On the eve of opening night and his 100th career appearance in the 7DAYS EuroCup, Valencia Basket point guard playmaker Sam Van Rossom spoke about what's different in the competition this season and his favorite memories from the past in this interview.
Sam Van Rossom, Valencia: 'We want to be up there'
Interviews
7 Mins read
The 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup starts on Tuesday and as always, when Valencia Basket is in the competition, it is one of the favorites to lift the trophy. That is exactly what happened in its last EuroCup appearance in 2019. Things are different this time: the competition has a new format, with an 18-game regular season, followed by single-game knock-out rounds until the last team is standing. One of the players who knows the competition best is Valencia playmaker Sam Van Rossom, who won it all in 2014 and 2019. Valencia's game against Promitheas Patras in Round 1 should be his 100th in the competition, making him the 15th player to reach that mark. Van Rossom ranks 10th all-time in assists (324) and 17th in three-point shots made (332). He believes that the new format should bring a different, most focused approach, as he said in this EuroCupBasketball.com interview. "Every game matters from the very beginning and the first goal is to reach as high as possible in our group. A good spot would give us the home-court advantage in the knock-out rounds," Van Rossom said. "Each game matters from day one, so it is a little bit different than in other years."
Hello, Sam. Valencia Basket is back to the EuroCup and so are you. Could this be the hardest EuroCup ever?
"Well, at first, it is always a little bit difficult to say it. I believe that we have to wait to see the actual playing level, but the competition is really good. The new format changes everything, how you have to approach the competition. Every game matters from the very beginning and the first goal is to reach as high as possible in our group. A good spot would give us the home-court advantage in the knock-out rounds. Each game matters from day one, so it is a little bit different than in other years."
Talking about the new format - more regular-season games, then the knock-out rounds, can we expect a lot of excitement, especially when these win-or-go-home games start?
"Yes, definitely. It is less predictable and there is more room for surprises. Like I said, the regular season and finishing up the standings will be very important to play the knock-out games at home. With that in mind, anything can happen. In those knock-out rounds, you have a bad day and go home, there is no room for corrections. So it is more unpredictable than in previous seasons, and there is more room for surprises."
"There is no secret - if you give 100% on the court, you will be rewarded, one way or another."
What do you remember about the last EuroCup game you played, Game 3 of the 2019 Finals, in front of a packed Fonteta?
"It is obvious that we have great memories. We started the EuroCup as one of the favorites and managed to win the title, which was a big reward for the hard work we put in all season long. When you have it, it is a big joy. I remember that the finals were great. Game 2 in Berlin was great, the arena was full. It was very balanced and we lost, but we managed to finish the job at home and the atmosphere at La Fonteta was amazing. Great memories!"
You have won the competition twice. What are your favorite memories from this competition?
"I believe my first season with Valencia [in 2013-14]. It was the first time that I played for a team that fought to win the title. I remember that we played very good basketball in many games. My first season with Valencia was pretty cool, yes. There were a lot of high-quality teams; I remember we played against Khimki, ALBA, Nizhny Novgorod and UNICS in the elimination rounds. Those were two-game rounds played to the highest cumulative score. In that sense, the competition has changed a little bit - elimination rounds, then playoffs, now single-game rounds. But my favorite memory is my first season with Valencia."
This is your ninth season with Valencia. What has allowed you to be so comfortable there for so many years?
"A lot of things. First of all, I really like it here and the fact that I have been so many years in the club means that they have been happy with my work, with what I am doing. I am trying to leave it all on the floor to help the team win. There is no secret - if you give 100% on the court, you will be rewarded, one way or another. This is what it is most important, to give everything you have in every game."
And since you have been around for so long, how do you like the way the club has grown, with L'Alqueria and a brand new arena in the future?
"It is great. We are getting closer and closer to the top European level. We don't have a EuroLeague license, so it is harder for us to play that competition, which is the one that everyone wants to play. We have the experience to return to the EuroCup, have a good season and try to get back to the EuroLeague by winning the competition. It is one of the club's goals, playing the EuroLeague, and this year is no different. We want to be up there and fight for the EuroCup title."
How important is it for Valencia to add a homegrown, experienced player like Victor Claver?
"It is very important. We all know what kind of player Victor is, but aside from that, he has a lot of experience and knows the club really well. He has been playing at a high level for many years, so I am sure he will help us in many different aspects throughout the season. We are really happy because he just joined the club, but is not a new face to us. He grew up here, knows everybody and it is great that he is back home."
"The goal is that the club wins a fifth title. We want to win the EuroCup together."
Neno Dimitrijevic and Xabi Lopez-Arostegui have plenty of EuroCup experience. How is that a plus for Valencia Basket?
"They know what the EuroCup is about and how to play the competition. That always helps you adjust to a new team. They are very talented players, young but with a lot of experience at a high level, both in the EuroCup and the Spanish League. I am sure they will help us a lot. They are quality players and will help us improve."
The only EuroCup newcomer is Jasiel Rivero. For those EuroCup fans who have not seen him play, what kind of player is he?
"He is a warrior. He is always fighting and has a lot of energy which he displays on the court, both on offense and defense. He is a physical guy who likes to run the floor and play physically, with high intensity. This is what he brings to the table. He may not have EuroCup experience but he won the BCL twice last season with San Pablo Burgos. He knows what it takes to be successful in European competitions. He has to adjust to the EuroCup, but I am sure 'Papi' will do very well. He is the kind of player who can adjust to this competition pretty well."
Only your good friend Rafa Martinez has won the EuroCup three times. Is that the goal, that you and Bojan Dubljevic join this list?
"We don't want to take anything away from Rafa, what he did deserves a lot of credit after so many years in the club, fighting for so many big goals. If we manage to do it, we will be very happy, but the goal is that the club wins a fifth title. We want to win the EuroCup together and fight for it, without thinking that Rafa has three titles and we can match him. Really? Only Rafa has won three EuroCup titles?"
Yes. And Rimas Kurtinaitis as head coach.
"Ah, okay, as a coach. I hope we can join this club. It would be a sign that we had a great season."