Marko Banic, Bilbao Basket
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 One year after he received continental recognition as an All-Eurocup selection, Bizkaia Bilbao Basket center Marko Banic has just entered his fifth season in the competition playing better than ever. His numbers are simply out of this world, as Banic has led Bilbao to three consecutive wins in Group E - including road triumphs against Spirou and Turk Telekom - averaging 20.3 points on 25-of-30 two-pointers and 11-of-11 free throws. Banic ranks fifth in index ranking (23.3 per game), ties for seventh on the scorers list and is first in two-point percentage (83.3%), all in less than 27 minutes per night. Banic is the silent leader for Bilbao, where he has played each of the last four seasons, helping the team to go from a relative unknown to Eurocup powerhouse. Fresh off its second road win, against Turk Telekom in Ankara, Eurocupbasketball.com took the chance to speak to Banic, who knows his team can go far this season with the right mentality. "We have to be ambitious but never think further than the next game," Banic told Eurocupbasketball.com. "If we managed to make it to the semifinals last season, we can do it again this year, but always with that philosophy, going step by step."
Hello, Marko. First things first. How important was for Bilbao to beat Turk Telekom in Ankara?
"Truth to be told, we didn't know everything about this team because we only knew some players like Demond Mallet, Serkan Erdogan and Huseyin Besok. We also knew that it was not going to be easy to play in Ankara, always a tough place to steal a road win. We didn't start the game well and had a bad first quarter, not being tough on defense. Things changed in the beginning of the second quarter. Each and every player that stepped on court played an important role. We played with a lot of intensity and won with a final difference that nobody expected."
Your road to the 2009-10 Eurocup started earlier than last season, as you had to play the Qualifying Round against BC Donetsk. losing the first leg in Ukraine. At some point you were on the ropes in the second leg in Bilbao. Did you ever thought that you guys wouldn't be able to play the Eurocup?
"We knew it would be a tough series because Donetsk had a lot of good players. They showed that by winning the first game and rallying from a 20-point deficit in the second one to put us into a lot of trouble. They were about to get us out of the competition. The most important thing about that series is that we managed to go through and all teams started from scratch from that moment - and so far we are having a good Eurocup season."
You have already won twice on the road and look like you did last season - winning a lot of early games. Even with that, has the experience that you, as a team, had last season helped you guys to do even better so far?
"Of course, our second year in the Eurocup is being a lot easier because you know what to expect and what kind of teams you are facing every Tuesday. We expect to face teams with good rosters each week and knowing this makes the difference in key moments. We know that winning a road game in the Eurocup is very difficult and valuable. The experience we had last season will also help us in the long run, I am sure."
 The Eurocup regular season reached its halfway mark - which teams you already faces all of our three opponents in Group E - Spartak St. Petersburg, Spirou Basket and Turk Telekom. How do you see the playing level in this group?
"From my point of view, Spirou did not have their best game against us. Now that I have seen all three teams, I like the level in this group. It is not easy to beat anybody, which gives more value to what we already did. We still have a lot of work to do, though. We must try to qualify and then battle to win the group."
You are already a Eurocup veteran - this is your sixth season in the competition. You even played the original 2002-03 ULEB Cup season with Zadar, reaching the quarterfinals. How do you see the evolution of Europe's second competition from that first year to what it is nowadays?
"There is a lot of difference and the competition changed for the best, of course. The Eurocup got better in each and every aspect since that first season I played with Zadar. It is a great experience to play the Eurocup - and of course a great pleasure."
This is your fourth season in Bilbao and you look quite happy in this club and this city. What has Bilbao Basket and the city of Bilbao meant in your career?
"It means a lot, because people have helped me since the very first day I came to Bilbao. They welcomed me here and I feel like home. It is a pleasure for me to play for this club and these fans. They treat me really well in Bilbao, I had read a good of good things about the city before I came and it is even better. I don't know what else I can add. I want to give back all the support on the court."
One of the secrets that Bilbao Basket has as a club is that above all, you are a group of friends playing professional basketball and treat each other like family. How important is that your the team, in terms of chemistry?
"It is very important. Yes, is is true, this is something you don't see very often. There is always a great atmosphere and it is great to work with all these people, this is a very special club. It has been like that since I first came here and I hope this stays like this for many years."
 You have been working for coach Txus Vidorreta since you arrived in Bilbao, growing together as a player, coach and team. What do you like about him and how is your relationship with Coach Vidorreta?
"What can I say about Txus? He has been here almost for a lifetime as Bilbao coach and did a lot for this club. He has helped me to improve a lot, too, I think I have become a better player working for him. Our relationship is based on mutual respect, but at the same time, we know each other very well. We get along with each other very well."
Bilbao made it to the Eurocup semifinals last season. Is a trip to the Eurocup finals out of the question for your team in the 2009-10 season?
"We know what it takes to go far in the competition and this is always a plus. The first step, however, is to survive this regular season group and then we will see. We have to go step by step and take one game at the time - it is what we did last season and worked well for us. We have to be ambitious but never think further than the next game. If we managed to make it to the semifinals last season, we can do it again this year, but always with that philosophy, going step by step."
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Friday, December 11, 2009
Javier Gancedo, Eurocupbasketball.com
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