Recently, the sports director of the Kyiv club Budivelnyk Gediminas Navikauskas gave a detailed interview to the Lithuanian Internet portal basketnews.lt. He raised questions concerning his club performances on the international sports arena. You can read excerpts from the conversation of Mr. Gediminas Navikauskas and the basketnews.lt correspondent:
- Budivelnyk refused to participate in VTB League games this year. Why did it happen? - This situation can be explained quite simply. Of course, we want to act on the international stage and not to break relations with the VTB League, but rather to continue our partnership. Were only asked to compensate the travel expenses. The fact is that despite the high level of event, there is a broad geography of. Long moving are themselves physically exhausting for the players, but there is also a lot to pay for it ... Because VTB League positions itself as a commercial event, which counts on the economic component, then I think we have a right to demand some compensation costs at least for the flights. For example, last season, the club spent on it $280 000. So now it, I think we have every right to demand $300 000 compensation for the fact that for the sake of VTB League we actually sacrifice the Domestic league. "If that's a commercial event, be so kind as to compensate us by our travel expenses", we said.
- And what was a conflict about? - They have responded very badly to our statement. The same Ivanov openly called me a "insolent blackmailer". So, if the tournament organizers think they have the right to impose its own terms and do something like the USSR championship and even on a commercial basis, let them do it without us. For the other two Ukrainian clubs who have applied VTB League, they just kind of scared of blackmail by the League. Azovmash elementary was forced to participate in this tournament. But for whatever reason it appeared BC Donetsk we did not know.
- What kind of blackmail from VTB League you say? - Ukraine and Russia have certain business relationships. Ivanov is a high official person and the second one in the Kremlin. I cannot say it for sure but I hear, Azovmash and VTB Bank have their own credit relationships. VTB League has sufficient strength pressure. That accounts for the clubs, including Ukrainian, sacrifice domestic league in order to act in VTB League. In this sense, I feel sorry for the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Earlier Lithuanian fans breathlessly went to look at the opposition to Zalgiris and Panevezys, now they just do not see. Lithuania may soon face a situation in which, as such, LKL will simply cease to exist. The same Zalgiris could this season to go far in the Euroleague, again qualify for the championship in the domestic arena. And suddenly ... Play-off game VTB League will begin in May, at the same time, the final series of LKL planned. And how they will set priorities? Now I can say only one - there is no longer the fact of basketball madness, where each principal rivals meet for the championship of Lithuania Zalgiris and Lietuvos Rytas.
Steven Burtt leads his Avtodor to Bronze medals - May 25, 2013
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Steven Burtt (185-G-84, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov, college: Iona) leads his Avtodor to Bronze medals in Russia. Avtodor clinches Bronze medals in Superleague as they swept the series for the third place against Ataman. Avtodor added 82:69 win for 3-0 in the series.
The game was mostly controlled by Avtodor. Ataman managed to win second period 23-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening [read more]
Steven Burtt (185-G-84, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov, college: Iona) leads his Avtodor to Bronze medals in Russia. Avtodor clinches Bronze medals in Superleague as they swept the series for the third place against Ataman. Avtodor added 82:69 win for 3-0 in the series. The game was mostly controlled by Avtodor. Ataman managed to win second period 23-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They outrebounded Ataman 36-22 including a 26-14 advantage in offensive rebounds. 28 personal fouls committed by Ataman helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for Steven Burtt led his team to a victory scoring 27 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Hakeem Rollins helped adding 18 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Alexey Kurtsevich with 15 points and 6 rebounds and Pavel Agapov scored 12 points.
Maksym Fomichov-the youngest Coach in Europe! - May 25, 2013
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Not many people know that for today Maksym Fomichov is the youngest coach of a professional basketball team in Europe! He is 23 years old, but he is already included of the VTB League team Basketball Club Donetsk, working with such great players as Darius Songaila.
Having heard that, I couldnt contact him to details about his live and his path. His main role in the team is - scout reports, at the same time he fulfills several other tasks, including individual work with players [read more]
Not many people know that for today Maksym Fomichov is the youngest coach of a professional basketball team in Europe! He is 23 years old, but he is already included of the VTB League team Basketball Club Donetsk, working with such great players as Darius Songaila. Having heard that, I couldnt contact him to details about his live and his path. His main role in the team is - scout reports, at the same time he fulfills several other tasks, including individual work with players.
- Maks, at what age you was appointed as assistant of the Head Coach? - I was born on February 21, 1990, so on date of my nomination I was 22 years old.
- What came within your duties? - I was a second assistant of the Head Coach, and my primary task was to help to the first assistant in composing of the scout report.
