Patrick Beverley, Spartak SPB
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 It has been a great season for Russian teams in the Eurocup thus far. Spartak St. Petersburg, BC Khimki and Lokomotiv-Kuban leads their respective Last 16 groups with 2-0 records, and the first two teams are still undefeated in the Eurocup after eight games. Spartak grabbed back-to-back wins against Buducnost and Banvit to lead difficult Group K, and one of the main reasons for that has been playmaker Patrick Beverley, whose stellar performance allowed him to earn Last 16, Game 1 MVP honors. Beverley leads the Last 16 in performance index ranking (21.5) and scoring (19 ppg.). He is making the most out of the chance of having former Euroleague winner and European basketball legend Jure Zdovc as his head coach. In his fourth season in Europe at age 23, Beverley has taken his game to the next level and is ready to be one of the best playmakers in the continent, as he told us in this Eurocupbasketball.com interview. "As a team, our main goal is to win the Eurocup and play in the Euroleague next year," Beverley told Eurocupbasketball.com. "I want to become one of the best point guards in the Eurocup and in European basketball and lead Spartak to the Euroleague next season."
Hello, Patrick. Congratulations on a great season so far. How has it been for you and your team until now?
"Thanks a lot. I think that, as a team, we have faced some very good teams so far since the very beginning. We managed to stay undefeated,d but the most important games are coming now. We have to stay together as a team and keep winning games."
You had a good start in the Last 16; Spartak won in Montenegro and you earned MVP honors. How nice was that?
"First of all, it is an honor to be the weekly MVP. Buducnost is a very good team and is not easy to play against them. I wouldnt have been able to play well against them without the help of my teammates. It was not easy to play against a strong team and a very good crowd. We were really satisfied to get that win."
Spartak went on to beat Banvit at home with a good game from Loukas Mavrokefalidis. How important was that win?
"Loukas played extraordinary! Any of our players can go for 20 points easily. Even though we have a lot of good scorers in the team, defense was the key to this game - and to our good season until now. It wasnt easy to beat a very, very good team like Banvit, with excellent players and coaches. We were lucky to get a victory because they gave us a tough time at home."
You play Krka Novo Mesto in the next couple of weeks. How much of a challenge is it to beat them?
"This two next games are going to be very tough and Krka is a very good team - they won the EuroChallenge last season and are in the Last 16 now. Again, we have to focus on our defense first. I think that if we manage to do that, we shouldnt have problems."
This is your first Eurocup season. How do you like playing the competition?
"The Eurocup is so good! We played the EuroChallenge last year and the Eurocup is definitely a much harder competition. We have to continue to get better and our goal is to win the competition, take the cup home and qualify for the Euroleague next year."
You are in your fourth year in Eurocup at age 23 - not the usual scenario for an American point guard. What do you like most about Eurocup basketball?
 "I just like the basketball knowledge I am getting here. Our coaching staff improved me a lot this season. Like you said, I have been in Europe for four years and am not a new guy to this. It has been definitely fun. What I did was very tough, coming to Europe at age 19, but I am definitely in a good situation right now with Spartak and Coach Zdovc. I have great coaching staff and teammates."
Of course, Spartak head coach Juri Zdovc was a legendary point guard. How important is to have someone like him as coach for a young playmaker like you are?
"It definitely helps a lot. Everyone knows how good he was as a player and he is doing a great job to improve me. He has helped me a lot. He is going to be here for the next three years, so basically, as long as he is here, I am going to be here. I am excited to work for him and how he is helping me to get better – as a man and as a basketball player."
You have been in St. Petersburg for one year already, since January 2011. How do you like the city?
"I love it! I love St. Petersburg, everything about it... the restaurants, the city... everything! I am in a great situation right now and I am definitely going to take advantage of it."
All Russian teams in the Eurocup are 2-0 in the Last 16. CSKA and Unics are also 2-0 in the Euroleague Top 16. Does it show the power of Russian basketball?
"Exactly. A lot of people think so. I had a talk with a good friend that plays for Samara, Brion Rush, and we spoke about how good the Russian League has become. You have to play hard in every game, as you can lose in any given day. That shows you how strong the Russian League is and I think we could easily have more teams in the Euroleague next season."
What are the main goals for you and Spartak this season?
"As a team, our main goal is to win the Eurocup and play in the Euroleague next year. For me, my goal is the same. I want to become one of the best point guards in the Eurocup and in European basketball and lead Spartak to the Euroleague next season."
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Monday, January 30, 2012
Javier Gancedo, Eurocupbasketball.com
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