By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
MALAGA, Spain – A brilliant debut Basketball Champions League campaign concludes in the best possible way for T.J. Shorts II and Telekom Baskets Bonn.
“I don’t think words can put into place how I feel,” explained the explosive point guard after clinching both season and MVP awards in the Champions League, “Really, the only thing that I can say here is that I am grateful to my coaches, the head coach sitting next to me, my teammates, everybody that is a part of this club, the fans, my family, anybody that’s just really been a part of my journey to get to this position.”
Succeeding former UC Davis teammate Chima Moneke on the BCL MVP stage, Shorts instead guided his side to a win in the championship game, one year after the 27-year-old forward fell short with BAXI Manresa. Still, the season continues for the Bonn outfit with the Playoffs in Germany’s easyCredit BBL and Game 1 of the best-of-five series opposite Niners Chemnitz set for Wednesday.
“I think the next step is something cold to drink, maybe some water, recovery, a little celebration with the team,” Shorts replied to a question about possibly converting success to moving on from his current situation following the 2022-23 season, “Those things in the future are uncontrollable. You can’t worry about those things in these kind of moments.”
The Best Coach of the season, Tuomas Iisalo went on to become the youngest ever championship-winning head coach. “To be in this position here, after winning with these guys, it is something I never even dreamed of, honestly,” he celebrated the championship win against Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League