Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of the BKT EuroCup Round 6, and who might be missing in action.
Round 6: Pre-game quotes and injury reports
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7 Mins read
Wednesday, October 30
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Trefl Sopot (17:00 CEST)
Andy Van Vliet, Trefl Sopot forward
"A really talented team. A good team, physical team. They are doing really well in the EuroCup, obviously, they are first in our group right now so it will be a good game for us. We've been close to winning a game five times, so we are going the with the intention to steal one. They are a great team, great players. A great Polish player in Mateusz Ponitka, I am excited to face him, as well."
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Umana Reyer Venice (18:00 CEST)
Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach
"It will be a challenge, just like every game we play in the EuroCup. We will play against a team that has great tradition and is considered to be one of the best in Italy. Anyway, we only think about how to win this game. We have been practicing hard and we want the victory. Both teams have the same record, so it will be an important game. We are ready!"
Zach Hankins, U-BT Cluj-Napoca center
"Venice is a really good team and it is a new challenge for us. We are doing a better job as a team in general in terms of finding our own identity and following the coach's way of playing. It has been paying off and we got some good bigs in the paint and good guards that can make plays. I think everybody is excited to win at home. We want to show that we are continuing to improve."
Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach
"We want to progress step by step, especially with the return of injured players. We’re playing against Cluj-Napoca, and it will be very tough because they’re a team that’s improving game by game and has proven its worth in the last two matches. They have become a top-level European team, very well-coached. We’ll be playing in a beautiful venue with 8,000 fans, and we expect a great atmosphere. But we’re focused on our basketball and on the work we need to do."
Juan Fernandez, Umana Reyer Venice guard
"It’s a great challenge that I believe comes at the right time for us. We’re working to find our true identity after a difficult start to the season with many injuries, as everyone knows. We’re focused and want to play a good game. Personally, I feel good, and I’m doing my best to help the team on and off the court, trying to add value. We want to reach our best form as soon as possible."
Injury report, Cluj: Patrick Richard is OUT long term after breaking his forearm in Round 5.
Injury report, Reyer: Xavier Munford (surgery following cartilage injury in his right knee) is out.
Tyler Ennis (recovering from a sprained right knee) is a game-time decision.
Jordan Parks (recovering from a muscle injury in the right groin area) is a game-time decision.
Giga Janelidze (personal reasons) is out.
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (18:30 CEST)
Djordje Adzic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana assistant coach
"We’re hosting the Hapoel Jerusalem team, which certainly deserves respect as they play very well on the road and are still unbeaten on away court. Our opponents are led by an excellent backcourt pair, especially Jared Harper, who is currently the most effective player in the EuroCup and the top scorer of the competition. Alongside him are many other very good players, and it will be a big test for us to try to stop them as a team. It’s important that we have good defensive transitions and stop their fast breaks and offensive rebounds. At the same time, we must adapt well to their defense. We hope to see as many fans as possible in Stozice, and I invite them to come to the game. Their support is very important. In our last [domestic league] game against Buducnost, the result didn’t turn out as we wanted, but we felt their energy, which is always needed, and it’s our job to earn their support."
Gregor Glas, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana forward
"We have a tough game ahead against a very dangerous team. Hapoel has the top scorer in the EuroCup, so we’re definitely facing a difficult task. Our opponents also play very well away from home, as they are still unbeaten on the road. Over the last two days, we’ve given it our all to prepare as best as possible for the game, and I hope that, with the help of our fans, we’ll get a new victory and continue our strong performances in the EuroCup."
Injury report: Head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic is a game-day decision as he is recovering from a surgery, Bynton Lamar is OUT, Bine Prepelic is OUT.
Yonatan Alon, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem head coach
"On one hand, we’re coming off a good game but still need to stabilize our performance and look better. On the other hand, we're dealing with two very significant injuries that will force us to change the way we play. We won't be playing our usual basketball, but I hope we can make the best of what we have."
