History of Basketball: Naismith Hall of Famer coach Alexander Gomelsky

After the Second World War basketball became one of the most important sports in the former Soviet Union. The National Team was worlwide known as the strong former club "Red Army" and it was totally dominant till the '80's at Euro level, winning 14 European Championships, but also 2 World Championships (1967 and 1982) and 2 Olympics (1972 and 1988).

After the dissolution of the Soviet Empire in 1991, the successor indipendent countries all set up their own national teams. Based on the number of titles, the basketball program of the former Soviet Union remains one of the most successful in the history of international basketball competitions. The Russian National Team was back at high level winning two Silver medals at the FIBA World Championships 1994 and 1998 while the most recent success was winning Gold at Eurobasket 2007 in Spain.

The games between the Russians and Americans during the "Cold War" were memorable and the unforgettable and controversial finals at the Olympics in Munich, Germany in 1972 has become a piece of modern history about the difficult relationship between the two power nations.

Among the most influent characters that built basketball successes in the Soviet Union first and then Russia, needless to say the real "patriarch" was coach Alexander Gomelsky. His story begins in 1945 when the Soviets occupied Warsaw and a few days later liberated Auschwitz: Gomelsky was Jewish,  only 17 years old, and a huge love for basketball. He attended the high school in Leningrad (now St Petersburgh) where he started his career as a coach. In 1966 he took the helm at CSKA. Gomelsky - he was nicknamed Silver Fox - coached the Soviet Union National team for almost 30 years, leading them to 6 European Championships titles, 2 World Championships titles, and the Olympics Gold medal in 1988 in South Korea.

He was the Soviet National team coach in 1972 too, and was expected to coach the team at 1972 Summer Olympics but the KGB (soviet intelligence) confiscated his passport fearing that, since Gomelsky was Jewish, that he would defect to Israel. The Soviets won the Gold with his assistant Vladimir Kondrashin as head coach, thank to a controversial call of a buzzer-beater basket over the USA in the finals.

"At that time there were no clinics, the TV was just born, there were only very few books to study, we were all self-taught - Gomelsky said when he was asked about his incredible career - but we had so much passion and desire to learn". The birth of the European Competitions was a crucial step because it allowed him to travel to foreign countries and experience new styles of basketball. Once retired from coaching, Gomelsky stayed always close enough to basketball, publishing 10 books and becoming a commentator for the Russian television. He was named the president of the Russian Basketball Federation in the 1992, and then of glorious CSKA in 1997. He was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2007 he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame. The Euroleague annual coach of the year award is named after him, as well as CSKA Universal Sports Hall.

Coach Alexander Gomelsky passed way in 2005.

MOU between Singapore Sports School and Shi Chai Hai Sports School

It's all about training smart, says China sports official@Straits TimesIT MAY come as a surprise to some, but China's star hurdler Liu Xiang only trains up to two hours a day.Contrary to popular belief, long training does not equate to good results, a top Chinese sports official said yesterday.'High quantity of training isn't the important thing. What's important is applying science to training,

Dari Puncak Garuda

Photo ini adalah gambar kawah merapi yang saya ambil dari sisa-sisa reruntuhan puncak garuda akibat erupsi tahun 2006

Berkacalah Jakartan!

Lagu Hujan jangan marah dari Efek Rumah Kaca sepertinya sangat tepat menggambarkan anomali cuaca yang terjadi saat ini, khususnya di Jakarta. Hujan dan petir sepertinya sedang hinggap di langit Ibukota beberapa pekan ini. Tentunya hujan yang mengguyur Jakarta akan menyebabkan ‘genangan’ (red; menurut Foke) dan efek domino, yakni kemacetan di jalan-jalan Jakarta. Banjir dan macet adalah dua permasalahan besar Jakarta yang belum bisa terselesaikan hingga kini. Terlepas dari letak geologis tanah Jakarta yang memang lebih rendah dari permukaan laut, kondisi tata ruang dan kesadaran warganya menjadi fokus tersendiri.

Kejadian beberapa hari lalu ketika Jakarta dikepung kemacetan dan banjir yang terparah dalam 3 tahun terakhir, banyak dari kita yang memaki dan mencaci para stake holder kota ini. Tentu saja semua bermuara kepada Fauzi Bowo a.k.a Foke selaku Gubernur DKI Jakarta. Dari beberapa statement dapat diambil sebuah benang merah jika warga Jakarta sudah muak dengan kondisi ini dan menginginkan suatu tindakan cepat dan tepat dari Pemerintah DKI Jakarta.

Tindakan dari Pemerintah DKI Jakarta memang perlu dilakukan sebelum kemacetan dan banjir ini ‘membunuh’ warganya di jalan-jalan ibukota. Tapi pernah kah terpikir jika tindakan progresif revolusioner yang diambil oleh Pemda DKI Jakarta juga harus diikuti tindakan kooperatif kita semua. Siapkah anda harus menumpang angkot? Siap kah anda menggunakan BBM non subsidi? Atau siap kah kita tidak perlu menggunakan jasa joki 3 in 1? Dan masih banyak pertanyaan lainnya mengenai kesediaan kita untuk sedikit berkorban demi mengurai masalah ini. Kebijakan sebagus apapun tanpa adanya partisipasi dari kita semua tentunya hanya akan menjadi sia-sia. Teringat akan diskusi saya dengan sebuah LSM beberapa waktu lalu, dalam diskusi tersebut terungkap bahwa mayoritas warga Jakarta hanya menjadikan Jakarta sebagai ‘ladang uang’. Mereka tak akan peduli dengan kondisi lingkungan sekitar, terpenting bagi mereka adalah mendapatkan uang dari Jakarta. Sebuah fakta yang sangat ironis!


