Zalgiris Kaunas will begin the most important battles of the season this Tuesday in Istanbul, opening their EuroLeague quarterfinal series against Fenerbahce Istanbul, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius.
After the team’s final practice session in Lithuania, Zalgiris captain Edgaras Ulanovas, who will be playing in his fourth playoff series with the club, shared his thoughts.
“It’s hard to say exactly how we feel. We’re waiting, I guess. We had a week without EuroLeague games, which feels strange because we only played LKL games, but that’s how it is. We’ll be facing the EuroLeague champions, and even though they didn’t finish the regular season strongly, they were in first place for a long time, so a very tough challenge awaits us. We’re not trying to predict anything – we’re simply expecting a hard-fought series,” Ulanovas said.
When asked whether this playoff appearance feels special to him, the captain downplayed its significance.
“Probably the only truly different one was the first time. Other than that, we all understand very well that this is a completely different kind of basketball. In the playoffs, everything starts from zero, just with more physicality, so it’s a new challenge. Overall, what happened in the past doesn’t really matter – we have to be ready for new surprises and tactical adjustments. But the most important things will be physicality and desire,” the Zalgiris player explained.
Ulanovas also highlighted the key aspects of the series.
“I think if you asked both coaches, they would say tactics won’t be the main factor here. What will matter most is the fight and the desire – the small details, like who dives for the loose ball or commits a smart foul. If one team sets the tone in those areas, it can give them a certain advantage,” Ulanovas emphasized.
The first quarterfinal game between Zalgiris and Fenerbahçe in Istanbul will tip off on Tuesday at 8:45 PM Lithuanian time, while the third game of the series in Kaunas will be played on May 6.
