It was a HUGE win for Joensuun Kataja on Tuesday night in Romania!!

For all you fans out there, I know you managed to find some pirated online streams to this game and guessing that you lived every moment of it watching the stream stop/buffer and then start again.. and maybe you even caught a sight of me photographing the game??

It is always great to photograph a game where the team you photograph, does well and tonight was one of those nights. Strong start for Kataja with some big three pointers reigning down from Flowers, Smith was bossing the backcourt effectively and fishing some fouls for the Romanian team. Nenonen was facing up the Romanians big guys and getting under their skin, veteran Virtanen did his work quietly but raked up big points.. They often say that it takes a team effort to win a game, and despite some individual outstanding performances.. this was a TEAM victory for Kataja.

Opposition coach had blamed the weather and referees for the defeat in Joensuu - but this time the weather was Romanian.. and referees (I think) had a decent game.

Apart from a two/three minute spell in the second quarter, the game was always in Kataja's control, the 10-0 run for the home team did question the resolve of Kataja - but after Virtanen sunk a free-throw to end the dry spell.. Kataja went their own way and never looked like losing the game.

KatajaWin

Plenty of smiles and high-fives from Kataja players and staff after the game, they seem like a nice bunch and it would be nice to get more chances to cover their games (in European games or even in Finland).

After the game I chatted with the American players of Kataja about the forth-coming game in Russia - which I unfortunately can not cover :-(  About the visa costs/regulations and so forth.

The post game interviews are with Mr Smith, Coach Toijala and a repeat appearance from Mr Flowers (or you call him Zontti??). Few quick comments about the game.. and everyone has a little message to the fans of Kataja Basketball club ahead of next weeks game... might be worth a quick listen if you have time...

For me - I now have.. three hours before I need to wake-up and start my long drive to Bucharest, a 6am flight to Birmingham via Amsterdam.. client meeting in the afternoon.. two days in the UK and then off to Switzeland for 11 days, leaving basketball aside for a week, and doing the Floorball World Championships. As much as I do love hoops - it is refreshing to have a break from it for a while.

Few stand-out shots from the game... and if I get lots of hits/comments/requests.. I'll post a 'montage' of "Zontti' Flowers doing a Slam-Dunk.

Sorry to stick all the videos into one.. I know, laziness :-)

A big thank you for the clients in FInland for wanting images, the players and staff of Kataja for having me around.. and of course.. YOU the fans for coming over to the Blog and having a look around.. 

Until next time!!