AVELLINO (Basketball Champions League) - Some have described Kyrylo Fesenko as a gentle giant during a playing career in which he has competed in both the NBA and Europe.

The 2.16m Ukraine center was anything but gentle for Sidigas Avellino on Tuesday when dominating at Juventus Utena in the Basketball Champions League.

The 29-year-old terrorized the Lithuanian club to the tune of 25 points and 13 rebounds and he finished with a +35 efficiency rating. Most important of all, the Italian outfit  bounced back from a one-point home defeat to Iberostar Tenerife in the previous round and claimed its fifth victory in seven Basketball Champions League games with an 85-75 triumph.

Not surprisingly, Fesenko scooped the MVP of the Week honor. He spoke to the Basketball Champions League website on Friday.

How significant was that win against Juventus Utena, Kyrylo?
Fesenko: It felt really great because we really needed that win after we lost at home to Tenerife so to stay in the No. 1 position, we needed to win it. We were struggling for three quarters but we found our 'mojo' in the fourth quarter.

Why was everything working so well for you this week?
Fesenko: It's really simple, we have that type of team that every team member can be a leader so if you don't score points or are not performing at your best, then you have to focus on something else - defense, rebounds, doing the dirty work. We have 12 leaders. This game, the guys got me involved with their passes because as a big guy, it’s hard to perform without the ball. A huge credit goes to them. Oh, and something very important. My wife sent me a lovely, inspirational message before the game. She believes in me and she's my rock and I don't think I’d be the player I am right now without her.

What a fantastic response. There is a saying that behind every great man is a great woman (and vice-versa). So how difficult is it for you to maintain that high level of performance every week?
Fesenko: It's pretty much close to impossible. The most interesting part of our team is not on top of its game, we still have 20 to 30 percent to go. We are not peaking right now. The best time to peak is right before the playoffs but you have to maintain a high level throughout the season to get that far and a good seeding.

Yes, so you have to play well but you have to accept that it's a long season.
Fesenko: We're not playing anyone 40 minutes - last game was first time I played 24. The coach (Stefano Sacripanti) is being really smart about it. He's telling us it's a marathon and not a sprint.

Being such a big guy, you must be used to facing collapsing defenses. What is your mindset when that happens?
Fesenko: We have a great team so if the opponents play against me one on one, like it happened against Juventus, I’ll score every possession. When they start to double- and triple-team me, I find my teammates and they hit those threes.

What part of your game are you really working on?
Everyone in the world is a better free throw shooter than me. I’m working on it a lot, before, during and after practice, and on my days off (Fesenko made 9 of 11 FTs at Utena). 

You and your teammates, are you close off the court?
Fesenko: The funny thing about our team is we have a lot of team-building exercises, during practices and off the court. We have a team dinner at least once a week. We just had a Thanksgiving dinner.

Sidigas Avellino is together on and off the court

You had Thanksgiving because of the Americans in the team?
Fesenko: The Thanksgiving was the Americans but they invited me, too. I really believe that to have a great team, you have to bond.

Life in Italy, is it what you expected?
Fesenko: I love the weather, the food, the people - it's incredible. Every little city has some sightseeing parts and great places to eat. Last week, we went to a restaurant up the mountains in a church and they had a museum and it was closes but the man who runs it is our fan and he opened up the museum for us and showed us around. I love it.

Are you taking it year by year now and not interested in signing longer contracts?
Fesenko: I take it one year at a time and have been for a while. I'm at the point of my life, though, when I'm tired of living out of suitcases and moving. I'm looking forward to committing myself to one team. Avellino is a good fit for me so maybe with them.

So the MVP award, you must have been very excited about it?
Fesenko: It's very important for me, winning that award. It's a great individual award and I'd like to win a few more, MVPs of the Month, of the Year (laughs) - it's all good.

After this season, you planning on being at the EuroBasket?
Fesenko: Yes, I think it's really important for all players in the national team to show up and be at their best. I'm the captain and I have to be there but I also want to be there. I talk to the other guys and tell them to come. It’s important for us to win for Ukraine.