Final

[TalkBasket]

Two pre-final interviews one of Eurelijus ?ukauskas and the other of Felipe Reyes.

It's great to see you going to the ULEB Cup Final, Eurelijus, especially after your long-term injury last season. How happy are you to be back on court and trying to win this trophy for Lietuvos Rytas?



"I feel very happy advancing to the ULEB Cup final. Certainly I still feel some after-effects of my complicated injury. Personally this season is not the best one in my career. However, I am ready to help my teammates as much as possible."



Of course, you have won continental titles before, the 1999 Euroleague crown with Zalgiris, the 2003 Eurobasket with Lithuania, the FIBA Europe League in 2004 with Unics. Which of those do you treasure most and why?



"All those titles allow me to reflect on precious memories. These titles are the best highlights of my career. I had to work a lot in order to win them. To make every effort, analyze many teams and so on. However, the most memorable is the European Championshup title won with the Lithuanian national team. We played our best in Sweden. For me, personally, that championship was really successful too."



Are all title games different? Or is there some factor in common that all teams need to do if they want to win a single-game final like the one coming up in Charleroi?



"The main thing we should show on the court in Charleroi is team spirit. In Lithuania, we play collective team basketball. That is the only one way to reach our goal. The ULEB Cup final is not an exception."



Some of your teammates have won this title previously, in 2005. What would it mean for you at this point in your career to lift the ULEB Cup trophy?



"Undoubtedly, it would be great to win this trophy in Charleroi. This season was not easy for me, especially from the psychological side. I had to recover after an injury and as a result, I was missing basketball and winning titles as well."



In recent years, you've played in Italy, Russia, Turkey and Greece. Was it important for you after the injury to come home and play in Lithuania again?



"I do not think that recovering from the injury in my native country is much easier than it would be abroad. Lithuanians know everything about basketball. Our fans want to win all the competitions and their demands are unbelievable! Players read newspapers and get a lot of criticism. Perhaps I feel good playing basketball in Lithuania because of the sense that I can give all my heart not for Greeks or Turks but for Lithuanians."



What is your opinion about the state of Lithuanian basketball?



"In my mind, the Lithuanian national championship has risen to higher levels. When I began my career abroad, the second strong team, Lietuvos Rytas, was just building up. Now we have two powerful teams, Lietuvos Rytas and Zalgiris. A lot of fans go for Lietuvos Rytas. Moreover, a new modern gym was built in Vilnius and it is always sold out. Generally speaking, it is not easy to play road games with other Lithuanian clubs, either."



Since this is your first ULEB Cup season, how do you rate the basketball level you have found in this competition?



"For sure the ULEB Cup is the second strongest tournament in Europe after the Euroleague. And I have found quite a high level of play here. There are many strong teams participating in ULEB Cup. I am sure that some of them could compete in the Euroleague without problems. We reached the ULEB Cup final and it was a great win for us."



In the final, Lietuvos Rytas faces the winningest team in European basketball history, Real Madrid. What do you see as the key to beating Madrid?



"I need to say one more time that we have to play as a team and demonstrate quality basketball. This could be as the key to win this title. Also we have to stop the leaders of Real Madrid and not let them have open shots. Another very important factor is going into the game with a positive outlook."



You are well-known as a top shot-blocker, rebounder and unique passer for someone your size. Against a team like Madrid, that has dominated the paint lately, what sort of personal contribution do you hope to make in the final?



"I promise to do whatever I can do playing in the paint. Obviously, our opponents will do everything to stop our low-post players, too."



Many people remember your team's fans being a strong factor in Charleroi when the team won in 2005. Is that an advantage for Lietuvos Rytas this time as well?



"Our fans will give Lietuvos Rytas the chance to feel like we're playing in our own gym. It is always wonderful to play before our passionate fans. I hope our opponents will feel the pressure in Charleroi and that it will be a really positive factor. I remember the European championships in 2003 in Stockholm. A lot of Lithuanians came there and the atmosphere was fantastic!"

