The head coach of Studentski Centar, Andrej Zakelj, spoke with Basketball Sphere about the upcoming season.
Also, Andrej Zakelj talked with us about winning the ABA Super Cup, last year’s quarterfinal series against Partizan, as well as the development of the club in the last three seasons.
Four months ago, Studentski Centar made a huge upset. In the first game of the ABA League quarterfinals, they shocked Partizan in Belgrade with a sensational win (83:84). Three days later, the team from Podgorica had a chance to close the series and eliminate black and white team. Unfortunately for them, James Nunnally scored a crucial three-pointer and sent that series to the decisive third game in “Stark Arena” where Partizan took care of business (112:83).
However, Studentski Centar got their revenge on Partizan a few weeks ago at the ABA Super Cup in Podgorica. After a significant comeback in the fourth quarter, coach Zakelj’s team triumphed by 83:81 for the biggest trophy in his career.
“We believed we could win”
“In the first game, we had a ten-point lead in the last quarter and eventually won. Everyone was surprised then. We were relaxed, it was evident, and Partizan was still under the impression of Real Madrid. But that’s their problem, not ours; we looked to capitalize on it.” – Andrej Zakelj recalls and continues:
“I think we played the second game better, prepared for it, and believed in it even more. In the end, we all believed we could win, so we played that way, and it showed on the court. We all know how it ended, nothing terrible. It was a significant learning experience for me as a coach and for the players. We all took something positive from it.”
The Slovenian expert revealed how he prepared his players for the match of the season.
“I try not to put too much pressure on the games, whether it’s against a theoretically better or weaker opponent on paper. I put the most pressure on player practice. We play the way we practice. I demand maximum focus and high intensity there. As for the matches, I try to relieve the players, especially against teams that are better than us on paper.” – Andrej Zakelj stated clearly.
“That was the case in Belgrade last season against Partizan, and we were even without Loren Jackson. We played without pressure and with a certain confidence, which I try to instill in the guys during the match preparation. I believe that such games are easier to play than some others.”
“If coaches and players give their maximum, it will certainly pay off on the court”
The victory in Belgrade wasn’t just a result of Partizan’s shaken state, and this was confirmed by Studentski Centar win in the first clash of this season for the ABA Super Cup trophy.
“As for the Super Cup, of course, no one expected that. We didn’t expect to play three games in a row over three days at this level either. It’s not easy, especially during the preparatory period.” – emphasized the 44-year-old coach and elaborated:
“I prepare my team the same way before every game, whether the opponent is Partizan or someone else. I prepare them to be maximally focused and with a lot of energy. On paper, these were three tougher opponents, and that’s extra motivation for our players to show they can play. As a coach, I don’t need to motivate players against Buducnost and Partizan. If they’re professionals, if they want to succeed, they need to feel it themselves.
I believe we have such characters, but in the end, we also took advantage of the fact that some teams are not yet in optimal shape. The guys worked well during the prep period, they were motivated for this game, and in the end, it paid off. We deservedly won, everyone in the club is happy, but we immediately need to calm down and stay grounded before the very important league part of the season for us.”
Andrej Zakelj attributes the first trophy in regional basketball to continuous work
“When you are dedicated and work honestly, the results must come. If coaches and players give their best, it will certainly be reflected on the court. I believe in that. In the last two years since I’ve been here, we’ve really been working a lot, analyzing a lot, we’re dedicated to what we do. I try to bring such players here. It already paid off last season and it’s all the result of hard work.”
“I insisted on signing Borna Kapusta”
Studentski Centar managed to offset the departures of players like Fletcher Magee, Andrija Slavkovic, Zvonimir Ivisic and Danilo Tasic with some former players and profiles of players who fit into Zakelj’s philosophy.
“Kenan Kamenjas returned from Buducnost, he will also need some time to get back and play the basketball he played with us two years ago. Igor Drobnjak returned as well. We took on Aubrey Dawkins and Borna Kapusta and didn’t bring in anyone else. Also, we’ve added some more young players from the youth academy.” commented the Slovenian coach on the transfer period and added:
“We have good chemistry, a team spirit built from previous seasons. I want the players to feel comfortable in the system, and of course, with good work, both they and the team become better.”
“The game winner”
The game winner in the ABA Super Cup final was last season’s revelation in the ABA league – Borna Kapusta. The Croatian point guard drew a lot of attention to himself with his performances in Cibona’s jersey, and Andrej Zakelj saw his leadership skills as an essential spice for his team.
