By Rigas Dardalis/ dardalis@eurohoops.net
Boniface N’Dong is a player known all over Europe for his quality and his consistence. He has won the Euroleague in 2010 as a member of Bercelona and now he is a part of the ambitious Galatasaray with many more exporienced players.
Eurohoops met him in Istanbul and talked about the play offs series between Panathinaikos and Barcelona, and also about Ante Tomic, the player who replaced him in the Catalans’ roster. Also he speaks about Galata who can conquer the championship, specially if the team locks the top spot of the regular season and the absolute home court advantage in the play offs.
– Can Galata surpasses Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce and get the championship?
“It’s really hard to say. For sure those three teams are the best and also Banvit is very good. We are doing fine and we are in the first place. It’s very important to get to the first place, because we will have the home advantage. We have already beaten two times Anadolu Efes and also Fener and that proves that we can do it. If we remained healthy and play like we can, then I believe that we have some chances”
– Did you believed that Panathinaikos will have a 2-1 lead in the play offs series against Barcelona?
“To be honest, no I didn’t. I believe that they injuries of Barcelona have played theyr part and specially missing Mickael. Navarro also is playing injured and they can’t use Oleson in Euroleague. It’s hard to play among so many problems and I think that Barcelona at this point it’s not the team it was during the rest of the season”.
– The same had happened back in 2011. Did you expected back then Panathinaikos to be so strong, specially in the games at Barcelona?
“No I don’t think, so. I believe that we lost the game because of the referees. I still remember that I was trying to dunk, they grabbed me, but the referees didn’t called a foul. Buit, I don’t want to say that the referees were the reason for our disqualification. Panathinaikos is a great team and it’s difficult to play against, specially in Athens”.
– When you face a team like Panathinaikos and 20.000 or even more fans, does this affect you and it’s difficult to have a good performance?
“No I don’t believe that. It’s better to play against such a crowd and in a great atmosphere. Personally, I enjoy it a lot. We are on the same gym, we here the same stuff with our opponents and I don’t think that the atmosphere in OAKA defined the outcome”.
– The player that replaced you in Barcelona was Ante Tomic. What’s your opinion about him?
“He is a very good player, I like him. He had a great season, he proves that he can do his job. The choice of Barcelona was right. Also he is still young, so he can improve more”.
– Was a mistake for Real, letting him go?
“I am not Real’s general manager in order to answer. Real is already in the Final Four, while Barcelona isn’t yet. It’s difficult to judge. Every team does the moves it believe will make it better and we have to respect their decisions”.