By Cesare Milanti / info@Eurohoops.net
KAUNAS, Lithuania – As the EuroLeague Final Four is approaching its start, all the protagonists have landed in Lithuania, reaching their hotel and talking on the eve of the competition: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Olympiacos, and AS Monaco will have all the spotlight on them.
Mike Tobey took the mic first on the Catalan team’s arrival. “This is my first time year. I’m enjoying being at the Final Four, but at the same time try to bring as much as I can to help the team and hopefully come out of the year with the trophy. This has been a goal of mine since playing in Europe, always watching it on TV every year. Both teams have a great history at winning, it really just comes down to who wants it more”, the Slovenian center commented.
“One of the first goals we had was making it this far. We’re all excited for the anticipation of the games to start. We were really close two years ago and we lost in the final, and last year we lost in the semifinal. We’ve always had the hunger to get back and win the trophy”, Kyle Kuric said on FC Barcelona’s arrival.
Mario Hezonja spoke on Real Madrid‘s arrival. “We had a great season, a very tough battle with Partizan in the playoffs, and just to come here was a great honor for us. But in this club people only remember the titles, so we are here with one mission. It’s Final Four, regardless of who you play in the semifinal is going to be the top of the top. The best teams are here for a reason”, the Croatian forward said.
“We know it’s one game, so we have to be prepared to die in the first game”, Walter Tavares followed, while head coach Chus Mateo also took the microphone. “It’s very important for us to keep coming. Real Madrid has been here for a long time, and we’re happy to be here one more year”, he said.
“We have to keep apart the emotions about the Clasico. It’s the semifinal of the Final Four. It’s 40 minutes, and we have to play great basketball against a great opponent. We need our 120% to beat them”, the Spanish head coach followed.
After ending the Regular Season with the 1st seed, last year’s semifinalist Olympiacos is among the candidates to win it all in this year’s Final Four. Thomas Walkup talked about it on the Greek red-and-white side’s arrival.
“Last year, the way we lost in the semifinal provided some really good lessons for us. This year we come prepared. It will be a difficult game for sure but these are the Top-4 teams in the league: of course, it’s gonna be a difficult matchup, no matter who you end up with”, the former Zalgiris playmaker said before Georgios Bartzokas took the mic. “For our club is an honor being for the second time in a row at the Final Four. That means we are doing good and we are at the highest level of the EuroLeague. It’s something we need to appreciate”, he said.
“I think more than anybody can imagine, since preseason we had our eyes set on the championship. We just came out of a grueling five-game series with Fenerbahce and now we have the opportunity here. Hopefully, we can get it done”, Shaquielle McKissic also added.
“We are not just here for the experience. We are really on a mission. We’re happy to be here, we celebrated, but now we’re locked and looking forward to trying to make a run in the next two games. I was really happy we could put some good respect on the club’s name and do a lot of firsts for a lot of guys. Just embracing all the ups and downs, and we want to finish it the right way”, Jordan Loyd said on AS Monaco’s arrival.
Jaron Blossomgame also spoke as the Monegasque side came to their hotel. “It’s one game. Obviously, they have a lot of talent over there, they play very hard with a lot of good pieces. A very well-coached team. It’s gonna be a very hard-fought battle, but we’re looking forward to it”, the former ratiopharm Ulm forward commented.
“It will be a surreal moment for us. Forty minutes on Friday, and we see what happens”, he said before Sasa Obradovic took the mic. “Nobody really expected the team would be here where we are now in two years. It’s gonna be very interesting until the end”, the head coach added.
PHOTO CREDIT: EuroLeague Basketball