Nick Calathes of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul touched upon a variety of issues, such as the team's chemistry, locking down Mike James, and coach Sarunas Jasikevicius's impact after a historical win over AS Monaco that brought them the Final Four ticket.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Nick Calathes made history today. They became the first team in the history of the EuroLeague to break the Game 5 curse and eliminated AS Monaco in an away game to rise to the Final Four.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul / Schedule
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
AS MonacoCalathes, as one of the main architects of Fenerbahce's victorious series and a clutch performance in Game 5, spoke about the team's chemistry, defending Mike James, and coach Sarunas Jasikevicius's impact to BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas.
"I mean, I missed a lot in the game. I missed a lot of open shots, but my teammates believed in me. I was open, and I shot the ball," Calathes began in his remarks to Donatas Urbonas.
"All around, we have an amazing team. A group of guys like a family... First Final Four for Scottie [Wilbekin], first Final Four for [Georgios] Papagiannis," he continued. "It's just the amazing chemistry that we have. I think we deserved this series."
The Greek guard had a fundamental importance in the series in terms of his lockdown of Mike James, Monaco's sensational scorer who dominated the regular season but was quite ineffective in comparison to the playoffs.
Calathes had the following to say about how Fenerbahce and himself stopped James.
"Denying him the ball. You can't stop him. Deny him the ball... Our whole defense was to get the ball out of his hands. Coach had a great plan," he explained.
Moreover, the Fenerbahce player voiced his strong support for Mike James being selected as the season MVP this year, even if Monaco were eliminated in the playoffs.
"He's an amazing player, and I'll be very shocked and disappointed if the EuroLeague doesn't give him the MVP [award] because he deserves it for what he's done with this team."
While the Greek guard was making his statements, Fenerbahce's X-factor Nate Sestina butted in, praising his teammate.
"Hell of a job from Nick Calathes, guarding Mike for f**king five games," Sestina said. Nigel Hayes-Davis also joined in the proceedings.
"This is what I am saying, man. We are a family," Calathes then remarked after being asked a cheerful question as to how he deals with his teammates on a daily basis. "No matter who plays good, no matter who plays bad, we always stay together."
Finally, Calathes took some time to laud Sarunas Jasikevicius, who transformed the team after being brought in mid-season.
"A hell of a job from the coach. Coach came in; it was not his team, and he made us to be a team. He was a huge reason why we got into the Final Four," he concluded.
At the end of four quarters and one overtime of play, Calathes recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. He scored Fenerbahce's last 6 points.
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