Jakarta adalah rumah kita semua, tempat kita bernaung tak peduli asal-usul kita. Jika kita semua merasa belum mampu dan saya yakin mayoritas dari kita hanya mampu menuntut tanpa ada mau sedikit berkorban, lebih baik tak usah mencaci maki., atau mungkin lebih baik kita kembali ke kampung halaman kita saja! Banjir dan macet adalah masalah oldschool yang terpola, bahkan dari zaman kolonial. Tinggal bagaimana kita mau menyikapinya dan tindakan dari Pemda DKI Jakarta sebagai pengambil kebijakan kita tunggu, kebijakan yang cepat dan tepat! Semua perlu pengorbanan Pemda Dki dan kita semua selaku warga yang ‘baik’.

Alam tak pernah marah, semua yang terjadi adalah refleksi apa yang kita lakukan selama ini. Mulailah mengubah pola pikir dan tindakan, buang semua ego dan rasa malu kita semua. Status sosial kita tak akan ditelanjangi bulat-bulat hanya karena kita beralih dari mobil menjadi motor/angkot. Jakarta kota gue, elo, dan kite semua, jangan cengeng hidup dimari. Sampai detik ini dan selamanya gue akan selalu bilang AKU CINTA J.A.K.A.R.T.A!

"In Europe I've experienced the bulk of my practice time focusing on timing, angles and concentration" Mathis says

Basketball Telegraph is happy to announce that veteran pointguard Donte Mathis comes on board: Donte starts his collaboration with BT drafting this article in which he analyzes the different coaching styles in the United States and Europe.

From being a fan of the game to being a player, I've witnessed the game of basketball evolving right before my eyes. The game I grew to love as a kid is being taught, played, and followed throughout the world with each country leaving its culture and mark on the game as we know it. The coaching styles I've closely witnessed are the American and European style, which have put aside their egos and self-supposed superiority and have taken positives from each other benefiting the sport hugely.

Legendary coach Bob Knight

Listening to American coaches as a youth I often heard quotes "there is no substitute for speed", "no substitute for strength or height". Early emphasis on physical attributes led coaches to favor the more athletic, physically blessed athlete. Even outside the United States years ago we were seen as athletic, but not highly skilled. The norm is America was to play at a high pace, above the rim and in your face... if you couldn't keep up... then you lost. Coaches felt more comfortable figuring to mold the "athlete" into a complete player rather than solely develop his basketball IQ.

Upon arriving to Europe I didn't know what to expect as far as the style of the game. I knew a few of the rules were different... but it all came down to putting the ball in the hole. My first question to all of my coaches throughout my professional career in Europe was "What are your personal expectations of me?". Early in my career I heard "score", mid to later in my career I heard "Get everybody involved and make your teammates better". European coaches and the Euro game in general are focused on TEAM. The biggest task with coaching in Europe is developing cohesion, trying to mesh the foreign and domestic, experienced and inexperienced. Chemistry is valued more than talent or athletic ability. European teams are basically a huge puzzle... pieces have to fit in order every game throughout the season to be successful. Some pieces are bigger and more valued, but every piece is viable. In Europe I've experienced the bulk of my practice time focusing on timing, angles, and concentration, while playing back in America I remember errors were considered by the number of shots you missed, the personal challenges won or lost within the game... on the contrary the greatest thing I learned while playing in Europe was the biggest mistake you can make is not being focused. Concentration and focus are the biggest assets in being successful in the European game. European coaches stress concentration and focus, they both have an ability to control what your body thinks it can or can't do.

Euroleague: coach Ettore Messina

Fast forward to today... and you will witness something very strange. American players can shoot, and European players are tough as nails. A result of espionage? ... Not at all. The worldwide spread of the game of basketball has offered the coaches of the world the opportunity to observe and exchange ideas. Coaches haven't sold everything they believe in but have instead carefully picked and implemented the things that can make their brand of basketball more efficient, or harder to guard. More emphasis today is put on player development. Coaches are getting the most out of player's ability by thinking outside the box and getting right to the things that will give their players the opportunity to be better on the court and in their system. I have personally stole everything possible from everyone of my coaches in the past trying to get the most I could out of my talent. I don't lean to any side particularly more than the other, but I take what works and helps me and use it the best I can.

LAOS EMERGE CHAMPS AND CLAIM FINAL ROUND BERTH WITH PHILIPPINES

LAOS EMERGE CHAMPS AND CLAIM FINAL ROUND BERTH WITH PHILIPPINES

VIENTIANE (26 Oct 2010) – Hosts Laos emerged the champions of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 qualifying rounds for the second time in succession after sensationally beating Timor Leste 6-1 at the National Sports Complex tonight. Philippines, who finished second on an inferior goal difference, have claimed the other slot after earlier sharing points with Cambodia in an earlier tie. Laos will join a difficult Group A where they will have Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand for company while the Philippines will battle it out with defending champions Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar in Group B. Cambodia, second in the previous qualifying tournament two years ago, finished third with five points, similar to Laos and the Philippines, but lost out on an inferior goal difference. For Laos the victory was sweet as they came from behind to secure a sensational victory. Down by an early goal, Laos battled back to score six goals to dispose of Timor Leste who completed the tournament without any points. “We expected to win this game but it is not easy knowing that we have to win by a certain number of goals to take the Cup,” said David Booth, the chief coach of Laos. “For me, it does not matter which group we are in for the final round – they are all hard teams to play against.” Bottom-placed Timor Leste stunned the hosts just nine minutes into the game. The goal was a severe blow for Laos who knew they needed at least three goals in order to qualify for the final rounds. Laos, to their credit, got their act together very quickly and were back on level terms just two minutes later thanks to a fine strike from Kovanh Namthaxivay. Laos continued to pile the pressure and surged ahead in the 17th minute, this time after Soukaphone Vongchiengkham’s header whizzed past the on-rushing Timor keeper. Laos were unfortunate not to pick up at least two more goals by the end of the first half. Kovanh rocked the crossbar in the 28th minute while Soukaphone’s shot was just inches from the target. Timor stole away in the dying minutes when Chiquitto Do Carmo split the defence but his shot landed in the arms of the keeper. Just before the hour mark, Laos had added two more goals through Lamnao Singto and Konekham Inthammavong in the 47th and 59th minutes. The importance of the fourth goal was the fact that Laos had done enough to qualify as the second placed team. This pushed Cambodia down into third spot and effectively out of the finals. Anyone who thought Laos would be satisfied as the second placed team were wrong as they went on to score two more goals through Kanyala Sysomvang and Ketsada Souksavanh for a magnificent 6-1 win. This meant Laos had swept past the Philippines on better goal difference. Laos had scored eight goals while Philippines had scored seven. The top three, Laos, Philippines and Cambodia all have five points each. “We had minimum preparation but we still managed to match the other teams in certain aspects although we lost out physically. We would have been better if we had more time to prepare,” added Eduardo Parreira, the assistant coach of Timor Leste. more at:http://aseanfootball.org/headlines_01.asp?id=1505

Q&A with Spanish coach Pedro Martinez Sanchez: twenty years always at the top in the strong ACB!

