Cedevita Olimpija hosts Neptunas Klaipeda on Wednesday

Cedevita Olimpija’s senior team will face Neptunas Klaipeda on Wednesday at 19:30 in Stožice Arena in the fifth round of the BKT EuroCup regular season. In addition to the action on the court, the game in Stožice will also be marked by lively happenings off the court – activities in the arena will be dedicated … Continued

The players and members of the coaching staff of Cedevita Olimpija’s senior team returned to Ljubljana late Sunday afternoon after two consecutive away games, first in Istanbul and then in Sarajevo, and began preparations on Monday for the fifth round of the BKT EuroCup regular season against Neptunas from Klaipeda, which will take place on Wednesday at 19:30 in Stožice Arena. Last Wednesday, Ljubljana’s team suffered its first loss of this EuroCup season against Bahçeşehir, and after four games, they hold a record of three wins and one loss. With that, they are tied in number of wins with Spanish team Manresa, which the Dragons defeated in the opening round of the competition. Cedevita Olimpija has the same record of wins and losses in the AdmiralBet ABA League.

Neptunas arrives in Stožice on Wednesday, having recorded its first victory of the new season in the fourth round of the competition – the Lithuanian team defeated Hamburg 97:88 at home. Before that, the team from Klaipeda lost to Umana Reyer (69:89), Cluj (102:107), and Slask (85:95).

Neptunas is competing in the EuroCup this season for the first time since the 2015/16 season. The two teams have already met in European competitions – in the 2018/19 season they faced each other in the FIBA Champions League, where Neptunas won both regular-season games. This will be their first-ever matchup in the EuroCup.

To avoid congestion in the Stožice garage, all visitors are advised to arrive at the game on time – at least 45 minutes earlier than usual – and to use public transportation. With a ticket for the game, you can ride Ljubljana Public Transport buses for free three hours before and three hours after the game.

If you plan to come to the game by car, please park in parking lots near Stožice (Žale I, Žale II, Žale III, Žale IV, Žale V, Kranjčeva, and Gosarjeva). The garage next to Stožice Arena will be open only until the limited number of spaces is filled.

TICKETS:

Tickets for the game are available at vstopnice.olimpija.com, Eventim Slovenia, and at all Petrol gas stations across Slovenia. Everyone up to 19 years of age can get their ticket with a special 50% discount.

The box office in front of the arena and the arena doors will open from 18:30 onwards. The NLB “Fast Entrance” will also be open again, allowing faster entry for visitors who present an NLB bank card before entering the arena.

ACTIVITIES AT THE GAME:

Before the game between Cedevita Olimpija and Neptunas, the arena will be filled with true Halloween energy. Upon entering the fan zone, it will already be clear that an evening full of fun, laughter, and fan spirit awaits. The youngest fans will be able to get face painting, and then with baskets in their hands, visit the trick-or-treat corner, where sweets will be waiting for their costumes. A display of carved pumpkins will also be set up, and the best among them will be rewarded.

Children will be able to compete in shooting on a basketball hoop, color drawings with team motifs, and create banners to support their Dragons. A special moment will be experienced by everyone attending their first game – they will receive the “My First Game” diploma. The atmosphere will be further enlivened by fun games such as Spar Pong, the Heka prize game, and the Pleško Cars/Renault prize game, where visitors will compete for attractive prizes. The popular “Score or Not” contest will already begin in the fan zone and continue during halftime.

Between the first and second quarters, the Heka prize game will take place, where one lucky fan who makes a basket will win a signed team jersey. During halftime, the tension will reach its peak – a contestant will step onto the court for the Triglav Half-Court Shot, with a chance to win €5,000! At the same time, the “Score or Not” tournament will continue. In the third quarter, a competitive spirit will take over the arena as fans eagerly await another surprise – the Spar prize game with fast free throws. At the end of the evening, the most frightening costume will be announced and rewarded with a special prize and well-deserved attention from the audience.

The game against Neptunas will thus become more than just a sporting event – it will be a true Halloween basketball party, where sport, fan passion, and imagination will come together.

For one night, Stožice will transform into the stage of a spookily fun witchy story – full of mysterious surprises, themed activities, and the true spirit of Halloween! All fans are invited to bring pumpkins carved with Cedevita Olimpija motifs and use their imagination to create a unique magical atmosphere in the arena. The most creative pumpkins will be rewarded with attractive and fun prizes!

Visitors will be able to embrace the festive mood and enjoy a unique setting that will turn Stožice into the center of Halloween in Ljubljana. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience, together with the Dragons, an evening full of energy, fun, and basketball magic!

TV BROADCAST:

The television broadcast of the fifth round BKT EuroCup game against Neptunas will be available on Šport TV 1. The studio part of the broadcast will start at 18:55.

