Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 15 of the 2025-26 EuroCup season
Round 15: Pregame quotes
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Tuesday, January 20
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:30 CET)
Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija head coach
"This is an extremely important game in the fight for a high position in the EuroCup standings. Opposite us stands the tricky Cluj team, which is very high-quality and possesses enormous offensive potential. Russell is the true leader of the team, and recently their best player has been Creek; at the same time, they have added several tall players to their roster. In terms of defensive play, this will be an extremely difficult game for us. We must be prepared for all the challenges on the court. We had a day or two to prepare. Sunday was mainly dedicated to recovery, and Monday to game preparation and analysis of the opponents. We want support from the stands, we want to see a full Tivoli. Help from the stands will be more than necessary."
Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita Olimpija guard
"A tough game awaits us; we expect a high tempo on the court. Against Cluj, which is an excellent offensive team, we will have to focus on our defensive play. We will need to control the flow of the game so that they don’t ‘explode’ with too many points scored. They will certainly score, even in runs, but at those moments we must be ready and play smart. I remember coming to Tivoli for EuroLeague games, and it is pleasing that the arena remains active, also in the ABA League. I expect the fans to respond and come to support us, as we will need their help, even when things might not be working in the best way. In this respect, we rely on our fans."
Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach
"The trip to Ljubljana will be a challenging one. We are playing against a good team, which beat us in the first leg of this EuroCup group. For us, it is extremely important to have the right mindset and to go there thinking about winning and about putting in a very strong performance in terms of intensity and effort. We have no roster issues, everyone is fit, and we are optimistic about tomorrow’s game."
Patrick Richard, Cluj guard
"We have a very important stretch coming up. We have some big EuroCup games ahead against direct rivals, and our goal is to try to put ourselves in a position to finish in the top four. These are really big games, and this one is the first of that stretch, against a tough team that beat us at home the first time. We’re focused on playing our brand of basketball, going there, and doing everything in our power to get the win. We want to thank everyone for the continued support. We’ll be on the road for these upcoming games, but we feel the fans’ support, and we’re going to give everything we have to come away with these wins and put ourselves in a great position heading into the playoffs."
Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)
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NINERS Chemnitz vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:00 CET)
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Slask Wroclaw vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (19:00 CET)
Igor Milicic, Aris head coach
"We have an important game ahead of us. We need the win to keep our chances to qualify alive. To make that happen, we need to put a big effort, as Slask is a very good team. Maybe our opponent is low in the standings, but it has a good roster and has made some big wins. We need to show that we are improving, as we did in our last game for the Greek Cup, and be focused and determined, to get the rebounds and result we want."
Danilo Andjusic, Aris forward
"After our qualification to the Greek Cup’s Final 8, we have another important game. We want to do our best to qualify to EuroCup’s next round and to make that happen, the first step is to win tomorrow. We have to be very focused and show how much we want to win, because we are facing a dangerous opponent that has made a few surprises in our group. Being effective in defense and rebounding, and having the right choices in offense, are the keys to get the win against Slask."
Wednesday, January 21
Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)
Davide Dusmet, Trento assistant coach
"Lietkabelis represents a great opportunity for us to dive back into the competition, with a game that carries significant weight in our European journey. On Saturday we played a game that did not satisfy any of us, and we feel the need to respond, especially on the road, by showing greater cohesion and confidence in what we know how to do. We will face a physical team, with size and a clear playing identity, particularly on the offensive end. We will need to match their physicality and limit both their talented guards and their big men, who can make a difference around the basket. The importance of this game is clear, but our main focus is on finding answers within ourselves: how we help each other on the court, share common ideas and carry them through even during difficult moments. The team had a very good practice this morning and we are heading to Lithuania with a strong desire to step onto the court and show that we are not the team seen in Cremona."
Peyton Aldridge, Trento forward
"We are facing a very important game in Lithuania in order to achieve our goal, which is qualifying for the EuroCup Playoffs. We know it will be a different game compared to the first leg, which was very balanced in Trento. We will need to play our kind of basketball, based on pace and speed, do it together as a team and with a solid defense for all 40 minutes. Staying focused and being fully prepared will be crucial to reach our objective and close the regular season by securing a spot in the playoffs."
Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)
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Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:30 CET)
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Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:30 CET)
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London Lions vs. ratiopharm ulm (20:30 CET)
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BAXI Manresa vs. Neptunas Kleipeda (20:45 CET)
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