“This season, for the point guard position, I was looking for a slightly different type of player than in the past. Last season and the one before that, we mainly had scorers in that position. Now, I wanted more of a playmaker because we have Kamenjas, Tomislav Ivisic, and some young players coming up, and I think they need a leader on the court.
I believe that Kapusta, currently one of the better passers in the league, combined with the calmness he possesses, is ideal for the roster we have. That’s why I insisted on bringing him in. So far, I am satisfied, but we haven’t even really started yet. I hope he continues this way.”
“In three seasons, we always made good choice”
In the past few seasons, Studentski Centar has had a lot of success in signing new players. They hope to continue in that rhythm in the upcoming period.
“That’s the result of hard, planned work. We haven’t reinvented the wheel, far from it; this is all a result of good, deliberate work and proper selection. We can select players based on the budget we have, but I believe that one should also consider a player’s character. We have to ensure that he’s a team player, that he has the ambition to progress and to prove himself.
Of course, he must also possess the qualities that fit into our system. That’s the kind of player we’re looking for. In three seasons, we haven’t missed on any player, and that’s one of the main things, alongside hard work. Naturally, I want good team chemistry, not only among players but also between the coaching staff and the management. I believe we have that, and when you put all these details together, you get such results.
As for Aubrey Dawkins, he heard about us through friends, that good work is done here. He’s familiar with the league, knows it’s a strong league with teams from EuroLeague and EuroCup. It’s not a league to overlook. With Dawkins, just as I did with Kapusta, I had a conversation. Of course, Kapusta already had an idea about how we operate, having played in the league.
In our discussions, I outlined their roles, the system, our ambitions; and this particularly appealed to Dawkins, who wanted a prominent role. I provided that, and so far, he’s been making excellent use of it. He’s energetic, positive, diligent, and a true professional. He sees that with good work, he can become an even better player. And, of course, like everyone else, he aspires to play for bigger clubs in the future.”
About Dusko Vujosevic
Last year, Dusko Vujosevic, one of the most successful coaches in the region, was appointed as an advisor for Studentski Centar.
“I’ve just had a conversation with Dusko Vujosevic over the past few days. We sat down and analyzed the ABA Super Cup games together and naturally discussed the upcoming game. Dusko is like a basketball encyclopedia; whatever you ask him, he has an answer. He has an incredible amount of experience and can anticipate all possible scenarios.
He’s available to assist me and all other coaches in the club. Of course, he knows Partizan, knows Zeljko Obradovic, and the other coaches, so we’re continuously in touch. He advises me as much as he believes he can, and in the end, of course, I’m the one making the final decision.”
About coaches who influenced Zakelj
“I’ve worked with good coaches. When I was an assistant at Olimpija, I started with Jurica Zdovc, followed by Ales Pipan and Saso Filipovski.
I believe I learned the most from working with so many coaches, especially what not to do in certain situations. I think that’s slightly more important since you encounter various unexpected situations. You see how some before you might have made mistakes, and naturally, you learn not to repeat the same errors.
The last coach was Jurica Golemac, who has an exceptional feel for the players and the team. He has, conditionally speaking, helped me a lot in the end when he left for Olimpija, and I took over as the head coach. We’re still in touch; he’s positive, hardworking… I think I’ve taken something from every coach I’ve worked with.”
Main goal
“The day after the Super Cup, I immediately had a meeting with the players and told them that we need to ground ourselves, cool our heads, and realize we’ve only just started. Especially with these young players, sometimes there’s too much euphoria, and you need to set things straight right away. That’s my primary task before the start of the league. As for our goals, honestly, we don’t have a specific one in mind.
Our approach is a bit different; we obviously want to achieve as many wins as possible, but we also aim to integrate young players, like how we introduced David Mirkovic in the final against Partizan. There are other players who need to gradually get a feel for senior basketball and the ABA League. That remains our primary goal. Naturally, as a coach, I always want more, but it’s essential to me that the players progress, and as they do, the team advances, and then results follow.
Slovenia at the World Cup: Seventh place is realistic
“All the national teams from this region played a quality tournament – Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia. Regarding Slovenia, I think the seventh place is quite realistic. Had they had the two players they missed available, maybe we could be talking about the semifinals, but the quarterfinals are more realistic.
We know Slovenia’s play style; everything revolves around Luka Doncic, which bothered me at times, and some others I spoke with felt the same. They also seemed a bit preoccupied with the referees, diverting their focus from the game. But as I say, it’s one thing to comment from the comfort of our couch and another to be there in the thick of it. I repeat, it’s a significant achievement for all these countries” – Andrej Zakelj told for Basketball Sphere.