Valencia Basket will head to the capital to measure Real Madrid in the finals of the Playoff Liga Endesa.
Chris Jones, one of the 'Taronja' captains attended Sports World To talk about his career, the season and this golden opportunity for his team.
The base, one of Pedro Martínez's veterans, has averaged between regular league and the qualifiers 10.9 points, 5.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game, touching 40% success in triples.
With a remaining year of contract and the memory of its domestic success with the ASVEL in 2022, this will be its first final with Valencia.
What are your sensations this season in general? The ACB Cup, the Eurocup. And now, you are at your best time. How has it been for you personally and as a group?
Personally, I have never been one of those who focus on that. Of course, you always want to play. Well, sometimes it doesn't come out as you want, but I have great companions around me, so it makes my life a little easier. When you play badly and lose games and things like that, you concentrate a little more, you know yourself a little better, but I don't think I was playing my best basketball lately. But as I said, I have good companions and we are winning matches, so that is all that matters to reach this point. You know, the season is hard, it's long. And finally reaching one of our goals, reaching the final, is an achievement to some extent, but it is not only where we want to be. We not only want to reach the final. We want to be in a position to win a title. I think it would be very important for us, for the club, for the city of Valencia, and yes, that is our goal.
Speaking of Valencia, you look comfortable in this city. How important is it personally to get to a place and know that you can stay there for a long long time?
Oh, it's great. As you said, I have been in many places. So, you know, every year, you want to enjoy, but you don't want to accommodate too much because you know that sooner or later you will leave. And after my first year here, Valencia gave me the opportunity. And I am very grateful for that. My family loves being here, the city is incredible, weather, basketball, fans … So everything fits, it's like being far from home and continuing to feel at home, it is always good. So I think that is one of the most important aspects of being here.
Real Madrid is your rival in the final. How do you see this confrontation? You were the only team that won Real Madrid until the Unicaja won the third game.
It depends on who you ask you, you can vary a bit. But as I said, I trust myself, my classmates and our coaching staff to elaborate a game plan and go on the track and try to do my best and get the victory. We know it will be difficult. Being the Madrid, the experience they have and the quality of their players, but I feel that we have the same. It will definitely be a battle. And I suppose the best team will be victorious.
How do you feel physically? There is a persistent problem with your knee. How important is it to make sure your knee is healthy?
I feel incredible, better than ever. Now I have no problems with my knee. Simply … I think it was like a shock at that time, it was also new to me. But right now I feel incredible. Physically, mentally and ready to reach the final.
You said that you were the same player in a different role. The same personality, but in this environment different from last year. How did you accept that change?
I think it's easier to be greater. Simply, I understand. In basketball in general, no matter which coach I play, I feel that I can adapt to any basketball style. I think that is an advantage for me, speaking of myself. But as I said, I have excellent teammates, so, as I was in previous years, I would not say it was a downturn, but it is as if I did not have to press so much thanks to my teammates. So I think that is an advantage for me.
You are the eldest of three brothers, how was it for you, teenager, help your mother make a living and move on with basketball despite the difficulties?
I think basketball was my escape for everything. I grew up with my mother, my brother and my sister. I would not say it was difficult, because my mother always managed. So, instead, it was easier for me to concentrate on basketball because it kept me away from external things. Basketball was my escape route of much of my personal life and I used it as a spark. And once you accept what basketball can do, not only for you, but also for your family, I think it was an easier way for me: focusing on school notes and trying to continue with basketball as much as possible, be able to help my family. And I think so far it has been a great job.
That boy who played in Mongolia thought he was going to be here competing for a trophy in the most demanding league in Europe?
Honestly, no, I never thought about it. I always thought it should be, so to speak, of a Euroleague team. I saw friends and other players against whom I played and knew it belonged to that. But I know that it is part of the story, that this was not my way at that time, so I had to follow a different path to get there, as you say, starting in Mongolia and now playing in one of the best leagues in the world for a title. It's amazing.
Speaking of the title, is it possible that Valencia Basket ends the era of the Fonteta with a trophy?
Many things that we were supposed to achieve this year did not get them, but I think many people did not count on us. I refer, in general, to the classification, how we end up in the ACB, to the teams to which we won in the league or matches that were not supposed to have to win and win. So I definitely think we have a chance. As I said, we have great players and a great coaching staff. And we simply arrive with confidence. And practically everything depends on us.
