Mornar Bar is back rolling. After closing out the regular season with back-to-back wins to reach the Top 16 for the first time, it held off a late Herbalife Gran Canaria charge for a 100-102 road triumph in the first game of the new stage. Veteran guard Jacob Pullen came through yet again for Mornar in that game with the game-winning free throws in that game. It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the club, which struggled with COVID-19 cases on the team and on the support staff during the regular season. Pullen has shined for Mornar all season with a team-best 17.3 points per game on 40.3% three-point shooting, countless big baskets and veteran leadership. In this interview with EuroCupBasketball.com, Pullen talked abut what Mornar has been through to date and looked ahead, too. "We've got guys on our roster who really can play basketball at the highest level and play against some of the top teams," Pullen said. "It's in our hands. We just have to play and play well."

**Congratulations on starting the Top 16 with a win. A road win at Gran Canaria is never easy, but you guys made it tough on yourselves at the end.**

"It was a learning experience for us. We made bad choices at the end of that game, but at the same time, it's something we need to understand that playing in the Top 16, no team is going to quit. Regardless if we’re up 10 with a minute to go or if we're up 12 with 2 minutes to go. Every team is going to play till that final buzzer because they're playing for something. It's all good teams. So we have to do better at that. But at the same time, a win is a win. They don't care if you win by 1 or if you win by 12. As long as that W is on the stat sheet at the end of the game."

**What was going through your mind after they tied it and how much pressure did you feel on your shoulders when you went to the foul line with 4.4 seconds remaining?**

"I was as calm as could be. I had told 'Pajo' before we got the ball that we would win the game. He was upset at that last possession, where I made a questionable decision. But at the same time, I told him, 'it's our ball with 9 seconds left. We're gonna win the game. Don't worry.' And we walked up there, we executed, I got to the free-throw line and we were able to get a stop at the end of the game and win. My teammates did a great job." 

"I'm a junkie. I'll watch basketball all day and all night." 

**It seems that Coach Pavicevic gives you a fair amount of freedom. What do you like most about playing for him?**

"I've played in a lot of places in Europe and he doesn't act like a normal European coach as far as putting pressure on guys, or if you're having a bad night, him changing his attitude or his outlook of how things are supposed to go. He believes in us. Plus he's been here before. Me and Needham have played for him before. Isaiah played here last year at the end of the season. So he believes in us. He believes in the guys he brought in. He doesn’t think that us having a bad night is the end of the world. He really gives us a lot of leeway and freedom to play our game. He trusts the shots that we take. He tries to put us in a position to be as effective as we can and as free as we can. So that's one of the plusses in playing for 'Pajo'. He's a guard coach. He really lets us do our thing and it shows as well as we've been playing in the EuroCup."

**Mornar is 4-1 at home in the EuroCup this season and you play your next two games in Bar. Have you had a chance to see MoraBanc Andorra or UNICS Kazan play yet this season?**

"For sure. I'm a junkie. I'll watch basketball all day and all night. I've watched them both play numerous games and I’m a fan of Kazan, I’m a fan of Andorra. I think Kazan is really tough with Canaan, Smith, Holland, Brown, Morgan. They have a lot over there. Kazan is always a top team in the EuroCup. They are always fighting to get to the final four and the championship of the EuroCup because they want to win and get back to the EuroLeague. So I expect a tough game out of Kazan. Andorra has been fighting injuries and they haven't been as strong this year, but they're still a Spanish team and Spanish teams play at the top level in Europe. All Spanish teams because that league is just a tough league. The bottom of the Spanish League teams can beat most of the top teams in leagues in different countries just because of the way they play. So we can't look at it as, you know, Andorra hasn't been playing well. We have to go in and we have to take care of home court, which is our main goal. It's something that I expressed to the team after we won in Gran Canaria. Now all we have to do is win these next games at home and we put ourselves in a position to reach the top eight."

