Partizan (15-18) will look for the victory it needs to have any chance of qualifying for postseason action with a visit from Valencia (14-19), whose chances for the postseason were lost last week, resulting in the departure of head coach Alex Mumbru.
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan: 'They will have great motivation'
Seasons
3 Minute de lecture
Regular Season
Round 34 of 34
Group Regular Season
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The Spanish team will be led by new coach Albert Oliver. Valencia suffered a 67-72 home loss to Partizan earlier in the season. Kevin Punter inspired that triumph with 13 points and 9 rebounds, and he has struck top form with an average of 17 points in the last four games. The Serbian team will also look for another strong performance from James Nunnally, who shrugged off indifferent recent form by recording 19 points in last week's win at ALBA. Valencia's best chance of success lies with Chris Jones, the only player with double digits PIR in Round 33's humbling defeat to ASVEL.
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach
"We are playing a game in front of our fans, more precisely the last round of the regular season of the EuroLeague. We want to thank them once again for everything they have done this year for us. They created an incredible atmosphere that everyone recognized. We were preparing to play a really good game tomorrow. As for Valencia, they changed their coach after the match against ASVEL and played an excellent game in the Spanish championship. Apparently, the change pleased the players. As always, it's the players who show that it's not about them, but it's about someone else. I have no doubt that they will have great motivation to play here in the best possible way. We know everything about Valencia, things that are known from before. First of all, they have quality in their guards, and they play aggressively. In the first part of the season, we had an answer to their aggressiveness, I hope we will repeat it in tomorrow's game."
Xavi Albert, Valencia head coach
"It's the last game of the EuroLeague regular season and even if there's nothing at stake for us, it's an important game for us and I told that to my players. We want to keep on building the team we want to be at the end of the season. I can't wait to make my debut in the EuroLeague."
Alen Smailagic, Partizan player
"We are preparing to play well and win the game tomorrow. This is our job and regardless of what happens today and tomorrow, we definitely have to be ready for the playoffs of the ABA League and try to win it."
Chris Jones, Valencia player
"It's a good moment to face Partizan. The loss against ASVEL was very disappointing, but I think we recovered from that and we are ready for Partizan. It's a good moment to show that we belong in the EuroLeague."