Marko Tomas to Sportando: It's time for Real Madrid to win Euroleague
Marko Tomas has played with Real Madrid and Fenerbahce
After two consecutive lost finals of Euroleague it's about time Real Madrid to eventually win the title as ex Los Blancos player (2005-2007, 2008-2009), Marko Tomas, says to Sportando.
The Croatian forward has also played in the opponent of the Spaniards, in the semifinal, Fenerbahce Ulker (2010-2012), but it seems that he has a clear opinion of the team that will pass to the final and will lift the trophy.
The 30 years old international believes that there will be interesting games in the final four of Madrid, but he thinks that the host team hasn't got bigger chance from this year to return to the top of European basketball after 20 years (1995 in Zaragoza the last time).
Thomas plays for Cedevita since 2012 and reveals his plans for next year and the Croatian national team, which will take part in Eurobasket 2015, hosting games in the country.
How was this year for you in Cedevita?
“In the beginning of the season I was injured. I wasn’t ready to play and I played only one game in the groups of Euroleague. From the middle of January I started to play again and now finally I am ok, healthy and in good shape”.
How do you expect the season to close with Cedevita?
“We finished the Adriatic League two weeks ago. We played in the final and now we have the Croatian League. We’ve got five games until the end and the start of the play offs. We hope we are going to win, to be in the final and win the championship”.
The last years you have been in Cedevita. What are your plans for next year?
“I don’t have a contract for next year but let’s wait till the end of the season. For me the most important is to stay healthy because the last 2-3 years I was not always ready to play due to a lot of injuries. I have the national team this summer for Eurobasket. I will see if I will play or not. I will talk to the coach. Cedevita plays in Euroleague also next season. We are going to talk when the season ends”.
Now, I would like to ask you about the Final Four of Euroleague. You have played both in Real Madrid and in Fenerbahce Ulker. Which team do you support in the semi-final?
“Yes. It is a very interesting game. Real was close the last three years to win Euroleague but always needed some more details. Fener is also my ex club and I am happy for them. I know what it means for all the Fenerbahce fans. This is a big result for them. First time in the history. But Madrid the last time they won Euroleauge was in 1995 when Sabonis was playing for them. It is going to be a very very interesting game. Both teams deserved to be in the final four. It’s very big because they play each other. I would like to see this game in the final, but it is the semifinal and I just want the best team to win. I hope that the one who deserves to win will go to the final. I wish all the luck for them”.
What is your opinion about the other semifinal (CSKA Moscow – Olympiacos)?
“This is also a very big game with very big clubs. Olympiacos know how to play tough games in the final four. CSKA was a better team during all Euroleague but this is only one game and who is going to be in better shape that night that team will take the victory. Also a very interesting game. Spanoulis and his teammates know how to play big games”.
Could you predict the teams that will be in the final or the team that will win the trophy?
“I am going to choose Real Madrid. I think it is their time”.
How was your experience in Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Ulker as a player?
“When I came to Real Madrid I was a young guy. I went there from KK Zagreb. It was a big experience for me. I played Euroleague for the first time in Madrid. For me this is an amazing club. In Europe it is not easy to be young like me and be an experienced player. It was a nice experience for me. I spent three seasons in Real Madrid.
In Fenerbahce it was something different. I went there after a very good season in Cibona and we played very good in Euroleague that year. In Top 16 we started excellent with 3-0 and had big possibility to play in the quarterfinals from the first position. But we lost three games in a row and lost all the chances. The second year I had bad luck because I was coming from a serious injury in the Eurobasket of Lithuania so I couldn’t play”.
Interview by Maria Karvouni
The Croatian forward has also played in the opponent of the Spaniards, in the semifinal, Fenerbahce Ulker (2010-2012), but it seems that he has a clear opinion of the team that will pass to the final and will lift the trophy.
The 30 years old international believes that there will be interesting games in the final four of Madrid, but he thinks that the host team hasn't got bigger chance from this year to return to the top of European basketball after 20 years (1995 in Zaragoza the last time).
Thomas plays for Cedevita since 2012 and reveals his plans for next year and the Croatian national team, which will take part in Eurobasket 2015, hosting games in the country.
How was this year for you in Cedevita?
“In the beginning of the season I was injured. I wasn’t ready to play and I played only one game in the groups of Euroleague. From the middle of January I started to play again and now finally I am ok, healthy and in good shape”.
How do you expect the season to close with Cedevita?
“We finished the Adriatic League two weeks ago. We played in the final and now we have the Croatian League. We’ve got five games until the end and the start of the play offs. We hope we are going to win, to be in the final and win the championship”.
The last years you have been in Cedevita. What are your plans for next year?
“I don’t have a contract for next year but let’s wait till the end of the season. For me the most important is to stay healthy because the last 2-3 years I was not always ready to play due to a lot of injuries. I have the national team this summer for Eurobasket. I will see if I will play or not. I will talk to the coach. Cedevita plays in Euroleague also next season. We are going to talk when the season ends”.
Now, I would like to ask you about the Final Four of Euroleague. You have played both in Real Madrid and in Fenerbahce Ulker. Which team do you support in the semi-final?
“Yes. It is a very interesting game. Real was close the last three years to win Euroleague but always needed some more details. Fener is also my ex club and I am happy for them. I know what it means for all the Fenerbahce fans. This is a big result for them. First time in the history. But Madrid the last time they won Euroleauge was in 1995 when Sabonis was playing for them. It is going to be a very very interesting game. Both teams deserved to be in the final four. It’s very big because they play each other. I would like to see this game in the final, but it is the semifinal and I just want the best team to win. I hope that the one who deserves to win will go to the final. I wish all the luck for them”.
What is your opinion about the other semifinal (CSKA Moscow – Olympiacos)?
“This is also a very big game with very big clubs. Olympiacos know how to play tough games in the final four. CSKA was a better team during all Euroleague but this is only one game and who is going to be in better shape that night that team will take the victory. Also a very interesting game. Spanoulis and his teammates know how to play big games”.
Could you predict the teams that will be in the final or the team that will win the trophy?
“I am going to choose Real Madrid. I think it is their time”.
How was your experience in Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Ulker as a player?
“When I came to Real Madrid I was a young guy. I went there from KK Zagreb. It was a big experience for me. I played Euroleague for the first time in Madrid. For me this is an amazing club. In Europe it is not easy to be young like me and be an experienced player. It was a nice experience for me. I spent three seasons in Real Madrid.
In Fenerbahce it was something different. I went there after a very good season in Cibona and we played very good in Euroleague that year. In Top 16 we started excellent with 3-0 and had big possibility to play in the quarterfinals from the first position. But we lost three games in a row and lost all the chances. The second year I had bad luck because I was coming from a serious injury in the Eurobasket of Lithuania so I couldn’t play”.
Interview by Maria Karvouni
Sportando
@Sportando
You must be registered to post a comment