EUROCUP – Stakes high as teams travel to Eurocup Finals in Spain

VITORIA (Eurocup) – Several players that will be at the FIBA World Championship later this year are facing their biggest weekend of the season at the Eurocup Finals in Spain.
 
Power Electronics Valencia take on Panellinios in one semi-final and Bizkaia Basket Bilbao go up against Alba Berlin in the other.
 
The Eurocup winner will qualify for next season’s Euroleague.
 
Australia international Matt Nielsen, who plays for Valencia, expects a battle against Panellinios.
 
He said to FIBA.com: "We need to come with the right attitude and with our heads in the game and we could do something special.
 
“I think it depends on the way we approach these games and how hard we go."
 
Valencia have several players headed to the FIBA World Championship.
 
There are France pair Florent Pietrus and Nando De Colo, Serbia center Kosta Perovic, Nielsen and Spain high-flier Victor Claver.
 
For Valencia’s coach, Neven Spahija, the year could not have been much better.
 
His team had to overcome a 15-point first-leg deficit in the Qualifying Round against Dexia Mons-Hainaut to just to reach the Eurocup.
 
"I'm really happy, proud of this group of players, especially with their attitude,” Spahija said to FIBA.com.
 
"I think at this moment, we're doing a little bit more than our real quality.
 
"We made it because of our chemistry and our good attitude."
 
For Panellinios, it’s a case of flying the Greek flag.
 
“Of course in Greece the fans are feeling great about this, it's normal,” said Panellinios coach Ilias Zouros.
 
“As you know in Greece, basketball is big and we have to try to do our best not only for ourselves but for Greek basketball, also.”
 
Steffen Hamann, the Germany national team player guard of Alba, is gearing up for his team’s semi-final against Bilbao.
 
“It is great to be here, because making it to the Eurocup Finals is a great achievement for us. It wasn't easy but at the same time, we deserved it.”
 
Alba, who also have Germany internationals Phillip Zwiener and Lucca Steiger, and Slovenia center Jurica Golemac, had to overcome a first-leg deficit in their quarter-final tie against Hapoel Jerusalem to reach this stage of the competition.
 
Bilbao will be, without a doubt, Alba’s hardest game so far.
 
The Spanish outfit has the likes of Spain international Alex Mumbru in their talented side.
 
“The atmosphere around us is telling us that we can do something big but we must stay focused because first we will have to beat Alba Berlin,” Mumbru said.
 
“We have to concentrate and focus on the semi-final only."
 
FIBA