![9 Marcelinho Huertas (TENRF)](/images.fiba.com/Graphic/5/C/B/1/dfjSXDDh7Eu5FHoRBNVOAg.jpg?v=20200211133104540)
MVP Huertas hails Tenerife's team spirit, coaching staff
TENERIFE (Spain) - There are - at least - two things about FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2020 MVP Marcelinho Huertas that wouldn't change even if he found himself soaked in champagne in the midst of a chorus of teammates and fans chanting his name.
๐ @CB1939Canarias are the new FIBA #IntercontinentalCup champions! ๐
โ FIBA Intercontinental Cup (@FIBAIC) February 9, 2020
๐ https://t.co/kUfBVam52z pic.twitter.com/jJXkqM6FoG
The Iberostar Tenerife point guard simply won't lose the composure and clarity of mind that enabled him to see two steps ahead, and he won't won't stop crediting his teammates and coaches for his individual accolades.
We take what we do seriously, we are a very competitive team and we want to build on this success - Marcelinho Huertas
Huertas stood midcourt, moments after the end of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2020 award ceremony in Pabellรณn Insular Santiago Martรญn on Sunday night, as several of his teammates poured the finest of sparkling wines on him.
The veteran playmaker had just lifted both the championship trophy and the MVP award as he led the competition hosts to an 80-72 win over Segafredo Virtus Bologna in the Final. He graciously continued speaking to the media, deflecting attention away from himself.
๐ฅ๐พ Time to celebrate @CB1939Canarias! ๐ฅ๐พ #IntercontinentalCup pic.twitter.com/JeTjZwgqVo
โ FIBA Intercontinental Cup (@FIBAIC) February 9, 2020
"This is just a consequence of everybody on the team doing a good job," Huertas told the competition's official website. "If not for your teammates, you are never going to be able to win a trophy like this [the MVP trophy]. But this is secondary, the most important thing is that we all worked hard to win this championship, and we deserved it.
"We take what we do seriously, we are a very competitive team and we want to build on this success. I am happy we were able to win this in front of our home crowd, I am sure the club and our fans are feeling proud right now for a job well done."
I've played alongside some guys who are among the best on international level, and Marcelinho is right up there with them - Georgios Bogris
Georgian international Giorgi Shermadini, the center on which Tenerife base a lot of the offensive sets and is having an outstanding season in both the Basketball Champions League and the Spanish Liga Endesa, credited coach Txus Vidorreta and Marcelinho Huertas as the two main factors behind his excellent performances.
"I'll have to buy him dinner for saying such kind words about me," Huertas said with a laugh.
"I don't believe that's the case though, Shermadini has made a name for himself and he is one of the most dominant players in the low post in Europe."
๐ต MVP MVP MVP ๐ต @CB1939Canarias' @Huertas09 is the 2020 FIBA #IntercontinentalCup MVP! pic.twitter.com/8vsRuJQ9TZ
โ FIBA Intercontinental Cup (@FIBAIC) February 9, 2020
If Huertas were to buy dinner for every team-mate that has ever sung his praises, he would probably run out of money already by the time he had gone through the frontcourt players.
"Marcelinho is not only an incredibly intelligent guy, but he plays for the good of the team first and foremost, and that's my favorite kind of player. In my career, I've played alongside some players who are among the best in this on international level, and he is right up there with them," Tenerife's center Georgios Bogris said.
Having good players is not enough by itself, you need a good coaching staff, you need good chemistry on and off the court, good management, and everybody needs to get along - Marcelinho Huertas
"But his most important quality is that he is a fantastic person off the court, in his everyday life, with his family and with his teammates. I only know him for a few months and I know we're going to be close for the rest of our lives."
Huertas too believes that Tenerife owe big part of their Sunday trophy success, as well as whatever wins they achieve in the remainder of the year, to factors we don't necessarily see from the outside.
"Having good players is not enough by itself, you need a good coaching staff, you need good chemistry on and off the court, good management, and everybody needs to get along," the Brazilian said.
"This is not as easy as it seems, especially if you consider this team had 12 new players coming in this season. So a lot of credit goes to the club for signing players with the right character and mentality, guys who respect where they are and are serious about what they do.
"And we all have to be thankful for that guy [pointing to coach Vidorreta], because he makes it all come together and he thinks the best way for this team to perform, like few coaches could do.
We have a lot of trophies still to fight for, even though we know they are all difficult - Marcelinho Huertas
With everybody around celebrating, Huertas had already started thinking about what needs to be done next. Tenerife are joining the Spanish Copa del Rey battle on Thursday, they have qualified to the BCL Play-Offs and they are marching fourth in the Liga Endesa.
Huertas is leading both competitions in assists, averaging 8.8 per game in the BCL and 7.8 per game in the Spanish league. Only last week, he set a new all-time BCL record for the most assists in the Regular Season.
"We have a lot of trophies still to fight for, even though we know they are all difficult," the Brazilian said.
"We are taking it step by step, first we have the Copa del Rey in front of us and we have a chance to do something big, maybe something the club has never done before.
"Then we have the BCL Play-Offs, we'll find out our opponents next week and all we know so far is that's we'll have the homecourt advantage in the first Play-Offs series but not in the second, if we advance. And then of course we have the remainder of the Liga Endesa season.
"We are excited that we have all this in front of us and we will keep working, grinding, and hopefully surprise people by fighting for another title."