By Alex Madrid/ info@eurohoops.net
BELGRADE – – CSKA Moscow guard Sergio Rodriguez feels that the third-place game against Zalgiris Kaunas can help him and his teammates lick their wounds following the semi-final defeat to Real Madrid and give them an extra push ahead of the VTB League playoffs.
“We knew for a long time that works like this. If you don’t win you have to play this game. And that’s it. You have to look on the positive side. For us, it’s going to be an important game because we have to finish the season well. We have this EuroLeague game and the playoffs and the Final Four of the VTB. We are disappointed but the game can help,” Rodriguez told Eurohoops.
What are Chacho’s thoughts for the Final between defending champion Fenerbahce his former club Real Madrid? “The truth is that I haven’t thought about it but I have many friends at Real Madrid and I’ve wished them luck and I hope they get a good game.”
The Spanish national team will play two games in the June-July Window of the World Cup Qualifiers: Against Slovenia on the road and Belarus at home.
Spain is 4-0 and first in the Group but every result matters, since teams carry their record to the next round. Will Rodriguez join Spain for these matches?
“I’ve already talked about it, right now it’s hard to put myself in a situation. I’m playing with my club in the Final Four. I’ve said throughout the year that I don’t think it’s the best for basketball that FIBA and Euroleague don’t agree with this stuff and it’s all on the players. I am always available, I love playing with the Spanish National Team, I enjoy it. Of course, I would like to be with them. With the situation in the air, I don’t really know what’s going to happen. But for me, it’s always a great incentive to be in the NT”