Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 3 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season
Pregame quotes, Round 3: 'Zalgiris's guards are on another level'
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Friday, October 10
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (19:45 CEST)
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach
"Well, it's very, we're expecting a very physical game. Zvezda is a physical team that always plays hard. They, for sure, are going to want to take the first win of the season. We need to match that ambition. We are coming out of the EuroLeague loss ourselves, and we want to win at home.
Bonzie Colson, Fenerbahce forward
"Preparations are going well. Obviously, we've got to bounce back after our loss against Zagoras. Respect them as their opponent, respect their ball pressure, and just play our game on both sides of the floor. And, you know, defend our home court as best as possible."
(A message to the fans): "You know we appreciate you guys, we love you guys, we love to see you know, a sold-out game against Red Star, a tough opponent. You know we need your support. We love your support, and it gives us motivation during the game."
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Dubai Basketball (20:15 CEST)
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach
"Dubai is a team with great offensive talent but lacks the same level of commitment on defense. They are among the best in isolation plays and one-on-one situations in the half-court, and they play a different style of basketball than we do. We have to stay focused on our game plan and not get drawn into their up-and-down rhythm. Our approach must include solid defense, control of the tempo, and proper execution on both ends of the floor. It’s a tough game, especially since it’s our first at home. Unfortunately, we’re dealing with several issues. Walkup has suffered a gluteal hematoma and will be out for two to three weeks. McKissic and Evans are also unavailable, while Fournier will test himself today [Thursday], but it’s unlikely he’ll play. Donta Hall had a bout of food poisoning but will be available. Overall, we’re short-handed in the backcourt and will need to make up for it through team effort."
Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos forward
"It’s still very early in the season - it’s a marathon. No team is at 100% yet, but every win matters; it gives us confidence, momentum, and time to grow. Dubai is dangerous because they play without pressure. They have talent and personality, and they started the competition with a big win. With our fans behind us, we want to keep the Peace and Friendship Stadium unbeaten and stick to our plan to get the victory."
Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach
"Of course, it is going to be very hard. Olympiacos is one of the best teams in Europe in the last five years, with the same coach and just a few changes to built it up even better. They have very good discipline and are a very physical team. We need to answer to this by matching that. We have to be smart, not turn the ball over, close the rebounding, try to push the ball and to contain, and believe that we can maybe surprise them. Learning is in every game, in every practice. We need to stay together and don't give up. There will be good and bad moments but we can never give up. We need to stick to the game plan, and have discipline and physicality. They have a system and are very patient and disciplined. They are always to find the best solution on offense and are very smart on defense, with clear principles of what they are doing. It is not about individuals, Olympiacos is more or less everything about the team."
Klemen Prepelic, Dubai guard
"It is just the beginning of the season. We had a lot of new faces who have to fit it, click everybody together. I believe that if we manage to stay together, fight as one and enjoy playing basketball, we have good chances to get this victory on the road. First of all, we have to change our game plan. We have to follow the game plan that our coaching staff is giving us and obviously stick together: start with our defense, grab rebounds and score as many points as we can in transition because we know they are a strong defensive team. They have a good system that has been around for many years and we have to look our opportunities, especially in early offenses. We have to stay together defensively and rebounding is going to be the key."
FC Bayern Munich vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CEST)
Gordon Herbert, Bayern head coach
"Starting Friday, we’ll have four games in seven days, then comes the Cup game, and after that, another four games in seven days. That’s why I’m really pleased with how the team trains in the few sessions we can have, how professional they are and how mentally focused. But Zalgiris is a high-level team, they’re playing very well right now. Their guards are on another level, and their domestic players are also very strong. It will be a big challenge for us, but if we play as a team again, we can accomplish something."
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Bayern guard
"Zalgiris beat Monaco on the road and the reigning champion at home. We’re facing a tough task, but we’re really happy to play in the SAP Garden again in front of our fans. Hopefully, we can give them a great game and get another win."
