Amar Alibegovic, Cedevita: 'This is the right place for me'

**Reigning 7DAYS EuroCup champion Amar Alibegovic checks in from Ljubljana, Slovenia, to tell us about his basketball journey this season. Alibegovic, now playing for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, is a member of a very distinguished basketball family. His father Teo was a European basketball superstar who helped ALBA Berlin win the Korac Cup title in 1995. His brothers Mirza and Denis are basketball players as well, as is his cousin Luka Garza, with Iowa of the G League. After a four-year stint at St John's University, Alibegovic started his professional basketball career with Virtus Roma and also played for Virtus Segafredo Bologna, where he won the Italian League title in 2021 and the EuroCup in 2022. Alibegovic is ready to give his opinion about Cedevita and the EuroCup as the season goes along in his EuroCupBasketball.com blog! **

First things first, we really needed that first EuroCup last week win after six consecutive losses. I think this was a very, very important win for us, especially after this, let's say, frustrating start for us. Because it was frustrating. Nobody likes losing, of course, but I think the way we lost and the way this season started isn't really showcasing our team, our individuals and our organization the right way. So I think this was almost like a statement win for us, to show that we can be better and we can show it on the court. We took off this big load of pressure but at the same time, when you start that bad like we did, one win isn't going to cut it, you know? So we wanted this one but the focus goes onto the next game right away. Our next EuroCup game is against Brescia. We will be ready to go and keep playing with the same energy and give 110% of what we have because we have to make up for some lost time.

"We are starting now to get on the same page"

We play at home again and that is going to help us all so much. It is also December, so a lot of fans are going to come out and already this last game they showed they can give us this edge, this energy. And I think if we prove to them that we're going to give it all we've got, more people are going to come, the atmosphere is just going to be better, and we will play with even more energy thanks to them. After starting 0-6, winning the first one like this and then getting a chance to prove ourselves at home again to maybe win two in a row, which is the goal, would be great.

Our fans sold out Stozice Arena in some EuroCup games last season, so we know this can happen again. I think the biggest thing is, for us as a team and as players, to show how much it means to us. And I think once the fans and the people start seeing that energy and look in our eyes, everyone is going to show up just like they did last year. I remember the atmosphere, it was really amazing; they had sellouts and this huge, huge Stozice. I can't wait for that time to come because I know it will.

This is my first season as a EuroCup champion, but I know I have to keep working hard and that is the most important thing. Since I came back from college -- fun fact -- the first year I won the Italian second division, the second year was the COVID year, then the third year I won the Italian championship and then the fourth year I won the EuroCup and the Italian SuperCup. So it's a streak that I have going, and it is definitely shaping me as a player. I have been blessed enough to be part of winning teams, and that is definitely putting my mentality in the right way, where you give something up for the guy next to you and always willing to be a part of a winning team, looking maybe a little less individually and a little more towards the team. I think that's a really important thing for us, especially considering how much talent we have on this team. We are starting now to get on the same page. If everyone keeps working in the same direction, I think we are going to be very, very good.

As you probably know, my father played for Olimpija in the past, too. I also played for Virtus and already kind of followed his footsteps because he played for Fortitudo. So when I played for Virtus, I got a lot of hate and a lot of love at the same time, you know? But what I like is that I'm making my own choices. I'm making my own path and starting from that choice of Bologna to now coming to Slovenia; I'm the one that makes this choice. Of course, I listen to all of the advice my Dad has for me, but at the same time, at the end of the day, I make my own choices and I have the freedom to do that, and I'm very happy for my choice. Even though we started maybe not the best way, I know this is the right place for me to be and the right place for me to grow as a player and individual.

I had never lived in Ljubljana before now but I visited the city a lot of times because my Dad's family is here, my cousins are here, and I'm happy to come here and see all of them again. It had been way too long since I got to do that, with my career taking me here and there, so I'm very, very happy to be close to that side of the family; it just feels good. I am also pretty close to home in Udine, which is like an hour and a half away. So geographically, it's very nice. Of course, the city is beautiful and I'm very satisfied with that, and basketball-wise this is another team with great tradition. For me, it has to be the right balance between luck and knowing what club to choose, starting from Virtus Roma, which had amazing history. Of course, Virtus Bologna and now Olimpija, all of these clubs have great history and great tradition. I think it helps even more to give it all I got. Of course, that is my job as a player but at the same time, when I see how much it means to these clubs and these organizations, it definitely helps me bring out even that 110%.

"This is another team with great tradition"

What works for us now is definitely taking it one game at a time. I would say the same if we were 6-1 or 7-0 in the standings. At the same time, I think it is very important for us to keep this energy to look for a playoffs spot. We have the talent, the players and the ability on offense and defense to compete with anyone in the EuroCup, really. First of all, though, we have to take care of business now and give it all we've got to try and win as many games as we can. And then when we lock in this playoff spot, anything can happen from there.

Even though we had this like slow start, I'm just glad that we, as a team, were able to weather through the storm because now I think we are going to be able to start playing the right way and showing what we can do. The style of basketball we play is very fun, it is very up and down, very fast and especially for the fans, it's fun to watch. Again, it wasn't our best start, but I don't think they should worry because we are going to be bringing everything we got, giving all we have on the court, fighting and playing for them. It's all up to us, the players, to show them that we are going to give it all we got. If we start winning games now, it will be a comeback story, so it is time to show what we were brought in for it. This puzzle that was put together can really work, and I'm very confident because I think we are playing better in every game. Our team can really show that we are here to compete and win games!