Buducnost VOLI Podgorica playmaker Petar Popovic returns for his second blog entry this season. 

Petar Popovic, Buducnost: 'Every game is a key game for us'

A lot of things happened since the last time I blogged. Back then we were 2-1 in the EuroCup and now we are fighting for a playoff after a coaching change and adding new players to the roster. The EuroCup is really strong and unpredictable and all the teams can play and know how to play. Every game matters, as we say. So, it's been interesting. I see a lot of surprising results. It's nice to be part of the EuroCup and I think that this last part of the schedule is gonna be very interesting. Every win can bring you closer to the top or if you lose, closer to the bottom.

"It's nice to be part of the EuroCup and I think that this last part of the schedule is gonna be very interesting." 

We've had a lot of ups and downs. Going into the Round 11 game against Turk Telekom, we had three wins in a row in our two competitions (EuroCup and ABA League) and we felt that we had the momentum and that we were playing well. And then that game was really bad for us. It shook us. I don't know. We are going up and down this whole season so far. I don't know the reason, but the good thing is that we are still in the game. We have all the games that are left. We have some games at home that will be nice if we take the wins. But it's unpredictable. We realize how important those home losses against Aris and Turk Telekom were. So I'm really careful with any predictions. I'm just going one game at a time. Next is Cluj at home. So to be honest, I am only focusing on that game and I'm not looking any further than that.

Petar Popovic highlights from the first 12 rounds of the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Petar Popovic highlights

It will be nice to see my former teammate DJ Seely when Cluj comes. We played together here two seasons ago. That season, I knew that he was coming from EuroLeague and that he was a great player. But seeing that in practices and every day, him and his talent, was really amazing. First of all, he is a great guy. I really enjoyed the time I spent talking to him. He is funny. I remember him as a great guy. I was really happy when I saw him when we played in Romania. I think that he is a great scorer and a great passer. He is very talented. There are things that we have to do as a team to stop him and the other talented players that they have.

In the end, it's all about the team. There is no playing against one or two guys. We have to show up as a team, play offensively and defensively as a team, and try to play to our strengths to take that win. It's very important for us. Basically, every game is a key game for us. It will be in the future. I honestly expect a very tough game. They have a lot of guys that I know from before. Adam Mokoka and Bryce Jones played in the ABA League. I know how talented they are. I know that they have tempo and good rhythm in their game. They have Jarell Eddie, Stepanovic also played in the ABA League. So, they have a lot of talent on their side, but we also have a lot of talent in our team and I think we can put up a great fight and a great battle and I hope we come out as the winners.

"I hope to get those important wins that we need and to get a good spot in the playoffs."

The end of 2023 is almost here and that's a good time to make some wishes for the new year. Health is always number one. For our team, I hope to get those important wins that we need and to get a good spot in the playoffs in the EuroCup and to go as high as we can in ABA League. And that's it. At the end of the day, we all know that this is the game that we play and things outside of basketball are more important. But when you are into it and when you are working together every day, the job, the games, are important to us. So let's say in this professional part, I want us to get the wins that we need to go to the playoffs and then to see how far we can go. And all this, of course, one more time after health. Health, I think that's the start and base of every wish and everything in our life.

More on Petar Popovic

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica playmaker Petar Popovic returns for his second blog entry this season. Here's what he had to say:

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2023-12-27T18:00:00.000Z)

After becoming the first team to secure playoff qualification, Paris (11-1) will look to maintain its magnificent form with a visit from another ambitious and talented team, London (9-3).

Preview: Paris Basketball vs. London Lions

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-london-lions/U2023/125/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-prs-lli/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

It should be a high-scoring showdown with Paris leading the competition in scoring (99.5 points per game), while London is ranked third (92 ppg.). [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) was last week's hero for the English team with a late three-pointer to beat Prometey, while [T.J. Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) continued his magnificent season by taking the weekly MVP award in a crushing win over Hamburg. With both rosters loaded with scoring potential, this could be one of the best games of the season, and highly significant for playoff seedings.

