Dalibor Ilic, in an interview with Meridiansport, discussed the game against Monaco and his personal expectations for the current season.
The Serbian basketball player emphasized that Monaco has built a team with aspirations to reach the top of the EuroLeague, making it a challenging task for them in Belgrade.
“We are expecting a very tough game, especially as they started poorly, and they were built for the top of the EuroLeague. They certainly come to Belgrade to secure their first victory. It’s on us to prepare well and defend our home court. I hope, with the support of the fans, we can achieve our goal. We need to fight and play at a high level for the full 40 minutes.”
Dalibor Ilic also mentioned that his team needs to overlook the fact that Sasa Obradovic’s squad began the season with two losses.
“It’s part of the game, and we need to put the loss to the Italians behind us, start strong from the very beginning. Our priority is to stop their transition and one-on-one play, and hopefully, we can force them into a position where we can find our chance.”
Unlike Adam Hanga, Ilic believes that there is a solution to stopping Monaco’s star player, Mike James.
“Like for any player, there’s a recipe. We need to stop his one-on-one play. He’s the engine of the team. It’s on us to execute the game plan from the locker room.”
The promising basketball player also emphasized how he worked hard during the summer and is fully prepared for challenges on all fronts.
“I really prepared myself this summer. I’m not saying I didn’t prepare before, but this time, I had a clear goal in mind. That’s how I came to the training camp. Everything is going as planned. I can see my hard work paying off slowly. It all depends on me, being the best I can through training and translating it into games. For now, everything is at a top level, and I hope the team will perform better.”
The former Igokea player believes that the current season is poised for a breakthrough.
“Of course, it’s nice to work with great guys in training. The first season was a significant step in my career. I had strong competition then, just like now. I didn’t really think about which one is stronger. But it seems to me that this season is set for a breakthrough, so maybe that’s why it’s stronger than the previous ones.”