ESP/RUS/UKR - Lokomotiv, Bilbao look to slam door shut

BILBAO (Eurocup) - The stakes are high for four teams in Eurocup action this week.

Lokomotiv Kuban, Valencia Basket, Uxue Bilbao Basket and Budivelnyk want to win the competition not only for the glamour that comes with a European trophy.

The club that prevails will also clinch a place in next season's Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

Lokomotiv Kuban and Bilbao appear to have one foot in the Final after winning the opening legs of their respective ties by 10 points.

Bilbao coach Fotis Katsikaris, whose side hosts the second leg on Wednesday, has stressed to his players that nothing has been won.

"We have to stay focused," he said.

"We must be well prepared."

Budivelnik coach Ainars Bagatskis, who is also the boss of Latvia's national side, firmly believes the tie is not over.

"I do not see anything extraordinary in the Bilbao game," he said.

"I believe that we still have a chance to reach the Final after the second game."

What did he tell his players after their first-leg defeat?

"I told the guys 'there is no reason to lose heart!" Bagatskis said.

"'We lost today, but we can win tomorrow! In basketball, anything can happen. We will fight.'"

Lokomotiv host Valencia on Tuesday.

Mantas Kalnietis was a key player in the first game for Lokomotiv.

"He's very talented," Lokomotiv coach Evgeniy Pashutin said to FIBA.com.

“He's almost 2m (in height) but skills of point guard. He can be like a shooting guard and score. Mantas just has a lot of skills. I think he's going to keep on getting better, too."

Valencia Basket aren't planning on going quietly.

Their Serbian national team point guard, Stefan Markovic, has been in a rich vein of form of late.

"Clearly this isn't going to be easy and they have shown they are strong," Markovic said.

"But we have to overcome them to reach the Final."

FIBA