Carlik Jones was the standout player in Partizan’s win over Olimpia Milano. In the 92-76 victory at the Belgrade Arena, the point guard finished with 20 points, 10 assists, zero turnovers and 4/6 from three-point range, accompanied by “MVP” chants from the Serbian crowd.
“I felt great. It was the first game of the season and it’s hard not to be motivated, excited and full of energy,” Jones told Mozzart Sport. “I worked a lot during the summer, on every part of my game, and I think this is just a small preview of what I’ve been working on. I’m fortunate to have played a game like this.”
The win over Olimpia Milano immediately raised the question of the message Partizan sent to the rest of the competition: “I hope so, honestly I hope so. But this is just one game. I have to play like this next week, then the week after and the week after that. I can’t allow everything to end here.”
Jones then stressed the need to remain steady throughout a long season: “There will be a lot of ups and downs. My way of thinking is to stay balanced through all of this and try to improve month by month.”
The victory also had historic significance for Partizan, which had not started a EuroLeague season with a win since 2007. “It’s a great feeling, especially because in recent years we hadn’t been able to win the first game. I’m happy that we managed, let’s say, to break this curse.”
Finally, Jones reflected on the team: “It’s still early, but everyone is happy, everyone brings great energy. Everyone knows their role and tries to make the most of it. We work hard for each other and have each other’s backs. I like our chemistry and what’s happening so far.”
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