- Please, tell us more in detail what is the scouting report? - Scouting report is a game analysis of the future opponent, searching of strong and weak sides. Without it does not manage any professional team. It consists of two parts: text document and movies. Scouting in writing usually takes 20+ pages, it includes detailed statistics of the opposing team and all their players, previous games (if they were). Their offensive and defensive systems. Detailed description of all players, their physical, technical and psychological characteristics. All this, we walk try in practices. For example, as the player likes to attack? Immediately upon receiving the ball or after dribble. Can he go for a lay up or dunk, or will stop and shoot from the middle range? What is he able to do on the weak side? I mean, can he attack to the left, being right-hander? Same about defense! If he is aggressive defender? Can he deny in the paint? Also, I pay a serious attention to the players character and his psychological steadiness. The movies part consists of three clips, showing the players, combinations and defense. I try to get the total time of these movies not more than 40 minutes. Such duration is enabling the best to learning the information for the players. From February, I was left the only assistant and perform all this work by myself. At this period we showed our best basketball. Have won 18 from 22 games, including 11 straight! Moreover, we accomplished a miracle when we won 4 in a row and beat Lietuvos Ritas for making playoff of the VTB League.
- Where are you getting information, how many games you watch to do you work? - For scouting, I watch previous games of next opponent and make clips from it. Before every game I watch not less than three games, and before the rivalry games against so serious teams as Khimky, Lokomotiv Kuban or Spartak (St. Petersburg), I try to watch from seven to ten games! Depend of the time that I have for preparation.
- How meticulously you are analyzing opponent team and their players? Does it make sense to do it in details, or you leave only the most important points? - My job and my primary responsibility is to find the maximum amount of useful information and to chose for the Head Coach all that I consider important! The Head Coach is the first who obtains the extended scouting with maximum information, later we decide together what we want to leave for the players. They will get only most important information. The amount of scouting report directly depends from the time before the next game. Off course, when I have seven days before, we can study all aspects of our opponent and be prepared against all combinations. During the last season we are played in four tournaments: qualifications of Euroleague, Eurocup, VTB League and Ukrainian Superleague! In whole, without preseason, we had 71 official games! We practically had no days off and generally we were playing every third day! Under such circumstances it is a very difficult to conduct a good preparation. Sometimes I had to stay awake 24 hours to prepare. I could not let down my team.
- Who does usually pass information to the players? The head coach or you also taking part of this? - I give a written report to the players. As for the movies, every coach is deferent. For example, with Vlado Jovanovich on meetings talk only first assistant. Joseph Maria Berrocal like to voice clips with plays by himself and let voice clips about players to me. He trust this to me, since I speak English well.
- How many languages do you speak? - I have a fluent English, all work and practices are conducted solely in English. I can speak Serbian. And thanks to my two native languages (Russian and Ukrainian), I enable to understand all Slovenian dialects. Also, I speak a little bit and continue to learn Italian. I hope to learn it soon.
- You can be named as polyglot! You are learning quickly! - It all depends on being in the language environment. In my childhood my farther drove me to the basketball camp YUBAC, Serbia, where I passed every summer. Today, I often spend my time in Italy, plus I really like this language.
- Please tell, how has it happened that during one season two coaching staffs were changed? As result you were found yourselves on the front line of professional basketball? - The team was prepared for the season by Serbian staff, headed by Vlado Jovanovich. I was his second assistant. Preseason was in Serbia and Italy, where we were prepared to qualification of Euroleague. Unfortunately we lost the game against Le-Man and going to play in Eurocup. Two months later club changed coaching stuff on Spanish, headed by Josep Maria Berrocal, who left the team in January. Management has decided to appoint till the end of the season as acting head coach our sports director. He appointed me as his first assistant. We already had a successful experience, after Serbian staff we were led the team for three games, because new staff just cannot be in time. All three games we won! It was the first time, when I prepared all materials for the team alone! We had two days for preparation to closely game and then with two days interval two games in a row! Those days I could not sleep all three nights, in order to prepare everything in time. On the third day I had bloody nose, I was terribly tired, however I was so happy to see the numbers at the scoreboard in our favor! I am pleased when my work is a part of the victories of my team! I got a huge experience in this season! As my friend Sergio Scariolo text me: Your season looks like if you graduated University and Masters degree in one year!
- Darius Songaila is the NBA player. Tell us please, what is the difference between him and other players, especially in their attitude to the game? - Darius is great professional of the world class! Before beginning of every game, every practice, he is maximally concentrated. He is always ready to work with high productivity and only for the victory. Its a pleasure to watch his skill.
- And at what level you have played basketball? - For children and youth, I played as a point guard. I was champion and vice-champion of Ukraine, playing in the team of my city - Odessa. As I said, I was several times in basketball camp YUBAC, which is one of the best basketball camps in Europe. By the way, my carrier as a coach also began there two years ago! Also I learn how to play in school of Sabonis, in Kaunas, and in school of Marciulionis, Vilnius, Lithuania. I passed couple months in the CSKA, Moscow. Have been in sport lyceum in St. Petersburg, headed by legendary Anatoly Steinbok!
