By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
ANTWERP– Fans in Antwerp, Belgium won’t get to see their hometown team participating in the Basketball Champions League Final Sunday (5/5).
However, they will have the chance to cheer for a Belgian player. Even though this guy hurt their team in the semifinal.
Tenerife forward and Belgium native Pierre-Antoine Gillet notched 11 points – including a pair of key 3-pointers to help his team bounce back in the second period – and eight rebounds in his team’s semifinal win over Antwerp. And now he trusts that there are no hard feelings towards him by the local fans.
“I hope it. But I doubt it,” Gillet said with a smile when Eurohoops asked him if Antwerp supporters will be rooting for him in the Final. “Seriously, I think they will at least be happy that one Belgian may get the trophy.”
And what would it mean to this Belgian player to win the Basketball Champions League title in home territory?
“That would be a dream. It’s already a dream to lift the trophy of a competition like the Basketball Champions League. But doing it in your home country? And sharing this experience with your family and friends? Even better.”
The semifinal game between Tenerife and Antwerp attracted 17289 basketball fans in Sportpaleis arena. It’s a near-crazy number for such a city that has never hosted an event like this.
Gillet believes that this tournament will greatly benefit Belgian basketball overall on the long run.
“The Basketball Champions League Final Four is putting Belgian basketball on the map,” Gillet said. “It’s really important for Belgian basketball to get this exposure. I think this is the perfect occasion for this. It’s great that Antwerp did so well so they had the chance to host the tournament. Let’s hope that in the future we’re going to have more and more events like this. ”
After spending 2017-2018 with Elan-Chalon in France, Gillet signed with Tenerife last summer. This is the 28-year-old international player’s second season away from Belgium and the first in such a competitive championship as ACB.
“For me it’s the best league in Europe,” Gillet said. “When you come to a new team like this your role change. Especially if it’s your first season. My teammates and the staff helped me much in adapting. When I come out on the court, I need to spend my minutes playing hard. Diving to get a ball when needed. And of course, provide my energy and my shooting.”
Tenerife will need Gillet to bring out both in the Final vs. Virtus Bologna.
“Offensively, everybody in Bologna is dangerous. Their game is very physical and very fast. But their main strengths? Their physicality and the fact that every player can be a threat.”
“But this is our strength too. Everybody can have a great night from us,” Gillet added.
So which factor will determine who will be crowned Basketball Champions League champion?
“Defense. The score will probably not be so high. I think that the team that will play the best defense will win.”