Quite frankly...

Serbian coach minces no words in describing state of RP hoops
By Dennis Principe
Business Mirror
September 18, 2007



Vlade Djurovic may have put it bluntly in saying that Filipino basketball players are having a false sense of commitment to flag and country.

In an interview on Sunday inside his posh unit at the Astoria Hotel, the Serbian coach didn’t mince his words about his thoughts on Philippine hoops, especially on the players.

“Your philosophy is that, you play the game, you lose, so what?” he said. “In Europe every lost game is a tragedy, a real tragedy. If a coach loses a maximum of three games then he must go.”

Djurovic is in the country, obliging an invitation sent by the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in the national federation’s first coaches’ conference during the weekend.

Reportedly the frontrunner for the post of national-team consultant, Djurovic was one of the speakers in a seminar held Friday at the Astoria Hotel in Pasig City. On Saturday, he conducted a coaching clinic at the Fort in Taguig City.

“I think Filipino coaches love basketball and every question they asked were very good questions,” said Djurovic “I’ve been to a lot of countries and I heard many questions without sense, without connection to basketball but here, all questions were very good.”

About 80 coaches attended the Friday seminar, much to Djurovic’s surprise.

“My question is how did they become coaches?” Djurovic asked. “In Europe, you go to school and earn a permit to coach. If you don’t have proper papers you cannot coach.”

On his last day in Manila Sunday, Djurovic observed the game between Talk ’N Text and a visiting team from Korea. The Serbian coach didn’t like what he saw.

“It’s only an exhibition game but the players are smiling and they are losing by 25 points,” said Djurovic. “You must change the behavior of the players.”

Djurovic, 59, joined BAP-SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio and Talk ’N Text governor Ricky Vargas.

“You must change that mentality whether it’s a friendly game or practice, you must win games. You cannot win every time but you try to win,” said Djurovic. “And only through that can you have a winning mentality.”

Djurovic said the keys are getting a good coach with a good philosophy and who knows how to motivate his players to give it all both in an actual game and in practice.

“I think you have good coaches here,” Djurovic said. “But they have an NBA approach.”

The Serbian coach, like many European mentors agree that the NBA style solely won’t work in world basketball.

“In the NBA you have the point guard, you give him a screen, pass and then shoot. And they play one-on-one,” he said.

“In Europe they play five-on-five to get open shots. You must make seven to eight moves without the ball,” he added. “If you can mix like 40-percent European, 40-percent American and 20-percent local basketball that will be the best combination and maybe Philippine basketball can compete in Asia.”

In contrast, Djurovic praised the Korean team.

“I think they have a good coach. He is good also because he is respected by his players. I saw him shout and order his player to go in one spot and the player follows the order. That’s the sign of a good coach.”

And that’s exactly why the BAP-SBP invited Djurovic in the first place, because he might be seen as someone who can help the Philippines improve in international play.

“As I understood they invited me because they want to learn the European style,” said Djurovic, who left the country Sunday night but expressed his willingness to come back and contribute to the Philippines’ improvement.

“I think I’ll be able to do that and I think it is a good solution to Philippine basketball,” he added.

Gregorio said Djurovic’s long-term involvement in RP basketball is still being evaluated by the federation, but he feels positive about the hiring of Djurovic as consultant.

“One good thing about coach Vlade is that he is willing to help the Philippines which he hopes to be one of his great legacies as an international coach.”

And what would be Djurovic’s priority programs be?

“A youth program is important. That is another very good step,” he said. “All leagues in Europe are professionals, but they all use FIBA rules. No NBA rules at all. NBA rules are used only in the NBA and here in the Philippines,” added Djurovic.

About the country’s chances of beating an Asian powerhouse again, Djurovic said a team must be formed that will reach its peak once China’s Yao Ming ends his basketball career.

“China is the best team because of Yao Ming but he can’t play for 30 years. You must prepare a team after Yao Ming,” said Djurovic.

Djurovic said a country like the Philippines with a population of 80 million is an advantage in terms of tapping the best talent available.

“How can you allow countries like Lithuania with three million people, or Serbia with seven million, or Greece with 10 million people be better than your country,” said Djurovic “Eighty million Filipinos? That is great power that you have.”