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Both teams on 0-2 record after the first two rounds

Sassari want to reach their first win with the offense, and the Russians are aware they can't allow their guests to impose the pace they want to

UNICS didn't impress us so far the season. There is a lot of holding back in their game, but when they manage to use that to their advantage, they will be very dangerous. Last week they held Real by their throats, they wrestled against Madrid's team to reach the tangible advantage in the second quarter and entered the finals with the big +5 (72-67). However, Real pulled another grip of their strength in key moments, and after White scored a three-pointer for 75-74 seven seconds before the end, UNICS didn't manage to stop Llull's last shot and Real got away with a narrow win.

- It was a very difficult game. We played against one of the best teams in the Euroleague. We put in a lot of effort and tried to stop our opponent, and we did it well in the transitions and the pick-and-roll. We will try to move on and get better with each day - said Pedoulakis.

It was one of the best UNICS' matches of the season and if they had been calmer in the last two minutes, the Kazan team would have recorded a great win. Pedoulakis had the excellent Langford (23 points, 10/17). UNICS limited Real at 67 points in 38 minutes, but in the end that wasn't enough.

So the team from Kazan are on a 0-2 record after the first two rounds, which means that in today's match against Sassari they practically have the imperative to win. UNICS will again have to do a good job in their defense and stop the away team's transition.
- Dinamo Sassari are a good team who play with a lot of speed and energy. It's typical for them to press in the offense and play a bit safer in the defense. We will have to pay attention to their speed if we want to win - Pedoulakis is aware.


Langford and White arrived during summer from Milan, they know Sassari and their game style very well. Langford is aware that he mustn't underestimate the away team nor allow them to set the pace.
- It will be an important match for us, it won't be easy. We respect our opponents a lot, we will prepare ourselves well and try to give them our best game.

Sassari didn't do very well at the start of their Euroleague adventure. In the debut season after two rounds they have a 0-2 ratio, but they weren't pulverized in any of the matches. Moreover, in Novgorod they had a huge +18 which they let go thanks to a bad defense, and in the last round they played their first match in front of their fans.

Their opponent was Anadolu Efes, an experiences and good team who showed that by immediately leading with 17-6 in the starting minutes of the match. Sassari, with hard effort, managed to return it at -1 during the end of the third quarter, but then the away team again scored a two-digit advantage and that was the end of the story: with 82-75.

Efes' tall players overpowered Sassari's centres, and the defense was yet again under the standard which the Euroleague requires. Dyson confirmed what kind of a player he is: he scored 21 points, but also lost six balls. Sanders played his best game so far and scored 15 points, while Logan (1/7) and Sosa (3/11) were a complete disappointment.

Only three days later came the dangerous Brindis but they managed to secure their home turf and appear at the top of the charts together with Milan. They furiously opened the game and scored 27-9, led by Logan's 13 points. In the second quarter comes their classical black hole and the Brindis came back to only a -6 before the break. Later they managed to defend their advantage and in a quiet finale they celebrated with 87-78. Logan finished the match with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. Dyson added 8 with six assists, and Brooks managed to do nine rebounds next to 11 points.

Two days later came the notice of an agreeable contract termination with the Cusin representative center which obviously didn't fit into Saccheti's concept. Now the whole load under the hoop will be carried by Lawal and Todic, but in Sassari they will surely reach for back-ups under the hoop.

Now comes the difficult away game in Kazan. Neither of the teams can calculate; they're both after their first win because a 0-3 start can't be comfortable for anyone. Sassari will, as always, look for a fast pace and a race, and Dyson and Sosa are players who can certainly do that. Logan-Sanders are up for a tough job because Langford and White are a very bad match-up.

For those reasons Brooks could spend more time in the wing position because we're talking about their best defense player. Todic would then surely start as four, and five is guaranteed for Lawal. The two of them are up for a big challenge from Sanikidze, Kaimakoguluo and Fischer.

- We came to Russia to play with a team who are, quality-wise, behind Real Madrid and Efes. A lot of players from the Italian league are playing there, such as Langford, Sanikidze and White. We have to play a firm game and score a lot of points - coach Sacchetti has a simple recipe, and his son Brian adds:

- We're hungry after being defeated in the last round. We know that there are excellent players in UNICS, and that they are a physical and an aggressive team. We have to be totally focused and play a quality defense.