Chris Johnson, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem player
"The fact that we're missing three key players in the frontcourt will require each of us to give more and sacrifice for the team, but that's our greatest strength—we’re a team that plays for each other. If we stay together, we can give ourselves a chance to win."
Injury report: Nimrod Levi OUT (ankle), Austin Wiley OUT (palm), Justin Smith OUT (knee)
ratiopharm Ulm vs Dolomiti Energia Trento (19:00 CEST)
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Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (19:00 CEST)
Stefanos Dedas, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach
"One more important game ahead of us against Buducnost. A very good team, very experienced team. On our side, we have good psychology and confidence after last night’s win. Of course, we must approach it with desire. I expect my players to respond after the previous result in the EuroCup, win this game, and stay on top of the group."
Bar Timor, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv forward
"This is an important test for us against a strong, experienced opponent. We need to stay focused, play our game, and keep a high tempo. Each of us knows exactly what it takes to walk away with the win. We’re coming prepared to hold the place we deserve."
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs Aris Midea Thessaloniki (19:30 CEST)
Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach
"It's a club that we know well and with a new team. It's a very physical team that plays hard and puts on a solid game, and that we'll have to watch out for."
Adrian Nelson, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse player
"It will be a competitive game and no game is easy, they will come to win, just like us. They have a good team, we will have to stay sharpen, but it will be a great game."
Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach
"We play against a very well coached team with quality in both ends. They like to play in very fast pace and definitely the control of the tempo will be very important. We should take care of our defensive rebounding and be ready to make the best decisions offensively against their aggressive defense."
Manos Chatzidakis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki center
"We have a difficult game ahead, facing JL Bourg on the road. Our opponent reached the finals last season and now has a record of 4-1, which proves its quality. From our side, we showed improvement in the last games and we want to continue this way. To stay competitive and claim the win, we must be focused and aggressive for 40 minutes and control the athleticism and the offensive ability of our opponent."
Valencia Basket vs 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (suspended)
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Tuesday, October 29
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (18:00 CEST)
Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach
"It will be a tough game. We had won the last two on the road, and we have the will and the desire to try to win at home in front of our fans. Besiktas is a very aggressive team, well coached. I respect Dusan Alimpijevic’s job and what he has done so far in the last few years. That will be another big test in the EuroCup for us."
Tre'Shawn Thurman, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius forward
"We have to come out and play physically and have great attention to detail. It’s two games in three days for us, so we know we're not going to have a lot of time to focus on this team as much as we want to. So we have to have high communication, simplify things and understand that we want to get better every game."
Veolia Towers Hamburg vs Turk Telekom Ankara (19:30 CEST)
Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach
"We're coming from an opponent with incredible quality in the squad. While we've been missing three nominal starters for weeks, Turk Telekom has eleven players of this quality. They always have players on the court who can create their own shot, are very strong in one-on-one situations and are physically among the best in Europe. Ismet Akpinar, for example, was a big figure in the German national team not so long ago. In Ankara he has had a reduced role so far. But it's precisely this concentrated quality that we want to face, we want to play against the best. That's a privilege for us. And at the same time, of course, a huge challenge. An even bigger one because we've been missing a few players in recent weeks. We have to make up for that with commitment, energy and a team performance."
Joventut Badalona vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (20:30 CEST)
Dani Miret, Jovenut Badalona head coach
"We have two players out in the same position and that has made it necessary to have the opportunity to play with Yannick Kraag as a four, and play with two fives. We are in a moment of building and we are all looking for solutions. Gran Canaria has been at a great level for many years, with a base of players that work for them and that are super competitive and very solid. They will force us to attack very well, we have to know how to find our priorities and the best offensive options. We must play a very good game against them to be competitive, get a victory and get to an even record in the EuroCup. We must be aware that we are building, but every competitive moment is very important and we must play a good level of basketball and a good level as a team to be able to grow and be the team we want to be."
Injury report, Joventut: Miguel Allen is OUT while recovering from back surgery; Michael Ruzic is OUT as he will undergo surgery for a right thumb injury.