The legendary Milos Teodosic, MVP of the 2020-21 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season, aims to complete some unfinished business from last season as he leads unbeaten Virtus Segafredo Bologna into the Top 16.
Milos Teodosic, Virtus: 'Every game counts more now'
Interviews
5 mins read
Virtus Segafredo Bologna starts the Top 16 as the only undefeated team left in the 2020-21 7DAYS EuroCup. Star playmaker As the undisputed leader on the best team in the competition until now, Milos Teodosic was chosen as the MVP of the regular season for the second consecutive campaign. Teodosic has averaged 14.6 points, 6.4 assists and 4.9 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 18.4 per game, all coming off the bench in less than 25 minutes per night. Virtus now faces a tough Top 16 team that also features Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and JL Bourg en Bresse. Last season, Virtus ranked second in its Top 16 group and needed to wait until the final game – on the road against Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul – to punch a ticket to the quarterfinals, which never took place once the season was canceled. Teodosic thinks his team learned from that experience and is ready for its ultimate goal – to challenge for the EuroCup titles and take Virtus back to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. "It is a goal that is reached step by step, working every day," Teodosic told EuroCupBasketball.com. "The club, staff and team work together every day to bring Virtus back to the Euroleague."
Milos, congratulations to you and Virtus for a great regular season. After last season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, how did the preparations for this season go?
"The last game we played was on March 5 and we returned to the gym in August. Never before had any of us been away from the court for so long. We were really happy to be back doing what we love most, and you could see it in the eyes of all my teammates."
With most of last season's team back did you and your teammates come into this one feeling like there was unfinished business?
"Before the interruption, we were in the running for the EuroCup and the Italian championships. Surely, some bitterness for what could have been is left in all of us. But it is useless to think about it. Let's think about the present and the next game, which is always the most important one."
"Happy to be back doing what we love most."
Newcomers Awudu Abass, Josh Adams and Amar Alibegovic have all made a big impact on the team. How important have they been to Virtus's success so far?
"When you have a 10-0 record, the merit must be shared with everyone. When you arrive to a great team, the expectations are certainly high. Whoever arrives knows that he must give his best and put himself at the service of the team and his teammates."
Was rallying from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat Monaco the team's most important win so far?
"The win was definitely important, but even more so was the response we gave as a team and as a group."
You both score and make assists with the best of them. Which do you enjoy more?
"It's a question I get asked a lot, but I don't change my opinion. When I serve an assist, two people are happy: me and my teammate. On the next assist, I will make a different teammate happy. The assist represents the greatest moment in basketball."
With Stefan Markovic, Josh Adams and Alessandro Pajola also being point guards, you can play off the ball, too. How comfortable does that make you?
"It's a system similar to the one that we used last season and in which we are all comfortable."
"The assist represents the greatest moment in basketball."
Marco Belinelli has arrived as another major weapon for Virtus. How much better can he make the team?
"Marco's qualities are unquestionable. He is a great addition, not only for Segafredo but also for European basketball as a whole. We have just started playing together. Wait a little longer and then you will see."
What's your take on your Top 16 opponents: Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and JL Bourg en Bresse?
"At this stage of the competition, every game counts more and we will have to be good at avoiding missteps. Whoever has gained access to the Top 16 has shown they belong at this level. We will have to be particularly good at not giving chances to our opponents."
Besides Virtus, which teams are the main contenders for the EuroCup throne?
"Joventut Badalona, Unicaja Malaga and UNICS Kazan."
What would it mean to you to lead Virtus, a two-time EuroLeague champion, back to the elite of European basketball?
"The club is growing and every year this growth is certified by the important investments made by the owners. It is a goal that is reached step by step, working every day. The club, staff and team work together every day to bring Virtus back to the Euroleague."