Pedro Martinez Sanchez is the head coach of Gran Canaria in the Spanish ACB. The 49 year old Barcelona native began his career with Joventut Badalona: he won three consecutive titles with the junior team under his tenure. In 1990, Martinez at only 28 was asked to take the helm of  the pro team: he quickly stepped up to the challenge, leading Joventut to the 1990 Korac Cup (former european competition) and overwhelming the Italian team Scavolini Pesaro in the finals. Martinez in his long and successful career has coached Manresa, Salamanca, Girona, Granada, Ourense, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Coach Martinez Sanchez talked to Basketball Telegraph columnist Dr FingerRoll about his career and many other topics of  Spanish basketball.

Coach, your career is long and successful. Do you still remember the first time you thought that basketball was going to be your life?

For me it was simply the arrival of a process. I began my career coaching the youth teams of Joventut Badalona and when I started having some success coaching young players I started to think that basketball could become my job, my profession. You see, for me it has never been a goal in the beginning, like I had to reach no matter what, it was more the consequence of my dedication to the game.

Can you describe to our readers what are the qualities that a young coach has to posses to become a legit professional?

There are many aspects, but I would love to stress out a few of them randomly: perseverance, common sense, ability to relate and team-work, patience and empathy. And, well, you would also need technical and tactical knowledge of the game, but these two qualities are the easiest to achieve and, believe me, not the most important ones..

Like you told us, you started your career coaching in the youth program of Joventut Badalona: what are the skills you see in a kid that make you think he can play?

Well, of course, his body frame, then it's very important to notice if it comes easy to him to pass the ball, to move without the ball and to score. Needless to say, it is also very important that the kid is able to focus on what he is doing and his work ethic is of paramount importance. Last but not least I would like to mention the family background, which is something that usually plays a big role in the development of a player's personality and attitude, on and off the court.

You are now the head coach of Gran Canaria in the strong ACB. Has the world economical crisis affected the Spanish teams dramatically?

Well, like in every business, the international crisis has affected ACB either, but I have to say that the work the League has done through the years made the teams stronger and ready to work with financial difficulties. The spanish teams have professional structures that proved to be strong and solid enough to resist the financial dwindlings of the budgets. Currently there are quite a few teams facing economical problems but I would say that the overall future of the League is solid.

In Gran Canaria's roster there are Spanish players and American players. Some ballers are young and some experienced of European basketball. How can a coach find the right chemistry among guys with different backgrounds and ages?

Like you said, we basically have just American players and Spanish players. We always try to avoid having guys with too many different nationalities on our roster and most important, this is our policy, we try to keep at least a small group of players from one year to the next, because this is crucial to me for building a program and a team with common and known rules. I do believe in this and I will also try to carry on some values that mark my philosphy as a coach through the teams.

Your career has never brought you to coach away from Spain. Have you had any opportunities to work abroad?

Honestly, I never had the opportunity to coach abroad. I guess that Spanish coaches don't have a very good reputation outside Spain. When I was younger I hoped I could work in France or Italy and I really wanted to try and live that experience. Unfortunately, I doubt this is something that it's going to happen in my future. But you never know.

Laos vs Timor Leste Preview

VIENTIANE: Laos coach David Booth has warned his players not to be complacent for their final match in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 qualifying competition against Timor Leste on Tuesday. 

Although Laos blew a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw with Philippines on Sunday, they still have their destiny in their hands and should advance to the group stage with victory against the last-placed Timorese at the National Sports Complex in Vientiane. 

But although Timor Leste have conceded nine goals in losing their first two matches in the qualifiers, Booth remains wary of the tournament's minnows. 

Said the Englishman: "Timor Leste played very well in the first 30 minutes of their game against Cambodia and they showed how hard it is to play against them if they have the lead. 

"The longer they held the lead, the more difficult it became to break them down. We have to make sure they don't score first and to try to score ourselves. 

"They will not be easy opponents so we have to prepare well and approach the game in a positive manner." 

Booth wants his players to show greater composure after throwing away their advantage against the Philippines by allowing two goals in the final 14 minutes. 

"We were leading 2-0 and then had a rough decision when we conceded the penalty. That upset the players more than I expected and we drew a game that we should have won," he lamented. 

"Now, we have to win our final game to stay in the competition. But we are not in a bad position because we can still qualify and we will know exactly what we need to do tomorrow because we meet Timor Leste after the game between Cambodia and Philippines. 

"If there is a result in that game, we will only need to beat Timor Leste to go through. A draw will mean that we have to win our match by three goals. 

"Of course, playing second will put some pressure on us to get a result but I am confident of our chances. We've played very well so far and we have just been a bit unlucky." 

Laos have recorded narrow victories in both previous meetings against Timor Leste in the Suzuki Cup qualifiers, winning 3-2 in 2007 and 2-1 two years ago. 

The Timorese are already out of contention for the group stage after losing their first two games but assistant coach Eduardo Pereira insists that his players will still be putting in their best effort in their final match. 

"We are playing for our pride," he said. 

"We were happy that we showed some improvement in our performance in our last match. And although our final match against Laos will be difficult, we will still try our best."

source:http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news.html

YOUGHUSBANDS PROPEL PHILIPPINES TO THE TOP

YOUGHUSBANDS PROPEL PHILIPPINES TO THE TOP  
 

VIENTIANE (24 Oct 2010) – Philippines battled back from a two-goal deficit to hold hosts Laos in a gripping encounter at the National Sports Complex Stadium here tonight. With time on the scoreboard up, James Younghusband rose high to nod in the equaliser to keep alive his team’s hopes of advancing to the final rounds of the prestigious AFF Suzuki Cup 2010.