PRE-GAME QUOTES:

“We returned from the Istanbul–Sarajevo trip on Sunday evening. It was exhausting, especially since we’re still playing with a shortened rotation – we’re missing two big men, which automatically means we have to look for different solutions, move players to other positions, and change rotations. Of course, that doesn’t suit me, as it also shows in the performance of individual players, who could be on a higher level. Nevertheless, we can be satisfied with the trip – when you come back with a win, that’s always a positive sign,” said head coach Zvezdan Mitrović before Wednesday’s game at a media gathering. “Now we face Neptunas, which is a typical Lithuanian team: very efficient offensively, tough, aggressive, and physically strong. In their domestic championship on Sunday, they scored 117 points without overtime, which says a lot about their offense. Neptunas has depth, excellent shooting from distance, and very good rebounding, so it’s a somewhat different team from those we’ve faced so far. On Monday, we started preparations and video analysis, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, we continue working on the court. This rhythm – analysis, adaptation, and accepting new ideas – must be accepted as part of the season. Both teams have roughly the same preparation time, so the key will be energy and focus. Of course, I’m sorry we don’t have a deeper rotation, as some players are quite burdened, but the guys’ attitude is excellent. Monday’s practice already showed that they are motivated and eager to improve.”

“Neptunas is a very interesting team that likes to play fast, dynamic basketball. If we want to continue our winning streak in Stožice, we’ll have to show exceptional discipline and aggressiveness in defense. It’s clear that everyone is feeling some fatigue, as many players are covering multiple positions, but that only increases our motivation – the desire for new victories drives us forward,” said Rok Radović, who is struggling with pain in his right thumb but continues to play through it.

“Against Neptunas, we’ll have to show a lot of energy and determination. We must enter the game with the same fighting spirit we showed in the last quarter and overtime against Bosna in Sarajevo. We’re also counting on the support of our fans – their energy always lifts us up and gives us extra strength. We want to continue our successful streak at home and show a game we can all be proud of,” said Thomas Kennedy, who recorded a double-double in the last game against Bosna.

GAME PREVIEW:

Cedevita Olimpija is facing a team returning to the EuroCup – Neptunas last played in the competition in the 2015/16 season and also appeared in the elite EuroLeague in 2014/15. Between 2016 and 2020, the team played in the FIBA Champions League, and until the 2024/25 season, when it competed in the FIBA Europe Cup, it did not participate in international competitions.

The Lithuanian team recorded its first victory of this European season in the last game – in the fourth round, it defeated Hamburg 97:88 at home. Neptunas currently has the sixth-best offense in the competition, averaging 88.3 points per game, and leads in rebounds, being the best rebounding team in the EuroCup – averaging 40.3 rebounds per game.

The most effective player of Neptunas so far in the EuroCup is Arnas Velička, who averages 12.5 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Velička also played at EuroBasket 2025 for the Lithuanian national team and was the best passer in the 2022/23 FIBA Europe Cup, averaging 7.8 assists per game. The team’s top scorer is experienced Donatas Tarolis, who averages 16.0 points per game and adds 4.8 rebounds. Last week, he scored 20 points against Hamburg and 21 against Cluj.

In the game against Hamburg, six Neptunas players scored in double figures – the mentioned Tarolis was the top scorer, followed by Rihards Lomažs with 16 points.

Neptunas is also doing very well in the Lithuanian domestic championship, where, after six games, they have a record of four wins and two losses. Most recently, the team from Klaipeda played on Sunday, when they defeated Jonava 117:113 in a real shooting duel. Neptunas shot 63.5% from the field, made 28 of 37 free throws, and recorded 23 assists. Arnas Velička had 15 points, 14 assists, and four steals, while Donatas Tarolis added 15 points and six rebounds.

Cedevita Olimpija enters the matchup with Neptunas after a mini road trip to Istanbul and Sarajevo – on Wednesday, the Dragons suffered their first EuroCup defeat against Bahçeşehir, but on Saturday, after a comeback from a big deficit in the final quarter and in overtime, they defeated Bosna. In Sarajevo, Aleksej Nikolić shined with 28 points, and Thomas Kennedy recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Against Bahçeşehir, Nikolić and David Škara both scored 13 points.

BKT EUROCUP, REGULAR SEASON, ROUND 5

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Wednesday, October 29, 19:30:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – NEPTUNAS KLAIPEDA (tickets available; TV broadcast on Šport TV 1)

STANDINGS

LOOKING AHEAD:

After the game against Neptunas, Ljubljana’s basketball players will have a free weekend, as they will not play in the regional league this time. The team will continue the season next week in Romania, where they will face Cluj on Wednesday at 18:00 (Slovenian time). They will return to their home court on Sunday, November 9, at 19:30, when Vienna will visit Stožice.