By Bugra Uzar/ Buzar@eurohoops.net
Shane Larkin and Anadolu Efes are set for the EuroLeague Final Four and their first hurdle in the semifinals will be CSKA Moscow, the team that beat them in the Final two years ago.
“They’re the only team that swept their series and they’re a team that’s always gonna be there. They’ve been in nine consecutive Final Fours, they have the coach, they have the players, they have the experience, they have everything they need to be successful. We have to respect them as one of the best teams in the league,” Larkin told Eurohoops.
The guard admitted that the loss gave them more motivation the following year and the cancelation of last season due to COVID gave them another extra motive to push hard this year as well.
“It definitely gives us more motivation. Two years ago, we lost in the championship. Last year, we came out with a chip on our shoulders every single game, to prove a point. We were well on our way to win the championship last year but COVID happened, and it’s nobody’s fault but we feel like that was our redemption year, to go there and get what we deserved. All 15 guys in the locker room are gonna fight for each other, try to win this championship, and bring it back home,“ he said and added.
“At the end of the day, the thing that would validate everything and put that final stamp of approval on the realness and the type of success that we’ve had would be a championship.”
Take a look at the full interview with Larkin who also talked about head coach Ergin Ataman, his teammates and the success they’ve had so far, his struggles, the challenges they faced over the past two years, as well as how Real Madrid‘s unexpected comeback made them more prepared for the Final Four.