Zalgiris Kaunas returned to EuroLeague action on the Nemunas Island after a 22‑day break and claimed an impressive victory over Real Madrid, 87-85. After the game, Sylvain Francisco – who sank the decisive free throws – shared his emotions.
“To be honest, we won, but another game is already coming, so I’m very focused on that. Still, I’m very happy we beat Madrid, and by two points – since we lost by one over there, now we have the head‑to‑head advantage. I’m glad the guys didn’t give up, stayed aggressive, and got the win,” the Frenchman said.
Francisco also explained the plan for the final possession.
“We watched their film, so we knew they wouldn’t allow isolation for guys who like to play one‑on‑one – especially me. When I asked Arnas for the screen, I knew Facundo Campazzo would come, so I understood I needed to attack quickly or make a pass. But they fouled, which actually made things even better. The only plan was either to take the shot or find an open teammate,” Francisco recalled.
He also commented on Mario Hezonja, who took 21 shots and scored 18 points.
“If you let him play freely, he’ll score 40 or even 45 points. He started really well, but eventually we became more aggressive and forced him into tougher shots. I think he made some difficult ones. Some players you can’t stop every time, but you have to make sure they don’t get anything easy,” Francisco noted.
The French guard spoke about the emotions after such a win.
“It’s amazing. We had lost two games – against Valencia Basket and Panathinaikos – and those losses really hurt. We thought we could win both, or at least one of them. So coming back home and winning is great. We’re in a process, in a marathon, and we’re improving every time. The most important thing is to stay focused and avoid too many mistakes,” he said confidently.
Next Tuesday, Zalgiris will face Bayern Munich at home in front of their fans.
