Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals
Semifinals, Game 1: Pregame quotes
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Tuesday, March 25: Game 1
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (18:00 CET)
Jaka Lakovic, Dreamland Gran Canaria head coach
"Tomorrow we face Bahcesehir in Istanbul in the EuroCup Semifinals. We face this semifinal series with a lot of enthusiasm, ambition and desire to compete. We are playing against a team that is structured both in terms of budget and players, with the goal of winning the competition and qualifying for the EuroLeague. It is a team that is built with players of great quality, talent, experience and physicality in every position. It is a team that plays very consistently throughout the season, and it is no coincidence that they were first in our group in the regular season. We have a very difficult, physical and demanding series ahead of us."
Mike Tobey, Dreamland Gran Canaria center
"It's a semifinal, so logically it's a super important game. They are a tough team, very physical. We've already fought them twice, so we know how good they are, but we're going to Turkiye to win. We want to reach the final, we want to win the title, so it's a very important game, but we'll be ready. The physical level will be very important. Being tough, playing our game... It's a semifinal, so obviously you have to score important shots, but defense and matching their physical intensity will be key."
Valencia Basket vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)
Valencia Basket head coach Pedro Martinez
"It's a great moment, the semifinal of a European competition. It is very difficult to get here. We have worked for many months, we have gone through all kinds of moments. The motivation and our hopes are very big. We live to play these games. The players are motivated. We are privileged to play these games, to have this pressure that we have: the fear of defeat, excitement for victory. We have all that before this game. We are going to enjoy it, we are going to fight, and hopefully we can win. I'm expecting a very tight series, it's going to be tremendous. If you had told me in preseason, when you see how the teams are, I think we were one of the favorites. We are not hiding, nor are we afraid or embarrassed to say it. Valencia is a team that has been playing EuroLeague in the last few seasons and we are one of the favorites. But Hapoel Tel Aviv was the other big favorite in the competition. When they put together their roster, when you see the players they signed and then they have reinforced very well during the year with [Marcus] Bingham, with the change of coach, a legend like [Dimitris] Itoudis. It's a very big matchup. It could have been in the final, but it's in the semifinal. It doesn't matter, you have to play against everyone. Whoever wins this series is not going to immediately be crowned the champion. Whoever it is will have to play in the EuroCup Finals. But it's a big tie. We have to be prepared to play against a great team that will make it very difficult for us, and we have to be in good spirits to get through it."
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach Dimitris Itoudis
"We take great pride in building, creating, and writing history for all Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, supporters, and, of course, the club itself. We know the challenge ahead won’t be easy, but we are here to embrace the tough moments. We will give everything we have on the court. Beating Valencia in a best-of-three series requires much more because they are an exceptional team. They excel at running the floor and scoring a variety of creative spot-up shots. Based on our analysis, they are the best team outside the NBA in terms of scoring, three-point shooting efficiency, and the ability to generate high-percentage three-point opportunities from their offensive play."
Bar Timor, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard
"We are extremely excited and happy to have reached this stage. Both teams have different playing styles. Valencia plays at a very fast pace and tries to control the tempo, so we have a lot to focus on in that aspect. We will prepare well, come ready, stick to our game plan, and I believe it will work."
