In the arena, again!

May 25, 2012

For a third year in a row we are playing in the Euroleague quarterfinals, this time against Maccabi, a constant Playoffs and frequent Final Four participant. Every year, Maccabi builds its team with that ambition.

This year, Maccabi played in a very tough group during the Top 16 phase. In the middle of such strong competition, Maccabi has proven and demonstrated its quality and deservedly reached first place in its group.

We went to Israel aware of our opponent’s strength, but we brought along our ambitions, desires and dreams. In the first game, for the umpteenth time, we surprised the basketball public and made a run. In that game basketball showed one of its most interesting sides: it was the example that if a team really wants to win and doesn't give up that desire, it can still celebrate even if at some moment it was losing by 20 points. Game 2 second was marked by Maccabi's quality.

Now we return to Belgrade Arena, our second home. Personally, Pionir feels more like home to me, but the Arena is the only place that can meet our needs and accommodate all the fans who want to come see this playoff. I had the opportunity to play previously in the match at Belgrade Arena that became part of Partizan and Euroleague history, in which the single-game attendace record in a European club game was broken.

I tried to relate that experience to our new players, in some way to prepare them for what they can expect in the Arena, so they won’t feel pressure. It’s an experience that doesn’t happen often in your career. I think that even without stories from those of us who played previously at the Arena, our teammates will react in the best manner.

I hope that once again we experience something new in the Arena, to write another page of history. The Arena has a capicity for that, and Partizan fans have the strength to set a new record.

We shouldn’t jump to any premature conclusions.. The story continues and we will leave it for a next opportunity. But, yes, I hope you will soon read that third blog.

POSTED BY

PETAR BOZIC - BELGRADE, SERBIA

DATE:

Tuesday, March 30, 2010