Skipper Admits CSKA Is the Favorite
25.09.2003
Today in the final Champions Cup game CSKA will play Skipper. Before the deciding game, the Skipper head coach and two Italian players gave their thoughts about the upcoming game and about the tournament in general.
Today in the final Champions Cup game CSKA will play Skipper. Before the deciding game, the Skipper head coach and two Italian players gave their thoughts about the upcoming game and about the tournament in general.
Skipper Head Coach Jasmin Repesa said that before the tournament he didn’t think about making it to the final, having landed in the same group as teams like Barcelona and Panathinaikos.
"We weren’t thinking that we had to win. I’m happy that we were able to, but I’m more happy that we were able to work on our sets and give our rotation a chance to work together. Regarding our opponent in the final, I know everything about CSKA. The Russian team has a lot of stars. But for a coach like Dusan Ivkovic, that’s not a problem. He has shown many times his abilities, especially as the head coach of the national team, which had a star-studded roster. It will be a tough game for us. I think CSKA is the favorite, but we’re going to play hard."
Skipper guard Milos Vujanic:
"I like this tournament. It’s well-organizes. We arrived to play against what are probably the best teams in Europe right now. Before the start of the Italian season, it’s impossible not to be happy about how our team has played. We’re going to face CSKA today, which is a very good team with lots of great players. I know that from last year. Especially John Holden, Marcus Brown and the young guys who played at the European Championships: Viktor Khryapa and Sergey Monya. I think that this season CSKA has a good chance to make the Euroleague Final Four and deserves to play in it."
Skipper captain, guard Gianiluka Basile:
"This is a preseason tournament, so it’s hard to say much about the teams that came here to play. Right now CSKA looks like a very strong team. Ivkovic is a great coach who knows how to work with his players. I like how Brown plays, as well as Khryapa and Monya. They’re very athletic and talented guys. I wouldn’t be against having a guy like Brown on our team."
Skipper Head Coach Jasmin Repesa said that before the tournament he didn’t think about making it to the final, having landed in the same group as teams like Barcelona and Panathinaikos.
"We weren’t thinking that we had to win. I’m happy that we were able to, but I’m more happy that we were able to work on our sets and give our rotation a chance to work together. Regarding our opponent in the final, I know everything about CSKA. The Russian team has a lot of stars. But for a coach like Dusan Ivkovic, that’s not a problem. He has shown many times his abilities, especially as the head coach of the national team, which had a star-studded roster. It will be a tough game for us. I think CSKA is the favorite, but we’re going to play hard."
Skipper guard Milos Vujanic:
"I like this tournament. It’s well-organizes. We arrived to play against what are probably the best teams in Europe right now. Before the start of the Italian season, it’s impossible not to be happy about how our team has played. We’re going to face CSKA today, which is a very good team with lots of great players. I know that from last year. Especially John Holden, Marcus Brown and the young guys who played at the European Championships: Viktor Khryapa and Sergey Monya. I think that this season CSKA has a good chance to make the Euroleague Final Four and deserves to play in it."
Skipper captain, guard Gianiluka Basile:
"This is a preseason tournament, so it’s hard to say much about the teams that came here to play. Right now CSKA looks like a very strong team. Ivkovic is a great coach who knows how to work with his players. I like how Brown plays, as well as Khryapa and Monya. They’re very athletic and talented guys. I wouldn’t be against having a guy like Brown on our team."