Laos had taken a two-goal lead at the break with superb strikes from Soukaphone Vongchiengkham and Kanyala Sysomvang in the 29th and 41st minutes. But the Philippines had other plans and clawed their way back into contention with a penalty from Philip Younghusband in the 76th minute. That goal provided the fuel that was needed to fire up the Filipinos. And in deep in extratime, the older Younghusband notched the second goal.

The Philippines, top of the standing with four points, still have a tough journey to the final rounds as they now have to beat Cambodia, who earlier today defeated Timor Leste 4-2. Laos, currently third in the standings, have an easy tie against Timor Leste in their last match on Tuesday.

The two final matches will be a thrill as Cambodia and Philippines try to outdo each other while Laos will attempt to score more than two goals to ensure they make it through.

“We were a little over-confident at the start. As such, in the first half we put ourselves in a very difficult position,” said Simon McMenemy, the chief coach of Philippines. “But were a lot better in the second half and the penalty turned the game for us.”

Philippines fielded the same players they did against Timor Leste two days ago but their hopes that the winning lineup would deliver the goals failed miserably in the first half. Despite the obvious difference in physique, the Laos players kept the ball low and used their speed to their advantage.

In the 19th minute, Laos were celebrating after Soukaphone forced in the opener during a scramble in front of goal. Philippines keeper Neil Etherige protested that the ball had not crossed the line but the referee ruled otherwise.

The goal fired up the Laos players and they went hunting for more goals. With the 2,000 over fans cheering them on, the home boys almost doubled the score in the 33rd minute but Kanyala’s shot found the side-netting.

Kanyala was leaping in joy in the 41st minute as his thundering drive screamed into the top corner beyond the reach of the Filipino keeper. In the dying minutes, goalscorers, Soukaphone and Kanyala, had brilliant chances but were just off the mark.

“It was always going to be tough and hard and for all the pressure they put on us, I felt that we coped well,” added David Booth, the chief coach of Laos.
“But the penalty turned the game against us and that was the turning point which led to the draw.”

TEAMS

Philippines: Neil Etheridge (GK), Robert Gier, Anton Del Rosario, James Younghusband, Manuel Gelito Ott, Philip Younghusband, Alexander Borromeo (cpt), Emelio Calidong (David 32nd), Jason De Jong, Ian Araneta, Ray Jonsson
Subs: Eduard Sacapano (GK), Roel Gener, Yanti Armentia Barsales, Mark Ferrer, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo, David Basa
Coach: Simon Alexander McMenemy
Scorers: Philip Younghusband (76th – pen), James Younghusband (94th)
Yellow: Jason De Jong (16th), Neil (30th), James (42nd), Manuel (60th), Anton (90th)
Red:

Laos: Sengphachan Bounthisanh (GK), Saynakhonevieng Phommapanya, Kitsada (c), Ketsada Souksavanh, Lamnao Singtao (Khampeng 90th), Kanlaya Sysomvang, Keoviengphet Lithideth, Kaysone Soukhavong, Konekham Inthammavong (Phatthana 67th), Kovanh Namthavixay, Soukaphone Vongchiengkham (Visay 83rd),
Subs: Seng Athit Somvang (GK), Visay Phapouvaninh, Manolom Phomsouvanh, Viengsavanh Sayyaboun, Khamla Pinkeo, Phatthana Syvilay, Khampeng Sayavutthi

Coach: David Booth
Scorers: Soukaphone (29th), Kanyala (41st)
Yellow: Kanyala (18th), Konekham (61st), Kitsada (75th), Saynakhonevieng (77th)
Red:



Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Tha)
Assistant 1: Preecha Kangram (Tha)
Assistant 2: U Aung Moe (Mya)


DAY 1 RESULTS

Timor Leste 0 Philippines 5

Laos 0 Cambodia 0

TODAY’S RESULTS

Cambodia 4 Timor Leste 2

Philippines 2 Laos 2


REMAINING FIXTURES

Oct 26: Philippines vs Cambodia (1600hrs) / Laos vs Timor Leste (1830hrs)

source: www.aseanfootball.org

YOG doping cases

Two YOG athletes disqualified for doping@CNASINGAPORE: Two athletes who took part in the Youth Olympics Games in Singapore have been disqualified for doping.The wrestlers, 17 year-olds Nurbek Hakkulov from Uzbekistan and Johnny Pilay from Ecuador, were found with a prohibited substance in their urine samples.Laboratory analyses detected the presence of Furosemide - a banned diuretic, used to

Sports Sci J@Aug-Oct10

This is the latest sports science journal update. ---Aug-Oct 10 Long term athlete developmentDevelopment of the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire for Sport. JSSSuccessful talent development in track and field: considering the role of environment. SJMSS Fundamental movement skills among Australian preschool children. JSMSCriterion-related validity of field-based fitness tests in youth:

Laos Squad List. SUZUKI CUP 2010

Laos Squad List, SUZUKI CUP 2010

Goalkeepers
1 Sengphachan BOUNTHISANH
18 Sourasay KEOSOUVANDENG
28 Seng Athit SOMVANG

Defenders
2 Saynakhonevieng PHOMMAPANYA
3 Kitsada
4 Ketsada SOUKSAVANH
5 Khamla PINKEO
6 Chandalaphone LIEPVISAY
16 Senlati VONGSOURIYASACK
19 Kovanh NAMTHAVIXAY
21 Souliya SYPHASAY
26 Mano NHOUVANNASAK
27 Saychon KHUNSAMNARN
29 Khamphoumy HANVILAY
30 Phongsavanh OULAVONG

Midfielders
7 Phatthana SYVILAY
10 Kanlaya SYSOMVANG
11 Keoviengphet LITHTHIDETH
13 Kaysone SOUKHAVONG
14 Konekham INTHAMMAVONG
17 Phonepaseuth SYSOUTHAM
20 Soukaphone VONGCHIENGKHAM
22 Manolom PHOMSOUVANH
24 Viengsavanh SAYYABOUN

Forwards
8 Lamnao SINGTO
9 Visay PHAPOUVANIN
12 Sangvone PHIMMASEN
15 Sopa SAYSANA
23 Tona BOUNMALAY
25 Khampheng SAYAVUTTHI


Coach: David BOOTH (England)

http://www.affsuzukicup.com/laos.html

Exclusive interview with German coach Andreas Barthel: Basketball IQ and discipline make the difference!

