ZARAGOZA (Spain) - It's probably the only time in history when chants of 'MVP, MVP, MVP' have been aimed quite as loudly at a coach, but that's the extraordinary EuroLeague Women world we're living in when it comes to the legendary Natalia Hejkova.
Having firstly serenaded the actual tournament MVP, Brionna Jones, for her remarkable contribution in the Final win against CIMSA CBK Mersin, fans at the Final Six in Zaragoza then repeated the chorus, with even more passion in for the USK Praha playcaller.
Receiving a standing ovation, she took to the court for a special FIBA presentation recognizing her amazing legacy as the curtain came down on a truly astonishing EuroLeague Women career.
It was a fairytale of epic proportions, she masterminded a sixth piece of EuroLeague Women silverware in her very last game in the competition - also signing off having never lost a Final.
Her parting gift of another championship for Praha, exactly a decade after her first for the Czech side in 2015 also provided some real symmetry.
My story is that I was never thinking of coaching - I am a lawyer. But they asked me to coach for two or three months and now it is about 40 years.
It means she has won two titles with three different clubs - also enjoying success with Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje in 2007 and 2008, as well as SCP Ruzomberok in 1999 and 2000.
Her coaching numbers are jaw-dropping.
Hejkova has coached more EuroLeague Women games (490) and collected more wins (315) than anyone else, in a career that tipped off in 1987 and has lasted almost four decades. "I never expected it would be so successful," she mused.
"My story is that I was never thinking of coaching - I am a lawyer. But they asked me to coach for two or three months and now it is about 40 years. My message is that if you have something that you are in love with, then do it if you can - if you get the chance. I was lucky, I had the chance.
"I started to coach a team in the second division and then with the same team, we won EuroLeague Women. It was 25 years ago when we won [with SCP Ruzomberok] in the most interesting Final against Bourges. It was double overtime and we were also playing at home and there were many emotions. I appreciate it so much as I know how much it was to come from that second division and to win EuroLeague Women."
Pressed to choose which of her various title successes are the most cherished, Hejkova doesn't find it easy.
She said: "It is difficult to say with my heart, but the two overtimes at home was exciting and the first with Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje was also exciting as nobody expected that we would be champions. And with Prague, we were outsiders. Everything was so exciting and I remember well all of the titles.
"10 years ago it was a little bit easier [than this sixth one] because nobody counted on Prague – nobody. This time after beating Fenerbahce in the Semi-Finals, everyone thought we might be favorites so it was a different situation."
My message is that if you have something that you are in love with, then do it if you can - if you get the chance. I was lucky, I had the chance.
Overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection and admiration, Hejkova was just relieved to have gotten over the line during her storybook ending.
"It was a little bit strange really," she admitted.
"I tried to make everything the same like it was during the season – it was a little bit different because in the locker room before the game, I wrote some words. The most important was: ‘It’s a chance, so grab it’. They took the chance and so it was really emotional."
Since first lifting the famous silverware, she confessed the women's game had evolved enormously - although many of the key ingredients that many love about the sport had also remained constant. "It's an absolutely different competition now," explained Hejkova.
"It's not the same and the basketball has changed. It's a more physical game, but still with great skills and great brains that decide the games," she concluded.
FIBA