Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 12 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season
Pregame quotes, Round 12: 'Fenerbahce is the best defensive team in the EuroLeague'
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Friday, November 21, 2025
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Paris Basketball (20:15 CET)
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach
"First of all, we must not get carried away by Paris’s tempo, because the faster they play on offense, the more opportunities they give you to score as well. We’re talking about the top offense and the team with the best pace in the EuroLeague. Hifi is the league’s top scorer and he plays 21 minutes, during which he takes 19 shots. That gives an indication of how the team plays. They are the number one team in scoring from pick-and-roll handlers. We need to execute on offense with patience, not rush, and read exactly what they give and what they don’t. We explained this to the players. Obviously, we have to go after the rebounds. They press full court, and we must not let them get the ball in their hands. In our recent games, we’ve made quite a few turnovers, and we need to protect the ball if we want to execute well."
Evan Fournier, Olympiacos forward
"They present many challenges as a team. They have speed and rhythm. It will come down to desire. We have to control the tempo, move the ball, play our game, shoot, and play tough."
Virtus Bologna vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)
Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach
"Maccabi is a very strong team in every position. They are very good in transition and offensive rebound. We will need to be physically ready because I think the match could be decided in the paint. We have to run and fight for rebounds. They share the ball very good also."
Alessandro Pajola, Virtus guard
"We're expecting another tough game, as all EuroLeague games are, both at home and away. Maccabi is a talented team, and it will be crucial for us to maintain our concentration throughout the entire 40 minutes, especially on defense. We will definitely need to improve certain aspects of our game and be more consistent overall. We will be playing at home, so we are also counting on the support of our fans, as has always been the case so far this season."
Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach
“We’re heading into an away game against a team that’s very strong at home. We’ll need to raise our level of aggressiveness in an arena that’s not easy to play in. We’ll be without T.J Leaf, so everyone will need to give a little more on both ends of the court.”
Marcio Santos, Maccabi center
"We know that every EuroLeague game is tough. Every team is good, so we'll try to get the win and play our best basketball."
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CET)
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach
"We’re playing against the reigning European champions and that alone says enough about the challenge in front of us. They’ve built this year’s team to compete for the highest goals, and even though they didn’t start the season the way they wanted, they’ve been getting better and better. One of the main characteristics of their game is that they’re the best defensive team in the EuroLeague. The reason for that lies in the fact that their perimeter players are tall and can provide support to their inside players. Those are some of the things we’ve been preparing for throughout the week. We’ll need to play patiently, avoid falling into the trap of taking rushed shots, and find better solutions against their defensive adjustments. I hope we’ll reach the level required to play a good game."
Jabari Parker, Partizan forward
"We take it one game at a time. Tomorrow is very important, and we shouldn’t look too far down the line. We have to learn from our mistakes, but it’s a new day. A new day and a fresh start, and I believe we’re going to get back on track."
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach
"One of the most difficult road games, the atmosphere is the best in Europe and the people push their team. Partizan, after last game, will be very motivated and going to play very physical. We need to find ways to react to that and to especially understand the situations that they want to involve their best players."
Onuralp Bitim, Fenerbahce forward
"Another important game awaits us on our path toward our goals. As always, we will step onto the court aiming for the win. We know what to expect in Belgrade. We are preparing very well for a matchup against a great coach, a strong team, and an intense atmosphere. To return home with a victory, we must stay committed to our system and fight until the final second."
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:30 CET)
TJ Parker, Bayern assistant coach
"Baskonia often plays like a different team at Buesa, where they run the transition, the fast, Spanish game. We want to get them into the half court and defend intensely as a team, not only against Luwawu-Cabarrot, who is having an exceptional season, but also against the dangerous shooter Howard and their very athletic players like Diallo and Diop."
