KRASNOYARSK (FIBA Europe Cup) – There simply has not been a player more dominant in the FIBA Europe Cup Regular Season than Enisey star center Frank Elegar.

A fan-favourite everywhere he goes, the soon-to-be 30-year-old from Bronx, New York leads the competition in efficiency, rebounding and blocks and has quickly won over the hearts of the people in Krasnoyarsk as well.

Although Siberia might seem like an odd destination for an American-born big man at first glance, the well-travelled Elegar shrugs it off and says it is just a part of a job that he loves to do.

Having averaged an impressive double-double of 17.8 points and 11.8 rebounds, as well as 2.3 blocks in the Regular Season, the player points out the role of Enisey's play-caller Oleg Okulov in the seamless on-the-court transition.

"I remember meeting the coach in pre-season and I didn't realise he had scouted me as much as he did over the last year," reflects Elegar, his memory flashing back to the first chat he had with his new head coach. "A lot of what the coach has implemented to the team is based on my style of play and what I'm capable of doing. The fit was good, the team gelled and it's showing on the court."

Frank @Frank_Wriz15 Elegar elevates for the alley-oop! pic.twitter.com/MmCgQ9PEQ5

— VTB United League (@VTBUL) November 13, 2016

After winning the first four games in the FIBA Europe Cup and securing early qualification in Group H, the Russian side decided to rest a couple of key players in the remaining contests and finished second in the group standings with a 4-2 record behind Demir Insaat on point difference.

"From what we showed, I think we have a pretty good team, when we're executing and playing as one unit. With the way we play, I think we surprised not only ourselves a little bit, but everyone supporting us and looking from the outside in," Elegar said.

Tony Taylor has been clutch, he really has. From getting taxis to scheduling a spa day for myself on the off-day.  He has helped with all of that, so I really have to thank him for helping me adjust so quickly."

Playing one of the most up-tempo styles in the entire competition, Enisey has one of the highest-octane offences with an average of 89.7 points per game, second-best in the league, but it is play on the defensive end where the big man feels he can have the most impact.

"The coach has been trying to have us play with more of a defensive mindset. We're still trying to figure some things out on that end. With me being as mobile as I am, the coach feels he can switch up the defensive schemes by either having me step out or switch on the perimeter. I feel my defence has been big this year," explained Elegar who has not only been the backbone of Enisey's defence with a league-best 2.3 blocks per game, but also the team's leading scorer in the competition.

"The coach is all about aggression and preaches it both offensively and defensively. The more aggression we show on one end of the court, the more benefits it will pay on the other. If we play aggressive on the defensive end, it will lead to easy fast break-points. If we play aggressive on offence, it will lead to opponents getting into foul trouble and us getting easy points at the free-throw line."

It is fair to assume the off-the-court transition has been more difficult than one on the court for the incredibly athletically0gifted Elegar.

According to Elegar, the process of acclimatisation in a far-away Russian city has been made a lot easier thanks the team's starting point guard and fellow New Yorker Tony Taylor, who played in Krasnoyarsk last season as well.

"Oh my, Tony's been clutch, he really has. From getting taxis to scheduling a spa day for myself on the off-day. I don't really even have to look too much for places to eat, because Tony knows everything. He's helped with all of that, so I really have to thank him for helping me adjust so quickly," said Elegar who was happy to have his family finally join him in Russia as well. "I was excited when they came and I'm excited to have them around. I just hope they can bare the cold weather."

"The team wants to make the Play-Offs and come back to the Final Four. Personally, I'm trying to win it."

However, there are workarounds and ways of dealing with the cold weather, but it is the long journeys that Elegar points out as the most taxing aspect of playing in Siberia.

Enisey qualified to the same Second Round group as Lukoil Academic, Donar Groningen and SL Benfica, which means there will be three more difficult trips to Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Portugal.

The journey to the Portuguese capital Lisbon, located on the other side of the European continent, some 8,000 km away from Krasnoyarsk, promises to be the most challenging one.

Frank Elegar @Frank_Wriz15 skies for two-handed dunk ✈ pic.twitter.com/RHfb3LKYQQ

— VTB United League (@VTBUL) October 29, 2016

"Mentally, it's really where it gets the guys. Just think about it – you have to get up around 4-5 AM for a 7 o'clock flight to Moscow which is already four and a half hours and then from Moscow we have to go wherever it is we are going. And there's at least a four hour difference, too. Mentally, it really takes a toll," explains Elegar of the usual procedure for away games. "Every road game is going to be a challenge, but you have to take care of your body and prepare yourself mentally to just go out there and win the game. That's what really gets me over the edge."

When it seemed that no one in the FIBA Europe Cup could stop Elegar, an injury did. Having sustained a slight tear in his quad muscle, the player will have to miss around two weeks of action.

"I found something was wrong after last week's VTB League game against Zenit. I just couldn't bend my leg. Before that, I had been playing hurt for a couple of months. I felt something, but didn't think it was serious. It got worse over the last few weeks, but I just had been playing through it. The final straw was the Zenit game," said Elegar who could still potentially be back in time for Enisey's next international game on the road against Donar on 14 December.

"Every time I step on the court, I just go out there, try be the best player I can be and try to put up ridiculous double-double numbers."

As one of the four clubs to have reached the Final Four of the inaugural edition of the FIBA Europe Cup last year, Enisey have their minds set on returning to the final stage once more, while Elegar has even higher goals for himself: "The team wants to make the Play-Offs and come back to the Final Four. Personally, I'm trying to win it and be one of the best big men in both of the leagues that we play, the FIBA Europe Cup and the VTB League."

Having registered three double-doubles in four games, Elegar has consistently been among the best individual performers, being named to the weekly five-player Top Performer list on three occasions already.

"Growing up, I have always kind of been under the radar. I'm a late bloomer when it comes to my success, so it feels good to see the individual accolades, but I think I can do even better," the player reflected.

"Every time I step on the court, I just go out there, try be the best player I can be and try to put up ridiculous double-double numbers. Maybe I'm surprising people who are looking from the outside in, but I know I'm capable of something special. Hopefully, with a good year here, I can move up to an even higher level of competition."

FIBA