By Michalis Gioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
Sasha Vezenkov and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague trophy. This could have been the headline.
With the Bulgarian forward of Olympiacos as the prince of the story, who eventually gets everything: beats the… villains, wins the girl, and opens the treasure.
In his fairytale, there is only one goal. Something shiny. That everyone wants, but in the end, only a handful of people conquer.
The EuroLeague trophy is available to the participants of the Final Four: Olympiacos, AS Monaco, Panathinaikos Aktor, and Fenerbahce Beko.
Vezenkov talked to Eurohoops about the cup that must finally arrive, Vassilis Spanoulis and Monaco, and also about Giorgos Bartzokas and a possible matchup between the Reds and the Greens in Abu Dhabi.
And of course about the social media environment and the rivalry between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
Ladies and gentlemen, Sasha Vezenkov in his own words…
-You have stated that winning the Euroleague is not an end in itself. This year will be a pivotal season, since for you it will be the third Final Four and for Olympiacos the fourth in a row.
“When you get this close, when you get to a Final Four you want to win, you don’t settle for the experience. I don’t think any team settles. The whole journey is difficult because you play 34, plus the Playoffs, up to 38-39 games.
When you reach the Final Four, it’s like you haven’t played anything; nothing counts. It’s a tournament, one night, the Semifinal, and if everything goes well, you have the Final. The mental part is completely different, and how you have to prepare.
I think we have the experience, regardless of whether in previous years some things didn’t work out, that we need to win the Euroleague.
And certainly a pivotal year for Olympiacos with the 100th anniversary, this anticipation. We finished the Regular Season in first place after two years. This makes fans confident and creates the anticipation that we can win the Euroleague.”
-Although it can be an overstatement, because we’re talking about sports, do you consider the single-elimination format ‘unfair’?
“That’s a long discussion. The Final Four has its beauty, but if you ask me, playing a series, I think, is fairer. Probably, there is no such thing as fair or unfair, it’s nicer for everyone. You have one chance in three games to show that one night really can’t cost you anything. But the Final Four is the magic, the beauty, the charm it gives to the fans. We’re talking about “one plus one” night.”
-Since the beginning of the season, there has been a feeling that Olympiacos, similar to Panathinaikos, will definitely make the trip to Abu Dhabi. It was so clear, even before playing a single game. Was there any doubt in your mind whether you would make it?
“The way the Euroleague format is, it allows us to set some small goals, some small objectives. Certainly, the big one is winning the EuroLeague, and before you get to that, the Final Four. But you must secure homecourt advantage, to get into the Playoffs, to win, and then.
You can’t think from September or October that we’ll be in the Final Four. But as time goes by, as you get stronger, you take steps, step by step, you think ‘I’ll get there and win’. The two teams were built for the Final Four. If any team didn’t reach the Final Four, it would be a failure both because of the roster and because of the created atmosphere about both sides will surely win the EuroLeague.”
-Two teams… hurting you in previous years, Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes, are not in the Final Four. Your side is consistent. Is that enough for the trophy?
“Enough to bring the trophy, no. It definitely shows that you’re there, that you’re doing something right, so since we’ve shown that we’re doing something right both in the Regular Season and in the Playoffs, it’s time to change what happens in the Final Four. It hasn’t gone well in recent years, but we’re ready.”
“If Spanoulis suited up…”
-The last time Monaco visited SEF, you had a warm conversation with Vassilis Spanoulis, your former teammate. What is the feeling in the Final Four of Monaco and Spanoulis as opponents? In the Final Four, he was… ruthless. Does it create doubts?
“Not at all! Whatever he does, whatever he shows, he is still on the sidelines. If he suited up, I might have answered differently. But besides the joke. He is an extremely gifted person and coach, he has shown it, he has put his touch, he is a winner, he will give this mentality to Monaco: Don’t be afraid of anyone and go get him. But we have also shown that we can cope. He’s a friend with a lot of the guys still on the team, but when you go there, there are no friendships, there’s nothing, just the goal. Which is true for us and them.”
-Following up on expectations from the beginning of the season for the eternal rivals, it is very possible that we will see the first Greek Final in the history of the Euroleague. Do you consider it taboo to talk about this possibility, given that you also have a Semifinal to play first?
“They avoid it because everyone wants to see their team qualify first. And Monaco and Fenerbahce – and especially the Turkish team – have shown lately that they are in good shape and what they can do. But seeing a Greek final, both for basketball and for the young kids and those involved in basketball and sports, is something very beautiful and something that has never happened before, so I believe that for Greek basketball, it will definitely be very good. For the teams, it’s all about reaching the Final, so I think the opponent is secondary.”
