By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Final Four Semifinals will be played on Thursday, but the opening press conference held in Stark Arena Press Conference Room Wednesday was the first step toward the actual games. Head coaches and one player of each team were on hand answering questions to preview the 2022 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.
With the fans back in the stands, Anadolu Efes head coach Ergin Ataman can’t wait to defend the title captured in Cologne one year ago and enjoy another level of celebrations. “Now, if we win again, it will be more fun rising my fists with the fans [in attendance],” he said.
“You can never be complacent,” said his player Shane Larkin, “We obviously enjoyed last season winning the championship. Being back here, we are just as hungry as we have ever been.”
Moving to Olympiacos, the opponent of Efes in the Semifinals, Alexander Gomelsky EuroLeague Coach of the Year Giorgos Bartzokas is looking to guide his players away from missteps. “I want my players to not exaggerate anything. We must focus on ourselves and play with confidence.”
“It is a very big privilege to be here, not only for me but for our club,” mentioned experienced Reds captain Giorgos Printezis, “It is a very big honor for our fans also, especially in this city.”
The other end of the Final Four bracket brings up archrivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona battling for a spot in Saturday’s championship game. “We are both here to try and advance to the Final,” explained Sarunas Jasikevicius.
“We got to be humble and just think about the Semifinal game and try to enjoy it as well,” the season MVP Nikola Mirotic echoed the Barca head coach.
The previous Final Four in Belgrade crowned Los Blancos as the champions for the tenth time in team history. “For us, it is a pleasure to be here, just to have the opportunity to fight for the title,” said Edy Tavares, among the players lifting the trophy four years ago.
“For sure, a great city of basketball,” stressed Madrid tactician Pablo Laso, the mastermind behind the 2018 championship run and the 2015 title as well, “For me, it is always a pleasure to be here.”
Before the players and head coaches took over, the President of the City Assembly Belgrade Nikola Nikodijevic opened the press conference.
Watch the 2022 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four Opening Press conference:
After Thursday’s collisions of the defending champions opposite the Reds and the ACB powerhouses, the championship and third-place games will follow on Saturday in Belgrade’s Stark Arena.