**Like many other teams, Mornar's season was greatly impacted by COVID-19, both on and off the court. In what ways did those difficulties and tragedies make your team stronger?**

"We went through a tough stretch in the regular season in the EuroCup where we only had about seven or eight guys for a couple of games. So that put a lot of pressure on me and Isaiah; we were playing about 37 minutes a game. We had no Needham. Nemanja [Gordic] wasn't here yet. Bjelica was out. So it really was down to me, Isaiah and Jeremic for a good stretch of two or three weeks. And I believe that's why we lost to Ulm at home after just playing against Paris on the road and Buducnost at home. We had a tough stretch, so it affected us a lot. But at the same time, we were rolling before COVID hit our team and we were playing really good. We had beaten Brescia by 30. We had beat Malaga at home. So it took us a second to get back into our rhythm. So I think that's what showed when we lost at Malaga and we lost at Brescia. It took us a second to get back to playing the type of basketball that we were, but going into the end of that round when we beat Paris at home and Buducnost on the road, I think we were getting back to ourselves and now we're back clicking, so it could be really good for us that we already beat our COVID stint and some teams are still going through it. So I think that we can focus for the rest of this season and stay healthy." 

"We're not just a pretend team or a Cinderella or something like that." 

**The roster doesn't really have any young players and most of the players are around your age. Has all of that cumulative experience helped you guys become a more dangerous opponent?**

"100 percent. You've gotta think about it. Kenny Gabriel is a EuroLeague-level player. He's played at the top level of basketball in Europe. And Taylor Smith has been in the EuroCup before with Nanterre. Milko Bjelica has played at the top level of basketball in Europe. We've got a lot of guys with top-level experience. Jeremic has played in Europe before. We have a lot of guys with experience. So, like I said, it's not about overdoing it with us and I think 'Pajo' has done a great job with that. We don't have to over-practice. We don't have to do things that most teams would do at this point in the season. We’re more hands-on where we can walk into a gym, take us an hour, focus on the other team, focus on our selves and we can get out of there and be focused and prepared for the game and I think that that's been showing for us."

**You’ve been to the EuroCup Quarterfinals before with Khimki, but I would imagine there was more pressure on that team than there is in Bar, where making the Top 16 is already seen as a historic achievement. What would it mean to the club and city to advance to the quarterfinals?**

"It would mean a lot. You've gotta think about it. A team in a town like this that has been in the shadows of Buducnost for a while and we're really trying to make our own name and show that we can compete at the highest level. It would mean a lot to show the Adriatic League, the EuroLeague and EuroCup that we're a real team. We're not just a pretend team or a Cinderella or something like that. We've got guys on our roster who really can play basketball at the highest level and play against some of the top teams. So making the quarterfinals would be completely different than at Khimki. At Khimki, it was expected and if we wouldn't have made it it would have been a bad season. Losing to Valencia that year was looked upon as a bad season because we had a lot of talent that year. But this year I think it's completely different and it's in our hands. We just have to play and play well." 

After making the game-winning free throws to lift Mornar Bar to victory in its first ever Top 16 game, veteran guard Jacob Pullen discussed his and his team's season – and what's next – in this interview.

Jacob Pullen, Mornar Bar: 'Now we're back clicking'

**In his 11th season in European basketball, forward Deon Thompson is one of the most experienced players in the continent. He played college basketball at the famed University of North Carolina and has had stops in Greece, Slovenia, Germany, China, Israel, Turkey, Serbia, Spain and Lithuania before joining Unicaja Malaga before the start of the 2019-20 season. An NCAA champion and domestic league winner in four different countries, Thompson knows what it takes to be successful and is trying to lead Unicaja to its second 7DAYS EuroCup crown. In this EuroCupBasketball.com blog, Thompson will tell us all about Unicaja, its run in the competition, and how great it is to live in Malaga as he waits for the fans to return to the stands to make his whole experience even better.**

Hello everybody. It is tough to start the Top 16 with a home loss. Obviously, we still have five more games and we are aware that every game, and especially in the top 16, is so important. We want to bounce back as fast as possible. We want to, also, recover some of our injured players, who are very important to us such as Alberto Diaz, Carlos Suarez, Axel Bouteille and Gal Mekel. A lot of our guys who are important to our team and the success of our season are out right now. I think a big thing for us is to try to get those guys back as soon as possible and to try to approach our next game, which is Monaco next week, as one of the most important games of the season. 

