Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 15 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season
Pregame quotes, Round 15: 'Games like this can change the course of a season'
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Friday, December 12
Dubai Basketball vs. FC Bayern Munich (17:00 CET)
Gordon Herbert, Bayern head coach
"Dubai has a very ambitious program and a very good team with a lot of individual talent. But it’s more about us — namely that we have to play better basketball as a team. We’ve maneuvered ourselves into a difficult situation in the EuroLeague. No one is going to help us get out of it; we have to help ourselves. I’m convinced we can do it, but to do so we have to be a team."
Niels Giffey, Bayern forward
"It’s important now that we work our way out of our slump in the EuroLeague. Dubai aren’t yet perfectly in rhythm either, but the quality is, of course, very high. It’s good that we arrived here two days earlier. But now we have to deliver."
AS Monaco vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (19:30 CET)
Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco head coach
"Since our two defeats in Belgrade, I really like the team's reaction. We showed character, we communicated well and trained hard to win three games in style. The next step for us is to remain consistent, both on the court and in our minds, forget about wins and losses, and always focus on the next game. The EuroLeague Championship Game is a game that belongs to the past. Win or lose, we have to live in the moment. The team is focused on this game against Fener, a very organized team with the best defense in the EuroLeague. We'll have to stick to the plan and put on a great show for our fans."
Alpha Diallo, Monaco forward
"The EuroLeague Championship Game should be nothing but motivation for us to give our best throughout the season. Fener is one of the strongest teams in the EuroLeague right now. We're focusing on ourselves to continue our winning streak. We want to keep up our momentum and get a big win at home. Fighting for every ball, rebounding, being skillful, defending and playing together—the coach puts us in the best position to perform and get the best out of ourselves in every game. Our offense has a lot of options, but our priority is defense and rebounding. The rest will follow from those efforts."
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach
"We are playing probably the best team right now in the EuroLeague. They're in great shape, scoring a lot of points in transition. Their guards are really good, playing at a high level, and obviously this is a team that's been together for five years already. They know each other by heart. It's the most difficult game of the season so far."
Tarik Biberovic, Fenerbahce forward
"We’re going to play one of the toughest games of the season. We’ll be facing a team made up of players who know each other very well. Their position in the standings shows how difficult a matchup this will be. We need to try to limit their guard play and stay committed to our game plan."
Virtus Bologna vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)
Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach
"One more game against a very strong team. It will be a very challenging game for us, especially about our 1v1 defense. Hapoel plays many iso situations and they have some players that played these situations very well. We have to demonstrate that we can play against this special characteristics."
Momo Diouf, Virtus center
"We have a very tough match ahead of us tomorrow, not least because Hapoel are top of the standings. They are a very complete team with lots of scorers. Our task will be to limit their players, play hard, with energy and as a team: that's what it will take to get the win."
Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach
"We play against a very competitive team. How difficult our task is to compete there is also confirmed by the fact that they haven't lost a single home game - they have six wins at home. Bologna is a team that has good athletes, experience, and youth. We'll need to compete at the highest level to match the energetic way they play the game and to stay focused and motivated for 40 minutes."
Collin Malcolm, Hapoel forward
"Bologna is a tough team. They have a strong home record, and I've played there before - the atmosphere is great and the fans are loud. It’s definitely a tough place to play. We must come out and match their energy right from the start. We can’t let them pull ahead early."
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:30 CET)
Mirko Ocokoljic, Partizan interim head coach
"We’ve had some issues, but I believe the remaining twelve players will be ready to go tomorrow. We’ve had a few days to prepare, and we know a very tough game is ahead of us. We’re well aware of how Crvena Zvezda plays and the quality they have. They’re very aggressive offensively, and they’re strong both on the perimeter and inside. The team has to be fully focused and motivated for all 40 minutes. We need to give everything we have, and then we’ll see how things look tomorrow."
Nick Calathes, Partizan guard
"I am really excited to play a game like this. Playing against rival teams always brings extra motivation, and I believe we are ready as a team. Hopefully, we can use the last two games as fuel and momentum for what lies ahead. I have been around for a long time, and games like this can change the course of a season, giving that extra push you need. I believe we are very excited and ready to show it on the court."
Sasa Obradovic, Crvena Zvezda head coach
"We had a good practice, but that doesn’t mean the game will be good. We also had a good practice before Barcelona, but we started off poorly. [Chima] Moneke’s injury might have been a bit exaggerated; I don’t think it’s that serious. He’ll be in contention for the roster — we’ll see if and how much he can play. The picture is definitely different when he’s in the lineup. [Ognjen] Dobrić has a back injury, and because of it he’ll miss the game. It’s improving, the pain is less, but he won’t be in the derby. [Uros] Plavšić is out. [Devonte'] Graham practiced normally the last two practices and will play. Yago [dos Santos] tried yesterday, he still has some problems, but he’ll be back in contention very soon. [Ebuka] Izundu is there and practiced normally."
