Roderick Blakney: If Bulgaria needs me, I will be there

Roderick Blakney (euroleague.net)

21-03-2008 13:20

The american with bulgarian passport Roderick Blakney said that definitely he wants to play for Bulgarian national team if they call him. He was part of the National team last summer during the qualifications for Eurobasket 2007 in Spain. Later he joined greek Olympiacos where the coach recently was Pini Gershon.

“Once again I would like to say that if my country needs me I will be there,” said in the interview for Gong Roderick Blakney after the emotinal win of his team over Real Madrid and qualification for the next stage in this edition of Euroleague.

“We managed а big win. It was a big challenge for us and we were able to eliminate such a team like Real Madrid. It was emotional win but we were sure in our abilities to do it. Before the game we had a honour for some legends of Olympiacos that won the title back in 1997. The arena was fully packed and we had a full support of the crowd. We played very well and deserved to win. Regarding Panagiotis Giannakis, I worked with him before 3 years in Maroussi. He trust me and I do the same with him."

Probably you will also say that elimination of your major opponent in Greece – Panathinaikos from Eueoleague was a big surprise?“

Definitely was a surprise but Partizan played such a good basketball and desrved that big win.”

Now you will play with CSKA Moscow. You know them very well from the previous meetings, right?“

Yes, it will be very hard against them. It’s a best of three series and they have a home court advantage. We will try to get something from the games in Moscow, it will be very tough but we will try…”

I can’t go on without asking you about your former coach in Olympiacos Pini Gershon who was selected to coach Bulgarian National Team. Did you talk with him about that?

“Actually, we didn’t talk about it that much. When he had a press conference here in Athens, he told me that he accepted the job to coach Bulgaria and joked with me: “Now I’m your coach in two teams”. He didn’t specified anything more than that. But I’m always saying that if I receive invitation to help the National team will do so. Now It’s up to them if they will call me or they will select somebody else to get a passport and help the National team of Bulgaria. Only one at the time naturalized player can play, right...”

It’s not a secret that you are in very good relationship with former head coach of Bulgaria Titi Papazov, one of the assistents of Pini Gershon. Do you think they can cooperate well together?

“I think so. Pini knows the game very well while Titi is so emotional and he is a good coach as well. I think they can work very well together and they will be very good combination. Like I said, if they wants me to come, I will be here. For me It’s a pleasure for me to play for Bulgaria and when the country needs me I will be there.”

Can you say that the Greek championship is interesting now?“

Yes, we are playing very good basketball right now. Before we play against Panathinaikos, we were not ready and lost. Now we have a big game for the Cup of Greece. We have to think about the Euroleague as well.”

Do you want to say something to your bulgarian fans?

“I want to say Hello and hopefully to work together again.”

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