Hezonja: "The team is doing well and ready to reach a high level at the Final Four"

Mario Hezonja spoke to Realmadrid TV during the Media Day for the EuroLeague Final Four: “I think it's the most important basketball tournament in the world. It's just two games, and it's the most important and demanding moment, both individually and collectively. I think the team is good, prepared, and trained to reach a high level against Valencia.”

“Individually, I feel perfect, but over the past two weeks, we’ve had to be smart with everything that’s happened to us. Perhaps the team hasn’t had many opportunities to find the rhythm we’ll need on Friday against Valencia, but we’ve worked in training and prepared for everything we couldn’t address in the games. That will help us a lot to try to win another game against Valencia.”

What does the badge demand?
“We have to go out to win, but without focusing on the pressure, because pressure never brings anything good. We have to play with determination, stay fully concentrated, and know how to handle everything surrounding this tournament because, although it’s something very beautiful, it also comes with a lot of distractions. We need to be smart in our preparation and in how we experience the event there. Thank God, we have a lot of experience in the locker room for these types of games. And not just me, but all my teammates and the team as a whole—we are at a very good level and preparing for what lies ahead.”

How do you stop Valencia?
“Since we are two Spanish teams, we know each other very well. The difference is the setting: a Final Four. We've never faced each other there, and that will be something new for both teams. They've been performing at a high level all year and have a very good coach. The truth is, matches against Valencia are always enjoyable, and I think the public enjoys them a lot too. We are ready to take that step forward that is now required of us after the injuries to our two centers, Len and Tavares. Mentally and physically, we are at our peak to compete and win.”

Locker room atmosphere
“Emotionally, I am very calm. I don't know if that's odd, good, or bad, but I don't care, and I think it helps avoid distractions. Mentally, I see the whole team in a different mindset this week. The last three losses in the League mean nothing to us, but we are in Madrid, the most important club in the world for me, and it’s always better to win than lose, even if those results didn’t change anything. Even so, I see that nobody has been too affected. Everyone has come in this week with a different attitude, ready for something big. Physically, apart from the two teammates who won’t be able to be there, the rest of us are all at our best. Now it’s about continuing to train well and arriving there with good feelings.”

Llull: "The message is clear: there’s nothing beyond Friday"
"It’s still a special week. I’ve been through many Final Fours, and one tries to use that experience to give advice, especially to those who haven’t played in any yet. We know that on Friday, we have to give it our all to try to reach the final.”

“You have to approach it with a lot of desire, enthusiasm, and hunger to win. I think it’s very important to want it more than the opponent and, above all, to play with the calm and experience that comes with the years and having gone through situations like this before.”

Seventh matchup of the season
“We know each other very well, but surely both teams will prepare something to try to surprise the other. Valencia has had an incredible season so far. Also, as a spectator, it’s a very nice team to watch because they play great basketball. Friday is going to be a very difficult match. They have their strengths, and we’re going to try to minimize them and maximize ours to win.”

What does playing another Final Four mean?
“To win a Final Four, first you have to be in it. Every year it’s harder to qualify because the EuroLeague is increasingly competitive, and there are great teams. It was one of the goals at the beginning of the season, and we’ve achieved it. Wearing this jersey always means wanting more and going for everything on Friday.”

Message to the younger players
“The message is clear: there’s nothing beyond Friday. Saturday and Sunday don’t exist right now. You have to give it your all on Friday, want it more than the opponent, and play very focused for the full forty minutes to have a chance to win and make it to the final.”

The fans
“First of all, thank you for the support you give us every year. This season, we’ve turned the Palacio into a fortress, and that has been key for playing the playoffs with home-court advantage. We can only promise effort and sacrifice to try to win on Friday and make it to the final.”

Abalde: “We have to be at a higher level”
“It’s a very special week. We’re facing a unique opportunity to fight for one of the biggest titles, and we’re eager to get there already. Now it’s going to feel long until the day of the game, but we’re excited.”

“We want to show the image we’ve displayed in the final phase of the EuroLeague. I think during the year we’ve become a solid and consistent team. We’ve gone through a growth process that we knew would come in the medium term. There have been changes in coaches and players, and we had to keep growing. Now the team is ready to fight until the end.”

What does it take to win?
“Just being at a good level won’t be enough. We have to be at a higher level. We’re all aware of that because we’re facing a great team that has had an incredible season. They finished second in the regular phase, and the playoff they played against a great team like Panathinaikos was spectacular, coming back after losing the first two games—something only we had managed to do against Partizan. We expect a very strong opponent in every aspect, with a lot of precision, and we have to be prepared for that. We also have to deliver at a higher level.”

Team experience
“We have many players who have already been through situations like this, starting with our captain. Additionally, the factors we face in terms of the squad, due to the absences of Tavares and Len, make us all very alert and very focused on daily work and the adjustments we need to make. I even think that helps channel nerves, pressure, and impatience for the game to arrive.”

 

Feliz: “We have to be more united than ever”
“Every player who belongs to a club like this wants to win and play these types of games. We have to maintain competitiveness and be more united than ever. We’ve had a very good EuroLeague. We’re among the four finalists for a reason, and it hasn’t been easy. We’ve earned it. To the fans, I ask that they continue supporting us. We do this for them, and we need them to win the first game. Then we’ll try to bring the trophy home.”

Valencia Basket
“It’s a team that plays with a lot of pace and wants to run and feel comfortable with three-pointers. We have to prevent them from feeling comfortable and set the pace we want.”

Their season
“I’ve taken a step forward, always trying to help the team. My teammates give me the confidence and support to keep growing as a player. I try to help the team.”

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.