MOSCOW (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - If Vitaly Fridzon spends his professional life in the pressure cooker of basketball, be it with Russia or CSKA Moscow, playing in one important game after another, then he's got an ideal way to relieve himself of the tension.

"I go fishing on almost every day off," he said to FIBA.basketball. "I love it, it’s so relaxing. My biggest catch is almost 11 kilos, it was amazing!"

"There's not too many similarities between basketball and fishing and this is really good since I can take my mind off basketball and just enjoy nature."

Speaking of amazing, that's how you might describe some of Fridzon's performances on the hardwood over the years for his national team.

While he might not be viewed as one of his country's all-time greats, he's certainly had great performances in his career. In 2012, Fridzon was among the best shooters in the world, if not the best, while helping Russia find success at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, and then at the London Games. He was a combined 21 of 36 (58.3 percent) from three-point range across the two events.

Sensational is how one could describe his effort against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers on February 25 in Perm. Fridzon had been unavailable for the game two days earlier at France and he watched in frustration as Sergey Karasev missed a shot from close range that would have seen the visiting Russians win the game at the end of regulation. France then prevailed in overtime.

"I watched this game, I was really nervous," Fridzon recalled. "I saw our team was just a bit unlucky, Karasev could’ve won it for us (at end of regulation). It was really difficult to stay out. I hope this won’t happen to me while I’m still playing for the national team."

Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fridzon not only showed up but was Russia's best player, pouring in 16 points and grabbing 8 rebounds off the bench.

"I knew I would be able to come for the second game," he said. "Like I always say, for me it's a huge honor and pride to play for the national team, and as long as I'm healthy and have a chance I'll keep coming. I was really happy and I saw that my arrival gave the team a mental boost."

So what are Russia's chances of making it to China 2019? They crashed out of FIBA EuroBasket 2013 in the Group Phase and came up well short of playing at the following year's World Cup in Spain. They also failed to advance from the Group Phase of FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and therefore missed out on a place at one of the three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games.

If one reflects on last summer - when the team opened FIBA EuroBasket 2017 in Istanbul with wins over Turkey and Serbia and also got big victories over Croatia and Greece in the knockout round before finishing fourth - then Russia clearly have the makings of a team that can not only reach next year's 32-team event in China but be a factor.

"LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, FOR ME IT'S A HUGE HONOR AND PRIDE TO PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM, AND AS LONG AS I'M HEALTHY AND HAVE A CHANCE I'LL KEEP COMING."Fridzon

"It helped us to understand that we can play for medals at big tournaments," Fridzon said. "This helped us to believe in ourselves. To be honest, even I was in doubt about our strength before the tournament. But the EuroBasket really showed that we are back among European elite following the fall after 2012 Olympics. Now it’s time to fight for the World Cup medals, I don’t have any of those yet."

There is a lot of work to do before they can book their place in China and a dangerous game at Belgium in Antwerp on June 29 awaits. Belgium have lost all four of their games.

In their Qualifier against Russia in Nizhny on November 27, Eddy Casteels' team had a double-digit advantage but ended up falling, 76-69.

Next will be the game on July 2 in Krasnodar against France.

Unlike the first two windows, the games coming up will be played after domestic seasons. Fridzon does like the fact, however, that there are national team games in November and February.

"It's absolutely great for the fans to see the national team during the season, and the games in Nizhny and Perm proved it, for sure," he said.

"It's always great in Perm. They’re probably the best fans in Russia. They support the national team even more than their club, and everyone says it’s a pleasure to come and play in Perm.

"I think the Russian Basketball Federation does a great job of having the national team play in different cities. This is what basketball needs. Before 2016 the country couldn't see our basketball team play at home, and (Russia Basketball Federation President) Andrei Kirilenko knows how it felt. And it's always sold-out arenas in all cities where we play. I just love it."

Fridzon believes the World Cup Qualifiers system has added value to international basketball.

"It’s a good system," he said. "If we get can get the best players to the team, we'll be able to make the Olympics."

"I THINK THE RUSSIAN BASKETBALL FEDERATION DOES A GREAT JOB OF HAVING THE NATIONAL TEAM PLAY IN DIFFERENT CITIES. THIS IS WHAT BASKETBALL NEEDS."Fridzon

As for taking breaks during the season to play national team games, Fridzon says there are obvious positives.

"The pro is definitely the guys being in good shape because of the club season. Another pro is of course a chance to get away mentally from the club season, which is long and tiring. Joining national team is always relaxing and energizing, always positive."

Fridzon loves the national team, and not just the one he plays for in basketball. He's also got "a lot of friends that play hockey", a big-time sport in Russia.

"Believe me, they support our basketball team just like we support them," he said. 

Remembering how special the London Games experience was, Fridzon wants to experience that again.

"I feel I still have it in me to try and play at the Olympics," he said. "Last year it was my last EuroBasket, now it’s time to try and qualify to the World Cup and the Olympics. It would be wonderful to play at my third Olympics. But now we're focusing on the World Cup."

FIBA