Regal FC Barcelona’s Juan Carlos Navarro and Erazem Lorbek are confident and ready ahead of their Final Four encounter with Final Four regulars, CSKA Moscow later today.
Barcelona and CSKA have appeared in more Final Four’s than any other European clubs. For the Catalans, this will be their 11th appearance, while CSKA will be making their 10th visit to European Basketball’s big dance. The form book is firmly with the Russian powerhouses, as they have won six Euroleague crowns as both the USSR and Russia. Despite their record number of appearances – Barcelona’s only title came in 2003.
Barcelona’s Juan Carlos Navarro is ready to play in Paris, and suggests that his team just have to play their own style of Basketball that got them there.
“We are just waiting to get on court and play against CSKA.” Navarro saying.
“We have been working very hard to be here and the team is ready to play tomorrow. We have to learn from the mistakes we made last season and play with a little more patience.
“The results say that Barcelona has more chances to win than last season. We had great results in the Euroleague and in the Spanish League, but if we don’t win titles, nobody will remember all this.” Navarro concluded.
His team-mate and Slovenian International, Erazem Lorbek is looking forward, but knows that these next games are a lot different to any other.
Lorbek commenting: “Of course, a Final Four game is a little different than a regular season one. There is bigger pressure and we play in a big arena, so everything is different.
“CSKA is a very good team and have a lot of experience, so I am sure they will play a good game against us.”
Barcelona will start as favourites, but CSKA, will not be coming to their regular hang-out spot for eight seasons, just to make up the numbers.
John Hobbs for talkbasket.net – in Paris.
