Korisliiga, Finals, Game 2: The second final game between Honka (Espoo) and Kouvot (Kouvola) was a thriller. Honka got a very slow start at home court and Kouvot instead was ready to roll from the first moment. No wonder then, that Kouvot was leading by 14 pts (4-18) already during the first quarter. Kouvot defense was doing good job and American players Corey Smith (196-G/F, agency: Warren Sports, college: Vanderbilt) + Wayne Bernard (190-G-81, college: Davidson) were much tougher than on Monday. Little by little Honka came back to the game and the second half was so exciting - for the spectators as well as for the players and coaches. Honka's hero was American G Akeem Scott (186-G-83, college: High Point), who scored all home team's last seven points during the last two minutes. Scott made the winning two pts by leaping (from the right side!), when there was 22 seconds time left. Kouvot had still a chance, but Corey Smith's pass never went to Tero Laitinen (201-F-87) and Honka won 70-68 (28-32). Quarters: 10-19, 18-13, 20-16, 22-20. Only five players scored on Honka's roster. Honka's bench had zero pts. Jukka Matinen (203-F-78) and Akeem Scott led Honka with 20 pts both. Kouvot had only two players in double figures, but eight players scored pts. Corey Smith netted 21 and Wayne Bernard 14 pts. Honka - Kouvot 2-0. Game # 3 on Friday, April 25, at Kouvola.

Honka - Kouvot 70-68 (28-32) (Jukka Matinen 20/4, Akeem Scott 20/1, Matt Williams 15/5, Kimmo Muurinen 13/8, Ben Perkins 2/3, Eldar Skamo 0/5, Anssi Vanjoki 0/1. 1 - 75,0%, 2 - 53,1%, 3 - 50,0%. R: 31. TO: 18. - Corey Smith 21/7, Wayne Bernard 14/1, Peter Cipriano 8/5, Tuomas Iisalo 8/3, Jukka Kataja 7/5, Samu Kaaresvirta 5/0, Roope Suonio 3/0, Tero Laitinen 2/1. 1 - 84,6%, 2 - 53,3%, 3 - 21,4%. R: 25. TO: 8).

You were in Estonia earlier this year. How was your experience there?
Life was great there and the people were very nice. The playing, though, was not where I expected it to be. On the whole, it was a great experience.

So why did you leave?
The team felt that they could save money. It was a business move.

When you left, your former team BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn were undefeated in the league and in first place. However, since then, they've lost three crucial games and ended up losing the league title to rivals Tartu likool/Rock. What did that tell you?
It makes you understand your worth as a player. You feel bad for the players because they are good people, but I saw it coming because Rock is a great team.

Then you come to a Rayyan team that lost the league title to Al Jaysh Army SC and you were expected to come in to help them win the Heir Apparent and Kings Cups, right away. Did you feel any added pressure?
Sure, of course I felt pressure, even though I have played under similiar circumstances before. There were nights where I couldn't sleep because I was anxious, but with leader like Yaseen Ismail (204-F-80), it makes the adjustment that much easier.

So you play your first game, you foul out and Rayyan loses. What was going through your mind at that moment?
Not only did I lose, I lost to my former team (Qatar Club). I was a bit down, which is normal, but I knew that it was just a matter of time before it clicked. The only problem was that we didn't have much time and I was just hoping that it would be sooner than later.

You got a rematch with Qatar in the finals of the Heir Apparent Cup, but this time you guys got the better of them when it counted most, with you scoring 23 points and playing an great game overall. Tell me about that.
It felt great! My teammates were great. It was a team effort and when it was money time we knew what we had to do.

But come on; don't tell me that this victory wasn't that much sweeter because it was Qatar.
(Laughs.) It was real sweet, definitely. Being in battle and winning the Emir's Cup with them last year, and now being on the other side of the court and doing battle against them and coming out victorious again; it was special.

Then you faced Qatar again in the Emir Cup round robin, this time with Daoud Musa (193-G-82) in the lineup. Once again they beat you guys, and this time pretty handily, might I add, but again you guys beat them in the final. Was giving them a sense of false hope part of the strategy?
Yeah, it was. When we played them in the round robin, it wasn't important. They were trash talking like they had already won the cup and I said to my teammates that we would meet again when the stakes were higher and that we would take care of business then.

Last year you finished third in the league and won the Emir's Cup with Qatar; this year, Rayyan finishes second and you win both the Heir Apparent and Emir's Cups. I don't believe that any player has come here and won so many medals in such a short time. How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel good. They were all great accomplishments and that's why I work so hard. I just want to be remembered as a winner.

Now you have the GCCs and the Asian Club Championships up next. What are your predictions?
I don't really know who we're facing. We will just take it one game and one tournament at a time, but I have confidence in my team.

To change the subject a bit, let me ask you: With your resume and talent, why do you think you still haven't had a chance to ply your trade in the NBA?
I would like to believe that it's [about] being at the right place at the right time, but I don't believe that I was ever given a fair opportunity. Seeing people in the NBA that I played against and knowing that, when I played against them I totally dominated them, makes me question things sometimes. But, hey, I'm not going to dwell on it. When one door closes another opens, and there are many leagues out there where I can go out and do my thing. That's all I can do, and if that isn't enough to get me there, then at least I will go out with my head held high.

Do you think that not being in the NBA has anything to do with some immature acts on your part? Things that when a more mature, more experienced you reflects back on, would do over if given the chance.
Of course, man. Everybody does, don't they? We are all prone to make mistakes. I wish that my coach and I would have had a better relationship. I think that things were blown out of proportion. I just wanted more freedom out on the court to do things that I knew I could. But I never regret anything; you live and learn and I hold no grudges. I just love the game of basketball and want to play. It did really humbled me though.

When you say 'coach,' are you talking about your former coach at University of New Mexico, Fran Fraschilla ?
Yeah. Coach Fran.

How is your relationship with him now? Have you seen him ever since, and if so how was it?
Everything is good. I saw him in Minnesota at the Summer League.

How does the story end this year?
Well, I hope with two more championships and hopefully going back to play in the NBA summer league. And from there, we'll see.