Spartak Vojput’ players will on Thursday (17.45 CET) enter Kale sports hall in Skopje without illusion of surprising favored Vardar but with a wish to show good performance and play a competitive match. Hosts surely are clear favorites in a match which will be the last one of the year for both teams.

Vardar have managed to reach two victories in their previous two encounters, against Vojvodina and Tatran  and have a big chance to finish the year with a triumph. Both teams’ players will surely feel some fatigue catching up with Spartak playing Maks Strumica in Skopje on Wednesday.

Spartak’ biggest wish is to perform better against favored teams although they are clearly aware of the fact that Vardar have better players and ‘longer bench’. Points are important for hosts in order to strengthen their top position by enlarging the gap which would secure them a good starting position before the second part of the season in race for first two positions which lead directly to F4 semis.

Raul Gonzalez, Vardar’ coach:

We want to play well, we always do. We need this win like any other because if you want to qualify for F4 you have to succeed in each match. We’re playing well in SEHA Gazprom League and we’re in good situation so far. Players are feeling good. Spartak have lots of good young players and often use their fast breaks. However, our goal is to win and we’ll do everything to achieve it.

Mijajlo Marsenić, Vardar’ player:

The game against Spartak is a must win. With maximum engagement and focus in defense and responsible approach I believe we’ll prove why we’re favorites in this one. We hope to perform well and win in the end of course.

Branislav Zeljković, Spartak Vojput’ coach:

Game against Vardar will be tough for us because they have a really quality team. We are a bit tired, first part of the season has come to its end, this is our last match this year and it is a big question whether we can play one of our best matches right now. In our first match in Subotica we’ve played well, we’ve had good result through almost the whole match with Vardar proving to be a better team in the end cruising towards a victory.

Miloš Lojaničić, Spartak Vojput’ player:

I expect us to show a good performance, stronger resistance than in our first match of the season in Subotica. I think we have progressed since then. None of us expects to beat Vardar but a decent resistance would satisfy us.