Xavi Pascual: 'Spahija is a very good friend, Ivanovic is a master' / News - Basketnews.com

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Zenit Saint Petersburg are suiting up for their road game against Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz for Euroleague Round 24.

Zenit Saint Petersburg / Schedule

Zenit Saint Petersburg Anadolu Efes Istanbul76-67 Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz Zenit Saint PetersburgTue19:30 Real Madrid Zenit Saint PetersburgFri19:45

The Russian team is having a very good season with a 13-7 balance which allows them to sit in the top 4. Zenit are coming off a home win over reigning champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul and want to extend their winning streak.

Prior to the squad's departure for Vitoria, Xavi Pascual was asked about Neven Spahija, Baskonia's current coach, and also Dusko Ivanovic, next to whom he had his first assistant coaching experience in the EuroLeague while the Montenegrin was coaching FC Barcelona from 2005 until 2008.

"Neven Spahija is a very good friend, we have a good relationship. We have played a lot of times against each other," the Catalan coach said.

"He is doing a good job right now."

Making a comparison between the two, Pascual kept his utmost respect for the former Baskonia bench boss.

"Dusko Ivanovic for me is a master, he is a super coach in EuroLeague. We cannot compare each other. He has his own style. He is a great coach and nothing else."

Referring to Baskonia, Pascual pointed out that they have "very good shooters and creators. They play with full energy, with a high tempo. Despite the fact that we have COVID and injury problems, the most important for us is to continue going our way, and be serious defensively and offensively."

Jordan Loyd doesn't let the Basques' 7-14 balance and their latest performances fool him. "Baskonia is a dangerous team," the American combo guard said.

"A while ago they beat Barcelona at home. It’s always a tough place to play. We’re not thinking about that first game. That was a long time ago. It’s a different team now, and we are a different team now."

Loyd broke down the basic principles of Zenit's game plan, adding:

"We’re going to play defensively first, we’re going to stop their fast break, they run very well at home. Every game we want to play great defense, try to slow teams down, throw different looks at them. They also have a lot of big men who can shoot the ball, so that’ll be our task."

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