A press conference for the UEFA Champions League Final Four was held on Thursday, May 15th, and we spoke with Maika Ma'a (USA), captain of Halkbank Ankara (Turkey), who will be playing in the semi-finals against Perugia (Italy), the team Ishikawa Yuki plays for.
T: How are you feeling right now?
Maa: I'm really excited. This is a big opportunity and we've had a long preparation period. I think it was the longest preparation period (out of the four teams). I don't know how this will play out, but it makes me really eager to play. It's been a long time since we've played. We're really looking forward to getting back on the court.
T: In the Champions League, you advanced to the Final Four with a dramatic victory against Warsaw in the quarter-finals (winning in golden sets), but it seemed like you struggled a bit in the Turkish League afterwards.
Maa: Yes, that's right. We played well in the Champions League, but not in the Turkish league. One reason is that there is a foreign player quota in the Turkish domestic league, and only three of the four foreign players can play at the same time. So we tried to do something by playing with different members than in the Champions League. But we couldn't fix the starting lineup, and it was difficult to create a rhythm. And we had some injuries towards the end. Marko Matic (MB) was out for a long time with a foot injury, and I myself couldn't play in the playoff for 5th to 8th place. Marek Shotra (OP) also had an abdominal injury. In addition to those circumstances, the other Turkish teams were playing very well, and I think they deserved to win. It was a result of a combination of various factors.
T: How did you prepare for this tournament from there?
Maa: It was great. Everyone's condition has improved a lot, and we've returned to a healthy state as a team. We've been able to build a system little by little under the new coach, so I think it's been a good preparation period.
T: Tomorrow we will play Perugia in the semi-finals. You have already played them twice in the group stage (1 win, 1 loss), but what kind of team is Perugia?
Maa: They're a really great team. They're very hard to stop. They have a lot of moves, a lot of weapons, discipline, skill, and experience. I think they have all the elements of a championship team. That's why we have to bring "something different" to the court. Do something challenging, play smart, and try to disrupt their rhythm a little. If we can't do that and they get into a rhythm, I honestly think it's hard to stop any team in the world.
T: Who do you think will be the key players on your team tomorrow?
MAA: Hmm, that's a hard question. But what I learned is that to be a champion, everyone has to be at their best. This is true. I've thought about this a lot. It's really hard to win a title, not just one person, but everyone on the court has to be at their best. You have to be really at your best. We especially need this. We're probably not the favorites to win the semifinals, and we're not the favorites to win the whole tournament. So we have nothing to lose, but I think everyone needs to give it their all.
Photo: TOSHIKI, CEV
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