Captains and coaches take the mic in Mersin ahead of Final Four

MERSIN (Türkiye) - The captains and coaches of Cukurova Basketbol Mersin, Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding, Villleneuve d'Ascq LM and ZVVZ USK Praha have all offered their insights on the eve of Final Four. 

Ceyhun Yildizoglu , Valerie Garnier, Natalia Hejkova and Rachid Meziane tipped off the Pre-Event Press Conference before passing the mic to their respective club captains Marina Mabrey, Alperi Onar, Teja Oblak and Caroline Heriaud. 

Here are some of the key quotes:

"WE DID AN AMAZING JOB LAST YEAR. IT WAS A HISTORICAL SEASON FOR OUR CLUB. IT WAS A SPECIAL ONE AND NOW WE WILL FIGHT FOR ANOTHER." - Alperi Onar

"It's always nice to be here. We are happy and excited. Final Four is always tough. Every team is a great team and has great players. Final Four is totally different [from the Turkish League] as the rosters are different. It is one game and it’s their home court.

"It would be perfect for sure [to win a historic second title]. We did an amazing job last year. It was a historical season for our club. It was a special one and now we will fight for another, because we now know that feeling of winning EuroLeague Women and also what it’s like to lose everything as well." - Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding captain, Alperi Onar

“WE'RE ALL REALLY EXCITED [FOR FINAL FOUR]. IT'S HUGE FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IN GENERAL WITH MORE PEOPLE WATCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION." - Marina Mabrey

"We're all really excited [for Final Four]. It's huge for women’s basketball in general with more people watching and paying attention. I hope we can all put on a show for everyone. Any time you win a championship it is never about one player. We need everyone else to step up." - Cukurova Basketbol Mersin captain, Marina Mabrey

"WHEN YOU COME TO PRAHA, IT'S THE EXPECTATION TO BE AT FINAL FOUR. WE WILL BE READY. WE HAVE GREAT PLAYERS UNDER THE BASKET BUT ALSO OUTSIDE." - Teja Oblak

"The team is doing well. We did not know what to expect at the beginning of the season. But game by game, we saw we could do a lot. When you come to Praha it's the expectation to be at the Final Four and we will be ready to play. We have great players under the basket but also outside. We know what happened last season - we played at home and maybe the team couldn’t handle the pressure. I don’t know what happened.

"This is a new season and a different team. We have a very good atmosphere. It is very nice and I think it will be totally different. We finished first in the [Regular Season] group and this has given us confidence. But it is Final Four and you never know what to expect." - ZVVZ USK Praha captain, Teja Oblak

“TO BE HONEST, IT'S ALL BEEN A LITTLE CRAZY AS WE DIDN'T EXPECT THIS AT ALL... IT IS LIKE A DREAM AND WE WILL KEEP DREAMING." - Caroline Heriaud

 

"To be honest, it’s all been a little crazy as we didn’t expect this at all. Day by day, we worked hard and now we are here. We are super excited and enjoying this weekend. We are a really competitive team and everything we want to do is about winning. This is how we have arrived here. It doesn’t matter who we face, we want to win. I think this is the way we have finally achieved what we have done. We will keep enjoying it. It is like a dream and we will keep on dreaming." - Villeneuve d'Ascq LM captain, Caroline Heriaud

"It is a habit for Fenerbahce to be at the Final Four, but not for me. The last time I participated was 10 years ago with Bourges Basket. Like other teams we will try to give our best. It is two games and two Finals. In any game, any team can win. We have to receive the pressure of the fans and the competition, but there is no favorite." - Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding head coach, Valerie Garnier

"Being here for the Final Four for the first is a special experience. We learn from everybody every day. I try to learn, just like my players. We don’t consider ourselves as a favorite. I think the pressure is more on the other coaches along from my shoulder today. We are ready to give our best and to meet the challenge and to play." - Villeneuve d'Ascq LM head coach, Rachid Meziane

"Our team has been growing stronger and it was a big success to win the [Regular Season] group and go through the Play-Offs. We have been dreaming of the Final Four since the beginning, because it was new for us without some players from last season like Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones, so I am really happy we are here." - ZVVZ USK Praha head coach, Natalia Hejkova

"We are so happy to be here for Final Four. We will be ready." - Cukurova Basketbol Mersin head coach, Ceyhun Yildizoglu 

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