From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Rome

Vertical Vision Cantu guard Phill Jones admits the odds are stacked against his team as they try to progress to the next phase of the EuroCup.

The Biancoblu remain in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition thanks to a 97-80 triumph over Dynamo Moscow Region in Group J this week in which Jones scored a game-high 30 points.

That success followed narrow defeats at unbeaten group leaders Maroussi, 59-58, and at home to RheinEnergie Koln, 79-74.

"Maroussi won again in Germany this week," Jones told PA Sport.

"They beat Koln (73-69). Now they have three wins and no losses, and we have already lost against Koln at home. We must win there (in Germany). We were very unlucky not to win at Maroussi."

Maroussi, who reached the final of the FIBA Europe League two years ago, edged out Cantu on December 13 after Alexandros Kyritsis made two free throws with six seconds left to give the Greeks a one-point lead.

Cantu still had a chance to win, however.

After calling a time-out, the Italian team got the ball to center Kebu Stewart, but the American missed a lay-up and time expired.

Cantu's season shows how important it is for teams to have plenty of preparation time before the first game.

"We didn't get our full squad together for two weeks before the season," Jones continued.

"We came up against last year's champions (Climamio Fortitudo Bologna) and got blown out. Then we had a little more time to prepare and we got on a roll."

Cantu won four straight games in Italy's Lega A and also beat Nancy in their first EuroCup game.

"But then things went pear-shaped," Jones said. "We had injuries, and players struggling with form. Things didn't go right for us.

"Now things are going better for us. We've won our last two games but we have to start winning away from home.

"When you go on the road and face teams in their own gym, it's tough to get a team on the road. That's going to be the difference for the teams in the top eight (who make the Italian play-offs), the teams that can get wins on the road. This year, we've only won one game on the road."

The casual observer might think that coach Pino Sacripanti has been dealt a bad hand with the club recently deciding to part with star guard Nate Johnson and German international Misan Nikagbatse.

Johnson has returned to America while Nikagbatse was sent out on loan for the remainder of the season to Lega Due side Supor Montegranaro.

However Jones argues that has not necessarily been the case, and believes the squad has proved it can make adjustments by winning its last two games.

"I guess when you take away two players, it gives other players opportunities to play and step up," he said.

"That gives them a chance to be more comfortable. They get a chance to relax more, and it's a little easier for the coach. You only have seven or eight players in the rotation.

"Now we have a good rotation."

Cantu, who are 12th in Lega A with a 6-9 record, face a very difficult game this weekend in Italy as they travel to Carpisa Napoli.

After that they host Maroussi in an all-important EuroCup game.

Maroussi are top of the group with a 3-0 record followed by RheinEnergie (2-1) and then Cantu (1-2).

"Maroussi will know us better and our personnel, but the game we played against them was tough and physical. We both played great defence." Jones said.