In the last club team match of their handsome careers, Petteri Koponen and Shawn Huff especially thanked their wives for making it possible to play. The duo have one more goal, the European Championships in September.
Antti-Jussi Sipilä,
Roope Visuri
29.4. 21:20 • Updated April 29th. 21:20
Two legends of the Finnish basket Petteri Koponen and Shawn Huff played the last club games of their handsome careers on Friday.
Koponen and Huff, representing Helsinki Seagulls, managed to celebrate the Finnish Championship bronze medals in their last match. Seagulls won the bronze match against Kataja in Joensuu 84–54.
Before the match, the ceremonies for Koponen and Huff in the Töölö Race Hall were seen. The CEO of Seagulls spoke Aku Perho, Chairman of the Basketball Association Timo Elo and Koponen and Huff’s junior coaches Pekka Hartikainen and Tomi Kaminen.
Finally, the players themselves were let out. Koponen started his own speech with a joke when the time was already well past the start time of the match at 6.30 pm.
– I know Westerholm is looking at the clock. You have to be fast and get to play, Koponen chuckled and pointed out the competition director of the Basketball Association Tom to Westerholm.
In their speeches, Koponen and Huff thanked the coaches and their teammates over the years. The current Seagulls organization also played a part. Seagulls, who went on to apply for the championship this season, did not reach the finals. However, Huff and Koponen said they believed that the Panther statue would still be in Helsinki in the future. However, the most emotional thanks went to the spouses.
– We were abroad for 13 years. To your loved one Lindathank you for your support and for everything you did to make it possible. Thank you for taking care of the boys and putting the house in order where it has been, Koponen thanked.
– I want to thank my spouse. Tilda allowed the father of two children to be able to play professionally for a long time, Huff incense.
Key figures in the new rise of the Finnish basket
Koponen, 34, and Huff, 38, are strongly personifying the new rise of the Suomi basket. Finland has been in all European Championships since 2011. In September, Susijeng is promised the fifth consecutive European Championships. Koponen and Huff also plan to play in them.
Koponen and Huff have been key players in Susijeng for more than a decade.
Koponen played in his professional career in Italy, Russia, Spain and Germany. He represented major clubs such as FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Khimki in the European Championship in the Euroleague.
Koponen was the first Finnish NBA round of the first round (2007). Before conquering the world, Koponen was able to celebrate two Finnish championships in Espoo’s Honka shirt in 2007 and 2008. Koponen has been chosen as the basketball player of the year by sports journalists eight times.
Susijeng Captain Huff’s championships are from Honga in 2002 and 2003.
After playing at the University of Valparaiso, Huff played 208 national matches as a professional abroad in Greece, Italy, Germany and France. In the German Bundesliga, Huff played 188 matches in six seasons.
This is how Huff and Koponen justified the termination
Huff and Koponen backed up their termination decisions in an interview with Sport before the bronze medal match. Huff had already told his loved ones a year ago that the season that ended now was his last.
– I’ve been giving everything to basketball for so many years. I have always given the species one hundred percent. In recent years, it has started to feel a little heavy and maybe even difficult, Huff said.
– I just don’t want to cheat on the species. I don’t want to spin with this just because I could play.
The decision to close was not difficult for Koponen.
– Let’s just say it’s not a terribly good blow. I had to not train and play for a week. I tried to practice yesterday. The places got a little stuck again, Koponen described his situation before the bronze match.
Koponen bagged one three-point throw in the match with four attempts. Huff scored 13 points.
Kopose could have had more years left if the body was in order.
– Sometimes I come to the hall full of enthusiasm. However, the reality is that I have to warm up a bit before I actually warm up. Yes, the enthusiasm subsides. If I were in good shape, I would still play, Koponen says.
The European Championships are already in mind, not a long practice break
Koponen and Huff have only one goal in their basketball career: the European Championships in September. The first block games are twisted in the Czech Republic in Prague and the follow-up games in Berlin, Germany. The 347 national team duo is not going to rest for long now after the season.
– Those who know me know that I don’t care about breaks. I will do something here in the coming weeks. Be it cycling, swimming or just about anything. I keep myself fit. In the summer, you can still run on the field with young wolves, Huff says.
– At this age and with this body, you can no longer rest terribly. Once the small bumps have been treated for this season, it is imperative to start putting the body in order towards autumn and be in the best possible impact, Koponen says.
Is Petteri Kopos still Susijeng’s number one bachelor?
– That I do not know. That is a big question. I have been in that role for a long time. The team has been in my hands for many years. I claim that now is the time for the next ones, Koponen says.
– On the other hand, in some games, the elderly were dug up from naphthalene. The game went just fine. There are a lot of young and hungry guys. The future of the national team looks good. Of course I would like to be in such a condition that I could help the team. I wouldn’t want to just go tourist as a tourist.