Valencia Basket vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (21:00 CET)
Pedro Martinez, Valencia head coach
"It's a very motivating game against a team that is on a very good run. I think they've won seven of their last eight in the EuroLeague, plus all the games they've won in their league, which is almost all of them. They're a team that has hit a very good run of form with the change of coach. And they're a very physical team, one of the best teams in the EuroLeague this season. Every team has its philosophy, and they have one that seems to work very well for them. I understand that there's a positive side to that. Players who play a lot of minutes in a row play with more confidence, they're more assured. We want our players to adapt to a different way of playing. I couldn't say which is better or worse. They're all good or they're all bad. It depends on the players, it depends on the teams, and it depends on the moment. We have to play our game, whatever they do, and we'll adapt, and they'll have to adapt to what we do."
Kameron Taylor, Valencia forward
"Every game in this competition is very difficult. We have to go out there focused and do what we always do against a very good team. I'm a little disappointed that I won't be able to see my friend Tyson Carter, but we're going to focus on the game."
Sasa Obradovic, Crvena Zvezda head coach
"Valencia is a team nobody wants to play against, no matter what moment they’re in. They have a deep roster and don’t depend on one or two players. With that style of play, everyone has problems. You simply don’t practice for it enough to be able to counter that kind of game. Last year it was even tougher because no one was adapted to that type of offense and defense, and now there are a few teams that play that way. For us, the most important thing is to recognize what we want to attack through pick-and-roll situations, and that’s not easy with players who just joined — new chemistry again, getting to know each other again. No matter how fluid and good it may look at certain stages, there are no guarantees, especially in these circumstances, because it’s not just about tactics but also about the physical condition. [Jordan] Nwora has been out, Chima [Moneke] similarly, but it’s important to have a sense of how much everyone needs to play."
Jordan Nwora, Crvena Zvezda forward
"I’m really excited. My teammates did a great job — the team stayed in form and kept winning. I had time to recover. Now I feel better, and I’m really excited to be coming back. We’re just taking it game by game, as if none of the previous games were played. Every game is equally important. It’s easy to stay grounded — we still haven’t accomplished anything; we have our goals ahead of us. Of course, it’s always nice to win, but we’re just following the flow of the games. We have a lot of talent on this team, and it depends on who gets going. The guys have their roles, and we just need to keep it that way. As for Valencia, they play really fast, and the key will be to slow them down and play good defense."
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. FC Barcelona (18:30 CET)
Igor Kokoskov, Efes head coach
"It’s an unwritten rule that when a team changes its coach, there's always an energy boost for that team with the new coach. They're going to be definitely motivated to play their best game. They have experienced players. We had three days to regroup ourselves. There are a lot of injuries that we're dealing with, but we have no excuse. Whatever we have, we have to use all our guys and everybody's got to be ready to play against a team who didn't win a lot of games. But we know they're dangerous, especially because they have a new coach and experience. They have those two things that we have to emphasize."
Cole Swider, Efes forward
"Barcelona is a great team, we are preparing for a team that is desperate as well. We are excited for the opportunity to play in front of our home fans once again against a great team. We’ll do our best to put on a great performance and come away with the win."
Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach
"Efes is a team with a very deep roster which has very important injuries, without a doubt, but even with that, the players they have are very good. We have to be focused and play very well to be able to win. It's a very dynamic team, and they also play a lot of minutes with two players who can play power forward and center [Ercan Osmani and Rolands Smits] which makes things more difficult. It is the kind of team that is not the one that best fits our characteristics. We have to play a very good game, and very balanced at both ends. And it won't be easy, because the players will give their all, but logically, there will be a new coach, and since they will give their all, there will also be a moment of pressure, because they will be able to show what they can so, and we need calm, tranquility in the most difficult moments. I'm very happy to be back in the EuroLeague, I feel like a EuroLeague coach, and not being there, for me, was complicated."
