By Niki Bakouli
Tel Aviv is ready to host this year’s ABA Final Four. Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cedevita Zagreb, Partizan mt:s and Buducnost VOLI are already there and on Friday they all will have the chance to practice at Nokia Arena, where on Saturday at 17.45 (CET) Cedevita will play against Partizan mt:s and at 20.15 (CET) Maccabi will compete against Buducnost VOLI. The winners will fight for the crown on Monday (20.15 CET). And to get familiar with everything we are going to see, we asked from Serbian “Sportski Zurnal”‘s editor in chief, Predrag Saric to guide us through this Final Four.
– First of all, which is the actual motive for the teams which are participating at Liga ABA’s Final Four? The winner will take a place at next year’s Euroleague?
“The actual motive is only the trophy, because Partizan and Cedevita already got enough points to compete at next year’s Euroleague. Maccabi have a contract and the third ABA’s team for Euroleague is Olimpia Ljubljana (one Serbian, one Croatian and one Slovenian team). Buducnost will probably get a spot in qualifications”.
– Let’s see now to the real motives, such as proving you deserve a spot among Europe’s elite…
“This could be a motive for Cedevita and Budućnost, not for Euroleague teams. For Maccabi winning this tournament is important after the defeat against Panathinaikos at Euroleague’s play offs. And Partizan of course wants to keep the trophy, for the 6th straight season”.
– What about the first semifinals game (Cedevita vs. Partizan). The Croatians needed just few years to become a real strength at their country and then at European basketball. KK Partizan is a team which plays at top level for decades. What do you thing its going to happen when enthusiasm meets experience?
“Cedevita is the favorite of this game, although they did not played their best in past few weeks. They have more experienced team than Partizan and these “old guys” want to take one more bonus from the club’s owner, who is one of richest people in Croatia. But as you say, enthusiasm always gives strong opportunity for a victory. From Partizan, players like Macvan and Raduljica have a great motivation to prove they deserve their place at Maccabi and Anadolu Efes”.
– Can you name two players Europe doesn’t know, but they will get all the attention really soon, from these teams?
“In Cedevita there is no new names. And in Partizan there is Lucic. He already played at Euroleague, but from the next season he will show everything that he can do. Also, there are Andjusis, Bogdanovic, Besovic…”
– KK Buducnost reached Eurocup’s quarter finals this year, where they lost to Valencia Basket. The fact is each year they play better and better and now they have to play against Maccabi Tel Aviv and… we all know this team stands for. On top of that, they will play at Nokia Arena. What’s your thoughts?
“Montenegrins are relaxed in this game. The pressure is on Maccabi. If they win, it will be a great upset”!
– Do you have somebody to introduce us from KK Buducnost?
“Dubljevic and Ivanovic. They are future of Montenegrian basketball”.
– What about Maccabi’s coming back to Adriatic league, only to understand how difficult it is to play at the same time, in four competitions – so that’s why they decided to let it go from next year…
“There is no logical answer on why they decide to play at Adriatic league…”
– For the end, we left the “battle'” of the coaches. We have David Blatt vs. Dejan Radonjić and Dražen Anzulović vs. Vlada Jovanović. If you were about to introduce them to Europe, what would you say -for each one?
“Blatt is well known coach. Anzulovic is one of the best “Croatian coaches squad” (Petrovic, Repesa, Spahija, Perasovic, Anzulovic…). He came back with a desire to show that Cibona is not only team in Croatia. Dejan Radonjic showed his potential. Last year he didn’t get any results at EC in Lithuania, although he had a good team, but with Buducnost he has made excellent results. If he manages to evolve Ivanovic and Dubljevic into excellent players, he will confirm his potential. Jovanovic had his chance at Partizan, in a very difficult moment if you consider what Dusko Vujosevic left as a legacy -when he signed with CSKA Moscow. After everything he has done, he proved to be one of the most talented Serbian coaches and his best days are ahead of him”.