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Felipe, congratulations on reaching the ULEB Cup Final. Very few players have had the chance to be world champion and lift a continental trophy in the same season. What would it mean to you if you could add the ULEB Cup to your personal roll of honors?



"It would mean a lot. Like any other player, it is important to win titles at the domestic or continental level. When it comes to winning the ULEB Cup, it is not only winning an important title, as it also comes with a Euroleague ticket for next season. This was one of our priorities at the beginning of the season. Our goal was to fight for every competition and this is what we have done so far. We made it to the Spanish King's Cup final and could not win the title, so we hope that won't happen again this time. We are all looking forward to this game, with a lot of confidence. We know it will be tough, but of course we can do it."



With Madrid facing elimination in the second semifinal game against Unics, you were unstoppable, scoring 23 points and pulling 16 rebounds, your career high in ULEB Cup or Euroleague play. Was that one of your best games ever?



"Yes, I consider it one of the best, due to the importance of that game. It was a do-or-die game for us and I happened to play a great game, even close to perfection. This is one of the games I will always keep in my mind."



In the final, you will face Lietuvos Rytas, an experienced team that won this competition in 2005. What do you know about them and what do you have to do in order to win?



"We played against them in the pre-season, but they have changed a lot, and we have also changed because of injuries. L.Rytas is a solid team with a lot of great shooters at all positions. I think that, more or less, they are quite similar to Unics Kazan, a team in which every player can hit the outside shot. If we want to win the final, we have to be really focused as soon as we step on court, not allowing them to take outside shots and start feeling confident."



Your older brother Alfonso was with Madrid when it lost the ULEB Cup Final in Charleroi three years ago. Considering that he has taught you a lot already, will you seek his advice before this title game?



"I will call him, but I won't ask him much about the game, because I have already played too many finals. I am proud to play the ULEB Cup Final, and it is true that my brother played it before me, but I don't think it is necessary to speak to him about this. Maybe I will call him to ask him about the atmosphere in the final, because I already played in the Spiroudome, too, when I was with Estudiantes."



Real Madrid started slow in the ULEB Cup, losing three of its first four games, but has since won 11 of 12 to reach the final. What effect did those early losses have on the team?



"Well, those losses came when we were unbeaten in the Spanish League and everything seemed to be working well for us. We didn't play the same way in the ULEB Cup, however, and I think it was like a wake-up call. It helped us to face games with more intensity and we even managed to win our regular season group in the end."



You played the ULEB Cup for three seasons with Estudiantes and before this first appearance with Real Madrid. What do you think about the ULEB Cup's evolution in terms of playing level and organization?



"Like you said, I have played the ULEB Cup for many years and the playing level is better than ever this season. It is also true that we had to face a very tough regular season group, so I might have an elevated impression. But I really think that the playing level has increased over the years. It was really tough for us to make it to the ULEB Cup Final."



Congratulations, too, on becoming the ULEB Cup's all-time top rebounder recently. What advice would you give young players who want to become better rebounders?



"I was told about it and it is a nice thing to happen. It is difficult what to tell the young players out there. The most important thing is positioning well to get the rebounds, as well as wanting to grab it. We have to work hard in order to get the best position to grab rebounds. Instinct is important, but it is the will to grab rebounds that is most important in the end."



Since returning with the World Championships gold medal, you seem more focused than ever. How important was the gold medal for your confidence, especially for such games such as the ULEB Cup Final?



"The gold medal and the World Championship title have been very important for all the players that belonged to that team. They gave us a lot of confidence, as we all belong to the world champion squad. They give you extra confidence, something that you didn't have before. You really believe in yourself even more and realize you are a better player than you were, or at least better than you thought you were."



Is it difficult sometimes trying to live up to the legacy of Real Madrid name or do you take as motivation trying to match the club's past accomplishments?



"I don't think there is an extra motivation to play for Real Madrid. Of course, you have more pressure playing for this team than in any other. Everyone speaks about you in the press, but pressure and responsability is something that you have to deal with and carry on your own. The best thing you can do is try to forget about having too much pressure, avoid thinking too much about it and try to play the best basketball you can."