|
|
 |
Luka Pavicevic,
Head Coach
|
|
Coach, tell us about your team's roster for the next Euroleague season, what changes you made and what improvements you expect to gain from those decisions?
"One of the first changes happened at the point guard position. We acquired the point guard of the German national team Steffen Hamann and we brought in Rashard Wright, who has already adapted in Europe. We have some new acquirements in the wing positions. We have the players who played last year, Jenkins and McElroy, plus we added Casey Jacobsen. At center we signed power forward Ansu Sesay from Milano and we signed an American center who played in German League, Adam Chubb."
How much can you learn from the preseason about your team? What signs do you look for now that will help when the Euroleague starts?
"In Germany, we have an early start to the season, so it was difficult to have a preseason. We just finished our league in June and had to start preparation for the league in the middle of September. So the preparation was a little bit like English professional football – not so many friendly games. We will have to work our way through the early games in the German League, which will be difficult because it is a very equal and competitive league with nine foreigners allowed per team. So our goal is to prepare as best possible and to turn to the Euroleague in the best form."
Now that all the other teams have mostly completed their rosters, how does the competition in the Euroleague this season look like to you?
"I think the Euroleague is always improving and is always a very strong competition, especially with the new wave of enthusiasm in Europe and with so many basketball programs trying to be at the top of the Euroleague and to win the Euroleague. I think also that making the groups with less teams makes a shorter, but more intense league. And I think it will be very difficult for everybody to reach their goals and of course for teams like Alba to make the Top 16."
What are your goals going into the new Euroleague season?
"In our group, the keys are to put the teams behind you. Looking at the roster and looking at the history of these teams, it is very difficult to see who is to be attacked. But the key is not to look at it like this, but to go strong in the 10 games and try to win possibly five games. I think that is the number needed to move to the next round."
|
|
 |
|
|
 Few teams will be more motivated than Alba Berlin for the upcoming Euroleague season. Not only is Alba back in the Euroleague after a four-year absence, but the team has moved to the state-of-the-art O2 World, the very same arena at which the 2009 Final Four will punctuate the season in high style. Alba has taken the opportunity to heart and put together a varied group of talented players whose common trait is a strong desire for success. Among the newcomers are power forward Ansu Sesay, playmakers Steffen Hamann and Rashad Wright, center Adam Chubb and shooter Casey Jacobsen, a former German League playoffs MVP with Final Four experience. Moreover, head coach Luka Pavicevic can count on the core of players that led the team to last season's German League title, such as Julius Jenkins, Patrick Femerling, Immanuel McElroy and Aleksandar Nadjfeji. All eyes will be on Alba this season, and the team is ready for the challenge of showing its fans the excitement of Euroleague Basketball again.
| Name |
Pos.
|
Height
|
| Johannes Herber |
G
|
1.97
|
| Philip Zwiener |
F
|
2.01
|
| Julius Jenkins |
G
|
1.87
|
| Patrick Femerling |
C
|
2.15
|
| Nicolai Simon |
G
|
1.90
|
| Oskar Fassler |
G
|
1.98
|
| Immanuel McElroy |
G
|
1.94
|
| Aleksandar Nadjfeji |
F
|
2.03
|
| Adam Chubb |
C
|
2.07
|
| Steffen Hamann |
G
|
1.94
|
| Dragan Dojcin |
F
|
2.04
|
| Andreas Seiferth |
F
|
2.06
|
| Oliver Clay |
F
|
2.05
|
| Rashad Wright |
G
|
1.89
|
| Ansu Sesay |
F
|
2.06
|
| Casey Jacobsen |
F
|
1.98
|
| Head Coach: Luka Pavicevic |
|
|
|
|
Alba has taken strong steps to be competitive in regular season Group C. Hamann is a physical point guard with good driving skills who is in the prime of his career. His perfect complement is Wright, whose unique shooting and passing skills are sure to keep defenses off-balance. Alba has an elite duo of long-range shooters in Jenkins and Jacobsen. Jenkins is an all-around scorer whose quickness and shooting range make him unstoppable, while Jacobsen is a deadly three-point shooter with unlimited range who always asks for the ball in crunch time. Alba will have its own defensive stopper in McElroy, a physical swingman ready to do all those little things that make a good team even better. Johannes Herber will come off the bench to offer rebounds and defense at both wing spots.
Another key player for Alba will be Nadjfeji, whose versatility and experience can drive any defender crazy.  Nadjfeji is set to share the power forward spot with Sesay, a strong player that loves to take the outside shot, but also has a nice set of post moves, highlighted by a deadly turnaround jumper. Chubb is also a major addition due to his power, good hands and rebounding skills. This will be his Euroleague debut season, so expect veteran center Femerling to offer a helping hand. Femerling, a former Euroleague winner, knows what it takes to do well in this competition. His size, post skills and winning mentality are important for this team's success. Small forward Philip Zwiener took part at the Olympic games in Beijing and should have an improved role in coach Pavicevic's rotation. Veteran forward Dragan Dojcin rounds the team's frontcourt with his experience and perimeter shooting.
It comes as no surprise that the whole German capital will be backing Alba in its Euroleague return and its move to the shining new O2 World. The team is full of talented shooters and experienced big men and has a couple of reliable playmakers, so a trip to the Top 16 could be in the cards for Alba. If everything goes as planned, the future of the club looks brighter than ever and a new golden age could be set to start for the mighty Berliners, flying as high as the albatross in its logo.
|
Friday, September 19, 2008
Euroleague.net
|