Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 22 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season
Pregame quotes, Round 22: 'Edy Tavares impacts everything, both defensively and offensively'
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Friday, January 16
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Valencia Basket (18:45 CET)
Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach
"We need to find a way to slow down Valencia, the fastest team in the EuroLeague. They're playing great basketball. Taking teams out of the games with activity with their speed. Then we need to understand how we're going to attack them on the offensive end."
Brandon Boston, Fenerbahce guard
"I think it's gonna be a good, hard-fought battle. I think we're gonna come in and try to execute what we've been executing all week."
Pedro Martinez, Valencia head coach
"In every game in this competition, and in the ACB too, we know we always have to prepare for very difficult games. Fenerbahçe is in very good form right now, playing very solidly in recent months. They are a team that plays very good basketball, with very good players, and we need to prepare for a very demanding game. To stay in the game, we have to play very well. They are very physically fit, they are a very well-trained team, with players who have a lot of experience in the competition, and their defense is excellent, but we also have to defend well, because not only are they a good defensive team, but they also have a lot of talent offensively. We're not going to focus on one or two players; they have a very good roster, and [Nando] De Colo is an important player, but we have to pay attention to everyone."
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (20:00 CET)
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Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona (20:45 CET)
Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach
"I want to emphasize that this is a difficult game against a great team, with great players and a great coach. It also has real importance in the standings, because the gap in the table is very small. Being able to go 2–0 against a close, direct rival would be extremely important – not necessarily mathematically decisive, but almost certainly relevant in the case of likely tie-break scenarios with many teams involved. So yes, we’re confident and satisfied.
"I think we’re doing quite well. Physically, the team is in good shape. Mentally, we’re very strong. Obviously, these are somewhat “island” games – games that begin and end on their own and carry weight by themselves, regardless of the rest of the schedule. We don’t ignore that. But overall, I think the team comes into the game in a good place.
"Yes, we absolutely have to take that into account [that Barcelona will have Dario Brizuela and Jan Vesely available, with both having missed the Spanish League matchup on January 4]. They’re two great players and potential difference-makers, without question."
Walter Tavares, Real Madrid center
"The team is feeling good. Our goal is to try to win as many games as we can to be up there in the standings. We know that the EuroLeague is very balanced and if a team slips, it will go down in the standings, so we are focused on playing hard to win games and be up there competing until the end of the season. The Clasicos we've played until now help us improve and see in which areas we can do things well. We have played against Barcelona recently and have another chance to do it again. I think this will give us a lot of confidence when it comes to knowing what to do in a difficult game."
Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach
"Yes, we’re doing well. We were able to get a little rest on Monday, which we hadn’t been able to do for a while, and now we’re ready to face this game and prepare for it step by step. We have practice today and another one tomorrow morning. Without a doubt, it’s a major challenge – going back there and winning twice in a row is very, very difficult [after winning in Madrid in the Spanish League on January 4] – but I think we’ll be ready to try. We know the extraordinary quality Real Madrid has and how tough it will be in the EuroLeague. What we can say for sure is that we’re going there to win. We’ll give it everything we’ve got. The whole 'one game at a time' cliché is something we truly believe in, and we’re going to continue in that vein.
"In theory, Real Madrid scores on everyone, so if you want to beat them, you have to play very well offensively. No matter how defensive you want to be, it’s very difficult, because their quality and their ability to score in both defended and less-defended situations is extremely high. They punish almost any mistake you make. So it feels like if we want to win, we’ll have to score – and do so efficiently on offense. But you never know. Sometimes games get bogged down because you have one bad quarter, and that alone brings the scoring down. Against Partizan at home we finished with 88 points because we scored only 13 in the first quarter. Once you have a quarter like that, you’re not getting to 90. It depends on things like that. Maybe there’s a quarter where neither team really gets going. But in general, it looks like the game should be in the 90–100 point range.
"[Edy] Tavares, [Facundo] Campazzo, [Mario] Hezonja and [Trey] Lyles all create so many mismatches that it’s hard to single out just one, but without a doubt Tavares is a player who impacts everything, both defensively and offensively. Him, Campazzo, and then Mario Hezonja along with Lyles are probably the four main scorers. But if you lose focus one day, [Theo] Maledon can hurt you, or [Sergio] Llull can come in and light it up, or any other player. We’re talking about a true top-tier team, a very deep roster, with all players fully usable – and, as far as I know, all healthy. So we have to be ready for anything. Still, Tavares is a game-changing player."
