“If you want to be the champion, you have to beat anybody at any time”

The quotes on the Euroleague Top 16 draw results made by CSKA CEO, head coach and team’s captain.

Andrey Vatutin

“The Top 16 is in fact a totally new tournament, and all your previous successes do not mean much. This is the stage when it is not enough just to play basketball – you have to fight for every ball. It is obvious how important is it to have a good start and to be successful at home. Maybe it sounds trivial but there are no weak teams on this stage. Siena, the 2008 Final Four participant, stands out in our group, and the team did not become weaker. Cibona and Fenerbahce-Ulker are two solid teams, who are not accidentally in the company of strongest. Our first visit to Instnbul will be very important. I hope that our fans, our number 25, will be with us.”

Ettore Messina

"Our group is tough as are all the groups. One more time for every team a lot will depend on schedule and result can be decided by a point difference. Of course we hope to show our best basketball and to qualify for the play-offs. As for the opponents, Siena is one of the most consistent teams in Euroleague recently. It plays strong defense and it is also one of the best offensive teams this season. Siena is dominating Italian league for the past three years and shows excellent basketball this season. Cibona grew up during the year. I think with all the additions they had recently they can be very competitive. Fenerbahce-Ulker is tall and powerful team which is very well organized thanks to coach Tanjevic. I think they are also very dangerous."

Matjaz Smodis

"There are no easy opponents in the Top 16. If you want to win, you have to beat anybody at any time and that’s the only thing that has to happen. Siena is a very tough opponent and I think they will be one of the contenders for the title in the end. Fenerbahce Ulker is a young and talented team. They’ve played very well in the regular season. At home they can beat anybody. I think they will create problems for the other three teams and have good chances to qualify. Cibona has a couple of veterans on the roster, who have played for the big teams before. Like Fenerbahce, they are very dangerous at home. But as I said, if you want to be the champion, you have to beat everybody. So I am expecting very exciting and interesting Top 16 for us."