Vice-captain of PBC CSKA Greece playmaker Theodoros Papaloukas answered questions of fans and of sport newspaper Soviet Sport:
When you started to play basketball have you any idol in this sport? And who is your idol now?
- I started to play basketball when I was eight. I haven’t any idols, I just like some players, ways that they plays.
Who are your parents? How do they like that you become basketball player?
- My parents are normal peoples. I have one brother and one sister. In the beginning my parents wanted me to become lawyer or doctor, someone like this. But now they are very happy that I become a basketball player. The most problem for me that I miss them, every day I talk to them by telephone.
Did you ever have chance to play in NBA?
- Yes, one time I was in the training camp. That moment the most important thing for me was to see difference between American and European basketball. I think that it is really difficult to play there, but I enjoyed seeing NBA now.
What NBA team do you like? Would you like to become a coach later?
- I like to see good beautiful basketball. I don t have favorite teams. Last year I enjoyed seeing Chicago Bulls because Michael Jordan played there. Every year another team playing interesting basketball, so I just try to see good games.
You were the first playmaker in the Greece national team and in Olympiakos. Is it difficult for you that in CSKA Holden is the first, not you?
- No, it is not difficult to be behind someone. J.R. – is a very good player. Someone told me that it is not important who start the game but who finish the game.
What do you think about Egor Vialtsev?
- Egor is a very good player. He has to work very hard, because there are a lot of good experience players in our team. I think that in couple of years he can become into one of the most important players in CSKA.
What sports except basketball do you like? Have you ever visit games of CSKA hockey and football clubs?
- I like to see football very much, especially Champions League. I have visited one CSKA game in football and one in hockey. I enjoyed in very much, especially football game. CSKA won that day. In hockey the Army team received a goal on the last second, the game finished with 4-4.
Nikolaos Chatzivrettas left CSKA. He was from Greece and you talk on you own language. Is it difficult for you that he left the team? Who are your friends in CSKA now?
- Yes, he left the team, but I keep on speak Greece, because Tarlac, Savrasenko and our coach knows my language. It is nor important who knows Greece, because it is very good communication inside our team. Most time in Moscow when I go out, I spend with Sergey Monya and Alexey Savrasenko. But everybody in CSKA are very good guys. We have good time together – on the court and out.
Do you speak Russian? Are you going to learn it?
- I don’t speak Russian. I know some words, like «Chut-Chut». I try to learn but it is really difficult for me. I know basis words, so I can communicate, I can find something when I go somewhere.
When Chatzivrettas left the team, didn’t you think to do the same?
- No, I never thought to leave the team, because I really have a good time here. I think that here I improve my basketball. Now CSKA is one of two-three best teams in Europe.
Would you like to come back to Greece and play there?
- Now I enjoy being in CSKA and in Moscow very much. I like what I do now and I don’t think about returning to Greece now. When my contract will finish and if I wouldn’t have another proposes, I can return to my country but now I like to play in Russia very much.
How do you like to spend your free time?
- I don’t have a lot of free time. We spend a lot of time on arena, in hotel, in travel. So, when I have some free time, I prefer to stay home and relax.
How do you manage to have dog at home with quite a complicated CSKA calendar?
- It is really difficult situation for me. Often we have to live separately with him. I can see him only a half of the month. It is very difficult for me. If you love something, you always try to find time for it.
Do you like cinema?
- I like cinema very much, especially Greece films. In Moscow it is difficult to find films on Greece or on English. Whenever I have free time I go to the movie.
How do you like Moscow and Russia?
- I like Moscow very much. But I think that Moscow is another country in Russia. It completely different then another cities in your country. Peoples who live in Moscow are more closer.
The weather in Greece is much better then weather in Moscow. Is it difficult for you to live here, especially in winter?
- Oh, yes, it is really difficult for me. I miss the sun. When I look through my window and I don’t see the sun it makes me crazy. The cold is not so difficult, because I don’t spend much time on nature.
Do you have your favorite places in Moscow? May be some theater, restaurant, caf?, square, street?
- Yes, of course I have such places. There are mostly some restaurants and cafes that we go with my friends.
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