Dario Brizuela, Barcelona guard
"We are playing against a team that has a lot of talent and very mobile power forwards like Osmani and Smits, so in that sense they can make things complicated. We are talking about a very versatile team. As we did throughout the season, I think that being solid on defense is key, especially when you play on the road. If you go to a road game in the EuroLeague and you allow 100 points, you have great chances to lose. That will be the key, and then on offense, keep trying to be ourselves. Getting a road win in the EuroLeague is like winning twice because it is very difficult. In the situation we are in, it would be great to win. When you play for Barca, the goals are the highest ones, no matter who the coach or the players are. Xavi [Pascual] arrived here and has full confidence in our roster. He feels we can compete for everything and that is linked to how we felt since the first day of the season."
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Dubai Basketball (20:15 CET)
Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach
"We forget last week. Even if Dubai is a new team in the EuroLeague, they have very experienced players with great quality like [Filip] Petrusev, like [Aleksa] Avramovic, like Dwayne Bacon, who is very effective on offense. Kabengele is playing a very good season, he started the season very well. So we will be ready. Tough game, very important game. But of course we feel better than one week ago. Omer [Yurtseven] is still not healthy, I hope he will be 100% ready for the next game that we will play against Partizan on Tuesday. [The improvement in Panathinaikos's play has one easy answer:] Kenneth Faried! The answer is very simple. You cannot play basketball for 40 minutes without a real center. Tactically, you can play basketball for 10-15 minutes with the guards, with Mitoglou at the 5 like we played in previous years, but to play the whole game without a real center, it was impossible. For this reason, we lost these games at Red Star, at Bologna, so we had a lot of problems. Now with his contribution, the team found a balance and everybody's quality has shown on the court. In the team, if you miss something, it's a problem for all of the players. He has done a great job in the last two games, I hope he will continue like this."
TJ Shorts, Panathinaikos guard
"The energy is good. We had a good two days of practice after our off day. Now we just want to roll with the momentum we built over the last double week, with the tough win we had in the Greek League over Aris, and continue to push. When I'm able to contribute, it just boosts my confidence. I'm hoping to continue to just help the team find ways to be successful when I'm on the court and just continue to find my rhythm. It's still relatively early in the season, but it's getting into the more important part of the season, so you've got to bring your A game every night. The recipe is in the work we do every day; the way we practice, the way we communicate with each other, the energy we bring on the court, the energy the fans give us when we play at home. I don't have any secret recipe to win games, we've just got to go out there and do it. It helps a lot [having Kenneth Faried]. First of all defensively, just knowing that someone is behind you to be the last line of defense. It just makes everyone else who is on the ball be a little bit more confident, be a little more aggressive. He's been great since he got here. Offensively, a guy who can set screens, can dunk the ball, catch lobs, do a little bit of everything. For myself, it's been a big help to my game and he's been a big help to our team in general."
Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach
"They are playing great basketball the last 2-3 weeks with some new additions, with all the energy they have playing at home. Like every game, it's very important to stop their easy transition points, to be strong in our paint, to rebound the ball, and try to run and get as many easy points as we can. Of course, it's not going to be easy, they are one of the most talented teams in Europe and one of the favorites to win the EuroLeague, but it's a great challenge for us. You cannot stop them, but you need to try to limit them through teamwork. We need to work 40 minutes all together."
Dwayne Bacon, Dubai forward
"We've just got to play the right way and defend. They're a very tough team from top to bottom. They've been together for a couple of years, so they know how to play exactly with each other. Everybody knows their role well. When we look at them, it's definitely a point we're trying to get to, so we've just got to play solid. There's going to be ups and downs throughout the game, but you've got to keep fighting, keep playing, and we've got to defend for 40 minutes. Every game gives me a motivation. I'm happy to be back here, but I think everybody tries to overexaggerate when you play somewhere and you finally come back for the first time. I loved being in Greece, it's one of my favorite cities in Europe, probably my favorite place in Europe. I'm just excited to be here. It's going to be a tough game, I love tough games, so I'm just excited to play."