- What do you think about the self-education and how important do you consider it? How much do you attend to it? - Self-education it is very important aspect. Every day I read and watch something new. Surfing Internet in searching of coaching clinics and try to visit it when its possible! Last year, when I had more free time, I visited all clinics of the National Basketball Federation of Ukraine. Last summer I was at the coaching clinic in Rimini, Italy, where lectures were Ettore Messina, Xavier Pascual (head coach of Barcelona), Don Casey (former NBA coach), Steve Robinson (assistant in the University of North Carolina) and Kevin Boil (head coach and owner of the Montverde Academy).
- Also I understand that you are traveling to various specialists for internships - Yes, last year I went five times to Sasha Obradovic to BC Donetsk, it was an excellent school for me, and helped to me to take invitation to join the team. Also I visited Donaldas Kayris, head coach of the BC Dnepr-AZOT. He studied in the USA, was an intern at San-Antonio Spurs and in DUKE University. Also he was assistant of Kemzura in the National Team of Lithuania. I was two months with Michael Fratello at the National Team of Ukraine. But the most that made an impression on me is the internship in Armani Jeans Olimpia Milano with Sergio Scariolo!
- You arrived to Scariolo and told him: Hello, I am Maks Fomichov from Ukraine!? - In principle it was just so (laughs), we met near the gym before the practice. I walked up to him and said: Hi, I am Maks. We shook hands, and he invited me to go inside where he introduced me to his assistants and immediately begin the practice. I arrived to Milan during the semifinal of playoff. Preparation was in full swing. Sergio was so busy that he even could not stop to drink a cup of coffee! I was with the team all the time. On all practices. I was even permitted to watch their pre games movies and seen a scout report. Assistants of Scariolo were a very friendly with me, they showed me how they work and taught me. Whole team, all managers, players treated me as a part of the team! Before the games, the team gets together in the hotel and spends the whole day together. They have rest, talk and stay to dinner. And I was there with them! Dined and talks with all coaches and players together. And the greatest honor which fell on me is present in the locker room before the game, where Mr. Scariolo gave his last instructions!
- What are your plans for the off-season? Will you have a rest? - If I have a rest, it will not be long. I have several plans. I am going to Milan, later I hope to visit Virtus Roma and Mr. Marco Calvani, their Head Coach. They have a great season! Then I go to Adidas camp in Treviso. In mid-June I go to St. Petersburg, where I intend to enter the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sports and Health. It will be my third high degree. Previously I graduated the National University Odessa Law Academy and studying at the Faculty of Physical Education in Kherson National University.
Kyiv prepares for U16 European Championship 2013 - May 23, 2013
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Kyiv prepares for U16 European Championship 2013. The Ukrainian capital will host the event from 8 to 18 August.
Sixteen teams were divided into 4 groups of four teams:
Group A: Belgium, Russia, Spain, Greece
Group B: Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Lithuania
Group C: Montenegro, Serbia, France, Poland
Group D: Ukraine, Italy, Croatia, Latvia
Last year Turkey became the new U16 European champions. They overcame France 66:61 in the title game in Vilnius [read more]
Kyiv prepares for U16 European Championship 2013. The Ukrainian capital will host the event from 8 to 18 August.
Sixteen teams were divided into 4 groups of four teams:
Group A: Belgium, Russia, Spain, Greece Group B: Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Lithuania Group C: Montenegro, Serbia, France, Poland Group D: Ukraine, Italy, Croatia, Latvia
Last year Turkey became the new U16 European champions. They overcame France 66:61 in the title game in Vilnius. Mehmet Alemdaroglu (205-F-96) posted 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the winners. Serbia stepped onto the pedestal at U16 European Championship. They defeated Italy 83:69 to claim the Bronze medals. Belgium clinched Division B title at the U16 European Championship. The team overcame Montenegro 56:46 in the Final to seal the important victory in Bucharest. Both teams advanced to Division A for this year. Sweden caught up the last train to Division A at the U16 European Championship. The Scandinavian team overcame Hungary 79:55 in the game for the third place that gave the last spot in the top division this year.
Azovmash: took 4th (last) place (0-6) in Group D of the Regular Season
BC Donetsk: took 3rd place (3-3) in Group E of the Regular Season
Budivelnyk: took 1st place (4-2) in Group A of the Regular Season, took 1st
place (4-2) in Group I of the Top16, lost to Gescrap BB (ESP) 0-2 in the
Semifinals !!!
Khimik: took 1st place (4-2) in Group D of the Regular Season, took 2nd
place (3-3) in Group K of the Top16, lost to EWE Baskets (GER) 1-2 in the
Quarterfinals !!!
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