After six seasons in Gran Canaria, Oriol Pauli decided to make a change and moved north to play for MoraBanc Andorra. He will blog on these pages periodically to share his thoughts on the season. Here is his first post.
Oriol Pauli: 'I missed the EuroCup!'
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After six seasons in Gran Canaria, Oriol Pauli decided to make a change and moved north to play for MoraBanc Andorra. He brings experience - in the form of an appearance in the EuroCup FInals as well as a season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague - plus his trusted dog Moxie to his new home in Andorra, where Pauli hopes to earn more playing time and have a central role on a EuroCup contender. He will periodically check in through his EuroCupbasketball.com blog to share his thoughts on the season. Here is his first post:
First of all, I have to say it will be a season full of changes for me. I played for Herbalife Gran Canaria for the last six years and believed it was the right time to do something different, to take that next step in my career. I decided to switch teams and leave Gran Canaria. MoraBanc Andorra was one of the clubs that showed a lot of confidence in me and believed I can give a lot to the team. They wanted me to be here and were sure that I would do great. They said I would get the playing time that maybe I didn't have the luck to get in Gran Canaria. It was a good option for me and I am excited to be here. I agreed to their proposal and am still waiting to make my official debut. I was injured in the preseason, but I will be ready for the start of season and I looking forward to showing what I can do with the playing time that I was missing.
"We have a great group of players and that is what can give us an edge."
I am back in the 7DAYS EuroCup, a competition I know well. I missed the EuroCup! Last season, Gran Canaria didn't play any European competitions and I truly missed that; playing two competitions gives more playing time to everyone, more minutes on court, more options for everyone. I always liked the EuroCup because I believe it has grown every season. There are a lot of good teams and everyone has a chance to reach the final stages. Playing the EuroCup with Andorra is a plus. This is a slightly different club because we represent a whole country. In a way, it is like playing for the Andorran national team! I can't wait to start the season. Our regular-season group is tough, but if we make it to the Top 16, we will have a good chance to reach even higher. We have to be focused from the very beginning, but also very confident. We have good options and will go for it.
The EuroCup is all about overcoming obstacles. There are small competitions in the EuroCup and that forces you to be focused in every game. First, you have to survive the regular season and then you start from scratch again in the Top 16. In the Spanish League and the EuroLeague, there is a bigger margin for error. If you play a bad game, you can always bounce back down the road. In the EuroCup, there is no room for such mistakes, especially in a group with such great teams. We have to be ready from Game 1 or it will be tough for us to advance. The team has had a great start of the season and we've worked well since pre-season. We have a great group of players and that is what can give us an edge. We have a core of players who did great last season, and us, the newcomers, have adjusted pretty fast, which is important on a basketball team. We have to play together and I think we will be able to do so.
One thing I like about Andorra is that I live a few meters away from the arena. Everything is close here and some of the players live in a building that also hosts the club's office, which is very close to the arena. I rented a flat so close to it that I would never be late to practices. In the end, it is very comfortable to be here. I like to be one of the first to arrive at practice and now I don't need to drive to the arena and avoid traffic. I am a few steps away and I hope that helps me have a great season. I was not allowed to live in the club's flats because I have a dog, but I am only a few meters away from them. I spend a lot of time with the guys living in those flats.
"I needed a change and only see the positive side of it."
We got our dog a couple of years ago. It is from Tarragona, but already lived in Gran Canaria and now in Andorra. It is a small dog that doesn't make much trouble. Maybe you saw him on social media; he goes everywhere with us. My girlfriend, Carla, loves him and wants to take him everywhere. His name is Moxi and he has its own Instagram account.
Pierre Oriola of FC Barcelona has the same breed of dog and also created an Instagram account for him. Pedro Martinez, the head coach, has another dog from the same breed. Go check him out!
Our first EuroCup game is against AS Monaco. These teams have faced each other on regular basis in the last three years. It happened in Gran Canaria, too; sometimes you play against the same opponents and that is a good thing because you know your opponents better and how to play against them. Our group also features Lokomotiv Kuban and Virtus Bologna, so it is a very tough one. We have to be focused, especially at home. From my own experience in the competition, home wins are critical and you have to win them all. That gives you more confidence on the road. Being focused at all times is the most critical issue and it is important to find a good rhythm to compete well in both competitions, the EuroCup and the Spanish League.
People may think I miss Gran Canaria's great weather, but I am really happy to be here. I had a good life in Gran Canaria, it is a very special place to be. It was great to live in Gran Canaria for so many years, but I also like it here in Andorra. I needed a change and only see the positive side of it. Coming to a new destination is great because it is my decision. I am adjusting to the team and the country as quickly as possible, and I hope we have a great season! Mai por!