Olympiacos rivals for the TOP-16

Olympiacos will be playing against CSKA Moscow, Efes Pilsen and Galatasaray for the Euroleague TOP-16

The draw that held in Barcelona brought the Russia champions and the two Turkish teams in the path of the “reds” who are going to begin their games against the Russians in the Peace and Friendship Stadium on January 18, 2012.

DUSAN IVKOVIC: There are no easy teams in the TOP-16 and no easy groups. We are going to be facing the only undefeated Euroleague team and two very good Turkish teams. We still don’t know the schedule and that’s an important factor, but the most important for us is when our two key players that are now injured are going to be able to help us. Olympiacos’ greatest rival is injuries. I hope that the team doctors’ efforts will have Vassilis (i.e. Spanoulis) and Lazaros (i.e. Papadopoulos) joining us when most important. 

VASSILIS SPANOULIS: All teams in the TOP-16 are equally good and it makes no difference which team we have to face. CSKA is for sure the favorite in our group, but I think that especially in this season’s Euroleague all games are open and everyone can beat anyone. WE deserve to move ahead.

VANGELIS ANGELOU: The draw placed the team in a quality and competitive group. It’s going to be very interested for a young team such us our to challenge for a good placement and experience in this group.

CHRISTOS STAVROPOULOS: Our primary goal has been to advance to the TOP-16, but now we definitely want to make the play-offs. We are a young team and we are happy that our players have shown the personality needed for this level up to now. It’s not important which teams we are going to be playing against, but rather to show the face we want and need to for the TOP-16. We want to be in the play-offs and we are going to try hard to achieve it.