[Paris Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/statistics/prs/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [London Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/london-lions/statistics/lli/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Tyson Ward vs. Sam Dekker: A matchup of do-it-all forwards

London Lions-Paris Basketball | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

After becoming the first team to secure playoff qualification, Paris Basketball (11-1) will look to maintain its magnificent form with a visit from another ambitious and talented team, the London Lions (9-3).

The latest chapter in the Paris-London rivalry is here

Paris Basketball v London Lions (2023-12-26T19:45:00.000Z)

After an upset loss last week against Lietkabelis, German champion ratiopharm Ulm (8-4) will look for a quick recovery against a Turk Telekom Ankara team (3-9) that is running out of time to push for the playoffs. 

Preview: ratiopharm Ulm vs. Turk Telekom Ankara

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-turk-telekom-ankara/U2023/128/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-ulm-ttk/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Teenage guard [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/) contributed to last week's loss by getting himself ejected with consecutive technical fouls and Ulm will need him on the court to lead an offense that has averaged 22.3 assists per game, third-best in the competition. Turk Telekom has [Tyrone Wallace](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrone-wallace/011925/) in superb form with 22 and 30 points in his last two games and will hope he can stay hot to inspire a vital road win.

[Ulm Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/statistics/ulm/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Turk Telekom Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/statistics/ttk/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Juan Nunez vs. Tyrone Wallace: Go-to guys in the backcourt

Turk Telekom Ankara-ratiopharm Ulm | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Ulm, Turk Telekom looking to bounce back

ratiopharm Ulm v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-12-26T18:30:00.000Z)

In a big battle for first place in Group B, red-hot Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (10-2) will look to make it seven wins in a row as it welcomes stuttering reigning champ Dreamland Gran Canaria (10-2), which has lost two in a row. 

Top spot in Group B is at stake when Bourg meets Gran Canaria

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-dreamland-gran-canaria/U2023/126/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-bou-can/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/axel-julien-bourg-the-biggest-match-of-the-eurocup-season/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The winner of this game will become the first team from Group B to qualify for the playoffs, while the losing side could potentially back in on Wednesday, depending on other results. A superb performance from [Isiaha Mike ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/isiaha-mike/011836/)(28 points, 8 rebounds) was the inspiration for Bourg's latest high-scoring triumph at Cluj, while Gran Canaria needs to rediscover its offensive production after being held to a season-low 76 points in last week's loss to Trento. Only [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/), with 17 points, was able to reach double digits in that game and he will be a key figure again as the Spanish team looks for a victory that would also secure head-to-head advantage in the race for the top spot in the group.

[Bourg Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/statistics/bou/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Gran Canaria Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/statistics/can/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Isiaha Mike vs. Nicolas Brussino: A showdown between tough versatile forwards 

Dreamland Gran Canaria-Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2023-12-26T18:30:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona (7-5) is aiming for a fifth straight win as it welcomes Umana Reyer Venice (4-8), which has been heading in the opposite direction by losing three in a row.

Preview: Joventut Badalona vs. Umana Reyer Venice

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/joventut-badalona-umana-reyer-venice/U2023/123/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-jov-vnc/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/neven-spahija-reyer-the-first-goal-or-us-is-to-play-40-minutes/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

With [Guillem Vives injured](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventuts-guillem-vives-sidelined-with-broken-finger/), Joventut will need [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/) to repeat his superb performance (18 points and 10 assists) that masterminded last week's win against Wolves. Reyer has already beaten the Spanish team once this season, 79-64 in Round 4, behind 24 points from [Marco Spissu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marco-spissu/004381/), and will need a similarly strong defensive effort to reignite its playoff ambitions this week. But that will require a big change in recent form after allowing 95, 100 and 100 points in its last three losses.

[Joventut Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/statistics/jov/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Reyer Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/statistics/vnc/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Pau Ribas vs. Maco Spissu: Experienced playmakers set to square off

Umana Reyer Venice-Joventut Badalona | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Red-hot Joventut hosts slumping Reyer 

Joventut Badalona v Umana Reyer Venice (2023-12-26T19:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (7-5) will look to take a big step toward playoff qualification against a Wolves Vilnius (4-7) team that desperately needs to arrest a four-game losing streak. 

