Zeljko Obradovic could not but congratulate his players after their victory over Unics Kazan in Russia. “I had said that we must play excellent defense throughout this entire game in order to grab victory. At the beginning of the game we received some easy points, but our plan was to press all 40 minutes of the game; and ultimately, it was the defense that got us the victory. Unics is a very good team and deserves to qualify to the next round. We are at the top of our group and I must congratulate my players. There is time for us to think about our games against Maccabi Tel Aviv, which I have only watched for a few minutes this season. We will make our analysis when the time comes and will prepare for it. Returning to tonight’s game I have to say that I am pleased by the fact that it might have taken us some time to score in the second half, but we would always come up with the right solution. We did not score, but made the right choices. This shows that we play like a team and I want to once again congratulate my players. As far as the starting lineup is concerned, I would like to say that it was a choice that simply shows that we have 12 players. They are all important; each and every one of them individually. Some are in good condition, some others are not, but we need everyone to be ready to help the team.”
Kostas Kaimakoglou, who was successful in a very decisive three-pointer in the last minutes of the game, stated: “I just so happened that it was I who tried for the three-point shot. The whole team helped for this shot to come true. From a purely meritocratic point of view, I believe that we clinched the top spot in the group fair and square. We could have had an even 6-0 streak, but we marked two defeats out of mistakes of our own. It had to come down to the finish line and play with our backs against the wall for us to get what we wanted. Unics Kazan lasted longer than Fenerbahce/Ulker in the Top16 and I believe that they deservedly got qualified to the playoffs.”
