Our loss against Nizhny Novgorod was tough, because we were counting a lot on winning this game. Things are not going well for our team right now but it is okay; I am positive and think that we still can make it to the Top 16. The first round of games is over and if you look at it, we lost a lot of close games. Even though we won just one game and are at the bottom of the standings right now, there are positive things, too. We showed our potential as a team and showed we can compete against anybody, even against teams like Real Madrid, as we lost against them with a buzzer-beating shot.

We played a really good game against Efes and lost against Zalgiris in the final minute, too. We really have the potential to qualify from this group and I expect a lot of surprises in the second round of the regular season. Not just in our group, but in the whole competition. The next five games will be a whole different story because every game counts! We are looking forward, as a team, to staying positive and good things will happen, for sure.

We are keeping in mind that the final game in Nizhny Novgorod may be the key to get to the next round, even though it is far away. No question about it! If we can win other games — home against Efes and Zalgiris, on the road in Sassari and why not, in Madrid — we can be in a good situation before that game, but most probably that one will be the key. Still, we have to focus on the next game, at home against Efes. It was both teams' first game at the beginning of the season. We are more organized and prepared for every game now. It is good news for us that their best player, Nenad Krstic, is out. We have to use that to our advantage and I think we have a really good chance to beat them, even though they won the last two games. If we stay together, play as a team and prepare the game really, really well, I think we have a good chance to win. I am looking forward to this game; beating Efes would be really good news for us.

I like Kazan a lot. Russia is really big, everybody knows Moscow, but I didn't expect Kazan to be such a nice city. It is really nice, beautiful and not very small; close to 1.5 million people live here. The World University Games two years ago helped it develop a lot. They built new houses, stadiums and gyms. It is a great city. The only thing is, of course, that it is cold, but you can get used to it. The Kremlin is awesome and the city center is very beautiful. As for the weather, the good thing is that I played one year in Estonia and it was pretty much the same weather, so it was easier for me to adjust. I think I will be fine here! It is really cold, but I just go from home to practice, so I am not out there, in the cold weather, too often.

My roommate is James White, a good friend and teammate. We are comfortable with each other. Most of the time, he is with his computer, watching a bunch of television series. He has a lot of series; he watches everything! I read more than watching TV. Right now I am not watching anything, though I am saving a couple of movies for long trips. Having to travel from Kazan, we have long trips from time to time, so you have to carry at least one book with you because if not, it is very boring.

I cannot finish this blog entry without talking about Jose Luis Abos and sending my condolences to everyone at CAI Zaragoza and of course his family and friends. I was shocked when I heard that he had passed away. I knew he was sick and I texted him 10 days or so before his death. I told him I was supporting him and I knew he was fighting through his illness. He texted back, saying thank you and that he was really fighting and that he was going to be fine. It makes me really sad. Life is not fair sometimes. He was a young persont. When I signed in Zaragoza, I really needed to play and he gave me the opportunity to do that — play and compete against the greatest teams in Europe. I am really thankful to him. I finished the season with him in June and he was fine. Three months after that he is gone and I have no words. He did a tremendous job in Zaragoza, bringing a lot of joy to its fans and he will always be remembered.

May God rest his soul.