By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
After almost 20 years, 18 to be exact, the Croatian national team will play in a Eurobasket semifinal. That could be, but it’s not enough, not for Dontaye Draper. The naturalized point guard who won the Spanish league as a member of Real Madrid hopes that he can also win a Eurobasket medal: “We have a lot of ups and downs, but now it feels good. After the preseason, everyone come together as a team, just put out egos, everything in one box, just keep playing and able to play as a team. Every one just come together as a family. I don’t read Croatian, I don’t read the media, but I can see the fans. Everyone is happy about it. I just want to keep grounded and keep this momentum going as a team and anything can happen. I am happy we got here, but if we stick together, bigger things can happen”.
A big part of Croatia’s success according to Draper is coach Jasmin Repesa: “Like I say from day one, he does a great job in scouting. He is one of the greatest coaches that I had. He really pays attention to detail. He gives you everything about the player, what he is going to do and having all these things, the team is really focused and that’s a good thing”.
Draper changed the game against Ukraine when he entered the court and he explains his approach: “When I was on the bench and we were down by five, I was like “ok, I know what I have to do”. I wanted just to go and try to do anything to get the momentum, to have something to cheer about for the fans and it worked”.
And now the sky is the limit: “We won and If we keep this momentum anything is possible. That’s what we preaching. It’s not about the win, it’s not about the loss, it’s about this team and its chemistry. This team is like family. Be together as team, play with energy and just leave it all on the court”.