-If the Greek Final happens, regardless of the winner, do you think it will end the debate about the best team?
“Everyone sees it differently. That is, after we possibly play, there is a Greek Final, and in a few days, the championship. In other words, there could be a different result. It’s one game, one night. Surely some have dreamed of it. For the fans, it will not be easy, neither from those watching on television nor in attendance, because Panathinaikos versus Olympiakos is completely different for anyone who has felt the rivalry. But as I said, the first thing for the teams is to reach the Final.
Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce will play first. The issue for both teams is to reach the Final. We are second. So we will know who is in the Final, but certainly each team plays to reach the Final and then win a championship. The opponent is secondary.”
Expressive Bartzokas
-Recently, Coach Bartzokas talked about how he doesn’t like how he appears on the bench. What do the players think?
“I think every coach is expressive. We have seen other coaches too. Certainly, Coach knows himself and knows what he likes and what he doesn’t like. We are not here to judge him. We are here to do our job. Many times, OK, there will be a confrontation.
However, this is within the framework of discussing, although during the game, it is difficult. We have learned that the coach is always right. That is his role. He will tell us what to do. Now the players also understand, unlike in the past. You will see players being more comfortable saying something to the coach, to answer, which in the past we may not have seen so much. Everyone has their role.
The coach and the player, we all try to have a collaboration, because together we will all win in the end.”
-What is your relationship with Coach Bartzokas, not only in basketball, but also at the personal level?
“I’ve been playing for coach Bartzokas for four years [at Olympiacos], plus one more at Barcelona. We’ve been together for five years. I’ve been through a lot, he’s helped me a lot in my career. I can’t hide it. I owe him a lot.”
The hug with Lessort
-Against Panathinaikos, in the EuroLeague at SEF, following the buzzer, you rushed to hug Mathias Lessort. What led you to this action, which we haven’t been accustomed to…
“We’re not used to it, unfortunately. The rivalry is huge, and the toxicity is huge. But the passion of the fans is also huge. On the other hand, we are players. When we step on the court, we want to win for our team. But because we are athletes and above all people, when you see a colleague injured and those moments, especially for Mathias, have lasted. You see a huge athlete, so strong, injured…
I’ve said it many times, I wish all the teams didn’t have any injuries, so that everyone could play. We know how much he suffers and how much he wants to help his team. We see him experiencing games with passion. I wanted to tell him up close to be strong and that we’re waiting for him to come back. Above all, we are people, and above all, there should be no injuries.”
“Social media can be evil.”
-Social media can be toxic. Does it scare you, given we are heading to a do-or-die game?”
“Knowing that you come back with all the good, there are also some bad things. Do you know what has happened? With social media, where anyone can send a message or write a comment, give their opinion on anything, without any consequences, that is something sad. Anyone can say something very bad, without thinking about any consequences. Supporting your team with passion is one thing. It is legitimate. But don’t go too far.
I am not a person who will say, ‘don’t curse, don’t do this or that’. This is how people have been raised here. If they stay vocal and that’s it, it is OK. They will give 100% from the stands and go home. But it can be evil. There is a huge problem with all this…
Yes, there is some progress. I notice it in public areas. Many fans of opposing teams will approach me for pictures with them or their children. Which is very beautiful.
Being praised by your team is very nice. But having different people, of all ages – children, older people – come to you and tell you that ‘I’m from the rival team, but I want a photo with you’, is nice. On the other hand, what worries me, but doesn’t scare me, are people who stir this whole situation.
If everyone wished to be a little better and to help this team, the things they know and what they want for their team, I think everything will be fine.”
-Is the player’s example enough? Like you talking about Kendrick Nunn winning the MVP award and vice versa.
“I don’t know if it’s enough, to be honest. Everyone is assigned to a role. If everyone from their position sets an example, without looking at what others are doing, only then real progress be made.”
-Have you realized how easy you make basketball look? Americans have a saying, ‘he got game’. Is that why it looks so simple?
“I try. I like basketball, I like playing the game. I try to be consistent, to help my team win, I try to work on all parts of my game, and to constantly improve.
That’s what I want, that’s what I care about, and through that, the team wins. I know that many times, someone doesn’t understand how it’s done or how I do it. You might need to know a little bit of basketball to understand some things. I like what I do.”
-The pivotal point of the season that led to Abu Dhabi?
“From Milan onward. We said we had some tough games coming up, but we also won at Milan, Zalgiris, Real, and Baskonia. Those four games plus the Bayern game.
It was five wins in a row that gave us a boost, plus two more wins that followed and gave us confidence. Those solidified us in the top four, and then we went in first place.”