A nation passionately devoted to basketball, boasting around 10,000 home supporters and an opponent currently on the rise… There are still 40 minutes remaining in the EuroCup group stage, through which Buducnost Voli will determine its European prospects for this season.

The “blue and white” team aims to cap off their commendable performance thus far with a win in Lithuania against the Wolves—the match in Vilnius is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 18:00.

“Indeed, we’ve been performing well for the past month or two, but this game is where we need to showcase our absolute best. Our focus and energy will be crucial,” said Andrej Zhakelj, coach of the Montenegrin champions.

That’s what we wanted – for the final match to matter.

Buducnost, Wolves, and Ulm head into the final round tied with identical records (9-8). A win would solidify Buducnost’s place in 5th before the playoffs, and if Besiktas loses to Trento in Istanbul, they could even secure 4th place and home court advantage in the playoffs.

The Podgorica team could still advance even with a loss in Lithuania, provided Ulm is defeated by Hapoel, who are vying for a direct spot in the quarterfinals.

“We know we face a tough opponent, but we’ve achieved our goal—the last game is critical, and now it’s up to us to turn it in our favor and secure the win,” Zhakelj stated.

Buducnost has won 14 of their last 13 games, having triumphed over Wolves 104:77 in their first encounter, but everyone knows that winning in the Baltics won’t come easy.

“It’s a challenging match, but we’ve responded well in the last three or four games, so I hope we can replicate that performance here,” Zhakelj expressed.

The clash at “Twinsbet Arena,” Lithuania’s second-largest venue, will also hold significant implications for the hosts.

“This match is crucial for them, as they enjoy home court advantage, which cannot be underestimated in this context. They’re a solid team, featuring a skilled playmaker, proficient shooters in the two and three positions, and athletes in four and five. However, if we execute our game plan, I truly believe we can overcome the Wolves, even on their turf,” the Slovenian coach assessed.

Sulaimon: A matchup of great importance

A key player for Buducnost in Vilnius will be the individual who joined from Wolves—Rashid Sulaimon has proven to be an excellent addition to the “blue and whites” this season.

“We anticipate a very tough game against a strong, offensively skilled team with quality defenders. Essentially, both teams need this win. As I always remind myself, every Eurocup match is challenging, but this one holds immense significance,” Sulaimon clarified.

The Buducnost defender is well-acquainted with the environment he’ll be stepping into.

“I know they’ll have fantastic crowd support, likely filling the arena to capacity. Hence, I’m braced for a challenging contest, yet I believe our team is up to the challenge,” concluded the Texan.

Eurocup, Round 18

Today’s Matches

Trefl Sopot – Gran Canaria (19:00)

Upcoming Matches (Wednesday)

Wolves – Buducnost (18:00)

Besiktas – Trento (18:00)

Ulm – Hapoel TA (19:00)

Huventud – Bahçeşehir (20:30)

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