Jan Vesely, Barcelona center
"We’re feeling good. We had the whole week to prepare, and we were able to rest a little on Monday, so I think we’re ready. I’ve already played in a lot of these games, but it’s always special. It’s not just about the fact that I didn’t play in this particular one before [in the Spanish League on January 4] – this game is always motivating. Of course, it’s not easy. They’ve beaten us there many times, so we know we have work to do if we want to win there again. We have to stay focused for all 40 minutes and stick to the game plan. In the last game, the team showed that it’s doable. We stayed focused for the entire game."
Thursday, January 15
Dubai Basketball vs. Virtus Bologna (17:00 CET)
Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach
"Every game in the EuroLeague is very tough. [Virtus] is a team that is very disciplined, maybe the most disciplined team in the EuroLeague. They are playing good, very smart, using their weapons very well. We had a chance [to win] in Bologna, but unfortunately we couldn't do it. Now we are playing at home, it's a new game. We are going to give everything to win the game and stay on the path for the playoffs."
Davis Bertans, Dubai forward
"I think in the middle of the table, every game is as important as it gets. A big one. We need to win the game to give us a better chance for the playoffs. As always, we've got to limit turnovers, play aggressive, get back on defense, rebound. They're small, key things, and if we do that every night we'll give ourselves a chance to win."
Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach
"Difficult game against Dubai that is playing very well, especially at home, and for this game they will be all available. After a long travel, we have to be ready to play a game like this. Some of our players have to take more responsibility in a different position."
Daniel Hackett, Virtus guard
"Tomorrow we have an important game ahead of us, against an opponent that proved its worth both in the game played in Bologna and throughout the EuroLeague in general. They are a very strong and well-equipped team: they play physically, they play well and they play very well also in transition. We continue to face a bit of an emergency but we will do everything we can to play with our heads held high and try to win this game."
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (18:30 CET)
Pablo Laso, Efes head coach
"Baskonia is a classic EuroLeague team with a lot of experience and important players at almost every position. For example, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is playing at a very high level. They have excellent scorers, play an open style, and bring a lot of aggressiveness to the court. Right now, it’s important for us to focus on ourselves - being ready to play together as a team and grow. That’s the most important thing at this moment. Of course, we have great respect for Baskonia, but we have to show where we stand as a team. As a coach, this is how I view Thursday’s game: a great test for us to show what we want to be as a team."
Kai Jones, Efes center
"We have a great opportunity in this Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz game to execute our game plan and come together as a team to win the game."
Paolo Galbiati, Baskonia head coach
"[We will be without Markus] Howard, plus we have another situation to control. Efes is a very talented team. They probably won't have [Shane] Larkin, [Vincent] Poirier isn't 100%, but it's a team with players on the perimeter who are incredible. Saben Lee is a new addition, he's a player with a lot of quality. [Rodrigue] Beaubois, [Nick] Weiler-Babb, [PJ] Dozier. The big men are very athletic. It's a very complete team. But we have our own weapons, too."
Trent Forrest, Baskonia guard
"[We need to] be locked in to the game plan the coaches have for us, and go and play together. I feel like we definitely can do that. If we do those things, we can have a chance to win."
FC Bayern Munich vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19:30 CET)
Svetislav Pesic, Bayern head coach
"After injuries and some new signings, Panathinaikos has found their rhythm – and in this form, they are always favorites, whether at home or away. So, facing such a complete team, we are up against a very big challenge. But we want to deliver our best performance and then we’ll see if we can still win the game."
Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach
"Bayern has an experienced roster and an experienced head coach. He knows how to coach strong teams, and Bayern is playing better basketball. [Andreas] Obst is in excellent form, and especially at home, Bayern performs very well and scores a lot. We need to play solid defense and control the tempo of the game. Every game is a must-win because we want to finish in the best possible position. In the past, there were times when we won very difficult games that were not considered ‘must-win’, and other times when we lost games that we were expected to win. What matters in the end is to be in a good position, but of course, the more games you win, the better. The game against Bayern, like all the others, is one we want to win."
TJ Shorts, Panathinaikos guard
"We know the schedule that lies ahead of us. We cannot look back. There is no easy game in the EuroLeague. We have to approach each game individually. The next game is against Bayern, and our focus will be there. Our defense will be the key. We made an excellent defensive effort against Virtus. We know it will be an impressive arena, the SAP Garden. We must remain focused on defense."
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:05 CET)
Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach
“It’s a very tough game. Zalgiris is a team that knows exactly what it’s doing, with dominant big men — a very challenging matchup. We need to do something extraordinary to close the gap, and we have many difficult road games ahead. We saw Zalgiris win here against Hapoel Tel Aviv, so even home games are not easy. We will have to come in extremely well-prepared tactically.”
