One of the great warriors of world basketball, Felipe Reyes, is back in training camp with Real Madrid a couple weeks after having helped put Spain on the silver-medal podium at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Reyes proved once again to be an anchor in the middle as Spain reached the last few minutes of a classic final with a chance to win the gold medal before coming up short against the United States. Now, Reyes is turning his attention to the 2008-09 season ahead with the knowledge that his thrilling Olympics experience, shared with Real Madrid teammates Raul Lopez and Alex Mumbru, will only help his team try for new trophies. "Above all, after going through all of last season without a title, we're going into this one with a lot of desire to get at least one," Reyes told Euroleague.net. "We don't want to repeat what happened last year. We want to raise our level and do what it takes to compete for trophies in every single competition we enter, the Euroleague included."
Felipe Reyes - Spain (Photo: FIBA)
Felipe Reyes - Real Madrid
Friday, September 05, 2008
0
Name: Felipe
Reyes
Frank Lawlor, Euroleague.net
Real Madrid
Interview
Felipe Reyes - Spain (Photo: FIBA) One of the great warriors of world basketball, Felipe Reyes, is back in training camp with Real Madrid a couple weeks after having helped put Spain on the silver-medal podium at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Reyes proved once again to be an anchor in the middle as Spain reached the last few minutes of a classic final with a chance to win the gold medal before coming up short against the United States. Now, Reyes is turning his attention to the 2008-09 season ahead with the knowledge that his thrilling Olympics experience, shared with Real Madrid teammates Raul Lopez and Alex Mumbru, will only help his team try for new trophies. "Above all, after going through all of last season without a title, we're going into this one with a lot of desire to get at least one," Reyes told Euroleague.net. "We don't want to repeat what happened last year. We want to raise our level and do what it takes to compete for trophies in every single competition we enter, the Euroleague included."
Felipe, congratulations for such great success in Beijing. What has winning this silver medal at the Olympics meant to you?
"Well, we are very proud of what we achieved, and part of the reason is that it made so many people happy. We saw that when we arrived back to Spain afterward and with all the messages sent to us. A lot of people got hooked on basketball thanks to the work we did at the Olympics. I think that's what fills us with the most pride. And, of course, we are happy to be wearing silver medals, too."
Felipe Reyes - Real MadridMany people have commented that the final against the United States was among the best games they have ever watched. What was it like to play in that game?
"At that moment, you don't think of anything much more than playing hard and trying to do your best so that your team can win against your rival, in this case the United States. It was a difficult opponent, but we arrived to a point in the game when we thought winning was possible. While it's going on, you don't realize that it's one of the best games. It's only when you finish and people say 'Congratulations, I never saw anything like it'. All those kinds of comments give you goose bumps."
Have you seen the game again or is there any particular moment that sticks out in your mind?
"I haven't had time yet to see the game again. If there's a moment that sticks with me now, it's when we were two points behind them in the last quarter, and we kind of had them against the ropes. We were in a position to try to defeat the best national team in the world, and we felt, like, 'Wow, we can do this'. In the end, it didn't happen, but for that moment, the possibility was real."
What did this Olympic tournament say about the competitive level of European basketball?
"We could certainly see again that European basketball is closer and closer in level to American basketball. The big difference now is physical. They are stronger, for sure, but technically we are probably even, if not a bit ahead of them. So basketball in Europe is on the right track."
Your generation in Spain has been winning medals for a decade now, since the 1999 world juniors in Lisbon. How many more medals does this "golden generation" have left to win?
"A lot more, I hope. You never can tell, but we are an ambitious group of players and I'd say we have years left playing together, so we plan to get as many more as we can."
Felipe Reyes, Alex Mumbru and Raul Lopez - Real MadridLooking ahead, you are back in training camp with Real Madrid. After the disappointment of missing last season's Final Four in Madrid, what are your hopes for the coming season?
"Above all, after going through all of last season without a title, we're going into this one with a lot of desire to get at least one. Our team added some good players over the summer and the rest of us who are coming back are highly motivated. We don't want to repeat what happened last year. We want to raise our level and do what it takes to compete for trophies in every single competition we enter, the Euroleague included."
Even though new players like Jeremiah Massey, Qunton Hosley and Marko Tomas have arrived, the nucleus of the Madrid roster is back. What kind of advantage is that for you guys?
"I think it's good to maintain the same core group. When a team has a lot of new faces, it's sometimes difficult to jell because no matter what, it takes time for a team to come together. We have a lot of guys back from last year, with a few important additions, but with the help of the veterans, I think we'll be together quickly and be ready to function well from the first moment in both the Spanish League and the Euroleague."
How difficult will it be to succeed in the Euroleague this season?
"Every year, the Euroleague is more and more difficult. There are teams all around Europe doing a lot to sign star players and keep improving their rosters. It's difficult, but we also reinforced our roster, which I hope makes us one of the favorites to make it to the Final Four."
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