Prishtina’s Wednesday

The second game of the Balkan League Finals, between Sigal Prishitna and Rilski will take place on Wednesday, at 18:30hrs, in Samokov, Bulgaria.

After the first game Sigal has 2-point advantage which means that everything is still open. A week ago, before 3000 spectators, Sigal Prishtina defeated Rilski Sportist 74:72 (21:27, 17:16, 17:13, 19:16), which means that everything is to be decided in Samokov.

Both teams gave statements regarding this very important game.

Marjan Ilievski, Coach of Sigal Prishtina: "We played three games this season with Rilski and we have positive score from all of them. The pressure we had on our home court now has turned to Rilski on its home. We are ready to play this game and I hope that the players are ready for the things I would want from them and for the way to reach easier our goal. In the first game we had bad three-point shooting percentage which was the first time we had this. We didn′t use the fact that Rilski was in bonus the last quarter and I′m once again going back to our bad play and the excellent by the visitors. Still though we were the winners and I believe that we are going to use the weak sides of the opponent. I don′t have nothing to change. I would just like if we have an advantage to keep it and not to repeat the mistakes from the first game."

Edin Bavcic: "We are all ready and maximally motivated for this game. Finals are never easy. Rilski aims to win the trophy, plays before its fans, but we also want to return to Kosovo with the trophy. We have quality, Rilski has quality. Finals have special rules. It depends on the teams’ mood for winning and how much it wants the victory. We really want to win and that’s for sure.”

Dardan Berisha: "We are highly motivated. Prishtina as a club, a city, but also as a nation knows the importance of the game. We are completed; I think that we are better as a team, I believe in this team and that we can win the title. We will give our best to win this title because we, the fans, the whole Albanian nation deserves it”.

Rosen Barchovski, Rilski Head Coach: "One can easily see that the players are heralded and in good mood. They are working with smiles on their faces, there is also self-confidence. It′s not very often for a team to be in such condition and this is a pleasant thing, especially as a coach to see your players working happily. The team is in good form, the team is playing in Finals and all this is normal. You can feel the situation, there is exalted atmosphere. Everything is like before a big Final. To me the psychology for the game is very important. I′ll want us to try not to change anything in that matter because in Prishtina we played very focused and in the same time calm with no pressure. This is the most delicate thing - whether we are going to manage to do it because now the psychology has turned. They were the clear favourite and now suddenly the expectations towards us are higher as a home team. This is something that has to be done and also something I′m worried about. Regarding our play - I′m not a fan of big changes but in some details where we are missing something and the potential to improve, we are going to try. We are preparing like for any other game, I don′t want us to make something extraordinary and to put ourselves in some pressure. What gives me hope is the fact that the team already played a lot of decisive games under pressure and won them all.