News
Interviews
Andrew Albicy, Gran Canaria: 'We really wanted to win this competition, and we did it'

Andrew Albicy, Gran Canaria: 'We really wanted to win this competition, and we did it'

Interviews

9 May 20237 Mins read

Javier Gancedo

Senior Manager, Editorial

Andrew Albicy, Gran Canaria: 'We really wanted to win this competition, and we did it'

When Gran Canaria completed its 71-67 victory over Turk Telekom Ankara in the 7DAYs EuroCup Final, one of the happiest players on the floor was playmaker Andrew Albicy. It took Albicy 101 games over seven EuroCup seasons, the last three with Gran Canaria, to finally lift the EuroCup trophy. Albicy led Gran Canaria in PIR (18) in that game. He was already one of the competition's all-time greats when it came to assists and steals, ranking second and fourth all-time, respectively. A trophy was missing, but not anymore. He believes that losing a final before inspired Gran Canaria to not let this opportunity go away. "We have been to the final before, so this was their second time in the final. And for sure, when you lose once, you always want to come back and win after this loss," Albicy said. "And for me, it is also very special to win it with Gran Canaria. I love being here."

Congratulations on winning the 7DAYS EuroCup!

"It's so nice, and it is a big accomplishment for me and the club. I'm just happy we did what we showed all season because, with this format, we know it is very difficult to go to the end. But we did it! We were solid at home, winning all 13 games here. So for us, it was a big step forwards not to lose at home, in front of our fans in Gran Canaria."

How special was it to win it with Gran Canaria, a team that chased the EuroCup title for so long?

"It is very special for the club. We have been to the final before, so this was their second time in the final. And for sure, when you lose once, you always want to come back and win after this loss. And for me, it is also very special to win it with Gran Canaria. I love being here. My girlfriend is from Gran Canaria, my baby was born in Gran Canaria so for me, it is a very special place. I am very comfortable and thankful to be here so if I can finish my career here, I will be very, very thankful for everything."

"If I can finish my career here, I will be very, very, very thankful for everything."

Let's talk about the final against Turk Telekom. You had a great start but Turk Telekom came back. What allowed you to hold them off down the stretch?

"I think some defensive actions changed the game a little bit. I remember a steal by Nico [Brussino] and a big shot by John [Shurna]. I took two offensive fouls and having that changed the game because it was close. They did a great job coming back and putting pressure on us but like I said, John made the big shot for us to be a little bit comfortable. We got stops after that and that's why we won this game."

You, Shurna, A.J. Slaughter and Oliver Stevic won your first EuroCup title after more than 100 games in the competition. How great was it to win it together for the first time?

"Well, John was the first guy I went for after we won. It was easy because he was close, but it was very special for me to be with John and Stevic because they have been the teammates I have played longer with, six years with Stevic and five with John. So for us, it was a big moment because we lose two semifinals together in the past. We really wanted to win this competition and we did it. I was very happy, it was special for us to win this trophy."

Shurna played the final with back problems and still was chosen as the game's MVP. How much did he lead by example?

"John is an amazing player and an amazing guy and I am so happy that he won this trophy because I think he can play at a better level. He can reach the EuroLeague, for sure, and never had this opportunity. And next year, he will have it, so I am very happy for him. Like I said, after all the work he did for many years, it is great that he won the MVP and especially the EuroCup."

You played with many young big guys. Have you seen such a competitive pair of centers of this age on the same team?

"I don't think so! They have very big potential to become even better players. They are good players now, but I think they can have a really great career, especially in the EuroLeague. They need a little bit of time to learn but they will do the job. They really want to learn. They listen every time we talk to them and I think they are improving every time on the court. I think they have a great future ahead of them, for sure."

Did your EuroCup experience, seven years in the competition, pay off in the final?

"Like I said, I know this competition and its format. It changed now, but I know the previous format was tough, too, maybe even tougher! It has more impact if you have a better team because, in one game, you can have a bad day, but if you play home and away, the better team is shown. So this format is very, very tough but you have only one way to win, which is winning every game. Then you don't have problems reaching the trophy. But it's true, experience was big for us. It is why we changed the game in the final minutes the other day, playing hard defense and hitting big shots, because we have the experience to do this at a high level. I think this is why we won the game, too, because maybe they had less experience than us."

We know you like to say you are second all-time in assists. How much would you like to go past Stefan Markovic and be first?

"Yes, it is something I want to reach. Why not? Like, I think I have five years in my legs, so why not try to reach this first place in assists? I am just happy to be part of the history of Gran Canaria and the EuroCup because now, I know my name is on the trophy, and that's most important for me."

"We forgot the trophy in the arena! When we got to the restaurant, I was like, 'Where is the trophy?'"

Home-court advantage was big for you and your fans gave you a big push. How important were your fans to this success?

"They pushed us because especially the quarterfinal and semifinal were tough. And the eighthfinal was tough for us, too. When we were down, our fans pushed a lot and we felt this energy that helped us make a great play or do extra, do more than we normally do. I think everybody playing at home gets this power from their fans and that is definitely our case, especially this year. We didn't lose a home game in the EuroCup and haven't lost at home in the ACB since November. For us, it was very important to play at home."

How was the celebration?

"Nice! I wanted to enjoy more, but we had to come back to reality. But We enjoyed with our families, friends and teammates, and it was great. We forgot the trophy in the arena! When we got to the restaurant, I was like, 'Where is the trophy?' But it was good that it stayed in the arena because the people that work for us could take pictures with it and enjoy that moment, too. So it was not a bad thing to leave the trophy in Gran Canaria Arena."