Bonn and Hapoel Jerusalem managed to reach the end of the road in the BCL, and will face each other on Sunday (14/5, 21:00) in the grand final of the competition.
The coach of the Germans, Tuomas Isalobut also that of the Israelis, Alexander Dzikicthey talked about the progress of their teams, while they were also asked their opinion on the statements made by John Antetokounmpo after the Bucks were eliminated.
The coach of Bonn initially stated: “I don’t think about myself and my age. In Germany we have many new coaches. The fact that I’m the youngest coach in a BCL final is not something I’ve thought about, it’s the first time I’ve heard it. Our team is special and we got this far because all along the way none of us had our minds to ourselves and we are just happy that, all together, as a whole we had the opportunity to fight for a common goal.
Coach Dzikic is a great coach and I’m not just referring to this season. I’m a big fan of the basketball he plays. His teams play with great energy and power. It is a hallmark for them and their style is very similar to ours. It does not rely on players, but on the whole.
I have not heard the statements of Giannis that you refer to, but considering personal experiences, I can say that they were the biggest steps to success. After failures I re-evaluated my beliefs and I can say that the pain caused by a failure was the biggest motivation for my personal improvement as a coach.
We saw in the semi-final, that all defensive mistakes were punished. The atmosphere on the pitch is hot and mistakes will be made. The point is who can play their own way and reduce the number of mistakes. This team will also be the final winner of the tournament.
The Livetagging we do with my partners is one of the most secure information we can have during a match. It’s something everyone can see. That’s why I’ve asked my colleagues to watch what’s on TV. It is good that you asked me this question because this way it will give an opportunity to start a discussion.
Whether it is good or not, that the TV shows everything, even our very own moments that happen during time outs. The NBA has found the solution to this issue and they don’t show the time out live, but broadcast it much later after choices are made. In the NBA there is nothing live at this level. Since everyone has access to see what’s going on through television, that’s what we use too: Images and sound where everyone has access”.
For his part, Aleksandar Dzikic, coach of Hapoel Jerusalem, commented: “We are not favourites. You know, nowadays there are many apps that show the results of matches using colors, red and green. And we see that Bonn has green, green, green, green. Does anyone think this is all a coincidence? It’s funny because some people continue to be surprised. It’s going to be a battle and we’re not preparing for anything less.
This year’s results speak volumes for my colleague. What I really appreciate is the way he chose his team and the style of basketball he plays. He found the best way to combine the need for the result with the ideal way of coaching. He had a fantastic season.
I would totally agree with John. So tell me… If we do great things all season and lose in the final, what does it mean? That we are not good? And the opposite for the Bonn team? I do not agree. I deny it. I really deny it. I refuse to be judged by my team’s last performance. I know people judge like that. I understand that results are important. But some things to judge are more important than results.
What we’ve tried all season is to get players out of their comfort zone. Some of them accepted the new roles. Some added items to their game. Bonn is a team that plays defense and attack, they have tall players who can move well and play with energy, they can shoot and score.
The presence of a coach for one year in a team is not a project… Allow me… Tenerife is a project. A season is just a season and nothing else. Everyone enjoys the good times, but what about the bad times? I don’t feel like I’m part of a project. Sorry”.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