Jimmy Clark, Maccabi guard
"We just want to come in and bring the energy. We know the fans are going to bring the energy, so we're just ready to play together and get the dub. Coming into this game, we felt the momentum shift after a couple of wins in a row. We just want to get back in the win column. As long as we keep practicing hard, coming with the right game plan, right mindset, I feel like we'll do that."
Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach
"We played very poorly in the first game against Maccabi, and we hope this one will be much better. Nothing worked for us offensively—we missed a lot of shots. On defense, in the second quarter, we let Lonnie Walker get going, and he created separation. It was hard to rewatch that game. We expect a much better performance from our side."
Azuolas Tubelis, Zalgiris forward
"I remember that we couldn’t make shots, that Lonnie Walker had a really strong stretch and took over the game. I think since then both we and they have improved, so we’re expecting a very good game. Of course, every player and the coaching staff wants to win that second meeting—we don’t want to lose both games. “One of their leaders is Lonnie Walker. They also have a solid power forward who can defend against our guards—he’s very athletic. Their bigs are mobile—they can drive and shoot, so there will definitely be plenty to deal with."
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:30 CET)
Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach
"We expect a very tough game against a Red Star team with a lot of talent and depth. It will be important to stay consistent defensively, especially in the first few seconds of any possession, to avoid getting hurt against their transition game. Our goal is to extend our good run, and engaging our fans will be crucial to achieving this."
Armoni Brooks, Milan guard
"We want to ride our momentum and generate even more enthusiasm among our fans, as we did in the game against Efes. We know it will be a tough match-up, and the support of our fans will be a great help. For me, it's great to feel the confidence from the coaches and my teammates, but the key is to follow the game plan and play with a lot of patience."
Josh Nebo, Milan center
"It will be a tough game because they're coming off a couple of losses and will be hungry. We're coming off two wins, but we'll have to be just as hungry as they are and at least match their intensity. The Red Star roster is a talented one, so we will have to be ready for a battle with the goal of protecting our home court."
Sasa Obradovic, Crvena Zvezda head coach
"[The key is] defense. We can’t play below our standards. Those standards were giving us results. That has dropped off. I warned that we were struggling with a shortened rotation. The December–January period is the most demanding for some teams, especially if you’re rotating only eight or nine players—and we were in that situation for a long time. There’s no time for excuses anymore. From now on, every game is a playoff game for us."
Chima Moneke, Crvena Zvezda forward
"Nothing in the EuroLeague is easy, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to be men, grow up, move on to the next game, and play the right way. Milan is an excellent team—Zach LeDay is incredible, top five at his position. Shavon Shields is a player who isn’t talked about enough; he can score 20, 25, 30 points in any game. They have great players. On paper, they’re a very strong team, they’ve had some big wins, and we have to be ready for them."
Paris Basketball vs. AS Monaco (20:45 CET)
Kevarrius Hayes, Monaco center
"This year, we want to win everything, and we have to show that in every game—especially in matchups like this in the EuroLeague. Over time, we’ve managed to play together as a tight-knit group that really shares the ball, with a lot of trust in one another. We’re hungry, and the chemistry between us is coming together. That makes us want to accomplish something special this season. Paris is still playing with part of its identity from last season. There have been a lot of changes, and they’ve lost some shared experience, so there’s very little margin for error. As for what to do when Nadir [Hifi] gets hot—you let him have his moment, but you do everything you can to make him uncomfortable, force him to give up the ball, and create bad reads.
Wednesday, January 14
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (19:30 CET)
Joan Penarroya, Partizan head coach
"We need to put together a strong performance. Olympiacos has been one of the top teams in recent years, and this season they’re among the favorites to win the EuroLeague. They’re led by an excellent coach, have quality players, and they’re active on both ends of the floor. We’ll need to play at a very high level for all 40 minutes if we want to compete with them."
Cam Payne, Partizan guard
"I know they’re a very good team and that they’re playing really well. We’ll need to come out aggressive from the start and try to find a way to win the game."
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach
"Partizan are weakened based on their position in the standings; if you look at their roster and quality, you wonder how that’s possible. They are a team that shows it is not cohesive—when a situation develops that is not pleasant for them, they let it go. They have talent, a good coach, and the games are especially tough in Belgrade. We are not expecting anything different from a difficult match. I wouldn’t like to give a percentage regarding our level of readiness. Morris is absent and Jones cannot play in this game; the others are available. We have a good roster, Ward has returned, and McKissic is included in the squad. We are having good practices and playing well lately; if we continue our upward trajectory, we will be a tough opponent for anyone."
Evan Fournier, Olympiacos forward
"It’s never easy to play at Partizan’s home court. Last year, when I played there, it was the loudest arena I have ever played in. It was a very tough atmosphere and an intense game. We are expecting a difficult battle. They have made some changes and we’ll see."