FC Barcelona vs. Valencia Basket (20:30 CEST)
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Thursday, October 9
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CEST)
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach
"Efes has a great quality. Igor Kokoskov has returned to European basketball, and his signature is immediately visible in the way the team plays. You can see it both in their style of play and in the way he tries to turn every situation to his team’s advantage. They have very useful players - both in their starting five and coming off the bench. They also have the most efficient scorer at the moment, Jordan Loyd, as well as two big men with very different playing styles. These are all things we have analyzed and prepared for. Once again, I want to emphasize that we must stay focused until the very last minute, because those are the keys to the game if we want to win."
Sterling Brown, Partizan guard
"I expect it to be a good game for all 40 minutes. They’re going to come out and run their sets, they have some good veteran players, and we’re going to do the same. We’ve had a couple of good days of practice, so I feel like we’re well prepared. The new floor we’re playing on is really nice. Our game plan is to apply pressure on the defensive end, make it tough for their good shooters, and do our job to contain them. We need to make them play defense. Rebounding will be important, and on offense we’ll look to dictate and control the rhythm. As I said, they have some good scorers, so we need to focus on that a little more."
Igor Kokoskov, Efes head coach<br> "We are playing at one of the toughest places to play, it's obviously the Belgrade Arena. They have a great crowd, great fans, it’s really a difficult place to play. They have one of the best coaches in Europe. They have a deep roster, a lot of new names and they have some continuity, some guys stayed from last year. So we know it's going to be a very difficult game. But our main focus remains on ourselves. We’ve only played four games together so far, so we’re still a very new team. We’ll go through the reports, study the scouting, and of course talk about Partizan, but our priority is improving our own game. So we are gonna be focusing ourselves. At this point of the season, we are really mainly focusing on our own team."
Jordan Loyd, Efes guard
"Looking ahead to the game against Partizan, I think firstly, they’re a great, tough and a physical team. Playing in Belgrade, with the atmosphere their fans create, is something every hooper looks forward to. It’s always a fun atmosphere to be part of, and we’re really excited about that. They have great guards, strong wings and [Tyrique] Jones in the middle. They can show a lot of different schemes. So I think we just got to pay attention to our scouting, try to make their guards as uncomfortable as possible and take care of the rebounds. For us, the key is to go there with confidence. On the road, you have to believe in yourself if you want to get a big win. It’s a game everyone on our team looks forward to. My mindset is always the same, never too high, never too low. We just have to stay level headed in the atmosphere. And just no matter what happens in the game, just stay level. So we're excited and can't wait to get there."
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CEST)
Ettore Messina, Milan head coach
"The game is obviously tough against a Final Four team now featuring Nikola Mirotic: we will welcome him back with pleasure. Monaco is a team with enormous offensive potential. We will have to stay connected the entire game and stay organized on both ends of the floor. The first two games in Belgrade were both very good, but a step up and further growth is necessary to win our home opener."
Bryant Dunston, Milan center
"It is a good test for us against a Final Four team. They have been playing together, with the same core, for years and it shows on the court. They have a legendary player as a coach and the ability to score. It will be crucial for us to stop them from doing their things, so defense will be required. Our mentality is to keep everybody focused, never get excited after a win and never get too down after a loss. Whatever happens we need to move on, stay healthy and play together."
Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco head coach
"The start of the season has been tougher since the SuperCup, with two losses for us, apart from what we managed to do against Dubai. Like all Euroleague teams, we need time. We need to review our approach and our mindset, and that will be reflected in more successful starts to games and in developing a more precise, more intense game. When we are the best version of Monaco, we are a dangerous team."
Jaron Blossomgame, Monaco forward
"It's still very early in the season, the pieces of the puzzle are still coming together. We played a great game against Dubai, but our approach wasn't right against Chalon in the French League. In Milan, we want to find our best basketball, raise our level to where it should be. Milan is a very well-coached team with dangerous scorers. We'll have to be ready, especially on defense."