Andreas Barthel is the emerging star of coaching in Germany. At only 25 he has been named the assistant coach of the Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn in the Beko Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). He is also the assistant coach of the U19 team and the head coach of the Paderborn second team who plays the Regional League. In the 2008/2009 season, Andreas Barthel had a great experience in the United States, being part of the Harker School basketball staff of the West Bay League (Central Coast Section), working both with Boys and Girls Varsity.

Hey Andreas, tell our readers a little bit about you and when did you decide to become a coach.

I grew up in a part of Germany without good basketball programs around and a small number of experienced coaches. Most of the basketball techniques I had to teach by myself, as well as the coaching knowledge. A career as a player was never an option for me. At the age of 19, I dedicated myself completely to coaching. I never had to decide, should I do it or not. Coaching basketball is my profession, my love, my life and already was when I was younger.

We know you had an amazing experience in the US. Was the stay overseas successful?

More than successful. Our overall season record was 24-8 and we entered the Top 15 of the Central Coast Section for the first time in school history. Not the easiest thing with so much basketball powerhouses around in the Bay Area. Finally our season came to an end with a narrow defeat in the CCS Quaterfinals against the later Section Winner Menlo School. One of our players became part of the All-Time Top 20 Scoring list of the State California, scoring more than 1.500 points in 4 years High School Varsity Basketball.

Besides all these facts and stats we had great team chemistry and an outstanding time together. For me personally, I had an awesome time getting to know the American way of teaching, playing and most important living Basketball. Especially the two coaches I worked with, Butch Keller (4 times State Championship Winner) and Jeremiah Brewer inspired me a lot and I'm really thankful that they gave me the opportunity to become part of their program. We are still in contact and one of them just visited me over the summer in Germany.

Which are the main differences between the American basketball and the European one. Did you notice a different approach and organization at any level?

I can just compare the American basketball with the German one and I think there are three big differences.

Professionalism:

As you know, the organization of Youth Sports in the United States is completely different in comparison to the German system. It's not just different, it's way more professional. I had the same responsibilities in a High School Basketball Program as in a Men's Pro Basketball organization in Germany. That includes everything. Daily practises with the team and Individuals, Athletic training, scouting opponents, video analysis, reviews.

Athleticism:

Athleticism is a big factor in the American game. They start lifting weights years before a German kid even has been looking into a weight room. That builds up a strong advantage on the physical side. When you feel strong and are able to use your body you feel confident. And if you feel confident you build up an advantage on the psychological side too. On this way you're able to dominate against opponents.

The status of sports in society:

Sports in the United States are like a social glue. It's a strong medium to transport social values like teamwork, self-discipline and persistence. I had the feeling that everyone is involved in it. Young and old, either as a participant, fan or spectator.

Which is the basketball you like the most. Can you describe it, even giving us some of your technical rules to success? Maybe you have a top level coach who particularly inspired you as a young coach.

In my eyes all starts with great team defense and a winning effort on this side of the court where five guys work together without having the ball in their hands. That's the first step to accomplish success, joy and team spirit. On the offensive end, I prefer a deliberate style of playing the game, where basketball IQ and discipline make the difference and not just the level of athleticism.  In the end it all comes down to the "Willingness to win". Losing is not acceptable, but you should always remember that winning a game isn't everything in life!

For me as a coach, it's very important that I have a dream and goals. You have to have a vision how you want to let your team play and have to teach it with positive passion. Believe in it and make others do the same. I never had just one particular coach that inspired me. I mean, there are so many different types of coaching and playing philosophies and so many coaches using some of them. The ultimate about inspiration is how coaches teach their philosophy, no matter what it is.

What is your next step for a career?

Right now I am really happy with my situation in Paderborn. We have a really young team with a lot of good guys that work hard every day in practise to improve individually and as a group. I feel good about being part of a Pro Basketball organization and one of the top Youth Basketball Programs in Germany and I'm looking forward to a successful season.

During off-season I plan on going back to the States and coach at College Basketball Camps. There are several options for me and it's always good to get in touch with young players, coaches and different basketball mindsets from all around the world.

For me basketball is like a journey. I don't know exactly where the journey is going to come to an end, but that's not the important thing about it. You should always be thankful to be in a position of doing what you love and having the chance to inspire others, no matter where it is or on which level.

Laos vs Cambodia Preview (SUZUKI CUP 2010)

Preview - Laos v Cambodia 

21-Oct-2010

Having topped the qualifying round in the last two editions of the AFF Suzuki Cup, Laos are confident that they can do so yet again when they host this year's qualifiers, which kicks-off at the National Sports Complex in Vientiane on Friday.

The Laotians have never failed to qualify for the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup and they will be buoyed by their performances in the last two qualifying competitions as well as the 2009 SEA Games on home soil, when they reached the semi-finals for the first time.

Speaking on Thursday, a day before the hosts open their qualification campaign against Indochinese rivals Cambodia, Laos team manager Pasadsay Pilapunded outlined his confidence in the squad coached by Englishman David Booth.

"Laos has been improved a lot since we made it to the semi-finals of the SEA Games," said Pilapunded.

"We have played a number of friendly matches in our preparation for this tournament and my team are 100% fit.

"I believe that Laos will win this qualifying round because we have plenty of experience. They players will also be trying their best because we are the home side and we will have many supporters coming to cheer us."

