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Nenad Krstic, Triumph Lyubertsy
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 The 2008 Eurocup first qualifying round started with a lot of drama all around the continent. One of the most thrilling games came in Russia, where Triumph Lyubertsy rallied from a 16-point deficit to get a 78-78 tie against Base BC Oostende. Both teams are now ready for the second leg in Oostende, in which the winner of that game will advance to the second qualifying round against Le Havre. Triumph has played a major role in the off-season market, landing marquee free agents such as Kerem Tunceri, Alan Anderson, J.R. Bremer or Nenad Krstic, its new franchise player. Krstic became a Euroleague star with Partizan before going overseas to play in the NBA. He has returned to European basketball and his first goal is none other than beating Oostende next week, as Krstic told us in his Eurocupbasketball.com interview. "We just think about winning in Belgium. We come off a bad game but it is in the past right now," Krstic told us. "We need to win to qualify to the next round."
Hello, Nenad. You have already played your first Eurocup game against Base Oostende, with an unusual 78-78 tie. How was your return to European club competitions?
"Well, I can say it was a little bit disappointing, since we all expected to beat Oostende. We had a really slow start and were trailing by 16 at the first of the first quarter. We played really well, shooting with great percentage and we didn't make any shots on the other end, especially from the three-point line. But we have a good chance to win the series and next week we are going to show that we are a better team. I am sure that we are going to win. Personally, I am still adjusting even when playing for my national team helped me a lot. This is a new situation, not just for me, because a lot of us joined the team around two weeks ago. We are a new team and are trying to build the chemistry. Maybe that is the reason why we didn't play at the level that everybody expects."
As you said, Triumph was down by 16 at the first of the first quarter but at least managed to get back to the series. What do you expect from the second game in Oostende?
"I heard that it is really tough to play in Oostende, but we have a lot of experienced players who have been in situations like this one. I think that we just need to focus on our game and we will be fine. I am pretty sure that we are going to find the right form in the next couple of weeks. We hope to show we are a good team in Belgium next week."
How important has the game been for you and your team, in terms of getting to know your opponent a little bit better? Were you a bit surprised in the beginning of the game?
"Yes, I think so. We had enough information before the game but they suprised us, especially with their offense, in a couple of plays. We know what to expect in the next game and have enough time to prepare it. We also have a Russian League game in between, but still, there is enough time to prepare. Like I said, if we play our game, I think we are going to be fine. We missed a lot of shots from the three-point line even when we had a high percentage of two-pointers. Those three-point shots must fall in and I think that if we get to the game focused, we should win it."
 Triumph has made a big effort to put a competitive team together, as you are one of the new arrivals that also include Kerem Tunceri, Alan Anderson or Marcus Goree. How do you like your teammates and how much time will you need to give your maximum level?
"I like my team a lot. Like I said, we have a lot of quality players but the problem is that we have not been together for a long time because some of us were playing for our national teams. Two weeks ago we played a friendly tournament in Turkey and wsome of us joined there. We didn't have a lot of time to practice or work on our defense. We all still have to buold our chemistry to play better. It always takes time. To become a good team we all have to believe in ourselves, practice hard, get to the offense and defense, tactics... Sometimes if you lose some games, you have to stay together."
How much of a disappointment would be for you and your team not to play the Eurocup?
"You know what? We don't think about that right now. We just think about winning in Belgium. We come off a bad game but it is in the past right now. We now face a normal game and need to win it, that's all. There are no room for surprises anymore, they showed everything they had. It is just basketball and who is going to win the game. That's pretty much it, we need to win to qualify to the next round. If we start thinking about what may happen, we are going to lose. We have to think that we will win the game against Oostende."
How the increased exchange of players going back and forth across the Atlantic is good for world basketball?
"It's really good, especially seeing that a lot of players came from the NBA to European basketball. Not only it is good for European basketball, but for world basketball, too. European basketball got so much better from the sports and financial side that more and more players will come. I think that is the future, but we will see."
What did you miss most about European basketball?
"Maybe the Euroleague. Even when Triumph will not play the Euroleague this season, I played with Partizan for three years. It is a great competition. I also missed fans, who are great in Europe. The NBA is really good, too. Both places have good sides and bad sides. From my point of view, playing in Europe is great, but so is doing it in the NBA."
 There is a good number of quality teams fighting to get to the Eurocup, that already features teams like Lietuvos Rytas, Aris, Pamesa Valencia, Khimki, Dynamo Moscow or Fortitudo Bologna, among many other. What's your opinion about the Eurocup this season?
"It is really a good quality competition. All the teams that you mentioned are really good and like you said, there are really good teams trying to qualify to the regular season. I hope that we are one of the teams that qualifies. Of course, we need to beat Oostende to play against Le Havre in the second qualifying round. Our regular season group would also be strong, with Besiktas Cola Turka, Khimki and Benetton Treviso. Those are really good teams, almost at the Euroleague level. The Eurocup will be really strong this season."
Last but not least, how far can Triumph Lyubertsy go this season? Which are the goals for you, personally, and for your new team?
"The first goal, of course, is to qualify to the Eurocup. Then we have to go as far as possible in the Russian League, that became really strong, with good teams and quality players everywhere. We have to play hard and see what happens. We have to be in the Russian League semifinals and see what happens from there. The first goal, however, is winning the game against Oostende. For me, personally, I only think about the next game against Oostende and how we can win it."
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Friday, October 17, 2008
Javier Gancedo, Eurocupbasketball.com
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