Here comes my second take about the goings-on during what is already a busy summer in European basketball. As some national teams are getting ready for the Olympics, we on the German team are still trying to qualify after the first stage of the qualifier has finished here in Athens. At the same time, all the Euroleague teams - including my own, Joventut Badalona - are building their rosters with anticipation of the the first group stage in the Euroleague. After last week's draw, everyone knows their opponents and is trying to manage their teams accordingly. So the stage is set for a great start to the 2008-09 season here in Europe.

As for the Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament, going on right now here in Greece, I think that the group stage has been a success. The hotel is, as always, a fun place to be, because you get to see old friends and teammates. The German team has a late-night poker game in the lobby and everyone is complaining about the terrible food, just like at every other tournament any summer. It's always a big event, where of course winning takes center stage, but seeing people that you have not seen in a while comes a close second. Once again, the favorites out of every group have come out on top, and with that the European teams have shown their dominance once again. The home team from Greece has been most impressive as everyone probably expected; their full court... leer m�s

Fresh off our ULEB cup season, I am honored to have been asked to give everyone who is interested a little bit of an insight to what goes on behind the scenes of not only a club but also a national team. This summer is one of the most exciting ones of my life because not only do I still have the chance to become an Olympic games participant with the German national team, but I will also start into my first Euroleague season personally and with my team Joventut Badalona who is looking to leave our mark on the Euroleague and Spanish ACB after the most successful season for the club in many years. Even though we will have a completely new team and coach we are looking forward to picking up where we left off and being a contender in the Euroleague.

This year in particular will be electrifying and new for me since I have played the FIBA cup, the ULEB cup and will now for the first time be a part of the Euroleague. In a year where the Final Four will be played not only in my home country, but in the brand new O2 arena which is located in my home town of Berlin. Even though we are a young team which has yet to be fully formed, I believe with an aggressive style of basketball which we have been playing in the past year we can be a contender to play in the Final Four and in that I could fulfill my dream of playing in the Euroleague in front of my friends and family.

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