"It is tough to start the Top 16 with a home loss" 

Personally, I had a good game, but I would have traded that for a win. The season is always going to have its ups and downs and you've got to try to manage those and not try to get too low or too high. I want to continue to work and to continue to improve individually and as a team. I think it is important to try to improve from game to game and week to week. I think if we can find a way to improve as a team and if I can find a way to continue to be better personally, we can turn things around and head in the right direction.

We face Monaco on the road on Tuesday. I think all year we haven't had a problem with scoring. Our biggest problem, right now, is trying to get stops on defense, especially when we need those big stops to win the game. I think for us, scoring has never been an issue. I think on defense it’s all about "want to". I mean, obviously, you have your schemes and your tactics, but it comes down to wanting to accept the challenge and wanting to try to stop the man that you are guarding. Playing defense is a team aspect that needs to be done collectively. I think that's our key to moving forward: our ability to be able to play defense.

Mathias Lessort is in Monaco - both of us played for Crvena Zvezda, Bayern Munich and Unicaja at some point during our careers. He is a really good player, very talented, obviously an up-and-coming player who's having a great career. But for me, I think more so about the team and about how I can help my team win. And if that's a matchup, where I have to guard or defend, then I accept that challenge. But the biggest thing for me is our team's success and how well our team is able to perform. I am sure he will be motivated to play against his former team. I know we will be motivated because we understand how important this game is for us.

I am sure that some EuroCup fans are surprised by Francis Alonso, who is having a great season. I was not surprised, because I've known about him for a little while. He played at UNC Greensboro, where his head coach was Wes Miller. I played basketball with Wes Miller at the University of North Carolina. Wes travels to Europe to recruit and we stay in contact and have a good relationship. He was always talking to me about Francis and saying how good he was and how talented he was. One time, he said to me 'man, he saved my job so many times' speaking about Francis. I knew of him already, before I was playing in Malaga. Then, this past summer, I worked out and trained in Malaga. I would always see Francis because he was here in Malaga and he was putting the work in every day. I have seen the work that he's put in, and I'm just happy for him. He’s showing the fruits of his labor. So it's not a surprise for me, but I'm definitely happy for him and what he's doing. 

This is my second season in Malaga. Of course, everyone has struggled because of the pandemic, but I am really thankful to be spending it in Malaga. I haven't been able to fully enjoy it or be able to fully experience it with my family, which is something I really enjoy with this whole journey that I'm on with: being able to play basketball in Europe and do something I love, and to be able to share it with my family from back home. I'm thankful that my wife is here with me, but to be able to share with my family is, also, something I really enjoy. I'm thankful to be here during this pandemic. Being here last year during a lockdown with good weather and seeing the sun definitely helps with the mood. So Malaga for me, I think is one of the best places to live and play basketball in Europe. I'm very thankful and grateful for this opportunity. 

From a basketball standpoint, the thing I am missing the most, like any other player, is playing in front of our fans. Unicaja is a basketball city and the club has great passionate fans. I mean, obviously, it changes everything to have those fans in the arena with you to push you and motivate you. It is just that basketball is not really the same without the fans. I think watching basketball sometimes makes it difficult without the fans. So we definitely miss them and we hopefully can continue to make a run deep into this EuroCup season and maybe things can change with this virus and have some people back in the stands.

