By M. Bahadır Akgün / info@eurohoops.net
Olimpia Milan exits the Final Four with a win against CSKA Moscow in the third-place game, after a historic season that marked the team’s return to the big event for the first time in modern EuroLeague history.
Vladimir Micov talks to Eurohoops about Milan’s feat and shares his feelings about playing for the third-place game, just a day after losing to FC Barcelona at the final buzzer in the semifinals.
“I know it’s very hard to find the motivation to play for the third-place game for all teams, because all of us to play the final, but we just ended the season winning and showed the pride and [that] we deserved to play here”, said Micov, who led Milan with 14 points against CSKA.
Micov also gave credit to the efforts of Ettore Messina to lead the team through a demanding and challenging season and hopes Milan keeps its presence in the Final Four for seasons to come.
“He is one of the best coaches”, told Micov. “Being next to Gregg Popovich, for sure he picked up a lot of things and he tried to implement it in Milano. He got big freedom when he came here and finally this season he signed players he wanted from the beginning and it worked”.
“It would be a big shame if we don’t continue like this, not making the playoffs and the Final Four. Now we made the playoffs after seven years and the Final Four. I hope we continue like this as a club”
Photo: EuroLeague