Buducnost VOLI Podgorica playmaker Petar Popovic returns for his second blog entry this season. Here's what he had to say:
Petar Popovic, Buducnost: 'Every game is a key game for us'
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A lot of things happened since the last time I blogged. Back then we were 2-1 in the EuroCup and now we are fighting for a playoff after a coaching change and adding new players to the roster. The EuroCup is really strong and unpredictable and all the teams can play and know how to play. Every game matters, as we say. So, it's been interesting. I see a lot of surprising results. It's nice to be part of the EuroCup and I think that this last part of the schedule is gonna be very interesting. Every win can bring you closer to the top or if you lose, closer to the bottom.
"It's nice to be part of the EuroCup and I think that this last part of the schedule is gonna be very interesting."
We've had a lot of ups and downs. Going into the Round 11 game against Turk Telekom, we had three wins in a row in our two competitions (EuroCup and ABA League) and we felt that we had the momentum and that we were playing well. And then that game was really bad for us. It shook us. I don't know. We are going up and down this whole season so far. I don't know the reason, but the good thing is that we are still in the game. We have all the games that are left. We have some games at home that will be nice if we take the wins. But it's unpredictable. We realize how important those home losses against Aris and Turk Telekom were. So I'm really careful with any predictions. I'm just going one game at a time. Next is Cluj at home. So to be honest, I am only focusing on that game and I'm not looking any further than that.
It will be nice to see my former teammate DJ Seely when Cluj comes. We played together here two seasons ago. That season, I knew that he was coming from EuroLeague and that he was a great player. But seeing that in practices and every day, him and his talent, was really amazing. First of all, he is a great guy. I really enjoyed the time I spent talking to him. He is funny. I remember him as a great guy. I was really happy when I saw him when we played in Romania. I think that he is a great scorer and a great passer. He is very talented. There are things that we have to do as a team to stop him and the other talented players that they have.
In the end, it's all about the team. There is no playing against one or two guys. We have to show up as a team, play offensively and defensively as a team, and try to play to our strengths to take that win. It's very important for us. Basically, every game is a key game for us. It will be in the future. I honestly expect a very tough game. They have a lot of guys that I know from before. Adam Mokoka and Bryce Jones played in the ABA League. I know how talented they are. I know that they have tempo and good rhythm in their game. They have Jarell Eddie, Stepanovic also played in the ABA League. So, they have a lot of talent on their side, but we also have a lot of talent in our team and I think we can put up a great fight and a great battle and I hope we come out as the winners.
"I hope to get those important wins that we need and to get a good spot in the playoffs."
The end of 2023 is almost here and that's a good time to make some wishes for the new year. Health is always number one. For our team, I hope to get those important wins that we need and to get a good spot in the playoffs in the EuroCup and to go as high as we can in ABA League. And that's it. At the end of the day, we all know that this is the game that we play and things outside of basketball are more important. But when you are into it and when you are working together every day, the job, the games, are important to us. So let's say in this professional part, I want us to get the wins that we need to go to the playoffs and then to see how far we can go. And all this, of course, one more time after health. Health, I think that's the start and base of every wish and everything in our life.