Dejan Davidovac, Crvena Zvezda forward
"Every derby brings something of its own. We know how much it means to everyone here, and it’s the same this time. We’re playing in front of their fans, and I think home court is always an advantage, without shifting any pressure onto them. I’d give them a slight edge, but we’ll prepare."
FC Barcelona vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:30 CET)
Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach
"Olympiacos is a team that has been with their coach for a long time. They have a very defined DNA, they play from memory and the core of the team has been around for many years. It's a team that is able to run, but at the same time it's also able to play with very long possessions, and it makes many points in the last seconds of possession, and defensively, it's very well-armed, very well-positioned, they collapse the paint very well. It is a top EuroLeague team, with a roster that allows these important injuries of players that they have, a squad of 16-17 first-level players, and that will make a very difficult game here at home in Palau, without a doubt. We have to be positive, play together and be on the same page and then we will see what happens. We have to go for all. Barca can't afford with any of the sections or with the first team to never think you can't do it. You always have to think you can do it and you have to go for all and then time will tell or it will put us all in our place. But for now, we have to be positive. I am very happy with everyone, with the whole club. Everyone is very focused and I think we have laid the foundations of discipline, respect, work, enthusiasm that we needed to go the way I wanted. We are halfway there. We are missing a lot. I think we are missing a lot of things but we are going the right way. I think it is a team that is already running well in both transitions, a little bit better, which I think is a very important part of the game here. We have to improve a lot our defense in the last seconds, which is still bad, some situations in the game that we also have to improve. But we are going the right way, defensively. We are going faster, we are still a little bit disorganized in some moments, we have to be well organized to have better spaces and be more effective."
Tomas Satoransky, Barcelona guard
"It is a very important game, very difficult, against a team like Olympiacos, which has had this roster for the last few years, playing in their style, playing very physically, especially in defense, and with good mechanisms on offense. You can see they have a defined playing time and have practiced that together for a long time, and seeing the results in the last few years, it's a very demanding game for us. I think we are still in the process of learning and improving the things that Xavi [Pascual] is adding to our playing style, and of course, the games are coming, and everyone is preparing certain things. But I think this also shows that we have faith in that, that we are improving in this process, but I wouldn't say that we are in the best moment. There are many moments during the season, but what is true is that it will be a test, an important test against a team like this, which is also very solid throughout the game, and you can't allow yourself to have bad moments during the game. I'm basically the only player who had him [Xavi Pascual] as a coach, but I will also say something, it's been ten years since we have seen each other, and I think he has changed many things. He is still very detailed, very demanding, especially on the defensive side, I think we have seen these defenses, I think we are keeping our opponents at fewer points, and I don't think you have to ask for much, I think his practices are mainly a lot of concentration, you have to be very aware of what he asks from the start, and I think the players are doing very well."
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach
"We have to win. We have to play well against the way Barcelona attacks and defends. Xavi [Pascual]’s philosophy is to target each player individually, both defensively and offensively — meaning they attack specific weaknesses of the opponent. They go a lot into the post and into mismatches. We need to defend well there, we need to be physical as always. And overall, we need to show patience in our game. They are a very experienced team with players who know the EuroLeague, who have played many games and know how to manage situations. So we have to be more physical, play at a higher pace than them, and impose our own style of play."
Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos forward
"I think that this year Barcelona is a bit different from what we’ve been used to in recent years. They have very experienced players who know how to play the game. With the arrival of Coach Pascual, the whole dynamic has changed. I’m sure they really want this home game. They’re coming off an emphatic win against Crvena Zvezda, so it’s a very difficult match — a classic EuroLeague game — where, in order to win, you have to do everything perfectly."
Valencia Basket vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CET)
Pedro Martinez, Valencia head coach
"We are not taking anything for granted. Just because we have won the last few games does not mean we will win tomorrow. The fact that we have defended well in three games may be because the other team has been very poor, or you relax and defend worse in the next game. We're going to focus on tomorrow's game against a very good team, one of the top teams in the competition in terms of budget and the prestige of their players. We know they have important players out with injuries, but we have the utmost respect for them. We've seen them play in preparation for the game and they have an inside game that is very difficult to defend, especially with Osmani and Smits. Dessert too, but above all the Osmani-Smits duo is a problem for defenses. They are players who play differently from most teams in the league and it won't be easy for us to adapt to them. We're going to have to suffer in that adaptation, and I think tomorrow we're going to play against a team that can cause us difficulties defensively. So it could be the case that we come in feeling cocky, having defended well over the last month, and tomorrow these players, plus Cordinier and Weiler-Babb, who they have at point guard, mess us up. Maximum respect, this is the EuroLeague, there are no easy games, every game is very important and valuable, and we have to be at our best to give our best performance. We all have to prepare together for a very difficult game."
