After five years of presence at Japan and a long course in Europe, the Luca Pavitsevic He returns to Greece to take over Panionios again.
THE Montenegro had first passed by her club New Smyrna 18 years ago, and is now called upon to lead him back to European events after 12 years of absence.
In his 57 years, the Pavitsevic carrying four decades of experience in world basketballwith roles both as a player and as a coach.
In his media day Panioniou In the closed of Glyfada, he talked about the importance of preparation and consistency, stressing that he is in complete readiness For the new challenge.
In detail what he said:
For what he wants to see from Panionios: “To be prepared. To have a rhythm and keep it on both sides of the parquet. We have chosen a path of more work and less friendly, so now we do not have the flow we could have, but we are full of workouts and we are ready to give it to basketball.
The difficult place on this path is that we have some must win games at the beginning and not some games with Olympiacos or Panathinaikos that could also act as preparation games. In specific areas we will be where we want to be, but we will have the opportunity to improve more. That is why we will sit down and try to see the situation until we start. “
For the goals he has set: “My goal is to be as high as possible in the end result. As for Stoiximan GBL, they all have its own goals, but outside Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, we have an upgrade to all teams. Do you want to talk about Mars, Marousi, Prometheus, Karditsa? Everyone has improved and Stoiximan GBL is difficult. So let’s win all the games we can win and see where we are. We have to repeat the entry into the playoffs and then see where we can get.
However this year Panionios plays at the Eurocup. It’s a different league. A championship of a regular 18 games and you know in the past the teams that are not deep, can damage them. We saw it with Mars, with Marousi. You play out for 4 and a half months, with difficult conditions and is difficult.
The owners of the team made a lot of effort and had to do a lot of things to get Panionios on the Eurocup. European presence is something we all want. It came a little early, but we have to be ready. That is why I preferred this kind of intense preparation. It has very good groups and what is needed is to be durable. We may have AEK outside and then play with Besiktas and then Mars come. It takes durability, passion and competitiveness. We are a completely new team and if you ask me what I am waiting for, I can’t tell you accurately, but we will be testing and all I can say is that I hope we stay on the right track. ”
For his philosophy as a coach: “Philosophy is a very strong word for a coach who is a humble basketball worker. But I will tell you that I see basketball as a game. We have to be ready. Shakespeare had said that being ready is everything. So what I would like is to prepare the team the best possible for any game to come.
My approach is to go loud on both sides of the parquet and not to stay back in the defense, nor give up the attack. To be quick to circulate the ball and be ready for what the opposing defense gives us. These are theoretically good, but hard work is needed to become a practice. We are not yet where we would like, but we work hard to get. ”
On how much he changed his five years as a coach in Japan: “If I speak personally, I have to tell you that Japan is fantastic. The Japanese lifestyle is excellent and is completely different to how we live here. Especially with how we live in Greece, Montenegro or Serbia, in the Balkans. Rich experience living there.
As a professional I went there because I had an invitation to start the development of Japan’s modern basketball. It was an invitation from the country’s national team. I trained the national team, the country’s best program in Tokyo and you know, many things had to be done, in a different light. The league grew, the coaches were educated, the players were educated and the influences came from everywhere: from the NBA, Euroleague, Australia. There were no restrictions on foreigners, there were no restrictions on travel, there were no restrictions on equipment and facilities.
It was the best place in terms of work and that is why there were several demands from the coaches. What I believe in the coach’s job is that the beginning is: you adapt or die. But I also believe what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That’s what I’m thinking about our work now. I learned a lot in Japan and feel impatient to test myself in Europe again, adding all that I learned in Asia.
On whether he has heard the discussion about the lack of new Serbian coaches: “Yes, I recently had this discussion, because Coach Pesic was my teacher. I had this discussion and I totally disagree. But completely. The point is that making coaches, it is not on its own. Coach Itoudis, Coach Bardzas School of coaches, you have to trust them and be helpful with them.
Unfortunately, unfortunately, some things have been privatized and many do things that only interest them. The coaches become consumable tools in their hands like that. I feel we are going to the next level, there are majority of coaches, but they have to support them. Sasa Djordjevic brought three medals in five years. This is quite strong and they said that it is not enough. So I do not agree with the belief that there are no coaches, but Serbian basketball must pay more attention to them. Why coaches are the tool to determine a country’s identity in basketball ”.
About how different it is 18 years after: “I am very different. As a human being I try to carry the same values, but you know, I lived for five years in Germany, four years in France, many years in Japan, I drove national teams, I trained Americans, Germans, French, Africans, Asians, I was different. Like everyone, I also change myself.
Basketball I also try to keep the values of basketball that now exist on athletic and regular level. I keep these at a high level to play the basketball I want. Obviously there are a lot you can’t control but I want to keep the values“.
For building the roster: “Initially, when I signed in Panionios, there was no Eurocup and so we started to build. Initially, we didn’t have many natives, so we had to find at least four players who would be ready to play two or three who would be prepared through the training process. This was my approach. We found the Greeks and started from them. Dimitris Tsaldaris helped me a lot in evaluation and as soon as I returned from Japan I went straight to my office and started making the ‘Greek’ roster. We had a budget that increased and utterly generously from our presidents, Mr. Mikopoulos and Mr. Eliades, since we went to the Eurocup.
So we made a formula in which I wanted to have three tall strangers to approach George Tsalbouris. The important thing was to bring Michalis Lundzis. Then we added Pope, Economopoulos and Mitrou-Long next to him, and we had our veteran Nikos Gikas and we also got Andreas Patrikis. Then we looked at the basics at 1-2-3. Now we have the possibility of growing the roster a little bit, but we want to see first the group of players we have and then decide. We also have to watch where we are in terms of injuries and then see where we should be reinforced“.
As to whether he feels that he is the strongest personality in the group: “No I don’t feel like that. I believe that at this point in our game, I have to drive the team a little more, because it is a completely new team. It takes a while until they learn the game and get it in their hands. Until then I will try to guide them, but it is not a personality issue, but a matter of adaptability to the game“.
If his players know the size of the Panion and his culture: “When I status all the players, especially the Americans, assure you that I am teaching them what New Smyrna, the community, the refugee are. What does the journey from Smyrna to Athens mean, what does Panionios mean to all these people. Nikos Bourlakis presented a documentary and we want the players to know what Panionios means and what the team is paying for them.
I believe they feel the family climate, the care provided by Mr. Eliades and Mikopoulos. All this reminds us of what Panionios means everyday. “
As to whether the coach’s position in Panionios is hot: “I don’t sit on the bench for that, so I’m not burning (laughs). Yes, of course I understand. At the moment the pressure on Panionios is to keep the team united to play in two events, I don’t think about hot positions.
For the message it has for Panionios fans: “From my first time to the team conscious of how important Panionios is to the people of New Smyrna. They are people who would die for Panionios, they are so dedicated. I can obviously not be emotionally tied up so much, but I fully understand the need to provide the best.
I feel responsible for bringing the team at this level so that the fans can love and recognize it. I hope we have a successful season, overcome the difficulties and do everything to have them happy at the end of the season. It will be difficult, but I hope I do it. ”
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.
