In the Spirit of #PinkOctober, Cedevita Olimpija Faces Aris in Battle for Third Win

On Tuesday at 18:30, Cedevita Olimpija will host Thessaloniki’s Aris in Stožice Arena in a third-round BKT EuroCup clash between two unbeaten teams. Both sides enter the game with two wins from the opening rounds, and the Ljubljana team will look to extend their home winning streak. The game will also mark #PinkOctober, as together with Europa Donna Slovenia, the club will raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. Tickets are already available at vstopnice.olimpija.com — and women can get theirs for just 1 EUR!

After two consecutive road games in Belgrade and Podgorica, Cedevita Olimpija’s senior squad returns home to Stožice Arena. On Tuesday at 18:30, they’ll face Aris, who, like the Ljubljana side, holds a perfect 2–0 EuroCup record. The Slovenian champions will aim to write a new chapter in the club’s EuroCup history — the Dragons have never before opened the competition with three straight wins.

But the excitement won’t be limited to the court. The game will feature a special partnership with Europa Donna Slovenia, raising awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection. The club wants to highlight values of courage, solidarity, and hope, emphasizing that sport transcends competition and has the power to unite and inspire.

There are concerns about Aleksej Nikolić’s condition — he took a hit to his calf in Belgrade against Hapoel but played through it both there and in Podgorica. On Monday, he left practice early after taking another blow and the doctors examination confirmed, that he did not sustained any muscle injury. He will be a game-time decision.

Nikos Chougkaz, who was injured in the home game against Mega, underwent an MRI scan revealing a partial ligament tear in his ankle. He’ll be sidelined for an extended period, with updates to follow. Luka Brajković trained individually on Monday; if recovery continues as planned, he’ll rejoin team training on Wednesday (non-contact).

To avoid congestion in the Stožice garage, fans are encouraged to arrive early — at least 45 minutes before tip-off — and use public transportation. With a game ticket, spectators can ride Ljubljana Public Transport buses free of charge three hours before and three hours after the game.

If driving, please park in nearby lots (Žale I–V, Kranjčeva, Gosarjeva), as the main Stožice garage will close once full.

TICKETS

Tickets are available at vstopnice.olimpija.com, Eventim Slovenia, and Petrol gas stations across the country.
Women can get tickets for just 1 EUR!

The box office and arena doors open at 17:30.
Fans can again use the NLB “Fast Entrance” — simply show your NLB bank card for quicker access.

GAME ACTIVITIES

This EuroCup game will also carry a special social message. Cedevita Olimpija and Europa Donna Slovenia are teaming up to support awareness of breast cancer prevention and early detection. The event celebrates solidarity, courage, and hope, proving that sports connect and inspire.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show support for women battling the disease and to promote prevention awareness.
Women can also attend the game for a symbolic 1 EUR, helping the message spread even further.

Join the Dragons in Stožice — for a win on the court and a victory for a cause.
Doors open at 17:30, and the fan zone will once again be buzzing with activity.

The Fan Zone before tip-off will offer fun for all ages:
Kids can test their basketball skills, enjoy Cedevita Olimpija coloring pages, and make their own fan signs.
Children attending their first-ever game will receive a “My First Game” diploma and can visit Pleško’s Kids’ Corner for creative play.

Spar Slovenia will bring extra energy with the Spar Pong game, and the first 400 fans will receive pink strawberry-flavored water. Fans can also join the “Score or Not” challenge for prizes and visit the Sole Cleanic booth for free sneaker cleaning. The Europa Donna Slovenia stand will provide information about breast cancer prevention and awareness.

During the game, the atmosphere will stay lively:

• At halftime: Zavarovalnica Triglav “Three in a Row” game

• Between Q3 and Q4: Spar Slovenia Free Throws

• Between Q1 and Q2: Cedevita Lucky Seat prize draw

• During a timeout: Pink T-shirt Toss
  Fans can also win a pink T-shirt signed by the Dragons.

TV BROADCAST

Watch the BKT EuroCup Round 3 game vs. Aris live on Šport TV 1.
The studio show starts at 17:45.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Head Coach Zvezdan Mitrović:
“We returned from Podgorica through Belgrade on Sunday and trained on Monday. Aleksej Nikolić left practice early after another hit, so he’ll have a check-up later today. If he can’t play, it’ll be a big handicap, as we’d have only one true point guard — and Aris is strongest at the guard positions. It will be a tough task. Aris has looked great in EuroCup games but still hasn’t won in their domestic league. They seem extra motivated for Europe — against Venezia and Hamburg they played two dominant games.”

Umoja Gibson:
“To win on Tuesday, we’ll need to stay very focused on controlling their guards — they have great quality there. It’ll also be crucial to control the pace and not let Aris dictate the tempo. If we stay connected and play as a team, like we have so far, we can hope for another positive result.”

DJ Stewart:
“We know Aris is a strong opponent — they’ve been playing really well in the EuroCup. They have a lot of capable players who can step up and score. We have a clear plan, and we must execute it consistently for all 40 minutes.”

GAME PREVIEW

Aris Thessaloniki has entered a new era in the 2025/26 season under new ownership by Canadian businessman Richard Hsiao. The club’s EuroCup ambitions are high, and the team has backed that up on the court — winning both opening games.

They started the season with an 85–81 road win over Umana Reyer Venezia, led by Bryce Jones, who, along with Michalis Lountzis, was named EuroCup Round 1 MVP. Jones had 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Last week, Aris played their first home game in a sold-out arena in Thessaloniki, where fans created a confetti storm at tip-off — a video that went viral. After a slow start, Aris took control with scoring runs of 9–2 and 10–2, cruising to a 98–76 win over Hamburg. All 12 players scored, with Jones (16), Long Mitrou (15), and 18-year-old Lefas (13) leading the way.

In contrast, Aris has struggled domestically, losing both of their first two Greek League games — 77–91 to Karditsa and 65–73 to Kolossos. In Saturday’s home loss, they scored only seven points in the final quarter. Jones had 25 points, while Steven Enoch added 11.

Cedevita Olimpija, meanwhile, is off to another strong EuroCup start, opening the season with wins over Manresa and Hapoel Jerusalem — just as they did last year (against Cluj and Venezia). A third straight win would be historic, as the club has never opened a EuroCup campaign 3–0. The last time Ljubljana started a European season with three wins was back in 2010/11 in the EuroLeague (against Efes, Milan, and Panathinaikos).

After four straight wins to start 2025/26 (Krka, Manresa, Mega, Hapoel), the Dragons suffered their first loss on Saturday in Podgorica. Against Hapoel, DJ Stewart earned EuroCup MVP honors, while both he and Nikolić scored 13 points versus Budućnost.

Cedevita Olimpija faced Aris twice last season and won both — 82–75 in Thessaloniki and 98–79 in Ljubljana.

BKT EUROCUP – REGULAR SEASON, ROUND 3

Stožice Arena (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Tuesday, October 14, 18:30:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA – ARIS THESSALONIKI BETSSON

LOOKING AHEAD

Cedevita Olimpija has two home games this week — after Tuesday’s EuroCup clash with Aris, they’ll host Zadar on Sunday at 17:00 in Round 3 of the AdmiralBet ABA League. The game will feature an “All Green Night”, with fans encouraged to come dressed in green — shirts, scarves, hats, and more. Tickets are already available at vstopnice.olimpija.com.

After the Zadar matchup, the Dragons head to Turkey for a rematch of last season’s EuroCup quarterfinal against Bahçeşehir, before traveling straight to Sarajevo for an ABA League game against Bosna next Saturday.