Radovan Trifunovic, Efes head coach
"We are playing against Valencia Basket, a team that has shown good quality this season. They are playing very good basketball so far. Their style is characterized by an up-tempo and transition-focused game. In the open court, they take a high volume of three-point shots and aggressively pursue offensive rebounds. It is crucial for us to slow them down. Our transition defense and controlling the defensive rebounds will be the foundation of our game plan. On offense, we need to be smart and play with clear purpose."
Rodrigue Beaubois, Efes guard
"We’re heading into a tough road game against Valencia Basket. We need to use the lessons learned from our previous games and be ready to give everything we have on Thursday."
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:30 CET)
Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach
"We're facing a complete, deep team, with a championship core, coached by a highly decorated coach. Our first priority will be to limit, as much as possible, the Panathinaikos most creative players: Shorts, Sloukas, and Nunn. To achieve this, we'll need the full support of our fans, who, as they did against Olympiacos, can give us the energy boost that is going to be required. We know we'll have to deal with an inconsistent roster because some players have played a lot, others are just returning from a period out, and others will be out altogether, but we'll try to overcome these challenges with our pace and pride."
Armoni Brooks, Milan guard
"Against such a great team, we'll need to be physically strong from the beginning. Panathinaikos is experienced, has won a lot, and can still win a lot. It will be crucial to keep them from getting into a rhythm early, set the tone, and work as a team on their one-on-one players, on isolation isolating plays. We'll need to defend hard and trust our teammates' to make sure their shots will be as hard as possible."
Leandro Bolmaro, Milan guard
"It'll be a tough game, we have a great deal of respect for Panathinaikos and we understand how good they are. We'll need to play with energy, patience, physicality, and help each other, especially on defense, because against their guards or the physicality of their big men, a team effort will be necessary."
Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach
"At this point, every game is difficult. There are no easy games in the EuroLeague. Milan has a very strong roster, one that can compete for the Final Four. They faced many injury problems, but in their most recent games almost everyone has returned. [Zach] LeDay, [Josh] Nebo, [Shavon] Shields, and I think [Marko] Guduric will also play against us. We have a good roster as well. We must play aggressively and play the right kind of basketball if we want to win. They are a very good team and they are in a good position in the standings."
Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Panathinaikos forward
"It was a special moment [making a record 12 threes in Greek League game], but we have to leave it behind because we have very important games coming up. Like the one against Milan, which for us is a must-win game. We’re going to Milan with that mentality, aiming to get the result. I definitely have good confidence, but every game is different and you always start from zero. So whether you played well or poorly, you have to reset and focus in order to perform in the next one."
Paris Basketball vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:45 CET)
Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach
"We’re going up against the fastest team in the EuroLeague. They play extremely quickly, and the main thing will be slowing down their transition offense and limiting their offensive rebounds. That’s where we need to start, and then we can dig deeper into the details. You could point to maybe three teams that play this style — Valencia, Baskonia — but Paris Basketball plays it the best. They want to play as fast as possible; this year they also want to pressure the ball after made baskets, they double-team, they make a lot of substitutions every few minutes… Energy, aggressiveness — that’s how they try to knock opponents out of their half-court game. They feel great in the open court, shoot whenever they see an opportunity, and everyone crashes the boards. That’s their trademark."
Real Madrid vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (21:00 CET)
Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach
"For this game, we all remember the game in Vitoria. We started with a solid game plan, with clear ideas, and we took an important lead. Then we lost our concentration and Baskonia brought out their best weapons: their pace and ability to attack the court with speed with players who are very good at handling and penetrating. In that game, they only had [Timothe] Luwawu-Cabarrot as a shooter, whose numbers in the last five games are impressive. Now they will have Markus Howard, who is a similar player. [Trent] Forrest's return is also a key factor; we remember the game he played."
Gaby Deck, Real Madrid forward
"They are a tough opponent who will try to win away from home, just as we do when we play on the road. We must try to do our job well, continue to improve day by day, as we are doing very well, and stay focused for the entire 40 minutes against an opponent we know very well."
Paolo Galbiati, Baskonia head coach
"Real Madrid is a powerhouse in Europe, with a great squad and a great coach, a legend. We have to play our style and try to impose it. They play with patience and we like to run. They play a lot at the low post, trying to make the most of their physical potential.