ESP – Reyes: ‘...a final is a different story’

BEIJING (Olympics) - Felipe Reyes is a big name in Spain as the captain of Real Madrid and a member of the ACB’s Ideal Quintet.

His celebrity is not as great across the Atlantic as compatriots like Jose Manuel Calderon, Pau Gasol and Jorge Garbajosa.

But you’d better believe that the people who matter with Team USA know about Reyes.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked about Spain, and this is what he had to say about the 28-year-old Reyes.

“Reyes played a great game against us,” Krzyzewski said.

“And I think he’s been kind of an unsung hero on their team.

“He’s just been a really tough player and he’s scoring.”

Reyes has averaged 9.6 points per game and 4.9 rebounds for Spain, and in their 91-86 semi-final triumph over Lithuania, he finished with 13 points and four boards.

After that win, Reyes spoke to FIBA.com.

FIBA: Felipe, this will be your third consecutive final for Spain after winning gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and silver at the EuroBasket in Madrid last year. What does this mean for you and your teammates?

Reyes: It's a dream. Not only to have reached three finals but to reach an Olympic final is the dream of any sportsmen. More so when you consider that the sport is basketball and it's so complicated when you look at the level there is in our national teams, to be a part of it is a double satisfaction.

FIBA: You had 13 big points and four rebounds in the 91-86 semi-final triumph over Lithuania and came up strong when your team really needed you. What was the key to the victory?

Reyes: We did the job in the final quarter where we were really solid on defense and we managed to limit the three-point shots that had hurt us so much in the three previous quarters.

FIBA: Did you celebrate?

Reyes: Once we got in the locker room, we just shouted, kissed and hugged. We just celebrated it like that because to reach an Olympic final is unique. It's one of the best days in our lives. We are aware of what we have accomplished but we cannot lose focus, we are playing one of the biggest games of our lives on Sunday.

FIBA: Felipe, it’s been a great year for you making it into the ideal quintet in the ACB and playing well here in Beijing. How would you grade your own performance here in China?

Reyes: I feel good and as always I try to help the team. The important thing is that we are all in good health and we are able to contribute to helping the team succeed.

FIBA: Spain have a huge task at hand as they take on Team USA. They beat you 119-82 in the preliminary round. How do you rate your team's chances?

Reyes: They are strong but in a final, it makes no difference who you play because if your opponents have gone so far, you know it's going to be extremely tough. They clearly beat us by a big margin in the group stages but a final is a different story. We have to forget about the past. We have to be stronger and make sure we don't allow them to build up too much confidence. Against them you cannot afford to relax, you have to be focused for 40 minutes.

FIBA: Was there more pressure coming into this tournament considering you are the world champions?

Reyes: Perhaps there has been more pressure. But we try to get away from that pressure and focus on our jobs. We have had a good preparation and we have come this far so our hard work has paid off.

FIBA: To make it all the more challenging, you and your team-mates had to adapt to a new coach, with Aito Garcia Reneses replacing Pepu Hernandez following his dismissal by the Spanish Basketball Federation. How challenging was it to adapt to a new coach?

Reyes: When you come to the national team you have to adapt to whoever the coach is. We achieved that with Pepu and we won the World Championship and we have achieved that with Aito as we are in an Olympic final. It's clear that we have struggled but we are getting there.

FIBA: Felipe, you have watched Ricky Rubio play in the ACB and have seen him take Beijing by storm. What can you tell us about him?

Reyes: Ricky is a very young player. No one has achieved that at European level. We have to congratulate him. He is an awesome player to continue as he is doing. He has a great future ahead. But the key to our success in the past has been team work.

FIBA