My final words have to be for the fans: I think they have been very critical of us all season, which I guess they have every right to as a fan and want to support their team, but just stick with us. Obviously, we are going to have our ups and downs, but to be a fan, is to be there during the good times and the bad times. Know that we're just going to continue to work and that we're going to give our best to try to turn things around.

Veteran big man Deon Thompson of Unicaja Malaga shares his thoughts and feelings in the first edition of his new EuroCupBasetball.com blog.

Deon Thompson, Unicaja: 'I'm very thankful'

It's a complicated season for us here at MoraBanc Andorra. We had a lot of injuries and a lot of trips, including our last one to Fuenlabrada, where we couldn't even play our Spanish League game due to a heavy snowstorm. But I am the type of person for whom all of these are excuses. In the end, I believe we played a very good game last week against UNICS Kazan, but when you are in the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16, you cannot miss small details, and this is what made the difference. We played a good game and were solid on defense, which is what we wanted. In the end, they are a talented team with players like Jamar Smith who will capitalize on every small mistake that you make. This is what didn't allow us to get our first victory in the Top 16. 

We still have five games left and it is true that there is not a big margin for error in the Top 16. Nothing is said and done, though. We brought back some players who are really important for us, and we are growing as a team, playing better and better. We still have a lot of things to say in the Top 16. 

The best way to bounce back from a home loss is by winning on the road, and this is what we will try to do against Mornar Bar. We have a tough group but this is the EuroCup Top 16 and you cannot expect to play against easy opponents. There are no easy games, especially when you play on the road. We know how difficult it is, but we depend on ourselves. Mornar is a talented team, but if we can play good defense, as we have done lately, we will have more chances to win. We are confident and looking forward. When you have so many problems in a season, that makes you stronger and motivates you even more. The team overcame all the problems we had and is willing to step up and play well in the Top 16. We hope the game against Mornar is a turning point for us.

It may look like a new team in Europe, but Mornar is full of experienced players who know everything about competing at this level. Still, if we play good defense, Mornar is the kind of team that can lose control and have bad moments. That is what we are holding on to: playing good defense. Mornar is talented but can also be up-and-down, and that is when we can find their weaknesses and make the most out of it.

Bringing in an experienced big man like Art Parakhouski helps us. It is not easy for him to arrive four months into the season because he will have less time to work with us. He doesn't have a lot of time to adjust and there are not a lot of practices, so it is difficult. At the same time, he is a talented, experienced player and that helps. He can give us a lot this season. We really have a deep frontcourt now, with a lot of players even despite so many injuries. We are missing Moussa Diagne and Malick Dime right now. 

Some of them will have to play minutes at small forward and Tyson Perez is working on it. He can help us a lot because Haukur Palsson got injured against UNICS, and we will need him to play at the 'three' position. Tyson has been working on it all season, and I think he will do well. Tomasz Gielo will also help us a lot, too. "Hielo" is the word for ice in Spanish and sounds similar to his surname. He is a great guy, but a bit cold sometimes, too, in the sense that on the court, no matter what happens, he has the same expression. We make some jokes about it. Every time the word "hielo" gets into the conversation -- and there was a cold wave lately -- he notices, so it is kind of funny. 

After Mornar, our next two games will be against my former team, Gran Canaria. I have played against them already in the Spanish League. These two games will be just as important as all the others. The Top 16 is just six games, and all of them are critical; you cannot really make a lot of mistakes. The tie-break advantage is also very important. Playing against Gran Canaria makes those special games for me, but I have to start forgetting about that too and focus on what we have to do to beat them instead of thinking about the past. We are in the Top 16, the team needs me at my best, and this what I am trying to offer.

I feel confident and have a lot of freedom on the court. I have the opportunity to play the way I know I can play, and I was missing that in Gran Canaria. I grew a lot as a player there, but missed the opportunity to play with some continuity. I am getting that in Andorra and am trying to make the most out of it. I wish that our results would be a bit better, but I am sure we will get more wins in the future because the team is working really well. We will get our reward.

