RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) - AEK have a tremendous opportunity this weekend.

That's the message from point guard Jordan Theodore ahead of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Rio de Janeiro, an event that also has 2018 DIRECTV Liga de las Americas winners San Lorenzo, 2017-18 G League champions Austin Spurs and Brazil powerhouse Flamengo. 

AEK, as the winners of 2017-18 Basketball Champions League, are representing Europe and looking to add another winning chapter to their famous history.

"WHEN YOU'VE GOT TEAMS FROM THREE DIFFERENT CONTINENTS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT STYLES OF PLAY, DIFFERENT BRANDS OF BASKETBALL."- Theodore

"To play the champions from that side, it's going to be tremendous," Theodore said to Eurohoops.net. "For some of us, it's our first time going to Rio so we get to see a new place and do what we love to do (play basketball)."

"For me, I just want to win. Anytime you have a chance to play for a championship, it's always great. There are so many players that have played (basketball) and they never get a chance to play for a title. I just know that I'm blessed, we're all blessed, to be in this position."

AEK will square off against San Lorenzo, the club that has also won the last three Argentinian domestic crowns, in the Semi-Finals. Flamengo, winners of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2014 face Austin Spurs in the other Semi-Final.

"When you've got teams from three different continents, I think you're going to see different styles of play, different brands of basketball," Theodore said. "But I think it's great for the culture and it's going to be great for the sport."

If AEK can survive what is expected to be a very tough game against San Lorenzo, Austin could end up being the team that stands between them and the title.

"I know they have Dejuan Blair," said Theodore. "I played against him in college." (Theodore played at Seton Hall while Blair competed at Pittsburgh).

"I know they (Austin Spurs) have some really good talent. The G League is full of great American players and the San Antonio Spurs are a great organization. They always put a great team out there so you know they're going to compete, they're going to have really talented guys.

"I think it's important (for the Austin players), especially with some guys having dreams of playing in the NBA and going on to do some different things. It gives the G League, the San Antonio scouts to see those guys against a different caliber of players."

"IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME DOING THIS, TRAVELING TO RIO TO PLAY TWO GAMES FOR A TROPHY, THE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP. IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL AND WE'RE TREATING IT THAT WAY."- Theodore

Theodore is about as famous a player as there is in the three-year history of the Basketball Champions League. In the inaugural season, he famously dribbled the ball three-quarters the length of the court at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and scored at the buzzer to put his Banvit team in the Final Four. He then led the Turkish side to the title game where they lost to hosts Iberostar Tenerife. The 6ft guard was named the BCL MVP of that season.

The 29-year-old recently joined AEK and figures to be a crucial player for the club as it goes after a second straight BCL crown. AEK beat AS Monaco Basket in last year's Final in Athens.

"I think we'll be able to make that title run," he said of the Basketball Champions League. "But we know it's not easy. We can say that we want to be champions, that we're going to go and do this, go and do that, but we know that it starts inside these four lines, sacrificing for each other, listening to coach and no matter what, coming out and leaving it all out there on the floor.

"The goal is the win the championship. I've had some title runs myself and I know how hard it is to win a championship. If we come out every day, like we did today in practice, and work hard, and challenge ourselves to get better and keep improving, I think we'll be able to make that title run."

His attention now is on Rio de Janeiro and getting ready to face San Lorenzo.

"It's going to be the first time doing this, traveling to Rio to play two games for a trophy, especially the Intercontinental Cup, it's a pretty big deal and we're treating it that way," he said.

"I expect us to work hard, go out there and play our brand of basketball, listen to coach (Luca Banchi)."

FIBA