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:30 CEST)
Paolo Galbiati, Baskonia head coach
"They are a great team, because of the roster. When they start, they have [Kendrick] Nunn, [Jerian] Grant, [TJ] Shorts, [Kostas] Sloukas, I can mention all the players of the roster. It's a great team. And for us, it's a great opportunity. We have to play our style, we have to try to impose our pace and our spacing. Spacing will be crucial tomorrow against their bigger bodies. And again, on defense, we want to grow. We want to be more physical, more smart, more tactical, and try to erase the bad moments."
Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Panathinaikos forward
"It is a special game for me. I am playing against the team that helped me make my name in the EuroLeague and gave me the opportunity to compete at this level, for which I am grateful. I am looking forward to seeing them again in person, but for 40 minutes we will be opponents. I hope we can secure the victory, as it is a very important and also a dangerous game."
Paris Basketball vs. Virtus Bologna (20:45 CEST)
Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach
"It will be a difficult game because Paris are playing aggressively, with a lot of intensity, just like last year. They play a lot in transition and are very good at offensive rebounding. First of all, we will have to control the pace of the game."
Momo Diouf, Virtus center
"It will be an intense match, both physically and mentally. Paris is a team that runs a lot and manages every possession with energy. We will need clarity and patience on our part to try to win the game."
Real Madrid vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (21:00 CEST)
Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach
"We are looking to a demanding game against an opponent that is playing with a lot of efficiency. They beat Baskonia and were close to beat Valencia, which right now is a reference in Europe due to its quality of playing and performance. ASVEL is a very athletic team with a lot of shooters from different spots, and with key, experienced players. Obviously, all EuroLeague games are difficult and demanding, and the moment you don't think like that, this is when you set the basis to get a loss that you may regret at the end of the regular season. That's the idea, and we know that our emergency situation, in terms of physical problems, is there. It is about how bad injuries are, but the number of players that will not be available to play, so that is another reason to be focused, locked in and with the right mentality to play a high-level game."
Trey Lyles, Real Madrid forward
"We will play another intense EuroLeague game against a team with a lot of energy that comes off a very important victory. It will be a tough matchup in which, fortunately, we will have our fans behind us. I think we are improving, going in the right direction and learning a lot. We are a new team, there are many new players who arrived this season, but we are all adjusting and gelling well."
Wednesday, October 8
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:05 CEST)
Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach
"It’s a derby and the importance of this game touches on multiple areas. We’re in a good place, we started the season well, but we know that every game carries great significance for us, especially as we’re new to the EuroLeague. We’re playing against a very athletic team and facing a dangerous opponent - a team with great skills, size, shooters, pick-and-roll threats, and big guys. Overall, it’s a team that can really hurt you if you’re not fully aware or well prepared."
Elijah Bryant, Hapoel guard
"We’re excited about this upcoming game. Every game brings a different test to our team, and it’s another opportunity to get better and improve as a team. We’re looking forward to the fight."
Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach
"It’s a more historic day for Hapoel Tel Aviv than for us, and we will need to adapt ourselves to the event. We are coming after a loss that hurt us in terms of experience and aggressiveness. It is an important EuroLeague game, and so far we haven’t proven that we can play good basketball. We will need to come with more aggressiveness and commitment. We know how important this game is for the fans"
John DiBartolomeo, Maccabi guard
"We understand the meaning of this game, and the other players also understand the importance of the derby. It is hard to put into words how important it is, but we are ready and excited to be part of this history. We don’t need to let the pressure affect us, but rather let the excitement of this historic and important game lead us. We wanted to start the season better, but what’s important now is to win the derby, and that’s always our mindset in such a game."
Roman Sorkin, Maccabi forward
"They have a very good team, there’s no denying that. But in the end, the story is us. We want and do everything to come to every game and win. I think we are improving from game to game, people are fitting in, and even if it as not yet reflected in victories, it will come. This is not just another game for us. It doesn’t matter if it is the beginning, middle, or end of the season, we are coming to win."