Besiktas seeks home revenge against Wolves

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul-wolves-vilnius/U2023/122/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-bes-wol/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The Turkish team got back to winning ways last week with a vital victory, 83-88, at Cedevita, thanks to [Angel Delgado](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/angel-delgado/012647/) making a big-time return to form with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Wolves took an exciting win, 90-88, when the teams met earlier in the season and will look for [Tre'Shawn Thurman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tre-shawn-thurman/012577/) to repeat his heroics from that night after netting 31 points, including the winning basket, on 12-of-15 field goal shooting.

[Besiktas Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/statistics/bes/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Wolves Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/statistics/wol/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Angel Delgado vs. Christian Mekowulu: Keep an eye under the baskets on Wednesday to see which of these two power players prevails.

Wolves Vilnius-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul v Wolves Vilnius (2023-12-27T17:00:00.000Z)

A key battle in the playoff race will see Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (5-7) host U-BT Cluj-Napoca (8-4), which has lost two out of the last three but can still take a major step toward qualification with a road win.

Buducnost hopes to protect home floor with Cluj in town

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/buducnost-voli-podgorica-u-bt-cluj-napoca/U2023/130/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-bud-clu/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-prequotes-bud-clu/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Buducnost is locked in a four-way tie for fifth place after winning two of its last three, with 17 points and 5 assists from recent signing [Yogi Ferrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yogi-ferrell/011281/) proving crucial in last week's narrow win at Slask. He faces a key battle with Cluj's key backcourt man [DJ Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/), while Buducnost will also be wary of big man [Andrija Stipanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/andrija-stipanovic/005113/) after he netted 18 points in Cluj's comfortable Round 4 victory between the teams.

[Buducnost Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/statistics/bud/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Cluj-Napoca Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/statistics/clu/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

McKinley Wright vs. Dennis Seeley: There will be a scoring battle between two perimeter players in a critical battle for both teams on Wednesday.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Prometey Slobozhanske (6-6) is aiming to bounce back from last week's heartbreaking loss in London and protect its precarious position in the playoff zone with a visit from Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (0-12), the competition's only winless team. 

Playoff hopeful Prometey welcomes winless Cedevita

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/prometey-slobozhanske-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2023/121/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-pmt-ced/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ronen-ginzburg-prometey-we-need-to-come-ready/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Prometey is the league's second-best offensive-rebounding team, averaging 12.9 per night - with 3.3 of those coming from the irrepressible [Ondrej Balvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ondrej-balvin/002644/). But Cedevita protects its backboard very well, claiming 27.6 defensive rebounds per game, and [Karlo Matkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karlo-matkovic/009395/) (12.8 ppg., 6.6 rpg.) will do his best to control Balvin's influence in the paint.

[Prometey Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/statistics/pmt/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Cedevita Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/statistics/lju/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Ondrej Balvin vs. Karlo Matkovic: The battle for this Wednesday's win will revolve around these two very productive big men. 

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Prometey Slobozhanske | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Prometey Slobozhanske v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2023-12-27T17:00:00.000Z)

After winning its last two games to boost its playoff hopes, Aris Midea Thessaloniki (5-7) will look to continue its resurgence with a visit from Slask Wroclaw (1-11), which is in danger of imminent elimination from the race to prolong its season.

Aris aims to keep surging vs. last-placed Slask

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/aris-midea-thessaloniki-slask-wroclaw/U2023/129/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs13-game-notes-facts-ari-wro/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/lefteris-bochoridis-we-want-to-continue-our-streak/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Aris has the competition's worst-performing offense, averaging only 71.8 points per game, but also the best defense with an average of just 74.8 points allowed. So Slask big man [Dusan Miletic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/) will struggle to maintain his average of 13.9 points per game, while Aris hopes guard [Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/) can continue his outstanding form after scoring at least 15 points in each of the last five games.

[Aris Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/statistics/ari/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Slask Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/slask-wroclaw/statistics/wro/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Silvio De Sousa vs. Dusan Miletic: These two big men will stage a pivotal battle in the paint for Wednesday's game.

Slask Wroclaw-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup   

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Slask Wroclaw (2023-12-27T18:00:00.000Z)