But the Laos manager did sound a note of caution for the match against Cambodia, who beat his side 3-2 in the qualifying round in 2008 and also qualified for the group stage after finishing runners-up behind Laos.

"It will be a tough game for us because this new Cambodian team have been improving very quickly," Pilapunded added. "They now have a professional League and an experienced coach."

South Korean Lee Tae-hoon, who took charge of Cambodia earlier this year, is relishing the challenge of his first international assignment with the Indochinese side.

"My team have prepared well for this tournament and we are upgrading ourselves every time we play," said the 39-year-old former K-League player.

"Every game is important for us, and we will be playing like we are in the final.

"Laos are fortunate to be the hosts and they will have many supporters to cheer them on. But my player are ready for tomorrow's game and we will be working very hard to get a result."

The two teams have met five times previously in the Asean Football Championship with each side winning two games and drawing the other.

Laos beat Cambodia 1-0 in Singapore in 1996 and 2-1 in Hanoi in 2004, while the Cambodians prevailed 3-0 in Songkhla in 2000 and 3-2 in Phnom Penh in 2008. They drew 2-2 in their 2007 qualifier in Bacolod. more visit:http://www.affsuzukicup.com/_webapp_702948/Preview_-_Laos_v_Cambodia

Pepperdine guard Keion Bell dunks over seven people!!

Do you think you have seen every kind of dunks so far? Maybe you are wrong! During the Midnight Madness at Pepperdine last night there was a kid who challenged the force of gravity.

Six-foot-3 junior guard Keion Bell "The Human Catapult" positioned three teammates and four others from tallest to shortest between the free-throw line and the rim, strolled out to mid-court and then took a running start at the basket. Amazingly, he cleared all seven with only the help of a slight push-off, finishing with a one-handed slam to the delight of the crowd at Pepperdine's Firestone Fieldhouse.

Bell averaged 18.5 points per game as a sophomore at Pepperdine last season, but he received little notoriety for anything besides his dunking prowess since the Waves struggled to a 7-24 record. With five starters and 13 players returning from last season's team, Pepperdine is hoping to give fans a reason to pay attention to Bell's exploits after Midnight Madness this season.

J.League delivers a weekend of shock results

Niigata players celebrate one of their four goals
against league leaders Nagoya Grampus

Despite league leaders Nagoya Grampus suffering a shock 1-4 loss to Albirex Niigata, others results meant they still finished the weekend with an eight point lead.

After returning from the international break, Nagoya faced a tricky assignment away to Niigata who have stumbled after a mid-season revival.

Niigata, who only began life as a J.League club in 1999 (starting out in Division 2), were on track for their best ever finish in J1, bettering their sixth place finish in 2007. However a run of five straight games without a win has seen them slip to tenth.

The match started brightly enough for Nagoya, with a couple of half chances early on, however a free kick on 31 minutes from Marcio Richardes, who is attracting renewed interest from Urawa Reds, managed to sail into the back of the net without getting a touch.

The lead would only last 3 minutes as the league’s leading marksman found the back of the net again. Josh Kennedy found the back of the net for his 15th goal of the season and put Nagoya back on level terms.

The home side wasn’t content with going in level at half time and just minutes from the break snatched back the lead courtesy of a sensational volley from midfielder Yuta Mikato.

Fellow midfielder Michael looked to be running out of room near the corner flag, yet somehow found enough room to whip in a cross which was met by Mikato with pinpoint precision.

Just moments later Niigata stunned everyone by scoring a third after carving open the Nagoya defence on the counter. Hideo Oshima was the man on the spot to tap the ball home after Michael played through Richardes, who chose to fire the ball across goal to his teammate rather than go for glory.

Nagoya’s afternoon went from bad to worse early in the second half when midfielder Naoshi Nakamura was shown a second yellow for a careless tackle on the edge o the box.

In the 74th minute Niigata put the game completely out of Nagoya’s reach when the first two goal scorers combined to score Niigata’s fourth. It was that man Michael again who played a delightful ball for Mikato to run onto. The midfielder then cut the ball back for Richardes to delightfully curled the ball around the keeper to seal his brace.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Urawa Reds played host to Cerezo Osaka in a mouthwatering encounter. Urawa are making a late run for an ACL spot, with four wins and three draws from their last seven games.

Haraguchi fires in the winner for Urawa

Cerezo on the other hand have only won one of their last four and are now in a dogfight for an ACL spot.

Urawa made the ideal start when Edmilson fired home in the 14th minute. Cerezo paid the price for dwelling on the ball in the box, coughing up possession and ultimately a goal.

Cerezo should’ve drawn level on 21 minutes.

Brazilian forward Adriano looked to be through on goal, only to be bought down on the edge of the box by the much-maligned Keisuke Tsuboi. Or so it looked.

The referee failed to blow for the foul, but the ball fell perfectly for Hiroshi Kiyotake, but he put his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

Cerezo were unlucky again just before half time when Amarel saw his header bounce back of the woodwork and safely cleared by the Urawa defence.

Cerezo were doing all the attacking but couldn’t find a way past Norihiro Yamagishi and they were made to pay when Genki Haraguchi scored a contender for goal of the year on 79 minutes.

After collecting the ball wide on the touchline, Haraguchi cut back in and skipped past a number of defenders before firing in a rocket from the edge of the box.

That was enough to seal the three points for Urawa and move them to within 5 points of Kashima in second place.

After the match manager Volker Finke sang the praises of the spirit in the team after the performances in the last two months, which is now 5 wins and 3 draws.

“…the team is getting better as a whole and our team spirit is also getting stronger. For this reason, I think our team now can play as one in a true sense,” he said.

In other games on Saturday Kashima Antlers could be left to rue the two points dropped in their 1-1 draw with Shonan Bellmare. Despite sitting last, Shonan were able to stun the Ibaraki-based outfit with a 90th minute equaliser.

Vegalta Sendai and FC Tokyo in action

Vegalta Sendai heaped further misery on FC Tokyo. The capital club looked to be on track for its second consecutive win before two goals in the final five minutes gave Sendai all three points. Sendai now sit in 13th, seven points above the relegation zone and appear to have almost done enough to guarantee their survival for next season.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Jubilo Iwata played out a 1-1 draw, whilst Kawasaki got all three points against Montedio Yamagata.

