Reaction was swift from the clubs chosen in the 7DAYS EuroCup draw for the 2021-22 regular season on Friday in Barcelona, Spain.
Post-draw comments: Group A
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Reaction was swift from the clubs chosen in the 7DAYS EuroCup draw for the 2021-22 regular season on Friday in Barcelona, Spain. See what the representatives from the teams in Group A had to say about the upcoming challenge!
Zoran Savic, Sports Director, Partizan NIS Belgrade
"Of course, this is a very difficult draw, two groups that are very similar, but the most important thing in each of them is to get the home-court advantage in the future. It's very difficult because you need to be ready to compete from the very first game. I hope that we can finish first or second in our group to have that home-court advantage in later, very important games, because they will be just one game and every one of them will be life or death."
Zeljko Obradovic, Head Coach, Partizan NIS Belgrade:
"I hope our fans will recognize the strength of these opponents and come to support us. I think it is the most important we construct our team and start training, maybe little earlier than usual, because everything is new for us and the season will be tough against opponent we need to respect. But there is no doubt, we will enter the EuroCup this season with the highest ambitions. Because of the competition, it is important to have good training camp, we hope all the players will be healthy, and we be ready to be at the highest level from the start, so we play the EuroCup the way we desire and end up where we want to be next season."
Jordi Marti, Sports Director, Joventut Badalona
"All the teams in our group are strong. We can highlight names like Partizan, Lokomotiv, Boulogne Metropolitans 92 or Turk Telekom, but we cannot talk any less about the rest of the teams. It will be a tough, difficult road. This is a very powerful EuroCup. We will see good basketball and I hope that, at last, our fans can enjoy these good games in our arena."
Ginas Rutkauskas, Vice President, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
"Our group is a combination of strong teams, many of which are counting on a ticket to the Euroleague. This is our task too. The formation of the team today is in line with our long-term goals - and the recruitment of the roster at the very beginning. We understand that the format of the tournament has changed, but our tasks are the same - the development of youth and the targeted strengthening of the roster with which we can achieve high results. A three-year EuroCup license will help ensure that we can meet this challenge. "
Salvatore Trainotti, General Manager, Dolomiti Energia Trento
"It's always exciting to take part in the 7DAYS EuroCup, and it will be even more so this season: the new competition format allows us to face many top-level opponents and to compete with some of the best organizations in Europe. This competition is very fascinating, on and off the court. We are really happy to take part in the cup for the sixth time; for our club, it is a source of great pride. We will give our best to accomplish the best possible results and, as always, we will try to learn from this international experience and grow as a club in all aspects."
Emanuele Molin, Head Coach, Dolomiti Energia Trento
"Thanks to the new format of the competition, the way in which we have to think about the regular season group we have also changes: it is a real season within a season. We will play 18 games against teams with ambition, tradition and talent. We participate in this EuroCup with great enthusiasm, and it will be a fascinating European adventure full of travels, challenging trips, difficult courts to conquer. It will be a new experience, different from those of recent years. We need to have a wide-ranging vision: we will compete against great opponents and we will do our best."
Marvin Willoughby, General Manager, Hamburg Towers
"Playing on the European level is completely new to us. But we are really looking forward to taking our first steps in this tough competition this season. The field of participants in Group A is really strong. It won't be easy as a newcomer. But we want to learn, gain experience and grow through the challenge."
Francesc Solana, General Manager, MoraBanc Andorra
"We are in the same group as two of the favorites to win the EuroCup, Loko and Partizan. Like the rest of the teams in the group, we're ready to fight until the end to finish in the eight first positions. It will be exciting and very attractive for our fans. We want to be competitive as we were in recent seasons. We're very happy to be in this EuroCup because, as we always say, the level of the teams is amazing year after year."
Michal Lizak, General Manager, Slask Wroclaw
"First of all, we are proud that we are coming back to the EuroCup family and we can take part in such a prestigious competition. We can't wait to host such great clubs as Partizan Belgrade in our city. Even a friendly game with that kind of club would be a great thing, not to mention competing in the EuroCup together. Zeljko Obradovic coached many great teams, worked in the biggest organizations, and won a lot of trophies, so we are really excited to host him and his team in Wroclaw once again. We also can't wait for October 20 and our first home game with Lietkabelis Panevezys. Every match will be a really big thing for the whole organization and the city of Wroclaw. The draw is obviously tough, because anyway we would play with really good teams. We have big respect for all of our opponents and I believe that every game is going to be a big show. I hope that a lot of fans will be able to participate in the games and cheer us from the stands."
Petar Mijovic, Head Coach, Slask Wroclaw
"It is going to be a big challenge for Slask to play in one of the best European competitions, back after almost 15 years. Both groups are tough. A lot of teams with a big experience in Europe, some of them with EuroLeague budgets. But in the end, I think we will have our chance. First of all, we have to finish our roster, other team need to finish their roster, and after that we can talk more about our group. Favorites in our group are Lokomotiv, Andorra and Partizan after Zeljko Obradovic took over the head coaching position. I see our chance if we build our team, if we bring players with attitude, and if we work well like I hope we will. Also, if we find a way to build a strong atmosphere. Every game will be a big challenge for us, but also a chance for us to grow and try to do everything to fight for one of the eight spots to go to the next phase."