Som-hi, Andorra! Mai por!

After a home loss to start the 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16, forward Oriol Pauli of MoraBanc Andorra uses his blog to say that there is plenty of time for his team to do some damage, starting with their road game at Mornar Bar in Round 2 on Wednesday.

Oriol Pauli, Andorra: 'Nothing is said and done'

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."

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'

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."

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'

First things first, we are in a good position in the 7DAYS EuroCup. We have the chance to finish first in our regular season group, which would help us in the next stage, but we haven't locked up first place yet. We still have to play on the road against Trento next week, which is very important for us. We have already beaten Trento by 10 points at home, even when they were missing some players that night because of the virus. It is a decisive game for both teams, so we hope we can get to the Top 16 with a first-place finish in our regular season group. We know it is not going to be an easy game, in any case. We can lose by up to 9 points and still be first, but only if Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana loses its own game. Right now we have one more win than both Trento and Olimpija. The best thing we can do is win the game and that way, we would avoid any other scenarios.

It has been a tough year for everyone, and 2020 will be over in three weeks. A lot of people lost their beloved ones, and unfortunately, I also lost someone who was really important to me, Shota Kratsashvili, whom I knew as "Papa Shota". When I found out, it was really, really sad news for me and my family. I can say he saved my life and cured my heel problems, on both feet, when I was a kid and was not able to even walk. I was able to walk again because of his treatment and eventually play professional basketball. We lost a person that helped a lot of people, not just sportsmen, who did a lot of great things in his life. He was humble and had unbelievable human values, a regular person who could talk to you open-mindedly about anything, without being shy. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for his children, who follow the family business, his legacy. His family has taken over and keeps doing that treatment.

"When I was a kid, I was not able to even walk." 

Like I said, I had problems in both heels when I was a kid, to the point that I was not able to walk. My parents had to sacrifice everything for me. They started selling things like our glasses and plates at home, then they sold their car and then their house. We started selling our own furniture and ended up selling the whole house so that they could afford my surgery, and it didn't work. Then it came this blessed day in which my Mom talked to one of her workmates at Georgian TV about it and she brought up Shota's name. We contacted him and he cured me in two weeks' time with his cream, made of goat's grease and a black ointment with a terrible smell. I have to say I fell in love with that terrible smell once I was cured! It is the best gift I got in my life. He told me I would walk in two weeks, and I not only walked but also ran. I was eight years old. I didn't believe it at first but the results came very soon, and then I could hardly believe it. I will always be thankful to him.

In our first visits to Shota, we had to take the bus and my Mom had to carry me to his house. Those were hard days for me, psychologically and emotionally. It wasn't easy at all, to go through something like this, your own son having those physical problems and not being able to walk. When your problem is something personal, that only affects you, then you can carry it in a better way, it is easier. But if something happens to your child, it is a whole different story. Like I said, it wasn't easy but we managed to pull through.



Papa Shota and my Mom would be two of the people I would think of if I ever win a big title, along with my Dad, who passed away when I was 14. Of course, I would keep my own family in mind. I am married and have a two-year-old daughter and another one on the way! Every good thing I get in my basketball career is for God and all for the people I mentioned, above everyone else.

So going back to what I was saying, 2020 finally comes to an end and 2021 is almost here with a lot of challenges. First, I hope everyone will be healthy when the new year starts and that we can beat the COVID-19 pandemic. I have to be optimistic, and I hope we can get back to normal soon and start to see fans at basketball courts around the world. I hope Gran Canaria fans can come back soon and support us before the end of the season, we really miss them. I am sure they will cheer for us even more when they come back! We are in a good situation in the EuroCup and want to keep growing as a team to have the possibility to make history here in Gran Canaria. And I hope to be part of this history, of course.

"I hope Gran Canaria fans can come back soon." 

