Pavisevic: “When Panionios called me, I was scared not to jump out of the window my wife”

About … running he decided to come to Greece when Panionios heard Luca Pavisevic. The Montenegrin coach, who returned to the Neosmyrnians after nearly two decades, referred to the great challenge in front of him and stressed that Panionios had to change level.

“First of all I would like to express my personal feelings about my return to Panionios. 18 years ago, for me, it was my first job away from my home. I have to tell you that for all the coaches coming from the former Yugoslavia, it is a great moment the first time you get out of your country, because you have to prove that you deserve this invitation and you have to defend it. It was a great challenge for me, then, to take over Panionios then.

Both me and my family always remember Panionios, Greece, Athens as something that has changed our lives. In any case, we wanted to stay more then, but as you know the life of the coaches is moving forward and changing and the situation was formed in such a way that we could not remain. We changed the city and a country, but I want to tell you that Panionios and Greece stayed in our souls as something we would always want to return. The first thing I thought when one of the presidents called me was not to jump out of the window by my joy my wife“, He said and added:

“For the last seven years of my career I spent them in Asia, and specifically in Japan where I worked on the national team and built the Toyota championship team and worked hard with other coaches in the country to raise basketball. And now it’s high. At this point in my life I wanted to come close to European basketball again and when the season in Japan is over, I received a very fast phone call from one of Panionios’ presidents, Mr. Mikopoulos. He said to me, “Mr. Pavitsevic, we want to be our coach and we would like to tell us the chances of that to happen”! The first thing I thought was that I needed great care the way I would say it to my husband because there was a risk of jumping out the window out of joy because she loves Greece very much. My sons also love Panionios so I should say it very carefully! Remember that they see the beautiful side while I have to deal with professional in a demanding job. Panionios has returned, there are high expectations so a lot of work has to be done. It is definitely a position of high demands for each coach. I made a quick decision between the choice to stay in Japan where for me life was more “relaxed” and perhaps with better economic conditions and return to Europe. And most of all the prospect of returning to Greece and Panionios deserved a lot for me and of course I accepted the challenge. And with this and a lot of effort and work to be done. After ten days of my signature I came to Athens quickly. I met the presidents, team members, my associates and we quickly started building the team because Panionios is at a point that needs to change level”

As for design? “Now I’m here. One would say … not at the worst place to spend your summer but it’s a summer of work. I don’t forget it. My youngest son came together to help me organize my thoughts and we work daily with my immediate partner, Dimitris Tsaldaris and our team manager, Angelos Constantopoulos to renew my contacts with many Greeks. The biggest challenge is to bring Greek players where the market is limited. We want to sign quality Greek players in order to create a strong base where foreigners will join. A few days ago we renewed the collaboration with George Tsalbouris, who is a powerful case, as was the leader, Nikos Gikas, who also remained. We make our contacts for both Greeks and foreign players in a daily process that is long hours as we try to find the best solutions to prepare a competitive roster that will respond to both the Greek championship and Europe where we want to compete”

Coach Luca Pavitsevic does not hide that all these years he was watching Panioniot’s course and had also learned about the flexion of the team. “All the years I was watching the course of Panionios, as I mentioned before we had close ties with the team. I know he went from the moment I left and that at some point he went very difficult and touched the bottom. The new ownership with Panionios’ friends created an atmosphere that I would call it as “Nea Smyrni Spirit” to return to the high. And it was a great job by everyone and the coaches and the players of course. Now we have to change level and go higher, something everyone wants. And this is a difficult and critical moment. We must thank all those who have tried for trying and quality for Panionios to reach here and now we must take responsibility for the new staff, in different positions, in order to continue the rise and development of the team. It’s not easy but that’s the time. And that’s why I think I was invited to come, because in such situations a man who has experience for it and a passion for basketball and work. As well as a man who knows Greece and the Greek championship in mindset. I repeat, nothing is easy. It is not only Panionios who grows up but also the other groups who want to do the same. It will be a special challenge for us as for the other teams to present a strong championship with two powerful Euroleague, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. We want to show that there is not only the dilemma of which of the two will win the championship, but also the strong challenge to go to all the stadiums and watch great basketball. This means a lot, especially creating the new generations of players because as far as I have understood there is a gap from that great generation of players who has now left active action. They are now lost in a dilemma of getting a lot of money but not playing or playing with less money. To reach all those old personalities of Greek basketball you must not sit but play. But mostly to play with the prospect of becoming a great player. And I believe that this moment is very important for Panionios and all the teams and I understand the difficulties of this challenge, that is, to make the players respond to the above dilemma I presented. But this is a challenge for which we all live“!