Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 10 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.
Pre-game quotes hub: 'I grew up watching Shengelia'
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Friday, November 15
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (19:00 CET)
Andrea Trinchieri, Zalgiris Kaunas head coach
"We have very short time to find the energies and the way to play this game. The only thing that we want is to do better the things that we didn't do good enough in Paris. I believe that our defense made a lot of unnecessary mistakes, and on offense we were not disciplined enough. It's a very good opportunity to bounce back because we play against a big team, 45 hours after a tough loss. We have to go onto the court and play [at] the Zalgirio Arena the best possible game. The only God we have in this moment is time. I have the biggest respect for Saras. I've met him many times, he's one of the best in not only the tactics, in everything he does. He really takes the game to a different level, but I don't have much time to prepare for that."
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach
"Zalgiris is one of the most physical teams in the EuroLeague. We need to be ready for a very physical battle. We really need to understand the kind of intensity to win the game in Kaunas. Very different structure with the two classical centers and them trying to go to switch all defense and play differently. Obviously, the guard play that Zalgiris relies on a lot."
Sertac Sanli, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul center
"We've had a great run in the EuroLeague and started the double-week well. Now, we're heading into a very tough away game. Zalgiris Kaunas is a very strong team. They've recently strengthened their roster by adding a scorer like Lonnie Walker. They play solid defense and are particularly strong offensively in front of their home crowd. We need to maintain the same level of defense for all 40 minutes and make the right decisions on offense as well."
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:30 CET)
Coach Banchi, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach
"The arrival of the defending champions Panathinaikos imposes an additional effort, to bring our performance to the level of a team already capable of expressing its full potential. It will be our task to dictate the pace of the game, starting with a solid and careful defense, which will give impetus to a high-level game. A decisive aspect will also be how much we will be able to express in terms of quality and continuity, deserving the support of our crowd, which will play a decisive role in pushing our team to achieve this feat."
Achille Polonara, Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward
"Panathinaikos can count on one of the deepest rosters in the EuroLeague and on very talented players. We will have to try to limit their offense, they are a team that scores a lot and for that we will have to do a great job on defense and play like we did against Maccabi: aggressive, moving the ball well on offense, pushed by our crowd."
Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach
"It's a good team, Bologna. Especially when you play on the road, they have a very hot atmosphere [there]. They play with more confidence at home. We know that they won against Maccabi in their last game in Bologna. They have dangerous players like Clyburn, Cordinier, Zizic, so they are a very dangerous team. We must play road basketball. After the game, we didn't have a practice, so I don't know [if Sloukas is able to play], but we will see tonight in the practice. If he is good, he will contribute tomorrow, but of course he needs time to recover."
Juancho Hernangomez, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward
"It's going to be a tough game. Every team when they play at home is really, really tough. Last year we won [there] because Kendrick [Nunn] made the last shot, so we know it's going to be really, really hard. They've got really good players and a really good coach. It's going to be a battle. [Toko Shengelia] is one of the top players, he's been playing here for a lot of years. I respect him a lot, I like him a lot, I grew up watching him, I'm cool with him. Let's see. It's a team effort, it's a team matchup, too."
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CET)
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach
"Our practice between the two games was solely focused on reviewing some things we did last night and preparing for our next opponent. A major issue in our game is our lack of recognition when it’s the right moment to commit a foul, especially in situations when we're not in the bonus. Another aspect we tried to adjust, which gave us trouble in the last five minutes of the second quarter, was switching defense against Barcelona. As for Milan, they have some issues of their own. They play unconventionally, often with three power forwards and two point guards. Interestingly, this is now the second time we will face the team that has had an extra rest day in a double round week, which is not a small detail. I want to thank our fans, who kept cheering for the team despite a significant deficit. I also talked to the players about how crucial it is to understand the importance of our fans’ support and that we must always give our absolute best at every moment."
Sterling Brown, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard
"I expect us to win this game. There are still some things we need to work on and overall, we just have to play better. I’m looking forward to a great game with our fans behind us."
Ettore Messina, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan head coach
"As always, it is a huge honor for me to coach against a team led by Coach Obradovic. We know well how difficult the game will be in a very hot environment and a fan base who will be very supportive of its team. As Olimpia, we are close to the family of the fan that lost his life during the Barcelona game in Belgrade last night."
FC Barcelona vs. Paris Basketball (20:30 CET)
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Thursday, November 14
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (19:00 CET)
Oded Kattash, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach
"Olympiacos is a very different opponent, both offensively and defensively. They have a lot of size and have a lot of flow in their game. They have guards that defend well. We will try to make adjustments."
Rokas Jokubaitis, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard
"A double week, both games against Greek teams. We know that they are among the best in Europe. We expect, like always, a big fight, a tough game. They are a very good defensive team with a lot of talent on offense and defense. So we need to prepare for that and go to fight, like in every game. This season is maybe a little bit more tough, but it's not an excuse and we're playing every game to win the games and make our fans happy."
