KURSK (FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers/EuroLeagueWomen) – He may have masterminded the shattering of Helena Ciak's FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 title dreams, but the France center has nothing but respect for Lucas Mondelo.

The Spanish play-caller delivered gold at the expense of France, but such is his appeal, it wasn't long before Ciak was glad to be back reaping the rewards of his expertise at Dynamo Kursk, where the pair combined for a glorious EuroLeague Women 2017 title.

"When I came back here during September, we were joking about it and we were like, 'hi gold medal, hi silver medal,' and there is no doubt he is a great coach," smiled Ciak.

"I am happy. In fact, I am really happy to have him here. In my career, he is one of my best coaches I have ever had.

Mondelo pipped Ciak in the race to the top step of the podium at Final Round in Prague

"I am also happy because there is a really good atmosphere and importantly, we have a lot of good Russian players with us too."

For any player in the modern era, trying to juggle club and national priorities has always been a challenge, but it's even more of a delicate balance now that international windows come during the club season.

"They are a great opportunity to come home, to speak French and see my family too. For women's basketball, I think they are great to have," mused Ciak, who will not only try to catapult France to Final Round in 2019, but also has the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on the horizon.

She continued, "We will use the Qualifiers  to keep playing together, because the team always changes a little bit. The young players come and the older players leave, so we will use these games to keep working together.

"The national team is one of the biggest things in my life. I love to be there in the camp, because they are all my friends. We are texting and talking about November."

With a EuroLeague Women and SuperCup Women winners' medal in her locker, Ciak, and Dynamo Kursk will be expected to land more honors this season. As she braces herself for a second harsh Russian winter, it is the on-court success and friendships that continue to fuel her ambitions and desire to continue enjoying life in Kursk.

"Sometimes it is hard, because you are far from your family and country, but other than that, like I said, we have a really great team, we practise well, there is a good atmosphere between us in the locker room and outside of it as well - it is like my second family here.

"Even if we lost the Russian Championship last season, we won EuroLeague Women and that was the biggest thing I had ever dreamed of, so it was a really good memory.

"I have had a lot of great moments in my life, but I think last season was the most beautiful and amazing thing. Last year in Ekaterinburg really was the best-ever moment for me," concluded the 27-year-old.

Ciak and France have been pitched into FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers Group F and will face Finland, Romania and Slovenia in the post-Celine Dumerc era, as they look to move on from the retirement of the legendary guard.

FIBA