But basketball was my first sport and I became a pro player. This is my seventh year as a pro and it is kind of crazy to think about. I turn 26 here very soon, my birthday is on January 13, and so it's crazy to think this is Year Seven for me, and now this is also my first year in the EuroCup. And so far, being able to come to a club like Joventut, I think it's been really good for me, being around these guys. Obviously, they had a really good year last year and I'm happy that we can continue the success and be able to finish at the top of our group after the first round of games. I think that's something we set a goal of and to be able to be on track for that goal halfway through is something to be really happy about.
About Joventut, I love the connection between the first team and all the young squads of all ages. It is something else. I think it's really cool. We'll walk in on the weekends and you'll see all the kids in the youth programs. And then, we obviously get the younger team guys and they'll be able to practice with us sometimes or I'll see them in the weight room. And so there's such a connection between the younger team and this senior club. And it's funny, you know? I'll ask guys how long they've been here for, and they're like, you know, 14 years and they're not that old. And I'm like, 'Why?' They're like, 'Well, I've been here since I'm like 6 or something,' and I laugh. So it's kind of crazy to think just because I have bounced around and these guys have been here for so long. So I think that obviously has helped with this team's success and stuff, just this group of guys being together for so long.
At the same time, it is great to have guys like Pau Ribas and Ante Tomic because their track records speak for themselves of what they have done as a player, and they are still trying to go out there and prove it each night. It just shows the level of how professional they are and talented, just how they compete and how they play and how they come to practice every day. And so it's really great to have those two. I would say probably Ante is really good about leading by example and what he does and stuff. And Pau loves to get on us a little bit here and there, but it's all been just holding us accountable and stuff. And so I think it's really good to have those two guys and it's been great for us.
I saw that December Top 10 with my game-winning shot against Reyer at number one! It was crazy because they hit a big shot just a couple of seconds before mine. We shouldn't have been in that situation, obviously, we were up the whole game. And to lose the lead with like 6 seconds left and then for our team to respond quickly, to be able to get the ball out the net quickly. I think as soon as Pep Busquets got to halfcourt, I knew I was going to get the shot just because I saw my guy running over. And for me, I think I was playing the '5' at that time. It's always hard for '5' guys in transition to find a big who's running to the perimeter because they are so used to running to the paint. So I kind of had a clue that the ball was coming towards me and to be able to hit that shot kind of felt surreal as soon as it went in. That was a fun moment for me because I don't know the last time I hit a shot at the buzzer like that. I have to think back to my youth days and I don't know if I hit one then, so that was really fun to hit when I heard the buzzer.
So we've played against everyone in our group and now I have more information about our next opponents, starting with Brescia next week. The first time around, you get the scouting report, but you haven't played against these guys. And even though I played last year in the Spanish League, it is always a little different style of basketball, so you get a good feel for it the first time around. Obviously, we had them at home and that was our first game of the year and we were able to get a win, but it's a little different going on the road. But I think especially going around the second time, you get a better feel for teams and they get a better feel for you, so you have to be ready for that as well.