So I told you a little bit about my life story. As I always say, the strong never quit. Some people might have given up, but my parents didn't. Everyone faces adversities in life and, like the famous sentence says, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That is very true: it can make you mentally and even physically stronger. When you come back, you are stronger, wiser and more experienced. All those experiences in life, good and bad, helped me grow as a person and as a basketball player.

Like I said, I wish all EuroCup fans a happy 2021. I hope we are in a better situation at this time next year. Basketball-wise, we hope to keep taking steps forwards in the EuroCup and in the Spanish League. Right now, we are almost at the bottom of the Spanish League standings and hope to bounce back as soon as possible. As far as the EuroCup goes, we have to keep competing at a high level and keep improving because we will probably face better teams in the Top 16 and we have to get ready for that. Before that, we hope we can finish first in our regular season group.

At the end of a difficult year, Herbalife Gran Canaria forward Beqa Burjanadze remembers the man who healed him as a child and looks forward to the day when fans can fill the stands again.

Beqa Burjanadze, Gran Canaria: 'The strong never quit!'

Hello again, everyone! I am glad to have the opportunity to interact with 7DAYS EuroCup and Partizan fans again.

In this blog, I would like to write about the difference in playing EuroCup matches this season compared to the previous two seasons.

Certainly, the first thing that comes to my mind is the most obvious change, and that is the absence of fans. In addition to all the obvious reasons why it is no longer the same to play games as before, I must say that Partizan is a team that belongs among several that suffer the most damage in the current circumstances. The main reason for this is the average attendance at our matches last year was more than 10,000 fans in every game that we played at home. And we should not neglect the fact that we had huge support from our fans across Europe at away games such as ASVEL, Trento, Limoges, Virtus Bologna, Venice and many others.

What is very important to mention is that the audience at Partizan games is extremely basketball literate because they have witnessed many great results that our club has had throughout its history.

That being said, it often happens that in moments when our team is not doing well, when the opposing team makes a big run, our fans would always recognize the importance of their support in those moments and put incredible pressure on opposing players. Most of the time, they would be the main reason for Partizan managing to catch the opposing team's lead.

The atmosphere in Bologna last season will be remembered most. It was the most important match in the Top 16 phase, and the victory would secure first place for us before the playoffs phase, which unfortunately was never played, for reasons known to everyone.

The arena was sold out in advance, the coach of Virtus was a former player and legend of our club, Sasha Djordjevic, and their team featured Serbian players Stefan Markovic and Milos Teodosic, as it does today. As expected, Virtus had 80% of the fans on its side that night, creating a fiery atmosphere and great passion in the stands. We had about 500 of our fans who, like the Spartans, opposed a much larger number of opposing fans. The match was very tight and physical from the very beginning to the end, and we managed to steal the win late in the game.

I still have the hope that things will get better soon and that we will have such atmospheres all over Europe again.

I wish everyone good health and happiness before the New Year and Christmas holidays.

Best regards,
Rade Zagorac

At the end of a 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season like no other, Rade Zagorac of Partizan NIS Belgrade remembers the missing fans who so inspire his and other teams and hopes to see them back in the stands as soon as possible.

Rade Zagorac: 'Partizan fans are extremely basketball literate'

We knew coming into this season that it was going to be a different one for sure with COVID, but we could have never imagined losing a staff number [team caretaker Luka Macanovic]. It is weird; he was always healthy, always a happy guy. He helped us a lot. It was just a horrible time, especially from my side because I never got back to see him in the hospital or anything before he left, because I myself had COVID when I was in Paris. So I was quarantining there when everything happened. Just a rough season all around, but especially for us.

Since we got hit with COVID, we haven't had a full team since those early wins we had, so coming off this break we'll finally get our full team back for a home game that's very important for us. Metropolitans is playing well, but we always try to protect our home court. That's one of our goals to try to get to the Top 16.

