Another important game in EuroCup, Cluj is coming to Ljubljana

The players of the senior team of Cedevita Olimpija will host the Romanian team Cluj-Napoca in the 10th round of the BKT EuroCup regular season on Tuesday at 6:30 PM in Arena Stožice.

On Tuesday, Cedevita Olimpija faces its third game in six days. Head coach Zvezdan Mitrović’s team will take on Cluj at 6:30 PM in Arena Stožice. Both teams currently hold a 5-4 record at the halfway point of the season, making this game critical in the battle for a playoff spot. JL Bourg also shares the same record, while Valencia (8-0) and Hapoel Jerusalem (7-2) top Group B. Turk Telekom and Umana Reyer (4-5) follow just behind the trio of Bourg, Cluj, and Cedevita Olimpija.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets for the game are available at vstopnice.olimpija.com, Eventim Slovenia, and Petrol Ticket. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at Petrol gas stations across Slovenia.

The ticket office and doors at Arena Stožice will open at 5:30 PM. The NLB “Fast Entrance” will also be available, allowing quicker access to the venue for visitors presenting an NLB bank card.

In line with the Green Five project, all fans are encouraged to walk, cycle, or use public transport to the game. Ticket holders can ride Ljubljana city buses for free starting three hours before the game and up to three hours after its conclusion.

TV BROADCAST:

A live broadcast of the game will be available on Šport TV 1, with pre-game studio coverage beginning at 5:45 PM.

FAN ZONE AND HOLIDAY CHARITY INITIATIVES:

Young fans will again have the chance to test their basketball skills with shooting games, while the youngest attendees can enjoy coloring books featuring the Dragons. Renault Slovenia will provide pedal cars for activities, and competitive fans can race electric cars. WOOP! Slovenia will add to the fan zone with a Corn Hole game.

First-time attendees of a Cedevita Olimpija home game can receive a special diploma in the green section of the arena.

The 6th Dragon corner will also be active. Fans can download the club’s app to participate in an exciting prize game.

Triglav Insurance will sponsor a mid-court shooting challenge with attractive prizes. Additionally, a raffle for two VIP tickets to the next home game will take place.

At the game against Cluj, the Dragon Smile project will kick off Charity December. Non-perishable food items will be collected at all home games in December.

Items such as pasta, rice, biscuits, instant soups, canned goods, coffee, and tea will be collected in the green section of the arena, marked by a Dragon Smile logo and a donation cart. The Dragon Family will contribute to the cause, aiming to brighten the holiday season for those in need.

QUOTES BEFORE THE GAME:

Head Coach Zvezdan Mitrović:
“Every game is important for us. Cluj is a strong opponent with a great reputation. They had a slower start to the season but have now found their rhythm and are on a winning streak. The team is well-coordinated. We surprised them in Romania in the first round of the competition. I expect a challenging game, especially since Cluj had time to prepare, as they didn’t play in their domestic league, unlike us. We returned to Ljubljana on Sunday from Čačak. We’re trying to prepare well for our opponents and ensure our players are informed about everything. Tuesday’s game will undoubtedly be tougher than the matches against Hamburg and Borac. We need to maintain a good rhythm and respond to all the challenges we’ll face on Tuesday. Our defensive play has definitely reached a higher level after the break. We build our offense from our defense, even if, like against Hamburg, our shooting percentage wasn’t great. On Tuesday, we’re facing players with experience at a higher level, so it will be a tough task. We’re certainly a bit more fatigued than our opponents, so our energy and freshness in defense will be crucial. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

DJ Stewart:
“We know this will be a tough game, and from the first meeting, we know the kind of game they like to play. We’ve watched videos of their games and created a plan for Tuesday, which we need to follow. We’ll need help from the stands. I invite all fans to join us and cheer us on. After the break, we’ve been playing with a lot of energy. Everyone rested well during the pause. Now we’re back in the gym, working hard, motivated, and determined to win.”

GAME PREVIEW:

Ljubljana begins the second half of the EuroCup regular season against Cluj, a team with a 5-4 record. The Romanian champions are on a streak of 12 games with only two losses, including four consecutive wins—two in the EuroCup and two in their domestic league.

Cluj features four players averaging double-digit points in the EuroCup. Their top scorer is Xavier Simpson, averaging 18.1 points per game, making him the competition’s third-highest scorer. On their most recent EuroCup outing against Aris, Adam Mokoka led the team with 24 points, followed by Zach Hankins and Simpson with 14 points each.

Cedevita Olimpija heads into this match after defeating Hamburg (95-68) and Borac Mozzart (94-74) following the competition break. They are on a three-game winning streak, having also defeated Mega before the break.

BKT EUROCUP, REGULAR SEASON ROUND 10

Arena Stožice (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Tuesday, December 3, at 18.30:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – U-BT CLUJ-NAPOCA

NEXT GAME:

Following the Cluj game, the Dragons will host Spartak Office Shoes on Sunday, December 8, at 7:00 PM in Tivoli Hall. Tickets are already available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.