Gamba Osaka thumped Omiya Ardija 5-1 to move into third position, displacing their cross-town rivals Cerezo in the process.

The other surprise result saw one-time contender Shimzu S-Pulse held to a 1-1 with Kyoto Sanga. S-Pulse now sit in seventh and on current form will struggle to take anything out of a season that looked full of promise early on.

The final game of the weekend saw Yokohama F.Marinos play host to Vissel Kobe. With Kobe placed in the relegation zone, they weren’t expected to put up much of a fight against an. F.Marinos side aiming for an ACL spot, even without their star playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura.

Kobe, however, should’ve taken the lead after 15 minutes, but Yoshito Okubu lacked conviction in his shot and hit it straight at the keeper.

Yuji Ono scored the winner for Yokohama against Kobe

Despite have most of the attacking play, F.Marinos were restricted largely to shots from distance, all to no avail.

Kobe’s task was made even harder when Hiroyuki Komoto was shown a red card in the 59th minute for a careless tackle on Yusuke Tanaka.

No less than four minutes later F.Marinos took the lead through Yuji Ono after a nice piece of interplay on the edge of the box.

And 1-0 is how the game would end, a result which took F.Marinos up to sixth position.

So close is the J.League that the teams from second to eighth are separated by just 5 points, which makes every game crucial and every point dropped an opportunity lost.

With just 8 games to go what happens next is anyone’s guess.

Q&A with Lithuanian Eimantas Bendzius. Inspired by dad, he is ready to shine

Eimantas Bendzius is one of the most interesting talent in Lithuania. The 6-8 combo forward has just turned 20 and plays for the Vilnius Perlas in the LKL Lithuanian league and the SEB-BBL Baltic league as well. With a good size and outstanding athleticism Eimantas has a great future as a 3-man, being fast and with great shooting ability. Bendzius is definetely predicted to have a bright career.

Hello Eimantas, you have shined in the recent European Championship U20. How do you feel to be considered a next talent of the Lithuanian basketball for the years to come?

I actually do not think I am such a supertalent. I just have a dream since my early childhood to become as good as possible on the basketball court and I just work hard on daily basis to achieve my goal.

When did you feel you wanted to start playing basketball. When did you fall in love with the game?

My dad was a basketball player when I was a little kid. When I really was just a child I went to the gym to attend my father's practises and so I started to dribble and shoot around to the basket. As soon as I was allowed to join my age team I started to attend practises. I found it very exciting and interesting and since then I don't want to do anything else than playing basketball.

Lithuania is a wonderful country where basketball is very popular. Did you find out the reason why your country, that is relatively small, every year produces big-time talents who become successful in Europe or in the NBA?

We can say that Lithuania is a basketball country. I think Lithuanian guys have adamant character which give us a lot of strength and in my opinion this is one of the most important things if you want to become a basketball player. Moreover there are a lot of good basketball schools with excellent coaches in our youth programs. All these coaches are willing to do their best to train and teach kids and mold them in great players.

Is any top level player who particularly inspired your game?

There are a lot of players! I like Kevin Durant and Reggie Miller either but I think I got inspired a lot by my father.

You are very young, so for sure you have lots of interests off the court. Tell us what you like to do in your spare time.

Last summer after playing with U20 National team I spent a lot of time at the beach, because my home city is very close to the seaside. But when in my hometown Vilnius I like to rest at home also. I like watching movies, and when I go out with my friends or teammates we go for a dinner and afterwards to cinemas. Nice, simple stuff because I like to stay focus on basketball.

"Once Brothers"

Article published by ESPN 30 for 30 and all the rights of the films belong to the NBA Entertainment/ESPN.

Basketball Telegraph really thanks NBAE/ESPN for this amazing, emotional documentary. One of the best ever and truly worths of any kind of awards. Congratulations!

Drazen Petrovic and Vlade Divac were two friends who grew up together sharing the common bond of basketball. Together, they lifted the Yugoslavian National team to unimaginable heights. After conquering Europe, they both went to America where they became the first two foreign players to attain NBA stardom. But with the fall of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day 1991, Yugoslavia split up. A war broke out between Petrovic's Croatia and Divac's Serbia. Long buried ethnic tensions surfaced. And these two men, once brothers, were now on opposite sides of a deadly civil war. As Petrovic and Divac continued to face each other on the basketball courts of the NBA, no words passed between the two. Then, on the fateful night of June 7, 1993, Drazen Petrovic was killed in an auto accident.

"Once Brothers" will tell the gripping tale of these two men, how circumstances beyond their control tore apart their friendship, and whether Divac has ever come to terms with the death of a friend before they had a chance to reconcile.

Pavlicevic sets sail in Shimane. Two-time Euroleague champion coach details plans for BJ-League expansion team

This is a guest blog by Ed Odeven, staff writer of The Japan Times. Basketball Telegraph got the permission to publish the article by the author.

Zeljko Pavlicevic, 59, has been called one of the top 20 coaches in European basketball history. He guided croatian Cibona Zagreb to the 1986 Euroleague title. He repeated the feat in 1991, coaching croatian Split, also from the former Yugoslavia, to the Euroleague title. He has also coached Ferrol and Vitoria, a pair of spanish (ACB league) teams, and served as the bench boss for Panathinaikos Athens, for which he earned a Greek Cup crown in '93. Pavlicevic's career has also included time as the Croatian National team's technical director. He led the Japan National squad from 2003-06, serving as the team's head coach during the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. 

As you prepare for Shimane's season opener against the Saitama Broncos, what are the team's top objectives for 2010/11?

Look, because the Shimane is a new club, with no background and no history, it's difficult to say how we'll perform in the opener. But the most important thing is to develop a good club - everyone. The club is not only a team, but also the front office, the fans, the boosters. To be a stable club is the most important thing for all of us. It's important to find good foreigners, even if we don't have very big success this season. We can be very active to search and find guys with talent, but between them there may not be good chemistry. Maybe we are lucky this year and we can find good guys and good players, but as we build for the second season and future seasons that foundation will help us to produce winning results.

