ is injured long-term, the club confirmed.
Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach
"We have the most difficult game of the season ahead, against the top ten of our group and the favorite to win the trophy. We had a difficult week and we have a crucial game ahead, for our domestic league. We have to match Valencia's energy and stop their high tempo, and play to the highest level possible in such a demanding game."
Umana Reyer Venice vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (20:45 CET)
Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach
"Hapoel is a very strong team, I was surprised by their defeat in the last game in the EuroCup. We are a completely different team from the first game, but they also added players. They are really strong and it will be very difficult, but we want to keep playing like we have been doing lately. We have to play with the same concentration we had for most of the game against Milan. We have won six of the last seven games; the game against Cluj-Napoca was an accident, we have to give credit to them, but we did not approach the game in the right way. Concentration will be our priority."
Carl Wheatle, Umana Reyer Venice guard
"For sure it will be a very important game for us, we know that at this point of the EuroCup every game becomes crucial for the future. Our goal is to qualify for the second phase, the playoffs, and we know that Jerusalem is in a similar situation to us, with one more win. So it will be a very intense game against a team that has a lot of points in their hands and very good scorers. We must always focus on our defense and try to be fluid in offense, moving the ball well like against Milan."
Injury report: Davide Moretti (low back pain), Davide Casarin (muscle soreness in the left calf) and Giga Janelidze (low back pain) are all out.
Tuesday, January 21
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:00 CET)
Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach
"We are in good shape and we want to continue playing better. We hope to show quality tomorrow night. We want the victory and we will play in front of our own fans. I hope we will have a packed gym, so fans will help us in the tough moments. We will play against a good team, with players that can make the difference. For example, [Anthony] Brown scored almost 40 points against us in the first game. We need to show team effort, especially in defense and not allow easy baskets. Having the support of our fans, I hope we can get a victory. "
Zavier Simpson, U-BT Cluj-Napoca guard
"Obviously we are playing against a really good team. They beat us last time, so it is a motivation to win. We want to execute our game plan, so we just want to come up, play hard and smart on both ends of the floor. We need to listen to our coach so we can be ready to win. I mean, I am trying to win every game. If my teammates trust me to score, I will score."
Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (19:30 CET)
Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach
"I expect a lot of energy from our side. The defeat in the first leg definitely hurt. We didn't start badly at all, but then had a break from which we never recovered. The team from Panevezys is very physical – not necessarily fast and athletic, but very strong. And they like to drag the game out into the half court. We have to stand up to that. We've stopped our opponents well in the last few games, but haven't been able to make enough use of our opportunities in offense. We definitely have to do better."
Joventut Badalona vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (20:30 CET)
Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach
"Tomorrow we have one final bullet. We must win all three games and focus on what depends on us. We are playing against a very competitive team that has been leading the Italian League. They are very physical and like to run a lot. We must give our all and be focused to be able to dominate and compete very well. We have to realize that tomorrow is a game we have to win because if we don't, our chances are over."
Jordan Ford, Dolomiti Energia Trento guard
"Tomorrow's game will be a good test for us. Winning on the road in the EuroCup is always complicated, but to succeed we will have to be determined both defensively and offensively. It will be crucial to share the ball, play together and move their defense. We know that Joventut has only one more win than us in the standings, and tomorrow's challenge offers us the opportunity to hook them up and keep our playoff hopes alive."
Joventut injury report: Miye Oni is questionable, while Miguel Allen is out.