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)
Ettore Messina, Milan head coach
"We're facing a team with enormous talent and depth. We'll need to play a game based on courage, cohesion, and pace, while also counting on the support of our people in the stands. The key aspects for us will be defending the players who create scoring for Hapoel and controlling the rebounds."
Armoni Brooks, Milan guard
"Hapoel is a very talented team, with a Final Four-caliber roster. We're facing a tough game and executing our game plan will be crucial. We have some absences, but like we did against Olympiacos, we want to embrace the challenge, focusing on our depth because on this team, everyone has occasionally been able to step up when needed, and it doesn't depend on one or two players."
Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach
"They are coming in with four straight wins - very important wins - and they have the personnel to win games in a variety of ways. They can play small ball, they use different lineups, and they have great ball-creators. They use a lot of switches, and their bigs are experienced and athletic. Overall, Milan has a deep roster. I don’t know who will be available and who won’t, so we’re preparing for each and every one of them."
Collin Malcolm, Hapoel forward
"Every EuroLeague game is tough. Milano has some really good, experienced players. We just have to make sure we control the game at our pace."
Real Madrid vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:45 CET)
Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach
"I think we are facing one of the best teams in this first games in this EuroLeague season. Offensively, they are really good, with high shooting percentages and the ability to run the break, especially after forcing turnovers, which they know how to go They have the ability to play one-on-one, especially through Francisco and Lo. We have to keep having the ability of getting a lot of high-percentage shots like we did until now but obviously, trying to make them. That is what changes everything completely, even when it comes to being more fluid and having more space in the paint. We have to keep working to generate those shots and take them in practice to try to grow in that sense."
Usman Garuba, Real Madrid forward
"Zalgiris is a team that had a very good start of the season and is playing great games. They had a great start and it is going to be hard for us tomorrow, but we have to be ready. The team is ready to face this new challenge. I think this game is important in order to keep taking steps forward in the EuroLeague, which is what we all want, to keep improving. Defense has to be our main strength because if we play good defense, everything else will flow. We have to try to play great defense in this game to stop Zalgiris's game. This is a strong test at home and we have to try to add a win at Movistar Arena, always pushed by our fans. That would be very important for the whole team."
Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach
"The coach has changed, as have quite a few players. Now there is less freedom, with more play for shooters and those playing the 4, [Mario] Hezonja and [Trey] Lyles. The style has changed, but the athleticism and physicality remain. They want to run like a Spanish team, with [Facundo] Campazzo firing up the whole team. They have a lot of weapons. [Nigel Williams-Goss] has already been trying a bit, he tried yesterday, he will try today too. But he is not flying to Madrid yet. We are expecting him in the near future, because there are already positive developments."
Edgaras Ulanovas, Zalgiris forward
"After the trip to Dubai, this trip doesn't seem so difficult, even though the flight took four hours. We are most looking forward to the games. The training sessions were productive. Everything is fine. Of course, we lost Dovydas [Giedraitis], who was starting to get back into rhythm. We feel ready, and we'll see how it goes. [Trey Lyles] showed great talent, a very talented player on offense. He is tall and fights well for the ball. One of the tasks is to make the game difficult for him, not to let him get into it easily, too easily. Of course, some players may have more difficult shots because they can do so and play fast. It will definitely be a huge task to stop both Trey Lyles and the others."
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. AS Monaco (20:00 CET)
Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco head coach
"In the Euroleague, there are no easy games. ASVEL’s standings at the start of the season mean nothing to us; we’re approaching this game with a lot of focus and determination. We believe in ourselves and our strengths, and we’re ready for this game."
Nikola Mirotic, Monaco forward
"We’re coming to Villeurbanne to win. We’re having good practices, we know our strengths and weaknesses, and the team is still looking to improve. This is a point in the season where we need to take the next step. We still have room for improvement to achieve more consistency and regularity, which we’ve lacked since the start of the season."