 |
Tomas Pacesas, 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?
"We had a lot of changes after winning a very tough Polish championship last spring, with a 4-3 final series against Turow. Our budget went down from there, and we started with a plan to recruit the best Polish players, both Polish national team and young players. We looked at it from a management standpoint and this was a good moment to start it. We also chose an American guy who we saw in those finals last year, David Logan, who was the best scorer in the Polish League. Then we got Koko Archibong, who is a really good defensive player with Euroleague experience, and a really great guy. He has played well in the German League finals, so we know what we are getting from him. We also found Daniel Ewing, who was with Khimki Moscow last season, and expect him to be a great addition for us. Plus we have Bosnian national point guard Alex Nesovic, whom we like a lot, and we are expecting to fill the five position soon."
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?
"I think everything is OK as far as we've been able. We played a lot of games, 14 so far. We had camp in Lithuania and played nine games there against teams from Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuanian. We lost only one of those nine. Now, we played an won a tournament and a couple more games in Poland. Our only problem is that we missed some very important guys, especially at point guard. One of our point guards arrived just three days ago and another will come tomorrow. It's a problem because it's such a key position to help the chemistry of the team. It's very important, and since we missed that, I think it's good for us that we start the Polish League with a couple home games. That means we can practice a lot without trips. That will help us get our tactics going. We are waiting also for a center. I don't know who that guy will be yet, but I expect him to be an experienced, high-level player. Right now, we average 24 years old, which makes us a young and ambitious team, for sure."
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 will be a great competition. It's hard to say what teams will survive, but of course some have tradition, budget and big-name players and coaches enough that, even if the roster is new, at the end of the season they will be OK. One big favorite this season, I think, is Siena. They didn't change a lot from their great team last year, and they should only get better. For sure teams like CSKA, Panathinaikos and Maccabi, which finds a way every year to compete, will be among the favorites. Our group is unbelievable, especially when you think that Zalgiris beat CSKA in its own Gomelskiy Tournament semifinals. So we have to face Zalgiris, Siena, Panathinaikos, Barcelona and Nancy. That group is a big, big challenge for us. There are a few teams with advantages on paper, but the one I can already going strong is Siena, which beat CSKA by a lot in the preseason. Siena is ready for a good season. Not only ours, but the other groups are very strong, too. But ours is unbelievable."
What are your goals going into the new Euroleague season?
"I think we have to do the same in the Euroleague as the Polish League, compete to our best ability. We kept one player only from last season's roster. The situation in the club and on the team has changed a lot, which everyone here understands. Even so, we will try to win every game. How that comes out, we will see."
|
|
 |
|
|
 The pride of Polish basketball, Asseco Prokom Sopot, returns to the Euroleague looking to improve enough to make a third run at the Top 16 in the last four years. Head coach Tomas Pacesas inherited the squad midway through the last season and helped Prokom win three of its last four Euroleague games, but it was still not enough to correct a slow start. This time, new management has put together of roster of hard-working team-first players with a special emphasis on home-grown Polish talent. Veteran forward Filip Dylewicz is the only regular back from last year's squad, but players like forwards Koko Archibong and Ronnie Burrell bring past Euroleague experience, while guards Dan Ewing, David Logan and Aleksej Nesovic have all starred in the ULEB Cup, giving Pacesas plenty to work with in trying to build a winner. Moreover, the youth program at Prokom has provided the senior squad with some promising talents, like big Adam Lapeta and swingman Mateusz Kostrzewski. Prokom has yet to play two seasons consecutively without an appearance in the Top 16 since it first joined the Euroleague five seasons ago. This year it will be clear that the club is targeting that stage once more while laying the groundwork for the future.
| Name |
Pos.
|
Height
|
| Adam Lapeta |
C
|
2.17
|
| Jakub Zamojski |
G
|
1.86
|
| David Logan |
G
|
1.84
|
| Filip Dylewicz |
F
|
2.02
|
| Koko Archibong |
F
|
2.02
|
| Ronnie Burrell |
F
|
2.04
|
| Daniel Ewing |
G
|
1.91
|
| Aleksej Nesovic |
G
|
1.89
|
| Mateusz Kostrzewski |
F
|
1.98
|
| Piotr Szczotka |
F
|
1.96
|
| Adam Hrycaniuk |
C
|
2.05
|
| Head Coach: Tomas Pacesas |
|
|
|
|
Logan, who nearly stole the Polish League title from Prokom last season with Turow, has switched sides and will now lead Pacesas’s charges with his winning attitude, excellent outside shooting and lockdown defense. Ewing appears to be his ideal backcourt partner. He is a skilled playmaker, but also boasts tremendous scoring skills. Once Ewing gets comfortable running the pick-and-roll with his teammates, the Prokom backcourt will be difficult to stop. Nesovic, who should be the first guard off the bench, is a natural point guard with excellent court vision that helps him make plays on both sides of the floor. Jakub Zamojski and Tomasz Swietonski provide depth at all three perimeter spots and Kostrzewski, who’s still a teenager, will gain experience this year that should help him become an important piece in the future.
Dylewicz is arguably the most recognizable face on the roster. The athletic forward has been with the club for over a decade, but nevertheless had some of his best Euroleague games last season. Dylewicz’s energy off the bench will surely be a crucial piece of the Prokom puzzle.  Burrell was among the most productive players in the Euroleague during his bebut season two years ago and will be asked for more of the same consistent play in terms of scoring, rebounding and drawing fouls. Archibong is a clever big man best known for his tough defense, but he can also step outside and bury jumpers when left alone. At 2.17 meters, Lapeta has the size to be an intimidating force on defense in his first season as a rotation player. Adam Hrycaniuk is a second option at center as a tough big man who will never be out-hustled. Piotr Szczotka brings similar skills at small forward and will be a source of constant energy when he gets in the game.
Prokom comes into the season without many big names that will draw much attention. However that may be to the team’s benefit as its hard work on the floor and depth will allow it to surprise others. At age 28, Dylewicz is the oldest player on the squad and Pacesas, 36, is one of the youngest coaches in the competition. If Prokom can overcome its lack of experience with confidence and youthful exuberance, there will be many warm nights in Sopot this winter.
|