Hasan Rizvic, BC Azovmash
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 One of the unsung stars of this Eurocup season has been center Hasan Rizvic of Azovmash Mariupol, who has dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. Playing his third Eurocup campaign, Rizvic has broken out and shined like never before. The 25-year-old leads the Eurocup in index ranking at 29 per game. He also leads the competition in blocked shots (3.5 bpg.) and is tied for sixth in scoring (21.5 ppg.). Rizvic played three Euroleague seasons with Union Olimpija before joining Azovmash, a club he helped win the Ukrainian League and Ukrainian Cup titles last year. He comes off a near-perfect game against Banca Tercas Teramo, in which Rizvic had 24 points on 11-of-12 two-point shooting, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks to lead Azovmash to a much-needed win in a do-or-die showdown. With a new rotation and renewed ambition, Azovmash will fight to make it to the Last 16, as Rizvic promised in this Eurocupbasketball.com interview. "This win is an important step for us in the near future, as it allows us to believe in ourselves and play with more confidence," Rizvic told Eurocupbasketball.com. "I think we still have a chance to make it to the Last 16 this Eurocup season."
Hello, Hasan, and congratulations for the big win against Teramo. You had an incredible game to help your team stay alive. What did it mean for Azovmash to win its first Eurocup game this season?
"Thank you. First of all, this win means a lot to us because we had not been playing well lately and we managed to have a good game against Teramo. We are beginning to stand up as a team and play better. This win is an important step for us in the near future, as it allows us to believe in ourselves and play with more confidence. Teramo is a good team, so being able to beat them and stay alive counts double for us. I think we still have a chance to make it to the Last 16 this Eurocup season."
You lost against Teramo and Alba Berlin by narrow margins right before this win. Do you think that your 1-3 record reflects the potential that your team has?
"I don't think so. One of the reasons why we lost these games is because of our short rotation, with just six or seven players. We signed a new playmaker who can help us a lot in the short run. Like you said, we lost a couple of games by a narrow margin, but I am sure that Maureece Rice will help us beat those teams when we meet them again in the near future."
 Azovmash not only signed Rice recently, but also added Fred House after the season started. How have House and Rice improved your team?
"House is a well-known player in Europe. I personally like him a lot as a player because of his all-around game. He plays a very European style of basketball, thinking team first. Rice just arrived to the team and I don't know him that well, but he has helped us a lot so far. He is a tough defensive player and is getting to know the team's dynamics really fast. I am sure we will play better with him in the team."
You are a shot-blocking expert. You had 5 against Teramo and lead the Eurocup in blocks. Is it a question of timing, something that you can practice, or a natural ability?
"I think it is something that you can definitely practice. In my opinion, however, I think it is something that comes to you when you start playing basketball. The most important part is being able to read the other player, knowing when he is going to shoot and just waiting for the right moment to block the shot."
In your second season at Azovmash, after winning the Ukrainian League and the Ukrainian Cup titles last season, how comfortable are you in Mariupol?
"Azovmash is a good place to work. Everything here is very well organized. Our arena is a small, but very beautiful one, with all kind of facilities to make your everyday work easier. Azovmash is a great club where any professional player can do his job."
Azovmash is the only Ukrainian team in the Eurocup. You already mentioned your team's short rotation. How difficult has the 2009-10 season been so far?
"It’s been tough, because not only are we playing in the Ukrainian League and the Eurocup, but also in the VTB League, with teams like CSKA and Zalgiris, all the best teams from the former Soviet Union. It is difficult because we don't have the bench depth to do very well in all three competitions. The Eurocup is a very strong competition, with a short regular season. The VTB only features eight teams, and the Ukrainian League got stronger and we are not as good as we were last season. A power forward is expected to come early in 2010 and he will help us get better. I hope we can make it to the Last 16, but it all depends on us playing the way we did against Teramo this week. Winning another Ukrainian League title will be difficult, but I think we can do it, because this team has the reputation and the soul to do it. We have won the title for five consecutive seasons. Our president will bring in a new player and with a deeper rotation, we will be up there."
 You played three Euroleague seasons with Union Olimpija. How did that experience help you to be a Eurocup star these days?
"There were a lot of changes in Union Olimpija back then, structural movements in the club due to a crisis. It was difficult to play in the same direction because of all the roster and coaching changes. I didn't believe in myself that much and didn't have the role I have now. Olimpija had great, well-known players who were more important than me in the team's rotation. My self-confidence was not what it is now. Everything is different now, my coach trusts me as much as I trust myself. I have great teammates and that helps me in terms of confidence. The Euroleague was a great experience for me to do well in the Eurocup. Once I finish playing for Azovmash, I hope to have the chance to play in a bigger team in the Euroleague."
This is your second Eurocup season. What do you think about the competition level and how comfortable do you feel playing in the Eurocup?
"Obviously, the Eurocup is not like the Euroleague, but a little bit weaker. Even so, it still is a very strong competition. I am getting a lot of playing time and I think I am doing well at this level, but my biggest wish is to return to the Euroleague, to play stronger and better than I did before in those years with Olimpija. That is my goal - to keep playing better."
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Thursday, December 17, 2009
Marko Planinc, Eurocupbasketball.com
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