So, in other words, team unity and stability will be vital for the team's success?

Yes, that's right. As the first coach in Shimane in the history of the club, I wish that the club will have a long, long life. That is my main expectation.

Is it too early to say what you want to be the Susanoo Magic's trademark for the 2010/11 season?

I'm still waiting to add players, so it's early. But, yes, so many have asked the same question before. When some coaches don't have what they would consider the right type of players, they refuse to adjust and change their system, only trying to play one kind of game.. I try to stay flexible and change our strategy, using different tactics to fit the players we have.

How would you describe the energy of Shimane's team staff and the attitude of the community as it prepares for the club's first season?

The strong support in Shimane is not surprising. The entire city is behind the club, and that is something that is very important for me and all the players. We have up to 5,000 boosters now; that is a big number. I think we will have even more. That is very good, I think.

As a league with a number of teams in rural areas and the countryside, how important is it for teams such as Shimane to develop a strong local following and to be indentified as part of the fabric of the community?

Shimane is a nice small city, and I was in Tokyo for four years. It is one of the greatest cities in the world, but I like this city, it's a nice city. In Europe, soccer is the big sport in the big cities, except for some big cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Basketball, especially in Italy, is mostly in small cities, such as those with a population of 200,000 and 300,000; the same in Spain, where you have so many small cities. With the BJ-League expansion plan - to have 24 teams as the final number - you have to start to catch the fans from the countryside and small cities, small cities like Akita and Shimane, where people can support one good basketball club.

Based on your experiences following the JBL over the years and attending the BJ-League Final Four in May at Ariake Colosseum, what are your overall impressions of both leagues? And how has the BJ-League changed since it was established in 2005 with six teams?

The Final Four game me good impressions, the Final game (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa vs. Osaka) was good, and the semifinals were good. I will say from the beginning that I respect the JBL because they are the old league, but they are always staying with eight teams. In a big country like Japan, with 120 million people, it's a big number, so I hope in the future there will be one big league. Season after season, there is better organization in the BJ-League and the players are improving.. I think in the future, not so many from the university ranks can come to the JBL because of only eight teams, but they will come to the BJ-League and it has a very good future for growth.

Analyzing the overall state of basketball in Japan, not just at the pro level, how would you characterize the sport here?

Well, more education and improvements are needed. Regarding basic fundamentals, some players don't know them. They need to know more basic concepts and develop fundamentals at different levels.

Do you believe it's wise for the BJ-League to use a salary cap - reportedly Y77 million this season - to limit spending?

That is a smart move. It helps clubs be stable; they don't want to spend too much money. The league knows some clubs cannot survive (without the cap). But I think with the salary cap it is difficult to find some very talented foreigners, because you also have to spend a bigger amount with four or five foreigners on your teams. You can spend 80 per cent (of your foreign-player budget) on one player, but then it's limited to the others. If you have a higher salary cap, it can be a bigger problem and less chance of stability for the clubs. Season after season, you can increase the salary cap little by little. And after a few years, the BJ-League can find better foreigners, more expensive foreigners.

What have been the biggest compliments you've received since becoming a head coach in 1984? And what accomplishments are you most proud of from your distinguished career?

There have been big successes - titles, trophies and recognition - and so many nice things came and I don't remember everything that many nice people said. But one thing that's special for me is when some of these coaches, through Facebook and other online sites, communicate with me or write nice things, you can see them, catch up with them, after a long, long time. They say, for exemple, they really respect your job and follow your style, like this style, etc.

About my proudest achievements, it begins with my first (European Cup) title in 1986 with Cibona Zagreb with Drazen Petrovic, and I was not very old, so it was really special for me.

In 1991, Pop 84 Split began the season with three new starters after winning consecutive titles, and it was my first year with the team. Dino Radja had left (and later played for the Boston Celtics) and another starter (guard Dusko Ivanovic) also departed. People didn't believe that team would reach the Final Four again. But we won the European Cup. I'm very proud of that team.

Also I am very proud of the Japan National team and how we did at the 2006 World Championship. Based on the National team's history, it really hasn't had big results in basketball, but we exceeded our own expectations. It was really very exciting.. We played very good basketball and nearly advanced to the second round.

You've coached some great players - Tony Kukoc, for exemple - throughout your career and also coached many average players. Do you generally adjust the way you speak to challenge players of different ability levels?

That is a very important question. And also if you always tell players, you don't know this, you don't know that, or say, he's always bad..how can he do things himself? My point off the court is to give a player the confidence to believe he can do much better than he can really do.

So confidence is a big part of your coaching message?

Yes. If he is 60 percent confident, I need to get him to be 70 or 80 percent sure he can do something. Some coaches always cut players down, down, down. So how will they believe? Each player on the team, I need to push him to give him the belief he can do almost everything, even if I know he can't do it. This is very important.

There are some very young new coaches in the BJ-League now and established bench bosses, including Hamamatsu coach Kazuo Nakamura and new Tokyo coach Bob Hill, who has led four NBA teams during his long career. Do you think the league's older coaches will be helpful role models for the up-and-coming sideline supervisors?

I respect the decision of the young coaches to pursue this career. It can be a tough career. Some players will be older than the young coaches and that can be difficult. They will make mistakes, but they will also accomplish some good things. I know, I was a head coach at 34. You only live once, so it's a good challenge. Some coaches only want to go to top teams with a history of winning trophies. But for me if I can build the Shimane team and if the team is happy because I am here, that will give me satisfaction.  When you are young, money is more important, but as you get older, there are other thoughts too. Sometimes it's not only about money. There's also pride and it's a personal challenge. My good friend Nakamura (who is 69), he appears young in his style. He's very aggressive and he has very good intelligence. He's young and energetic. Bob Hill is a big name and like me he came here to promote the sport.. It may be good for promotion of the BJ-League but also very good for these young coaches because of the experience of Bob Hill and Nakamura and my experience.

This is something we have done for a long time.