By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
In Spanish “Rey” means king, so Felipe Reyes plays for the right team. The captain of Real Madrid spoke to Eurohoops about the upcoming Final Four – with the valuable help of Real’s great press office – and he assured us that he and his teammates doesn’t feel any kind of extra pressure going to London.
Being a member of Real Madrid club in any section, after all, is synonymous to pressure and 18 years after the last triumph of the “Whites” in the Final Four of Ζaragosa, coach Laso and his players are ready to go all the way.
– You have taken champion trophies and cups with Real and also medals with Spanish national team at Eurobasket, World Championship and Olympic Games. So the Euroleague trophy is the final goal that you have to reach?
“It is true that the Euroleague title is the only one which left in my personal trophy case, but it does not mean I want to stop there if I got it. I have always been a very ambitious player and it means I will be always willing to win as many titles, games or medals as possible”.
– The majority says that you are the biggest soldier of the team. That you are not the player that gonna score 20 points, but will work very hard on the court. Do you agree?
“I do not think about myself. I have always put the team interests first. That is how it works in a collective sport such as basketball. I will always do the best for the team, whatever it is necessary to win a game. Points are important but there are many other aspects which can decide the result of a game: rebounding, defence and so on. Therefore there are several ways in which you can help the team. It is important to be aware of it and go for it”.
– Eighteen years without a Euroleague Trophie puts more pressure to the players of the most sucessful team in Europe?
“I do not think so. We just have to focus on our first game against Barcelona knowing that a Real Madrid player is someone who gets used to pressure in many different ways. It does no matter for how long Real Madrid has not won a Euroleague title. What really matters is that we are in a position to fight for it again”.
– You will play against Barcelona at the semifinal for the third time this year. So there are no secrets or it will be a different?
“No, it will be the 5th time we play against Barcelona this year. One time at the Spanish Supercup, another one in the Spanish Cup and two times in the League, so this will be the 5th. Even though we know each other extremely well, every game is different and nobody knows what will happen or what the result will be in the following one. It is always like this. The final result of a game depends on many things and the Euroleague semifinal will not be the exception. We have to be aware of small details which might be decisive, and mentaly strong to overcome the obstacles we will come across in this game”.
– This year Real proved many times hat it can prevail in crucial games. Are you ready once more?
“We have been following the same basketball philosophy since Pablo Laso arrived to Real Madrid bench in 2011: defensive rebounding, speed, fast transitions… It has made our game attractive for the fans but also very effective. We must trust our way to play, be faithful to it and go on in the same way because it is worth”.
– What is your opinion about the other game between Olympiacos and CSKA?
“It will be an exciting and balanced game. I expect a great spectacle. It is a pity I have to miss it since, as a basketball fan, I would enjoy it a lot”.