Hi Matjaz. This has been quite an interesting season for you and CSKA, finding some old teammates and your old coach in a new place. How do you feel about what you guys have accomplished?

"Like you say, it has been an interesting season, getting back my old coach and some of my old teammates, especially here in Moscow, which is a whole different world than in Italy, especially the weather. But it certainly has been interesting. With the injury to David Andersen, a lot of people thought we were a good team, but after losing our best player, not as competitive as we would have been with him. I think we kind of proved everybody wrong. We're still here, we're still alive. We are proud to make it this far and confident of our chances in the Final Four."

Next stop is another Final Four, your third with three different teams. What does your experience at Final Fours tell you about the opportunity in this one for CSKA?

"I kind of think every single team was a story of its own. And I also think this one has its story. The most important thing is not to feel entitled to this. You must realize that this is a privilege that happens very rarely, so you've got be at your best, come prepared, do the maximum when the time comes - and hope that's enough to win!"

Your last Final Four, with Climamio in 2004, was certainly an up-and-down one: an overtime 100-point win in the semis and a record-breaking defeat in the final. Have you tried to forget that weekend in Tel Aviv or learn from it?

"What you learn from that experience is that even playing bad, or starting a game bad, you can't just lay down. What happened there was kind of a disgrace for the club and the players there. On the other hand, you learn that winning the first game doesn't mean anything. You've got to come ready to play a second one in two days' time. Obviously, we were not ready. That experience, for me, will surely help in this Final Four, to be ready for a second game if it comes to that, and not repeat the same mistakes."

Let's talk about this season. Your injury just 3 minutes into the opening game was a factor in the team losing its first two. After that, however, the team really had to come together, and did. How did it happen?

"It's true that maybe my injury in the first game affected the team, especially that night, losing to Siena at home. Losing at Panathinaikos in the second game was a little different story, because we played OK in that one. Then, you're right, we kind of came together. Our problem early was having so many new people, faces and ideas to deal with. It just took a lot longer than expected to start clicking. We had to understand what the coach actually wants, his philosophy, and where each and every one of finds a place for our game in that philosophy. The good thing is that in the second part of the season, we clicked and started playing together at the most important time. I hope it lasts."

Then in January, as you mentioned, there was the big blow of losing David Andersen to a season-ending injury. What affect did that have on the team? It seemed that everyone stepped up after hearing that news.

"Exactly. That is what happened. We knew that without David, offensively we were a little short, if we can say that. We also knew that defensively we could manage. Everyone had to take a step up and we did a good job covering his absence. Maybe with one less player we became even more dangerous, because everyone underestimated us a little."

You in particular had extra responsibility with Andersen out. Did you have to change your approach in some particular way?

"No, I don't think so. The approach remained the same, but I played more minutes. I had more responsibility and playing time, but I was able to stay healthy, and I think I did OK."

How much of a help was it for you and guys like Trajan Langdon and David Andersen that coach Ettore Messina is there on the bench in Moscow?

"He was a big part of me going to Moscow, because I was kind of afraid, not of the club, but of the city and the living conditions for my family. But with him being coach, that made things easy. I knew what he expected of me, and what I could expect from him, and that made things easier. And, of course, playing with David again was a plus."

CSKA has made it to four consecutive Final Fours, but hasn't won it all since 1971. Is that good momentum for your team or added pressure to win it all at last?

"It's a good thing to be there four times in a row, but it's a bad thing not to be able to win there, so it's a two-way situation, good and bad at the same time. Everybody kind of expects the trophy now after waiting such a long time, and that adds a little pressure. You can take the pressure in a positive way, thinking of all those people behind you. Or you can take it in bad way, and that can be bad. I take pressure as a good thing. Four times is great consistency for the club. There was maybe a different coach, and different team mentality, the last three times. But it still says that CSKA is a high-quality team on the best level in Europe. And we showed, despite the changes on the team and of the coach, that we could maintain that level. We're still there."

Against Barcelona in the semifinal, you'll face former teammate Gianluca Basile and several other players you know well from all your years in Italy. Will knowing so many players be an advantage?

"Of course. It's always a little bit easier to prepare for a game, even important games like this, if you know who you are going against and saw them a lot before. That's when your experience kicks in. At least for me, knowing who to expect and what they do, will be better. But of course, Barcelona is a great team with a great coach, so I am expecting it to be very, very tough no matter what."

You were a Euroleague champ once, in 2001, under a different format. What would it mean to Matjaz Smodis to do it again at a Final Four?

"It would be of great personal satisfaction to me to win this. It would mean a lot for me to re-conquer the title, of course. And it would be a reconfirmation of my qualities as a player and a person."