Wenyen Gabriel, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv center
"It's definitely another tough team. Every night is a tough night in the EuroLeague. We were definitely in that game [against Panathinaikos], we had a lead, but that's something we can learn from going on forward, and carry over some of the good things from last game and correct some of our mistakes. [Panathinaikos and Olympiacos] guard the pick and roll differently, so that's something we want to try to take advantage of in terms of their drop defense, or if they turn over to switching defense. That's something we didn't see much of last game, so might be a different game offensively. Also they have more bigs on this team, so they play a little different. They play a lot of off-ball actions as well, a lot of ball movement, less pick and roll game, so it's going to be a different game."
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach
"There are no easy games in Euroleague. And our responsibility as coaches is to convince our players that there are not going to be easy nights. Unfortunately, sometimes because of the back to back games, the body cannot follow the mind… It is going to be a tough game against Maccabi. They have a special style on offense. Panathinaikos faced yesterday many difficulties against them, till they make it. Whoever underestimate Maccabi will get it to trouble. We are aware that it will be a difficult game and that we need to play way better than we did against ASVEL, in order to get the win."
Alec Peters, Olympiacos Piraeus forward
"For sure we did not play well against ASVEL, but we cannot let this affect us. We have to be focused on the game against Maccabi and have a better approach on this game than we had in the previous one. They have a very strong perimeter and they are moving a lot, with and without the ball. For me the key point will be defense. If we play well on defense, then we can get the win."
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:00 CET)
Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade head coach
After the game with Monaco, we have a new challenge ahead of us. We are playing against a very good team, which, although it has four defeats behind it, showed how it can be dangerous against Olympiacos, but not only against Olympiacos. They have basketball players who can step up and score 30 points each. We have to be focused and follow the plan that we have envisioned. At the same time, we must not underestimate them, but must fight for every defense and every attack. The rhythm of the game is of great importance and it is important that we try to control it throughout the game."
Luka Mitrovic, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade forward
"The next game is in Lyon. We are not satisfied with one victory in France, we are in a good mood and full of confidence. We want to confirm the break from Monaco, but we know that we will play against good team in front of their fans. We will fight."
FC Bayern Munich vs. ALBA Berlin (20:30 CET)
Gordon Herbert, FC Bayern Munich head coach
"It’s the German derby, which is always special. Berlin is not at full strength and is going through a very tough phase, but they have recently shown great character and that they can win. We will need to step up again, especially on defense."
Andreas Obst, FC Bayern Munich guard
"We know that Alba never gives up; that was already the case in the BBL finals. So, in the second half of this double week, we need 40 minutes of energy, focus, and our team basketball again."
Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach
"Bayern is playing a good season both nationally and internationally. They have great individual quality, with Edwards in particular standing out as the EuroLeague top scorer. We have to play with the same intensity and attitude as against Milan, but in the end we'll have to see what we can achieve with our capacity. At the moment, we're not necessarily measuring ourselves by wins, but rather by our attitude and fighting spirit – if these two factors are right, it will have a positive impact on us."
Jonas Mattisseck, ALBA Berlin guard
"Of course we'll try to take the momentum from the last two games to the tough away duel in Munich. But we're also aware that keeping up the energy in such a phase is another matter. What's more, we don't have our fans behind us, who push us enormously at home and always help us to mobilize a few extra energy percentages. We have to build on the positive things we've achieved in the last few games.”
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)
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Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:45 CET)
Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach
“We know that when we have extra energy we play with more aggressiveness, we play better and that extra contribution is also given to us by the WiZink. Playing at home we feel more confident, although tomorrow we have a tough nut to crack with an Anadolu Efes side that has been able to win four games away from home this year on floors where we have not been able to do so, like Vitoria or Milan. It is true that at home they have lost three games, but away they are proving to be very consistent, very tough, and they are a great team with a very complete roster that knows what they play. Offensively, Anadolu Efes has some very good things and has a lot of resources. Beaubois is unstoppable if he gets hot and Thompson and Bryant generate a lot of plays. They also have players who finish very well from three-point range like Smits and Nwora, and Poirier and Oturu are centers capable of finishing what the others generate. It's a very complete team."
Walter Tavares, Real Madrid center
“We are feeling very good at WiZink Center. The first thing is always to protect our home floor, to try to win as many games as possible here because we know that it is very difficult to do so on the road. At the moment we are winning our home games with the support of our fans and that is very important. Anyway, we have to keep improving and now we face Anadolu Efes, a team that has a lot of offensive talent, plays very well and is always difficult. We will try to do our best to get another victory."
Tomislav Mijatovic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach
"We are entering the second game of the double game week in one of the more challenging courts against a very experienced team that has high potential individual performers. At the same time we need to continue to apply the same amount of aggressive defense trying to win the rebounding battle and use our full individual potential during the 40 minutes in order to reach our goal which is to win the game."
Vincent Poirier, Anadolu Efes Istanbul center
"Real Madrid is a dangerous team, especially at home and we know they have energy. They were struggling to win the last couple of games and we know they will come to compete at the maximum level. They are missing some important players and I think everybody will take a step forward and we will go there and play our game with our strength and do our best to win the game."
