Hapoel Jerusalem welcomes Aris Thessaloniki to Belgrade on Wednesday (21:00 Israel time) for a massive EuroCup showdown between two unbeaten teams, with both clubs entering the contest sporting perfect 5-0 records. With first place in the standings on the line, both head coaches and key players shared their thoughts ahead of the highly anticipated matchup.

Hapoel Jerusalem Head Coach Sasa Obradovic knows his team will face a major physical challenge against the Greek side.

“Aris is one of the favorites to win the EuroCup this season. They are an extremely physical team, probably the most physical opponent we’ve faced so far. One of the keys to this game will be matching their toughness and aggression while staying true to our strengths. We know they can switch between different defensive schemes, and we have to be prepared for that. Our players are highly motivated and ready to give their maximum effort.

“We have confidence from our previous games, but we know Aris are coming off a major win against Panathinaikos. We respect them, but we won’t over-respect them. We have to focus on ourselves, play our game and stay true to who we are. That’s the way to win.”

Aris Head Coach Vassilis Spanoulis also emphasized the importance of the matchup and the need for his team to maintain its intensity throughout the contest.

“This is a very important game for both teams. Aris and Hapoel have the same ambitions and share the same record (5-0). We are going to Belgrade to play our game. We know Hapoel’s advantages and disadvantages. We must have concentration and high-level energy for 40 minutes.”

Hapoel forward Yovel Zoosman acknowledged the quality and depth of the Greek squad but expressed confidence in Jerusalem’s preparation.

“Aris is a very strong, high-quality team with a lot of talent and ability at every position. They’re aggressive, tough, athletic, and have a coach of the highest level. We’re preparing the right way, we believe in ourselves, and we know exactly what we need to do.”

Aris guard Adam Mokoka echoed those sentiments, recognizing the challenge that awaits his team.

“It’s a very important game for us, and we are going to face a team with a lot of quality. They have a very talented roster. It’s going to be a game that requires a lot of physicality. We have to clear our minds and be ready for a tough game.”