The Valencia swingman spoke to the EuroCup's Javier Gancedo ahead of the semifinal showdown with Hapoel
Xabi Lopez-Arostegui: 'We have to focus on ourselves'
Interviews
10 Mins read
Valencia Basket will play in the BKT EuroCup Semifinals next week for the first time since 2022 when it faces Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in a three-game playoff series. One of the players who remains on the team that lost to Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the single-game semifinal in 2022 is Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, who has been one of the team's pillars this season.
In 17 EuroCup games, Lopez-Arostegui has averaged 11.4 points with great shooting (60.0% 2FG, 39.2% 3FG, 87.3% FT), 3.9 rebounds and 3.7 fouls drawn for a PIR of 14.6. He helped Valencia finish the regular season with the best overall record, which gives his team the home-court advantage in all potential playoff scenarios. Lopez-Arostegui told Javier Gancedo of the official EuroCup website that Game 1 of the series is the time to prove why having the home-court advantage is so important.
Congratulations on a great season in the EuroCup. Not only personally, but also as a team. You have won 17 games and despite having injuries, you have been very consistent. What has allowed you to have that consistency throughout the season?
"I think it's a bit of a team job from the beginning of the season with the goal of competing in all games. And as a result of that work and that mentality of going game by game, focusing on each game as the most important, we have achieved that goal. As you said, we have had injuries in some games, guards, centers... but I think the great thing about this year is that we have a very complete team, without any dependence on any player. Because whenever there was an injury, there was another player who played in that position and covered it for the rest of the team, and we got through it. So I think that speaks very well of the whole team, players and staff, that they have been able to prepare the games. The players have a good adaptability to different scenarios and situations. And well, we have been trying to win as many games as possible, and now we want to finish the season well, improve and use the home-court advantage in the playoffs. So far, we are happy."
In fact, you scored 100 points or more in 11 games out of 19 so far. There is no precedent for that in the EuroCup. How much fun is it to be a part of this team?
"It's fun, without a doubt. That's the good thing. In the same way that we don't depend on anyone, the game we have is very busy, the ball is moving a lot, there is a lot of intensity, there are more possessions, more opportunities for everyone to feel involved in the game on offense. And the truth is that in the end, that also helps everyone to have more fluidity, more confidence and everything comes out a little easier.
This is your second time in the EuroCup Semifinals. You lost against Virtus in 2022 and also against the same team with Joventut in the 2021 quarterfinals. Do you have more motivation after those losses?
"Yes, without a doubt. I have played in the EuroCup for several seasons and as you said, I had the opportunity to play in the quarterfinals with Joventut and then that semifinal game at La Fonteta in my first season with Valencia. It was a painful loss and I will try to be as well prepared as possible. I am looking forward to a series against a strong rival, and let's see if we do a good job."
You have had a strong season. You've rebounded very well and scored many important shots, playing as well as ever. How important has self-confidence been for you this season?
"I spoke to Pedro [Valencia head coach Pedro Martinez] at the beginning of the year, I told him that I also wanted to bring back this more aggressive version of myself, attacking the rim more often because I had been in a position for a few years in which I had wait a little longer for the ball. We had to play the style of play we had, we didn't have many opportunities, and I wanted to try to recover that aspect of my game, because I also wanted to help the team. So, I have been working on it since the preseason, with that mentality. I also have very good teammates, competing with them helps me to improve in that area. It is something that I think I have discovered again. I am happy about it and enjoying it. In the end, when you are loose on the court and play with confidence, I think everything goes full circle. I am happy to have been able to enjoy it and I hope to be able to enjoy in the playoffs."
We have to talk about Hapoel, which also had a great season. What do you like about the team?
"I think that since Itoudis arrived, he gave them a lot of knowledge and solidity. I think that in the last 12 or 13 games they have won 10 or 11, I think it's something like that. They have a lot of experience at that level. They also have a lot of first-level players, not just in EuroCup, but also at the EuroLeague level. They have powerful centers and they could be stronger than our bigs, but we also want to focus on ourselves, to be loyal to our style, and we also know that if we play at a high pace, they won't feel as comfortable as we do. So, we want to try to implement our style, and as I said before, try to make up for the weaknesses we may have. We have to focus on ourselves and do things well so that they don't feel comfortable."
As you mentioned, the game pace seems to be one of the biggest keys to the series. They seem to be more comfortable playing half-court basketball. Is that the case?
"Yes, I think that, because of the style of their players, they look for more half-court situations. They run when they see a situation in which they can punish you. They don't have an automatic way to always run after defending and rebounding or even after scoring, which is what we do. I think that's something very important, doing that not just for a few minutes, but for all 40 minutes. During the season, there have been teams that have held us off for 10, 15, 20, 25 minutes, but when you get to the last quarter, and you are not used to playing at this rhythm, that can affect you. You can lose concentration and stop taking care of details on defense, and that's when we can go on a run. We have to know that it is a 40-minute game and be calm in that sense, because there will be good moments, bad moments. We have to stick to our playing style."
I wanted to ask you about the two youngest players in the team. Jean Montero and Sergio De Larrea. From your point of view, how do you see their potential?
"I think they are both very good players. Jean has been playing for a few years at the highest level in the ACB. In Europe, I think this is his first EuroCup season and he has shown that he has a very good level, even though he's young. And De Larrea also had his good moments, dominating the game, being calm on the court, being a high-level player, capable of generating and scoring. I'm very happy to see him grow, because he has been practicing with the squad for a year now, and seeing that progression also makes us happy. They are two very important players for us, different, but very important, and I'm happy to have them on the team, because they are very talented players, and I'm sure they will have an important weight this season and in the future."
We have been told that your first official game when you were little was against your brother. Can you tell us a little bit about how it went?
"I started playing basketball at school because of him. When I lived in Bilbao, I would watch him play. He was three years older than me and I would go to see his practices and games. I really liked it and I always played with them. And it turns out that once, in the school league, it wasn't very serious, but the opponent was missing a player to fill the scoresheet, I don't know if the minimum were seven or eight players. They put me to play against my brother's team and that's when I played my first game when I was little. I remember that my brother didn't want to defend me when we were playing against each other, so it was funny, really."
This is Valencia's last season at La Fonteta, the most historic court in EuroCup history. Now that the end of the season gets closer, how much would you like to leave the building with some memorable wins?
"Well, a lot, really. I think people, as you said, have been enjoying La Fonteta for many years, many magical nights, very good games, and we also know the value of the arena, of La Fonteta, of our fans, when there are important moments, of how they focus and how they push us to try to achieve the maximum goals. So I'm happy to be here as a player, and now we have a great end of the season ahead of us, so let's see if we can enjoy it and push hard so that we have historic nights."
You've worked hard all season to get the home-court advantage. Is it that important in these situations?
"It always is. We have earned the advantage of playing at home, and I think we have to be aware of it, us and our fans, because we can try to turn La Fonteta into a fortress so that Hapoel doesn't feel comfortable. We also have to play on the road, of course, and before that, make the most out of that first game at home. I think it's important to just focus on Game 1, which is the only important thing right now, and then we will think about the future, but we have to try to get that first victory, be the team that strikes first, and go for the series."