Lotanna Nwogbo on Final Four: "I Don't Know How to Explain It, You Play This Sport to Live These Moments"

Movistar Estudiantes faces another Final Four to determine which team will play in the ACB next season. It's the team's fifth season in Primera FEB (formerly LEB ORO) and to secure promotion they must beat Oviedo in the semifinal on Saturday, June 6 at 8:15 PM, and if successful, face the winner of Leyma Coruña Super Agropal Palencia in a final on Sunday, June 7 at 7:00 PM.

We spoke with Lotanna Nwogbo, center for the Madrid-based team and MVP of the Spanish Cup that Movistar Estudiantes won this season:

Question: I wanted to start by asking you about the season. How have you felt? Physically it hasn't been your best year, you've had quite a few issues.

Answer: Yes, I've missed games for the first time in the four years I've been in the league. Normally I've played in every game. I've had some physical problems, but that's how it is. Plus, I'm getting older and small aches and pains always appear. But I feel good.

Question: Despite these problems you've performed when it mattered most, being named MVP of the Spanish Cup. How do you approach the Final Four in Coruña?

Answer: I understand the importance of these moments, so I have a different level of concentration. I don't know, things just tend to go well. I hope it happens again and that we win.

Question: Did they pronounce your name correctly in the NCAA?

Answer: Yes, because they would ask. They would ask and say it correctly or at least they wouldn't make up letters. Here they add different letters or change the order. I accept certain pronunciations because at least they try. But here they don't try, they just say whatever. It's like changing my name.

Question: How do you feel at Estudiantes?
Answer: Very good. I think it's a very professional club, one of the best I've played for. Plus, I'm very comfortable in Madrid.

Question: On social media you've complained on occasion about how they pronounce your name in Primera FEB broadcasts.

Answer: My name is very important to me and it should be for everyone. I want to hear my name pronounced correctly, especially if my family is watching the game. They don't want to hear our last name mispronounced either.
I've been in this league for four years now, so I don't think it's very difficult to ask players how their name is pronounced so you can say it correctly. I've seen games where they've pronounced my name ten times in different ways, the same person, ten different ways. It seems quite ridiculous to me.

Question: To finish, I want to ask you about the playoffs. How do you approach them? Earlier you said you're more focused and that these games are more important.

Answer: Yes. I don't know how to explain it very well, you just know it, you play this sport to live these moments.
The regular season is fine, it's fun and I try to approach every game the same way. But everyone knows that when these games come around it's different. You bring a different level of intensity and concentration. It's simply different.