By Moshe Barda/ info@eurohoops.net
He is not the first player who comes to mind when you think about Euroleague stars, but he is always there. He is the one who brings balance, he is wise – his first nickname back when he was in his early 20s was the “wise child” – beyond his years and he is ready for one more big challenge. Nikos Zisis talked to Eurohoops after the historic win of Fenerbahce/ Ulker in Tel Aviv which sealed the first ever qualification of the club to a Euroleague Final Four.
According to him, the game in Tel Aviv was a test that Fenerbahce passed successfully: “Maccabi started well in the first 5-7 minutes, they were the champions until this game and I think it was important that we kept our composure and scored some important shots. Anybody could win this game, that’s why we are happy we finished the series. We are not the most experienced team, we haven’t been tested in battles like these.”
Still there was one thing missing. Fenerbahce and Zisis would love to have Ricky Hickman on the court: “Ιt’s strange. I came in the team in December, I play the same position with him, I knew him as an opponent, he is a terrific guy. We spent a lot of time together, off the court too those four months. He was very unlucky. We have created a WhatsApp group with him, the whole team, and we are in constant contact with him, as he is currently in the States. We are whishing him the best and we dedicate this qualification to him. We are waiting for him in Madrid. It was strange, and I have told him this, that I came to help in this position. I didn’t want to take over Ricky’s responsibilities. God wanted it like this. He went down, so I had to play more. Ricky is really a great guy, a Euroleague winner and I feel really good that we can dedicate this win to him.”
Zisis has been coached by Ιvkovic, Blatt, Messina and Giannakis among others, but this is the first time in his career that he is playing under Obradovic. What’s his take on him? “Being Greek, I didn’t know Zeljko personally but I was following his career closely all those years he was in Panathinaikos. A lot of my teammates in the national team were telling stories about him and I am proud and honored to be coached by him. He is an amazing coach, first of all because he pays so much attention to details. He makes you accountable for every day you step on the court, for every practice and every shootaround. You must have 1000% concentration in order to be part of the team and he is teaching you little things every day. He has done everything and his experience will help our team, it will make up for the inexperience of the players. We are going to be the underdog of this Final Four, because we are lacking experience.”
So, does being the underdog also mean winning the title, like it happened with Olympiacos and Maccabi the last three seasons? “You never know! In the last three years the underdogs won, because they also had their fans on their side. Milano last year was like Tel Aviv! Olympiacos had an amazing crowd. We have three and a half weeks to prepare ourselves, to listen to what the coach will tell us and I am sure we are going to have some fans on our side. I am sure our fans will come, I am proud to be part of this historic moment, for the first time we are going to a Final Four. In the past Turkish teams have been labeled as losing teams, spending a lot of money without getting big results. That’s why I am very happy that we managed to do it, to be in the Final Four. We are going to give our battle and do our best. I am personally very happy, because I was left out of the Top16 as a member of Unics and now I am in the Final Four.”
What was he thinking after the game? “The first thing that crossed my mind was that when we lost the Top16 with Unics I was so miserable. I was with my teammate Kostas Kaimakoglou and the Greek trainer of the team, Akis Kalaitzakis. But in three days everything changes. I am grateful to Fenerbahce and the chance they have given me. I tried to do whatever I could in order to make the transfer happen. I want to thank Unics once again for letting me go.”
And when he was in Unics, he had beat the big favorite to win the title, the hosts Real Madrid, in Spain: “Unics is the only team that has won in Madrid this year. Fenerbahce also got some big road wins in Top16, against CSKA and Olympiacos. The Final Four, however, is a unique beast. I wish to see both Greek teams in Madrid. Of course, Olympiacos has more chances, but in basketball you never know.”
And wouldn’t it be strange to face once again his friend and best man Vasilis Spanoulis in Madrid? “We have been opponents everywhere! In playoffs, Final Fours, Top16, even pre-season games. We have lived through everything. We are like brothers, but in 40 minutes everyone gives his best for his team.” And all this on the same court that he won the Euroleague in 2008 as a member of CSKA Moscow.