 His stellar performance in the title game against Cajasol Sevilla did not go unnoticed and Marko Popovic was chosen as the Eurocup Finals MVP. Popovic, a European basketball superstar from a family crazy for the sport, enjoyed a great weekend in Treviso, Italy, leading Unics to its first Eurocup title and a berth in the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague for its debut season in Europe's signature club competition. Popovic tallied 14 points and 4 assists in the semifinal against Cedevita and his game against Cajasol was simply outstanding. Popovic set a new record for assists in the title game with 11, to which he added 18 points for a fantastic double-double. He led Unics to set the Eurocup final scoring record as he simply dominated the game, showing that he has become much more than the scorer he used to be earlier in his career. Game control was critical for Unics in these Eurocup Finals, as Popovic told us in this interview. "The most important thing is that we controlled both games from the first minute to the last," Popovic told Eurocupbasketball.com. "We played high-level basketball and people were saying we were a Euroleague-level team. Not just at that level, but as a good Euroleague team. That is the best compliment you can get. Reaching the Euroleague is a great achievement for Unics."
Hello again, Marko. What does it mean for you to win the Eurocup title and get the MVP award?
"It means the world to me! I am really proud of it and it is a reward for a journey whose first step started long ago. I started playing basketball at age 6, but I first attended a basketball game to see my father play when I was just three months old. Since that moment, I never missed my father's games whenever they played at home. Everyone played basketball in my family, starting with my grandmother. My cousin Alan Gregov went to the Olympic Games 16 years before I made it. Winning the Eurocup is great and getting the MVP is a great award for me. I can't explain how much all this means to me."
Tell us about the receiving the MVP trophy and what made you so emotional?
"Right before the announcement, Sasha Djordjevic came to me and told me I had a great performance, that I led my team the whole game and controlled everything in it. He told me he had never seen me play like that - being a leader. I really didn't know that I was going to be the MVP, but when they gave him the trophy before the announcement, Sasha made eye contact with me. It was a very emotional moment - I couldn't believe I was the MVP. When they announced my name, I couldn't control myself anymore. It means a lot of me - having some like Djordjevic, who won everything in his career, making a lot of big shots for some of the best clubs in Europe and his national team, saying all the things he said to me. Even he didn't win the MVP award. What he told me meant a lot to me."
You also had an assists record in a Eurocup final - 11. You were seen as a shooter earlier in your career. Did that record made the win even more special?
"Definitely. I am trying to be the best player I can be - sometimes scoring and other times trying to share the ball. I think I have matured a lot as a player and now I enjoy passing the ball much more. It is not a tough thing to do in a team with so many good players. We have a lot of talented team players that can score easily like Maciej Lampe, Terrell Lyday, Kelly McCarty and Vladimir Veremeenko. I think this is a great achievement for all of us, but we still have two more titles to fight for - and hopefully we will get at least one of them. I am really proud of those 11 assists - more than if I had beaten the scoring record."
51 points in a final first half says a lot. How were you able to do that, and was this a victory for offensive basketball?
"Not really. We were trying to play good defense and this is exactly what we did against Cajasol. We held them to 36 points and that's good defense. The most important thing is that we controlled both games from the first minute to the last. We had some blackouts in both games, but basically controlled both games all the way. We played high-level basketball and people were saying we were a Euroleague-level team. Not just at that level, but as a good Euroleague team. That is the best compliment you can get. Reaching the Euroleague is a great achievement for Unics."
 Unics broke a Eurocup finals record with 92 points against Cajasol, one of the best defensive teams in Europe. How did you manage to play so well on offense against them?
"Well, the thing is that our good defense led to easy shots. We knew that they would prefer to play five-on-five offense and slow down the game tempo. Cajasol is a very good team and Joan Plaza is a great coach, he has done great things in that club. We knew we had to break their rhythm by getting easy baskets and that is exactly we did. We shared the ball really well and everybody was involved. Our team is really dangerous when our players are inspired on any given night."
Unics opened both games - against Cedevita and Cajasol - with great runs, getting every comfortable lead at halftime. Did you do anything special to be so focused so early in the game?
"We prepared really well for the Eurocup Finals because we knew it has a huge opportunity for us to go to the Euroleague. That was one of our goals in the beginning of the season. We had a lot of experienced players and most of us have been together for two-to-three years, so we knew it was not going to be easy even if we were the best team out there. You have to prove that on the floor and this is why we started those games so well. We tried to be focused from the very beginning and take care of business - and this is what we did in both games."
Your family has always been involved in basketball in Croatia, what does this kind of trophy mean for them?
"The whole family was nervous before the games. It is almost like we breathe basketball - 90% of the conversations at home are about that. We just can't help it - we love and enjoy basketball. We share memories and look forward to watching games, so of course, this Eurocup title means a lot to all of us.
Coach Evgeny Pashutin has made Unics play like never before. How much importance does he have in taking Unics to the Eurocup title?
"The biggest mistake that CSKA Moscow made this season was letting him go. He had such a great season last year! CSKA won the Russian Cup, Russian League and VTB League titles and made it to the Euroleague Final Four. He took his great basketball philosophy to this team and gave us his understanding of the sport. We have great players able to play for any great team in Europe, but if you want to do something more, everyone has to play for the team if you want to win titles. He gained great experience as assistant coach with David Blatt and Ettore Messina, learning from the best. He is also young and learning, but we all respect him a lot, as much as he respects us. Everything we managed to do this season until now, we did as a team. He chose the players and planned the season really well. He wouldn't have been able to win the Eurocup without u,s but at the same time, we wouldn't have won without him."
 Unics has been looking to play in the Euroleague for many years. Now that it is a fact, what do you think Euroleague fans can expect to see next season?
"First of all, we have to see how we will look like next season and then we can talk about it. If we are going to have the same players as this season, I believe we can fight at least for a Top 16 spot. After that, we may expect more depending on the circumstances. The Euroleague is the highest level of basketball in Europe and I believe Unics belongs there. We lead the Russian League over CSKA and Khimki, have beaten both of them and also downed Lietuvos Rytas in the VTB League. We know we are strong enough right now, but we have to see what happens next year. We are really happy to have made it to the Euroleague and now it is time to establish ourselves in that competition. It won't be easy, but potentially, we can do it, be part of the Euroleague for several seasons."
The season is not over yet and Unics could win more titles. Unics could be your sixth Euroleague team. What does the future hold for Marko Popovic?
"You know, I always wanted to play in the Euroleague. I did that for six consecutive seasons and have been in the Eurocup for the last three years. There is a difference between the Eurocup and the Euroleague, which is the best competition and exactly where we want to play. I really had a good time playing the Eurocup, it is a good competition and were focused on winning it this season. Now that we made it, we have to focus on other competitions. Personally, I want to play at the highest level of basketball and that's the Euroleague. I enjoyed it a lot when I last played the Euroleague with Zalgiris. I am looking forward to playing the Euroleague next season. I don't know what will happen, but this is a great achievement for the club, the city of Kazan and the region of Tatarstan. I would have to thank everyone in Kazan and Tatarstan for helping us by supporting Unics. We are new in the Euroleague, but with their help, we will be much, much better."
|