EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS

Zoran Planinic:

– We are going to play this game as hard as we can and try to win. It will be a good gift for Christmas. Positive feelings and positive things are important: it’s time to turn the page and try to improve ourselves in the next year. For our opponent the game is very important from the point of view of final standings so surely they are coming here ready to play. For us it’s a chance to gain revenge for two offensive losses in October and November. From the mentally point victory is very important for us – and this game will be the first half of a big confrontation because on January, 6 we play with Zalgiris in VTB League.

Thomas Kelati:

– It’s a very important game for us because Zalgiris beat us twice and we want to score a victory. Also we have a new coach, it’s a chance to start the new beginning, we must show good basketball and try to win. For me it’s the first time to play with Zalgiris because in first two games I was injured. So I’m excited, I’m looking forward for the meeting that is going to be thrilling. It will be very offensive game with many throws, we must show big defense. Special attention is to be focused at Mirza Begic, Pocius and Jankunas.

Watch a live broadcast on NTV-PLUS SPORT PLUS at 20.30 Moscow time.

VISITING CARD

BC Žalgiris (Basketball Club Žalgiris), Kaunas, Lithuania

Founded: 1944
Arena: Kaunas Sports Hall (capacity: 5,000)
Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
Team colors: Green and White
President: Arvydas Sabonis
Head coach: Rimantas Grigas
Titles
National:
Lithuanian Championships (22): 1946, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
Soviet Union Championships (5): 1947, 1951, 1985, 1986, 1987
Soviet Union Cups (1): 1953
International:
World Clubs Championships (1): 1986
Baltic Cups (2): 1998, 2009
EuroCup Championships (1): 1998
North European Championships (1): 1999
Euroleague Championships (1): 1999
Baltic Championships (3): 2005, 2008, 2010
Website: www.zalgiris.lt

SEASON 2010/2011

Euroleague

After 9 games in a Euroleague group stage Zalgiris ranks second to Maccabi Electra, having won five games out of nine.

Game 1. October, 21. Zalgiris — Partizan mt:s Belgrade — 73-62
Game 2. October, 28. Maccabi Electra — Zalgiris — 86-70
Game 3. November, 3. Zalgiris — Asseco Prokom — 74-68
Game 4. November, 10. Caja Laboral — Zalgiris — 88-92
Game 5. November, 18. Zalgiris — BC Khimki — 73-65
Game 6. November, 25. Partizan mt:s Belgrade — Zalgiris — 68-62
Game 7. December, 2. Zalgiris — Maccabi Electra — 68-71
Game 8. December, 9. Asseco Prokom — Zalgiris — 69-72
Game 9. December, 15. Zalgiris — Caja Laboral — 89-95 OT

In Lithuanian Championship Zalgiris is a sole leader: in 10 games it didn't suffer any defeat. In VTB United League Zalgiris ranks first along with BC Khimki place with 4 victories and 1 defeat.

TEAM ROSTER

№	Player	Position	Height	Birthday	Nationality
5	Marcus Brown	G	193	1974	USA
6	Aleksandar Ćapin	G	186	1982	Slovenia/Bosnia
7	Martynas Pocius	G	196	1986	Lithuania
9	Mantas Kalnietis	G	195	1986	Lithuania
10	Tomas Delininkaitis	G	190	1982	Lithuania
12	Tadas Klimavičius	F	204	1982	Lithuania
13	Paulius Jankūnas	F	205	1984	Lithuania
15	Mirza Begić	C	220	1985	Slovenia/Bosnia
19	Mindaugas Kuzminskas	F	205	1989	Lithuania
20	Dainius Šalenga	F	197	1977	Lithuania
21	Artūras Milaknis	G	195	1986	Lithuania
35	Travis Watson	F	203	1981	USA
41	DeJuan Collins	G	188	1976	USA
50	Omar Samhan	C	211	1988	USA