Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 7 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.
Round 7: Pre-game quotes and injury reports
Straipsnis
7 Minutė skaityti
Tuesday, November 5
Trefl Sopot vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (19:00 CET)
Tarik Phillip, Trefl Sopot guard
"They're a very good team, they play hard. They shoot a lot of three-pointers, they get out and they run, and they're athletic. We've got to be on our game for them."
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Joventut Badalona (20:00 CET)
Andrea Pecchia, Dolomiti Energia Trento guard
"[Sunday night's win against Milan] was beautiful and I have to thank the fans because there was a wonderful atmosphere. A game like that gives you awareness that we are working in a certain way, but we know that we should not feel we have arrived because we beat Milan; the season is still long and we haven't done anything yet. Mentally, we are already thinking about Joventut because we know how important this game will be to try to reach the playoffs. They are a very physical team, but with the help of our fans we know we can do well."
Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach
"Trento are the leaders of the Italian League, they just beat Milan by 34 points and that is a reflection of the great level that exists in this EuroCup group. We're playing against teams that are beating EuroLeague teams. They have two Americans with a differential talent, Jordan Fort and Anthony Lamb, who can score, and young players with a special physical level and intensity. We have to play a great game and continue to improve. They play with a defense that is difficult for us to attack and we have to prepare ourselves not to lose fluidity and play the game of rebounding and contact to have a chance of winning. Trento has some peculiarities that will require us to have clairvoyance and find solutions to these traps that await us".
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (20:00 CET)
Stefanos Dedas, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach
"One more tough game in between travels and many games. Regardless of the changes and the upsets, inside the team we are working hard to set new roles and find chemistry at the same moment we need to win. Bahcesehir are a very good team with the same targets as us. Once more our desire must overcome the problems and get out there and fight till the last ball and try to get the win."
Tomer Ginat, Hapoel Shomo Tel Aviv forward
"We're coming into tomorrow's game against Bahcesehir after a few important wins that have given us confidence and momentum. The recent period has been challenging for us, but we've managed to come together and play solid basketball through hard work and unity. Tomorrow is another test for us, and we know it won't be easy against a quality team like Bahcesehir. However, we're determined to keep up the momentum, play smart, and give everything we have."
Wednesday, November 6
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (17:30 CET)
Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach
"We will play against a team that has talented players. They are having the results they are looking for, but we know how competitive they can be. From our point of view, we want to win and continue playing well in the EuroCup. We hope to return home with a victory. It will not be easy, but we will fight to get a win."
Karel Guzman, U-BT Cluj-Napoca forward
"It will be a hard game. Both teams have the same record and it will be a serious fight for the victory. We are motivated. We came to Turkey two days before the game, just to prepare and rest. We are ready to give everything and I hope our fans will support us from home and send us their energy, like always."
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (18:00 CET)
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Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (18:30 CET)
Devin Robinson, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana forward
"We are playing quite well in the EuroCup, at a high level. Every game is exciting because we face different teams from various countries who play at a top level. So far, we are playing well, and we want to keep winning to set a strong foundation for the rest of the season. A battle is ahead of us. We lost our last game in the EuroCup, so we want to get back to winning ways, and we’ll try to give our all and perform at a high level. JL Bourg is a tough opponent, and both teams have the same record of wins and losses. I’m looking forward to the game and hope our fans will join us in the arena."
Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach
"It is a club with EuroCup experience. Ljubljana is having a good start to the season, they are an aggressive team that likes to set the pace, so this will be another big game in perspective. We move there with determination and the desire to bounce back."
Kevin Kokila, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse center
"It’s an important game to get us back into the competition. After two defeats, the team is keen to start a positive dynamic with a victory against a great team. It's going to be complicated, but we're focused and ready to give everything."
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Valencia Basket (19:00 CET)
Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach
"Our opponent tomorrow is one of the best teams in the competition. This is a team whose roster, staffing, and style of play are very close to the EuroLeague level. They have great depth and experienced players. It’s certainly a big challenge for us, and we already stand to gain a lot regardless of the final result. We’re managing several issues; DeJulius recently left, and we’re dealing with Nolly's injury as well. In any case, as we always do, especially in front of our fans, we need to give 100% and see what we can achieve."
Nate Laszewski, Aris Midea Thessaloniki center
"Valencia is a very strong team. We need to stay focused on what we have to do to secure the win. Everyone supported me after my surgery and throughout my recovery. Now, I need to get back on the court, find my rhythm, and build chemistry with the rest of the team."
Pedro Martinez, Valencia Basket head coach
"The group is very affected, like everyone else, by what we are seeing. We all have someone close to us who has loved ones going through a hard time these days, so all our solidarity and affection go out to them. Now we have to get back to playing, and of course we would have preferred to do it under different circumstances, but we also believe it can be a good way to bring visibility to the name of Valencia everywhere, and to highlight the huge problem and the enormous work ahead. This won’t be solved in two weeks or a month; it’s going to require a lot of effort from many people. So, if we can help by playing the games we are asked to, to make the great problem we face more visible, and to try to adapt in whatever way we can, like the club is doing, then that’s what we’ll do. It affected us deeply to see, in the first few days, people who were affected and had taken shelter in L'Alqueria, now with soldiers. In some way, we have to try to see what each of us can do from our small space, so that this situation is made visible, and the help reaches where it needs to as soon as possible and in the most effective way."
Valencia injury report: Chris Jones (out, hand), Goran Filipovic (out, back), Ethan Happ (out, foot).
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)
Yonatan Alon, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem head coach
"Venice is an excellent team with many tools. We have a very limited roster, missing Harper, Nimrod Levi, Wiley, and Justin Smith. We'll need to give our best to make the most out of it, like we did last week, and hope for the best."
Yovel Zoosman, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem forward
"Everyone needs to do their best. It's no secret that we have a short roster, but that's no excuse. We need to work hard and try to win, doing everything possible under these circumstances. Some players are playing in positions that aren't theirs, but we're adapting to it. The most important thing right now is to keep winning and we want to continue the momentum we've built."
Injury report, Hapoel: Jared Harper is unavailable due to an eye injury.
Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach
"Every game is important. Both teams will be missing key players. It will be challenging because they are a strong team, but we want to go to Samokov with confidence and try to win. We aim to play better than we did in the game against Cluj-Napoca, with more focus and quality. Every victory helps to build confidence and group chemistry. Winning the way we did in Naples means a lot: we came back from 15 points down, just as Cluj-Napoca did to us, which shows we’ve learned a lot recently."
Rodney McGruder, Umana Reyer Venice guard
"We’re excited to head to Samokov to compete in an important game. We need to be ready since we're playing away against a strong team. I’m happy for the team that my last shot went in at Naples. We have a good group, and this win gives us even more confidence."
Injury report, Reyer: Xavier Munford (out, knee surgery), Tyler Ennis (out, knee sprain).
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. ratiopharm Ulm (19:45 CET)
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Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (21:00 CET)
Alessandro Magro, Wolves head coach
"We are ready for the game. It will be a very long trip to get there, but we are ready to play one of the best teams in the EuroCup. They won the trophy a few seasons ago but decided to stay in the tournament. They have a great coach, great players, and experienced veterans, but we are ready to face it. It's very exciting every time to try to check the level of our preparation and where we are in our journey when we face such a big team like Gran Canaria."
Vaidas Kariniauskas, Wolves guard
"We expect a very physical game with a lot of fast offense from the hosts. We’ll need to stop their attacks, play smart on defense, and avoid mistakes on offense as well. It’s also very important to keep their fans quiet because when they get going, it becomes extremely challenging for any team that plays there."
