MOSCOW (FIBA Basketball World Cup/EuroBasket 2015) - Petteri Koponen wasn't full of smiles when he left Bilbao, Spain, last September after Finland's exit from the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

That was so, even though he had dazzled for most of the tournament and been his country's best player, time and time again getting 10,000 Finnish fans off their seats in Group C games.

Koponen was devastated because he and his national team had suffered a cruel ending.

He missed a couple of important free-throws that probably would have sealed victory over Turkey in the Susijengi's penultimate game, and then he was off target with a potential game-tying shot in the waning seconds in Finland's last contest against New Zealand.

The wild card team did not get to travel to Barcelona for the Round of 16, but rather departed Spain 2014 thinking about what might have been.

Sportsmen must be able to cope with disappointment and focus on the challenges ahead, and that's exactly what Koponen did when he rejoined club side BC Khimki in Russia.

The Helsinki-born guard has helped fire his team into a Eurocup Finals showdown with Herbalife Gran Canaria.

Recognition for his terrific season came this week when Koponen, who turned 27 on Monday, was named to the All-Eurocup First Team.

Koponen has been a model of efficiency for the Rimas Kurtinaitis-coached team, shooting 60 percent (69 of 115) from the inside the arc and 45.8 percent (44 of 96) beyond it while averaging almost 14 points per game.

The fabulous Finn and Khimki will face Gran Canaria on 24 April in Spain in the opening leg of the Finals, and then return to Moscow for the second leg on 29 April.

This summer, he will be with Finland when they compete at the EuroBasket (5-20 September) in Group A in Montpellier against Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Poland and hosts France.

Susijengi fans, and the Finnish Basketball Association, will be hoping that Koponen is at his best.

Right now, they're just proud that one of their own is finding success.

So what about next year? What will Koponen do?

He decided several years ago after being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers to remain in Europe instead of attempting to make it in the NBA.

The way his career has taken off the last few seasons, one would think he made a wise decision to remain on the old continent.

Does he feel that way?

I think where I am right now, I'm pretty happy and think I'm playing the best basketball of my career - Koponen

"You never know," he said to FIBA.com.

"I think I'm a much better player now than if I'd gone to the NBA but then gone to the development league.

"That wasn't for me."

Koponen has not closed the door on the NBA, though.

He will evaluate his options after the season.

What is certain is that he will link up with Finland's national team and try to help them have another memorable summer.

No team has caused a buzz in Europe the past few years like the Finns.

"We go to win every game," he said.

"Anything can happen, especially if we get hot.

"At the last World Cup, we didn't play as well as we can and that's the only thing I regret.

"The whole team, we were struggling.

"We couldn't score the ball as we can.

"We just have to learn from it."

Go to www.eurobasket2015.org for full coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA