AZB.az presents an exclusive interview with “Sabah” club player Frankie Filder:
— What are your thoughts on your new team?
—I feel very positive about my new team. Everything is moving in the right direction. Under the guidance of the head coach, the players are working hard to adapt to the new system. We understand what he expects from us on the court. My impressions of Azerbaijan and Baku have also been very positive. As you know, the Formula 1 race will take place this weekend, which is a fantastic event. Competing in the Basketball Champions League is very important to me. In that sense, the fact that the team is progressing in the right direction also played an important role in my decision to join the club.
— What can you say about the training camp in Lithuania?
—The training camp in Lithuania was very important for us. It was essential for the players to develop better chemistry, adapt to one another and improve our overall physical condition. For that reason, the camp was a very valuable experience for the team. In our first preparation game, the players were a little nervous because it was the first time we had played together as a team.
In the second game, however, we performed much better both defensively and offensively. You could clearly feel the progress in our team play. In that game, we were able to show the level we want to reach. Although I did not play in the third game, the team made a very good impression. We saw a team trying to implement the head coach’s instructions on the court, and we were also effective in transition from defence to offence. Against Žalgiris, we were not able to produce the performance or level of competitiveness we wanted for most of the game. However, we played the final two minutes in the right way and showed good fighting spirit. Overall, we took a lot away from this training camp and learned many important things. It was a valuable experience for us, and I believe we will be able to use what we learned there to benefit the team during the new season.
— What do you think about your opponents in the Basketball Champions League?
—Our opponents in the Basketball Champions League are very strong, and we have been drawn into a difficult group. However, we have a very good head coach and a strong group of players. We are well organised as a team, so I believe we can compete against these tough opponents. The most important thing is to approach every game with confidence. We have to believe in ourselves and go into every match believing that we can win.