Like I said, Metropolitans is playing well. They started off slow, but they picked up momentum. I think after beating us they picked up a lot of momentum. They are a team that likes to play defense and run a lot, so if we can control our turnovers and control the glass, I think we'll be in for a win. 

 Our Round 10 opponent, Buducnost, is our rivalry team and those are always close games, even overtime games. But the last one was the first matchup in EuroCup history between us two. It was a big win for us, especially being down, I think, three players. It was just a huge win. Anytime we play them it's a rivalry. Everyone wants bragging rights. For them to try to knock us out of the Top 16, I'm pretty sure that they would love to do that over there. There's never an easy game when we play them. Ever.

I really didn't have my legs or anything after quarantining in a hotel room for two weeks, so this schedule break has really given me a chance to build my body back up and get into that great shape I was in right before I got sick. COVID for me wasn't that bad. I was nervous in the beginning just like everyone else. I just tried to stay positive and rest my body as much as I could. I was in Paris for 13 days, away from everybody, just by myself in a hotel room, while our team had game after game after game. It was challenging mentally because I was watching all the games and wanting to be there, wanting to get back to my family, even though I would have to quarantine away from them. Just being in a different country by yourself for that long is mentally draining, but we got through it. 

EuroLeague TV saved my life! I was watching every single game, every EuroCup game. Between Tuesday and Friday, I was like, "Yes, come on. At least I have something to watch!" That kind of saved me. I think, especially after watching them play on the road, Unicaja is such a tough team. I watched UNICS; they always look good, no matter home or away. I watched them play against Reyer. That was a great game. And I think Virtis. They are so solid. They actually probably have a EuroLeague team. Those I think are the frontrunners right now, with Lokomotiv as well. Those four teams to me are ahead of everyone. And the rich get richer with Virtus signing Marco Belinelli. That's the guy to add! With Teodosic throwing the ball everywhere, if he can catch it and shoot it, that's an unbelievable team already. Now I think they're at the top of the EuroCup for sure. 

 My favorite in the EuroLeague right now is Bayern Munich. One of my friends, Jalen Reynolds, is the center on that team and they were hot when I was in Paris. They were beating everybody. So they are my underdog favorite. And I think Real Madrid is coming on strong as usual, even though they just lost Campazzo, which I think is a huge blow to them.

Right now, I think the most steady team is CSKA. Mike James is starting to play unbelievable again, back to his old self. I think they have the momentum right now over everybody. They still have to let Shengelia figure out where he's going to play, because he was at Baskonia for a long time with a main role. But I think Mike James was giving him a lot of leeway early in the season, passing the ball more. Now, I think it's Mike James's time to turn it up and get them a higher seed going into the playoffs.

 As point guard, during the preseason, I kind of figured out where everyone needs the ball, where everyone likes the ball, so I know if a guy hasn't touched it in three or four possessions, I can sense when they can get back involved. Even if I'm not on the floor, I can tell who needs a shot just to keep everyone involved. We're an unselfish team, so it's not like too many guys complain if they don't get a shot for three or four possessions. But as the point guard, I know they need to touch the ball, because I'm always touching the ball, dribbling up the floor. So I know how to get them the ball and keep everybody engaged.

Our experience is huge for us heading into these final games in the regular season. It's going to keep us steady and make sure we don't have highs and lows during the games. We have two tough opponents and what we are really focused on is getting a home win first and carrying that momentum into Podgorica.

This is history for Mornar. The more we win, each game is another step in the history of this club. Making the Top 16 is a milestone for us. If we get there, that'll be huge. 

With his team tied for the final Top 16 spot in Group B with two games left, guard Derek Neeham knows that Mornar Bar is confident his team can come up with the goods to save a challenging 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season.

