19 September, 2017
06 May, 2018
07/09/2017
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Spanish clubs get ready for second Basketball Champions League season


MIES, Switzerland (Basketball Champions League) - The impressive victory of Iberostar Tenerife in the inaugural season of the Basketball Champions League hasn't gone unnoticed. All the Spanish clubs participating in the second edition of the competition are getting ready to start a long journey to sportively earn the right to play the Final Four during the first weekend of May 2018, and bring home the newly doubled prize money of € 1 million for the winning team.

During the summer presentations of Iberostar Tenerife and UCAM Murcia, several players and coaches showed their commitment to these clubs. And all of them have the same goal: to do something big in the Basketball Champions League.

The 32-year-old point guard from Tenerife, Rodrigo San Miguel, is very clear and lucid about the season to come: "It will be very complicated to defend our Champions League title but we want to be up to it and face all challenges. And we know the first one is to beat Guaros de Lara for the Intercontinental Cup in our own Arena at the end of September". Nenad Markovic, Tenerife's newly appointed head coach, couldn't agree more with his player: "The Basketball Champions League is a very tough competition. We want to fight to the very end both in the Basketball Champions League and in the Spanish Endesa League. Being Basketball Champions League winners is something that puts us in a situation where everyone wants to beat us".

Winning another Basketball Champions League title would be a dream, but we need this new dream and we want to make it happen. The first Basketball Champions League title was one of the biggest accomplishments in our history. Félix Hernández, President of  Iberostar Tenerife

In Murcia, the 27-year-old Brazilian Vitor Benite and the 34-year-old American Brad Oleson expressed the same wishes for UCAM Murcia for this upcoming season: "Is perfectly possible to think about the MVP Trophy in both the Spanish Endesa League and the Basketball Champions League", said both players. "Playing twice a week is something that can only help you to be better prepared and more competitive", added Benite. The 27-year-old Dutch international and UCAM newcomer Charlon Kloof pointed out that the Basketball Champions League is "possibly the strongest European club competition, together with EuroLeague".

Coming back to Madrid and Movistar Estudiantes (where he played between 2009 and 2011), Nik Caner-Medley has one main goal: "Being back here in Madrid is almost like coming back to my family, something I really wanted to do. In 2011, I left Estudiantes just because I had nice opportunities, in line with my family life. Now, I think we have a chance to improve with this club, both in the Spanish Endesa League and the Basketball Champions League. In sport, everything is about commitment and improvement", said Caner-Medley, after a good summer workout in the Ramón Magariños arena, the renowned downtown Madrid Movistar Estudiantes' court.

I want to bring Estudiantes to the Regular Season in order to get back there, both personally and as member of my team. It's kind of a personal challenge.Nik Caner-MedleyNik Caner-Medley

Last spring in Tenerife, Caner-Medley played with AS Monaco in the first ever Basketball Champions League Final Four. "That was a great accomplishment, something I've been proud of. But, at the same time, I was disappointed to lose to Banvit and not to have a chance to play for the title. As a player, your goal is to win titles. And the Basketball Champions League is a great competition, with great teams and a great structure. Moreover, I believe that the Basketball Champions League is stepping up this season and is showing, in my opinion, a much stronger level than the EuroCup. I think I'm entitled to say that because I've played in both tournaments", said Caner-Medley.