Ready for THE BIG GAME!

May 25, 2012

Dusko Savanovic - Power Electronics Valencia

Hello everyone, this is Dusko Savanovic of Power Electronics Valencia and THE BIG GAME has arrived! As you probably know, we play against Fenerbahce Ulker this week for a spot in the Euroleague Quarterfinal Playoffs. Everyone in Valencia is excited about this game, asking questions about it in the street. Everyone that follows basketball in Valencia is already waiting for the game on Thursday. Journalists, fans, players, coaches... Everybody! Our Euroleague season comes down to one game now, Thursday against Fener. We play at home, so the atmosphere will be just electric at the Fonteta. Everyone is ready to support us and we, as a team, have been thinking about this game at the end of the day. This is a huge opportunity for us to make it to the next round. In a word - we are ready.

If we win, we would face Real Madrid in the best-of-five playoffs. First and foremost, we have to beat Fener by at least 3 points. It is the only option we have right now, but it is a reachable one - it is not like we have to win by 25 points or something like that. Madrid is a well-known team, they beat us in the Copa del Rey semifinals and is a strong opponent, but I think we have the chance to beat them. We just played against them in Valencia and beat them in Spanish League action. I also think we are in better shape than they are. In other words, this is a unique opportunity to fight for a Final Four spot. Of course, it all comes down to the game against Fener, but looking forward, things look quite good, considering we were almost out two weeks ago!

Last week we needed to beat Zalgiris in Kaunas and wait for Olympiacos to beat Fener in order to stay alive - and that is exactly what happened! It would have been stupid if we played hard to beat such a strong team as Zalgiris and then ran out of chances to qualify. We did our work by winning the game and got some help from some former Valencia players - particularly, Loukas Mavrokefalides - and were lucky that Olympiacos won its game, too. It is tough to do something big in sports if you don't have a little bit of luck on your side. Only we know how hard we are practicing and how much energy we are putting to be where we are now after such a slow start to the season. We came back from the bottom of... everything! We were deep down in a well and swam back, climbed back to be where we are. We managed to do it and now are on our way to doing something huge. We won't give up, no way!

We lost Victor Claver to injury, but Jeremy Richardson had an outstanding game in Kaunas. This proves that we have a long bench and everybody can contribute in every game. Richardson played well in the first opportunity he had to do so. He had been injured most of the season, but since Claver was unavailable, Jeremy took his chance and played very well. Truth to be told, there are players like Florent Pietrus, who is only playing Euroleague games now, Marc Fernandez and Jose Simeon who are ready to contribute, they are excellent players. With such a long season, it is important to have a long bench - and we have it!

As you know, I play power forward and Fener's best options at this position, Gasper Vidmar and Mirsad Turkcan, are out with injuries. Still, Fenerbahce has a deep frontcourt and it won't be easy, not at all! Just the fact that the winner - unless we do it by 1 or 2 points - goes to the playoffs says it all about everyone's motivation. It is going to be emotional for coach Neven Spahija, who won the Eurocup with Valencia last season. He is a great coach and will be extra motivated and ready to make the most out of his deep bench. They have a lot of players that can shoot the ball and are in good shape and Fener is used to fighting for titles in Turkey. We won't give up a single second and even though some of us are in our first Euroleague season, we are ready for the big game. From many angles, this will be a tough game at all positions. If I were you, I wouldn't miss it!

I remember what I said in the summer about telling all Spanish fans that I was sorry to wave them goodbye. It made it to the newspapers and websites everywhere. Of course, Serbia beat Spain and made it to the semis at the World Championships. I feel a bit like I did this summer, so this is for all the Fenerbahce fans: You created a great basketball atmosphere in the game in Istanbul and that helped your team to beat us, but this time it is going to be very different. I am sorry to tell you that we are going to win by more than 2 points and qualify. Your team had a good season, I wish you all the best, but your Euroleague season ends here!

As for Valencia fans, don't you worry. We are going to give our very best so you can see your own team in the Euroleague playoffs. If I have to break my own leg to win the game, I'll do it. This is another turning point this season. It’s now or never, Thursday night against Fener. Nobody wants be out of the Euroleague. Not us, at least. Get ready for a big game!

POSTED BY

DUSKO SAVANOVIC - VALENCIA, SPAIN

DATE:

Tuesday, March 01, 2011