Derek Needham: 'This is history for Mornar' 

Hello again! We are playing our first do-or-die game of this 7DAYS EuroCup season against Antwerp. Of course, you feel some pressure but that is what you practice for. You work hard for these do-or-die games, all the time. That's the time to show ourselves as a team. Everybody is excited, and it is a must-win situation for us. We had a lot of problems, all season long, but were more competitive in the last two games. We had chances to beat Virtus and Lokomotiv. Everybody talked about them crushing us because we played without a full roster because of COVID, but we fought and had a really good chance to beat Loko. We were really tired against Virtus but also showed some progress, and improvement as a team, which is important for us. 

Talking about our EuroCup season until now, I feel like we could have had more than one win. At the start of the competition, we didn't play our best games and lost some very tough ones. That is the toughest part, but we still have the chance to qualify. All we need to do is win a couple more games and we will be good, so I hope that is what is going to happen. We started to show some signs that we are playing better and better and then bam! Six guys were sick and after that, four more. We didn't practice with a full team for almost six weeks, so that's tough. Now, we have to go to Belgium to play a do-or-die game but we are professional basketball players and it is our job to show character, to show that we are the better team. We are going to Belgium to win. 

One of the good things is that my brother Marius is also back and we have a chance to play together. It is very cool! When you get used to that feeling, to play with him on the same team, it sometimes feels like it is normal, that it is usual. But it is not normal. It's like God's gift to play together with your younger brother on the same team. Maybe it's the last season that we will play together; nobody knows. We just need to think about this time and to be thankful for this opportunity. I am very happy that Marius came back from his injury and I hope he will get his minutes and improve, too. 

So, we need to be as focused and competitive as possible against Antwerp. Our main goal to stop their point guard, Kenneth Smith. He controls the whole team and I think this will be our main job. And, of course, stop their shooters. If we stop Smith, though, it will be easier to stop everybody else. He can score, pass the ball and do everything right. We have Kyle Vinales, who is also that kind of player. Both are talented and they play in the same position. That will be one of the biggest keys to the game, who wins that matchup. They are playing at home and will feel more confident.

Of course, I keep an eye on what Zalgiris is doing in the EuroLeague because some of my best friends play there. I believe this is very usual in basketball, and in sports; teammates become best friends off the court, too. You spend a lot of time with them between practices, games, trips and everything. You spend most of your time with your teammates. And if you play with someone for some years, your friendship gets stronger, and some of your teammates become your friends for the rest of your life. 

"It's like God's gift to play together with your younger brother"

Some of my best friends in basketball, after so many years with Zalgiris, are with that team. Lukas Lekavicius is one of my best friends. We spent a lot of years together in Zalgiris and played together in the second and first teams. We went on holiday together. I remember that when he was younger, nobody talked about him seriously but his dedication, working before and after practice, allowed him to be one of the best guards in Zalgiris history and make it to the national team. He is a great example of how a young player needs to work to succeed in basketball. Paulius Jankunas was my roommate. I know Marius Grigonis and all of the Lithuanian guys and we talk a lot. Maybe we talk less during the season because they have their problems to solve and we have ours, but we talk and discuss things on and off the court. Generally speaking, all Lithuanian players get along well. I don't know why that is. Maybe I can see that especially in Zalgiris and Lietkabelis, but I am sure also that other teams have great chemistry in the locker room, so maybe this is why. You always remember the good chemistry you had in that locker room.

Back to the game against Antwerp. We know we will play our last two games at home, against Andorra and Monaco, but are not even thinking about it. I don't know much about Andorra because I didn't play against them earlier this season. I hope that we can win in Belgium and then are able to talk about that game. If we close this group with two home wins, we will probably qualify to the next round, which would be perfect for us. I know what people may think, that we are one of the worst teams in this group, and not even thinking about us making it to the Top 16. This is an extra motivation for us: to prove those people wrong!

It's the last-chance saloon for Lietkabelis Panevezys going into this week, but with his brother, among others, back from injury, blogger Paulius Valinskas is full of confidence in his team as they visit Telenet Giants Antwerp on Wednesday.