With his team looking to clinch a spot in the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 this week, MoraBanc Andorra guard Haukur Palsson is hoping that a healthy roster leads to the defense they need to advance.
Haukur Palsson, Andorra: 'I like being underdogs'
Interviews
8 mins read
MoraBanc Andorra is fighting to get to the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 from Regular Season Group C. Three teams – Virtus Segafredo Bologna, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar and AS Monaco – already punched their ticket to the next round, and Andorra is battling with Lietkabelis Panevezys for the only available spot. Both teams face each other in Round 10 and a win would send Andorra to the next round. Andorra can also qualify by losing by fewer than 10 points in regulation time. One of its main players this season has been swingman Haukur Palsson, the third Icelandic player to ever take part in the EuroCup. Palsson started his professional basketball career in Manresa, Spain, not far away from Andorra, and also played in Sweden, Germany, Iceland and France before making his EuroCup debut with Russian powerhouse UNICS Kazan last season. Andorra already beat Lietkabelis at home and Palsson knows what his team needs to win this decisive game. "MoraBanc is known for its defense and Lietkabelis has good shooters, they have guys they can play," Palsson told EuroCupBasketball.com. "And if we're going to win this game away, we're going to have to play some defense."
Hello, Haukur. First things first, ow much are you looking forward to this game against Lietkabelis Panevezys?
"Well, it is the most important game of the season, so we have to go there and are coming off bad losses. So now, it is an important one for the team and for the club, so we're excited, for sure. I think what we've been missing for the last few games is our defense. MoraBanc is known for its defense and Lietkabelis has good shooters, they have guys they can play. And if we're going to win this game away, we're going to have to play some defense."
Only seven Andorra players were in all seven games until now. How does it feel to have more of a rotation now?
"Of course, it is better now. I mean, we have been losing a lot of guys to injuries here and there, like myself, Moussa [Diagne], Tyson [Perez]... Now, Jeremy [Senglin] and Malick [Dime] were out in the last game and it's been a rollercoaster with that. But I think we have a really good team when we're all together. We are definitely stronger than we were before, but there are a lot of games now, and we just need to use them to mold the team a little bit. When we get everybody together, we will be a dangerous team."
"It is the most important game of the season."
You are the third Icelandic player in EuroCup history, after Jon Stefansson and Martin Hermannsson. How much of an honor is that to you?
"Of course, it's always an honor. The EuroCup is a great competition. These two players were in the EuroLeague as well, so hopefully I can follow those footsteps, as well. But for now, I'm really happy. Andorra was a great destination for me and I like it so far. So hopefully we'll just do good and make it to the Top 16, at least."
How much do you know Stefansson and Hermannsson, who, by the way, are relatives?
"Stefansson has always just been a leading man for Icelandic basketball. He's a big mentor. I looked up to him a lot when I was younger, and even now, when I am signing or going somewhere, I always give him a call and he's happy to give me his thoughts and stuff like that. I have known him for a long time since I started with the men's national team. And Martin, we played together in the U20 and the senior national team and have been good friends for a long time. Iceland is small, so everybody knows each other. But me and Martin, obviously, we see each other more. We have a similar age and know each other well."
What do you like the most about Andorra?
"Andorra as a country is beautiful: the mountains here, the views and everything. And people are nice. It is strange, obviously, with COVID and stuff like this, so you are not getting the full experience, obviously. But so far, the climate is better than in Iceland and it is really, really nice. It is a small club, like a family-orientated club. It feels like everybody knows each other well, everybody communicates, nobody is above the team or something like this. The players, coaches and staff are all good. We are part of the whole organization so if there's something wrong, there's no problem: you talk to them and it's fixed. So it's a really, really well-run club, I would have to say."
One great thing about Andorra is that most of the players live across the street from the arena. How convenient is that?
"Yes, exactly. While I'm talking to you right now, I'm actually looking at the gym! I can see the matches if they have football or whatever. I mean, it is a great, great location for us. It is a one-minute walk to the gym and everything is close. This is a small country, but I think that's the best part about it."
"My career has been kind of a roller coaster."
You have made your EuroCup debut at age 27, after working your way through Spain, Sweden, Germany, Iceland and France. How satisfying is that?
"I played here when I was 19 or 20, in Manresa, and that was an experience, for sure. And my career has been kind of a roller coaster, but I think in the end, everything has happened for some reason and I'm really happy to have been able to to sign here because I always wanted to and to prove that I could play in Spain and play in the EuroCup. There were big ups and downs in the first part of my career and then, I think, after I left from Iceland, I was ready to do it again. It's been a great journey, you know, going to France to ProB, to ProA, to UNICS and now to Andorra. I'm happy with where I am right now and, for sure, it is a satisfactory to be able to compete in the EuroCup for now."
Andorra is a very unique team, very proud to represent a whole country. One of its mottos is 'We Are a Country'. How special is that?
"I mean, it's great. Like I said before, obviously, because of COVID, we are not getting the full experience. I remember playing here when I was in Spain last time, and the fans here are amazing. I wish I could play for them at least once before the season is over, but we'll see. But I get the feeling that it's like the Icelandic national team, you know? It is a small country, but very proud. And the club obviously feels like its own national team, almost. We are playing for Andorra, and I really like that. It really makes you want to do good."
Looking around the competition, which teams do you see as favorites to win the EuroCup?
"I think Virtus and Lokomotiv are obviously two of the favorites, especially Virtus, but Loko has been playing good. I think UNICS is always a threat. Partizan has been good. There are so many good teams and it is so strange this year, with this situation. It is so hard to say because you have seen teams that are supposed to win, but go and lose because sometimes the fans give you so much. Especially here, the fans give you that extra energy, that spark. So you really need to be able to lock down and focus. It really comes down to which team is going to be, obviously, the most well set up, who will play well until the end. But for now, I couldn't even tell you what would be my favorite because I've seen some teams that surprised me. But I would say that Virtus is one of most favorites for now, at least, if I had to choose one team."
If you qualify to the Top 16, with everyone back and starting from scratch, how dangerous can Andorra be in 2021?
"When everybody come backs healthy and we play a few games together, I think we have two guys at every position and we are going to be a really dangerous team, especially if we can start going back to how we play with our defensive stuff, as we have been going away from it for a little bit now. I think we're going to surprise a lot of teams, but I like being underdogs. I'm happy with everybody thinking that we're not something special right now. So, hopefully, they will think like that for the rest of the competition and we will be able to surprise some people."