Dragons host Hapoel in Stožice on Wednesday

On Wednesday at 18:30, the senior team of Cedevita Olimpija will face Hapoel Jerusalem in the sixth round of the BKT EuroCup regular season at Stožice. Tickets for the game are available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.

The senior team of Cedevita Olimpija will remain in Ljubljana, hosting Hapoel Jerusalem on the Stožice court in the sixth round of the BKT EuroCup regular season at 18:30 on Wednesday. The Ljubljana Dragons will be aiming for their fifth EuroCup win, though it won’t be easy, as Hapoel has won three of their last five games and is coming off a close loss to Cluj in the fifth round, despite winning three of their last four matches.

Head coach Zvezdan Mitrović is still recovering from surgery, and it will be decided on the game day if he will be on the bench. Brynton Lemar is also close to returning to the court, gradually increasing the intensity of his individual training, though he hasn’t yet joined team practice. Bine Prepelič will not be playing either, as he is still recovering from a head injury sustained in training on Friday and will train for the first time post-injury on Wednesday.

TICKET PURCHASE:

Tickets for the game are available on vstopnice.olimpija.com, Eventim Slovenia, and the Petrol Ticket online platform. Tickets can also be purchased at any Petrol gas station across Slovenia.

The ticket office and doors of the arena will open at 17:30. The NLB “Fast Entrance” will again be available, allowing quicker access to Stožice for those who show an NLB bank card.

In line with the “Green Five” project, all fans are encouraged to come to the game by walking, biking, using a scooter, or public transport. Ticket holders can ride Ljubljana Public Transport buses for free for three hours before and after the game.

TV BROADCAST:

The game will be broadcast live on Šport TV 1, with the studio coverage beginning at 17:45. Game will also be live streamed on Euroleague TV.

FAN ZONE:

Before the game, a live episode of the podcast Podcast Dvokorak will take place at Stožice, starting at 16:30. Pre-registration was required for the podcast, and spots are already filled.

Young fans can try their basketball skills by shooting hoops, while younger children can enjoy coloring images of the Dragons. Renault Slovenia will once again bring pedal cars for activities, and competitive fans can challenge friends on the electric car track. WOOP! Slovenia will add to the fan zone fun with a game of Corn Hole.

The 6th Dragon corner will also be active, and fans can participate in an exciting prize game through the app, which you can download on your mobile today and join in shaping the club’s image with us.

Fans are encouraged to bring their team scarves in Dragons’ colors to the game! As the game begins, let’s all raise our scarves and sing At the Top of the Skyscraper together, turning Slovenia’s largest sports arena into Cedevita Olimpija colors!

PRE-GAME QUOTES:

“We’re hosting Hapoel Jerusalem, a team that deserves respect as they play very well on the road and are unbeaten away. Our opponents have an excellent backcourt, particularly Jared Harper, who is the EuroCup’s most valuable player and top scorer, alongside many other great players. It will be a big test for us to try and stop them as a team. It’s important that we have good defensive transitions, stop their fast breaks, and limit their offensive rebounds. We also need to adapt well to their defense. We hope to see as many fans as possible at Stožice, and I invite them to the game. Their support is crucial. In our last game against Budućnost, the result didn’t go our way, but we felt the fans’ energy, which is always needed. Our task is to earn their support,” said coach Đorđe Adžić before Wednesday’s game at Stožice.

“We have a tough game against a very dangerous team. Hapoel also has the EuroCup’s top scorer, so we’re definitely in for a challenge. Our opponents also play very well on the road, remaining unbeaten so far. Over the past two days, we’ve done everything we can to prepare well for the game, and I hope that, with the help of our fans, we’ll get another victory and extend our streak of strong performances in the EuroCup,” said Gregor Glas ahead of the matchup with Hapoel.

GAME PREVIEW:

As mentioned, Hapoel currently holds a record of three wins and two losses in five EuroCup games. In the Israeli national league, they have won three of their four games, with their only loss coming against Hapoel Tel Aviv, who also competes in the EuroCup this season.

In their last Israeli league game, Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Hapoel Holon 91–66. Jared Harper scored 22 points with five assists, Khadeen Carrington contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, and Chris Johnson and Justin Smith each scored 14 points.

Harper is also Hapoel’s top scorer in the EuroCup, averaging 20.4 points per game. In the first round against Valencia, he scored 27 points and was named MVP of the round. He’s currently the EuroCup’s top scorer and leads in statistical performance efficiency.

Cedevita Olimpija enters the game against Hapoel after a win over Aris in the EuroCup and a loss to Budućnost at Stožice. In their previous round against Aris, the Dragons staged a magnificent comeback in the second half and secured an 82–75 win after an impressive fourth quarter. However, they fell short in their home game against Budućnost on Sunday, losing 71–91 despite a strong start.

Against Budućnost, Cedevita Olimpija’s top scorer was DeVante Jones with 18 points, followed by DJ Stewart with 13, and Devin Robinson and captain Jaka Blažič each with 10. In the game against Aris, Blažič led with 19 points, Robinson scored 18, Stewart 15, and Rok Radović 10.

BKT EUROCUP, REGULAR SEASON ROUND 6

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Wednesday, October 30, 18:30:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – HAPOEL BANK YAHAV JERUSALEM (TV broadcast on Šport TV 1)

LOOKING AHEAD:

After the game with Hapoel, Cedevita Olimpija will play in the AdmiralBet ABA League against Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in Belgrade on Monday at 19:00. The following Wednesday, they will return to Stožice to host JL Bourg at 18:30. This game with the French club, last season’s finalists, will once again feature a Student Night. Tickets for this game are already available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.