Sylvain Francisco, leader of Zalgiris Kaunas, winner 108-105 on the Paris Basketball floor: “It was incredible to come to Paris and finish with victory this time, not like last season (smile). I’m motivated in every match, but this is really special, there was my whole family, the people I grew up with and giving them a show in addition to winning, there’s nothing better. At the beginning, I had to find my rhythm, know when to attack, and once I found a gap, it was gone, I was able to attack, find my teammates… But these kinds of matches are not pleasant (smile), we prefer to make stops in defense, except that Paris runs even faster than last year. For the public, it’s nice to see the baskets stacking up on each side, but not for us, we tell ourselves that we have to defend.
(On his season: 2nd best evaluation in the Euroleague) I feel that I have progressed in everything: understanding the game, consistency, the relationship with my teammates whom I know better and better. The game is slowing down for me, I’m seeing things better and better. But the most important thing will be to qualify for the play-offs and then the Final Four. You can be in the five majors of the Euroleague, but the collective objective is even better. I try to find pleasure, to continue to integrate. I still dream of the NBA, but I am fulfilled in Europe.
(On the Euro with the France team) Frédéric Fauthoux gave me the keys to the team, at the beginning, I was really in ‘attack, attack’ mode, I didn’t have time to get into rhythm but I found my place and despite the elimination, I’m sure that when I come back, it will be even better. We built a good relationship with the guys. I was able to show that I was still there, the guys saw it: in training, on training courses, in matches, it felt good but we have to continue. »
France Tablelini, Entered of the Paris : “We necessarily think of the last possessions, when the match was the closest, it came down to details. I think there was perhaps a foul on Nadir on the last action. But twice in the money-time, we gave them the offensive rebound, it changed the match. We have to be better: when we make a defensive stop, we have to finish the job: capture the rebound.
Our defense hasn’t always been consistent. We played pretty well in the first half, but in the third quarter (lost 32-17)we weren’t good enough. But I think it’s a story of small steps: we fight, we play with our identity, we just have to take that extra step to finish the job and we will get there. It won’t take extraordinary things: better possession in defense, an extra rebound, we have to continue to believe in this collective basketball. »
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