BEL – Van den Spiegel relishes CSKA Moscow experience

TREVISO (Euroleague) - Thomas van den Spiegel isn’t pinching himself anymore, but he did for several weeks after his move to CSKA Moscow.

The Belgian center was wasting away at Lottomatica Roma, his career stuck in first gear, when he got a call to join one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"I was sitting on the bench last season in Rome and not getting a lot of chances," he said to PA Sport after CSKA's win at Benetton Treviso on Wednesday.

The CSKA door opened for him when an injury midway through the season sidelined sweet-shooting Australian forward David Andersen. Van den Spiegel jumped at the opportunity to join Italian coach Ettore Messina in Moscow.

A few months later, the 2.14m Van den Spiegel was celebrating three titles.

He helped CSKA win the Russian Cup, the Euroleague and the Superleague.

"I left Rome and winning everything after three months was fantastic and this year, I’m trying to do the same thing because not a lot of other teams get a chance to repeat like that.

"That’s what we are working for now, to repeat."

Anyone who watches CSKA Moscow play will know the importance of Van den Spiegel to the cause.

He has modest numbers in the Euroleague, but he is like a shot of espresso when he gets off the bench and runs onto the floor.

In Wednesday’s 68-60 win at Benetton Treviso, for example, he blocked two shots, made a couple of free throws, grabbed a rebound and even handed out an assist.

Looking back on the signing, it was a masterstroke by Messina, who knew of Van den Spiegel from his time in Italy as Benetton Treviso coach.

Van den Spiegel had played at Montepaschi Siena, where he always played with boundless energy.

"That’s probably my best point," Van den Spiegel said.

"I can run, I can jump. I bring energy and that’s what they are looking for. I try to bring energy from the bench, and I try to give energy on the court.

"Sometimes it works out better than other times, but I try to do my best for the team. If you win, everyone is happy."

This experience with CSKA has had some downs, though.

"I had some back problems two or three months ago," he said.

"Still, I’m a team player and I just try to do what they ask of me. It’s much better being on a winning team than a small team."

There is, however, the issue of leaving the warm climate of the Eternal City and the wonderful Italian food for the harsh Russian winter.

Van den Spiegel doesn’t think that’s a big deal.

"Moscow is better than you think," he insisted.

"Everybody thinks Russia is a long way away but like every huge city, it has its positive points and its negative points. But it’s good to live there."

Back on the court, everyone seems to be talking about the confidence in the CSKA camp these days.

In 2005 under former coach Dusan Ivkovic, the confidence was also high when the team went on a long winning streak during the regular season, yet lost a game in the Euroleague and then, when given the chance to win the European title in Moscow, lost to both Tau Ceramica and Panathinaikos.

"Sometimes it’s hard not to be overconfident when you win lots of games in a row on the court, but once in a while you lose," Van den Spiegel said.

"Coach Messina is very good at not letting us get overconfident."

Even off the court, Van den Spiegel says, "We’re thinking about basketball. That’s what the coach wants us to do. We concentrate so that we can be ready every time you step on the court.

"We know what our goal is," he said.

"There is the Russian Cup, the Russian Championship but there is one thing we want even more and that’s the Euroleague.

"It’s great in this team because no one is negative.

"It’s easy to play when you know everyone is behind you no matter what you do on the court and that’s one of the keys to our success. Everybody sticks together."

From Jeff Taylor, PA Sport, Treviso
Exclusively for FIBA