For two months, Europe was at home in Prievidza. Epic wins, exciting trips, entertaining basketball – a dream come true for every BC fan. But now it is time to wake up and refocus on the challenges in Slovakia.

Let us be honest – when Alba Féhérvar were announced as BC Prievidza’s opponents for the FIBA Europe Cup Qualifiers, most roundball experts thought that the miners’ return to the European stage would be short-lived. Too strong the Hungarian’s roster, too big the difference in budget and international experience.

However, Saša Jankovič’ troops pulled off an incredible home upset and beat the heavy favorites by 17 points – the first of several magic European nights to follow and enough to advance to the group stages of the competition. And there was more to come, a lot more, for the Prievidza faithful.

Hosting Spanish ACB giants Bilbao Basket, who only a few days earlier had beaten Real Madrid, will go down in Prievidza basketball history. No, BC did not win the game, the Basques’ quality and depth prevailed after a thrilling first half, but the entire Športová hala crowd could feel the energy of a new beginning and witnessed a perfect event from the rendition of “Vstávaj, Jano, hore” before tip-off to the classy acknowledgement of Bilbao’s superiority by the Prievidza fans at the final buzzer, a show of sportsmanship that even made it to the national newspapers in Spain.

Despite missing out on qualification for the Top 16 in heartbreaking fashion with a 4-2 record, there is no doubt – BC Prievidza is back on the European map! The respect from the opposition was palpable in every contest. And there was more than Bilbao: BC Kutaisi are national champions of Georgia, a country far ahead of Slovakia in FIBA rankings. Balkan Botevgrad from Bulgaria have been a household name in international competitions for a decade.

But: snap back to reality, as a certain Marshall Mathers, better known under his stage name Eminem, accurately put it. Gravity has not completely gone yet, as our free fall in the TIPOS SBL standings can still be stopped with a great December, but the gravity of the situation is increasing, especially regarding qualification for the Czecho-Slovakian Cup.

As mentioned previously, the Slovakian league is improving by the minute and BC’s competitiveness in Europe did not occur in a vacuum. Patrioti Levice enjoyed a hugely impressive FIBA EC campaign themselves, beating the likes of Zaragoza and Bursaspor. Inter Bratislava top their ENBL group with a spotless 5-0 record. A new force has emerged in Nitra with Blue Wings, Spisski Rytieri bring a lot of individual quality to the table, on their day, Komarno can be dangerous to anybody with their run-and-gun style and Handlová are willing to “out-physical” any opponent.

The upcoming FIBA window gives us the chance to “go back to the lab again” and refocus on all these challenges. To break the cycle of a packed schedule with exhausting international travel. To go back to the basics and to help latest signing Marc Loving get to 100% quickly. And to understand that while we made history in Europe, this chapter is exactly that – history.

Our shot, our opportunity to make this season even more memorable is still to come. Time to capture it and not let it slip.

Photo: Vladimír Králik