Lokomotiv Kuban guard Jeremiah Martin shared expectations before WINLINE Basket Cup game against CSKA.
– How important is CSKA as a rival for you?
– We haven’t deafeated them this season yet. So, of course, we want to get win at home, in front of our fans. And at the same time, we want to get our first win in the WINLINE Basket Cup.
– Will the result of the previous game against CSKA have any impact on your performance?
– Almost certainly. We fought very hard to catch up that time, we almost won, but in the end we lost in overtime. I remember it all very well, and it will definitely give me extra motivation.
– How do you think the game will turn out?
– It will be a fierce battle between rivals who are determined to win. I love that.
– Considering the tournament situation, can this game be called decisive for Lokomotiv Kuban?
– If I remember the standings correctly, then no. But when you play against an opponent like CSKA – strong, experienced, well-coordinated – regardless of situation, you want to show your best against them.
– What is the mood in the team?
– We won the last game, so it’s good. The game in Nizhny Novgorod was very difficult, but in the end we managed to get together and take the result we needed. Of course, after that, we’re in the right mood.
– How do you like the music at the Cup? And everything else about this tournament in general?
– I know that they will lay special flooring in the Basket Hall, remove the advertising boards between the benches and the court, install different lighting and much more. I can’t say anything about the music because it will be my first game in the Cup, but I really like this thorough approach and I am looking forward to the game with great anticipation.
– The game will be on Christmas. Have you ever played on this day before?
– I don’t remember, I think this will be my first Christmas game in my career. It’s one of my favorite holidays, I usually watch the NBA and NFL on this day, and now I’m going to be out there playing myself. I’m very happy, I think I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. What’s more, my family has finally arrived in Krasnodar, they’ll be in the stands, and I’ll do my best to make it a real holiday for them and for all Lokomotiv Kuban fans.