Basketball always entertained me and then I grew up

You can read how it is on the stairs in the novel Anton Ingoličwhat is the youth on the basketball playground, we read with an eighteen -year -old in Novo mesto Žako Sprucewhich in the last set of qualifying for this year's European Championships for the first time for the first time for the national team.

We know that the Slovenian basketball team with or without California Luke is different as a quail and an ostrich egg. It was more than noticeable that the team that played in the last qualifying window for this year's EP, hosted by Cyprus, Poland, Finland and Latvia, was unusual. In matches with Ukraine and Israel, ours have already been ranked on the EP, many wondered: Who are these young boys? Slovenia defeated Ukraine, and with Israel in Latvia, our rejuvenated national team lost. Benjamin among Benjamini was the student of the last year of the Novo mesto gymnasium, eighteen -year -old Jacques Smrekar.

In July last year, at the EP under 18, he was one of the team holders who won bronze in Finland. “In the semi -finals, we lost to the Germans, later champions, and beat Israel for third place. It was quite a tough match, we were all very tired, seven times on the floor in nine days. ”Yes, the Israeli members in Latvia had to Slovenes for a youth defeat.

On the one hand, he was surprised by the call to the national team, « on the other hand, we knew that some national team holders would not come and that we would get the opportunity young. It was easier for me because I knew a few players from younger selections, I know with some from the KK Krka Club. ”Smrekar played for the first time for the members, the members of the U-18 team played for members, for the first time. Urban Kroflič and Mark fallen.

What the first appearance for mustaches and beards means when you are still a pigeon, Jacques didn't even overdo it. Last year, he coached and played the Krka membership and played the match, « I get more opportunities in the Slovenian League and ABA league this year. In this, Krka was 14th in the day when the young man and I talked to the young man, among 16 teams, but the people of Novo mesto, both Jacques, are more interested in clubs in front of them than behind them, the higher the ranking than the fight for existence. In preparation for the last qualifying match he first met a coach Alexander Sekulic. « He is a great coach, the player has to understand with the new coach as quickly as possible what they expect from him, but Sekulic explained everything to us very well. »

Six -year -old's passion

Žak Smrekar began training in the child as soon as possible, « I think at the age of six, I wanted to do before, but it was not possible. » Just early, right? He was enrolled in Krka in Novo mesto, where he has been concerned so far. Of the third party, I learn that Smrekar's development has been strongly influenced Domain Zevnikwho has long run Krka's youth drive, now he is an assistant to a member coach Dejana Jakare. During his early years, Jacques also trained football for several months, but it was clear which ball was gripping him.

Why basketball, was Jacques standing out early? “Not even when I played with the elderly, I was among the lower, but basketball always relaxed me, entertained me, it was great. Then I grew up. Now I'm two meters tall. ”But about twenty inches will go up? « Ha, we'll see! »

There are five playing positions in basketball, Jacques are more dual, in the Slovenian national team are Klemen Prepelič and Jaka Blažič. This is a position, « where I have a ball, I murmur and play defense. »

He played for 15 minutes with Ukraine and Israel. At first it was a little uncertainty, but then he encouraged himself and wondered why I would be afraid of someone, « I am there for a reason as possible to help the team. » In the first game, if he remembers correctly, he gave five dots, in the second four.

What is the difference when it is measured with peers or duplicate old basketball players? The most « these are physical differences, I am dominant among peers when you meet with the elderly, the stronger, but you are more, not poor, but worse. » Older people have significantly more experience that is very important. They are established what is already known in judges. The right -wingers do not have so much reconciliation and patience to the younger players. The opposite players are also more aggressive to the pigeon.

Urgently in fitness

The ABA League is so physical. Initially, he was difficult for him, « AZ experience is easier for me, more clear to me. » In his years, during the unfinished growth, the basketball player has to work a lot for strength, « I was very dry, but I know I have to work more than others to catch them. » He goes to fitness, where he trains the whole body. I would hardly say which part of the body is physically most important in the basket. Power, explosiveness are important … In fitness, it is also trying to consolidate as much as possible.

Now that they have matches twice, sometimes three times a week, it is difficult to train more than once a day. It is complicated with school, we travel all the time, train, work with exams. There is a lot to learn, which is not easy because I am missing a lot. ”He knows, of course, it is also important to parents that he has to do school. The father's father was a little athlete and understood his son more, and his mother also realized that Jacques were a podque hero, but he was the only one.

All the time on the way, under the baskets, plus school … ever, despite two meters of height, does it all grow over his head? “It's quite tiring, we go to Belgrade, say, four times a year, six hours by bus, with an crowd on the border for eight, nine hours. When you get back from hosting, you have to assemble. « How to get the player after the match, also depends on how much physical opponents are, » in principle, if I do my best, I am quite tired after the usual race with normal minutes.  » Defeats? « I used to be much more chopped, now I'm trying to get as little as possible because it has a bad effect on self -esteem. »

A member of Krka does not think about where he will play in a few years. He is trying to focus on this season, to work as much as possible and see where it will bring him. And where is it supposed to bring him? “I don't know …” At his age, boys often go with a belly behind foreign bread? Many times this depends on the ambition of parents. « Some go to America at this age, there are good chances there, but college money. » Žak Smrekar has a club scholarship, and coaches can talk about everything that means a lot to him.

Where, in his opinion, is Slovenian men's basketball, if we talk, metaphorically, about sausage without a sausage, sorry, walnut without walnuts, national team without the Slovenian hero of the city of angels? « I think we are still competitive enough and that younger generations are developing well. »

In July last year, a member of Krka was one of the holders of the team at the EP under 18 who won bronze in Finland. Photo: Drago Perko

At the Championship of the Old Continent U-18, in some teams, there were players who were already knocking on the NBA door, but ours were equivalent to them. How good are the 18-year-old US team members, « and we will see at the World Cup, which will take place in late June and early July in Switzerland. » Basketball in Switzerland? It happens.

European thinking

So, Slovenian young men conquer medals on the old -age measurements, in the pool, there is enough youth in stock. This certainly affects this too Portprobably don't have to complement to talk about Doncicno Modric. « Every year I find that more children are enrolled, which makes me very happy, » says Jacques, who accompanies other sports, and baskets, in addition, practically drank it day by day, also tackles it studied. “On television, I look at European basketball, which is closer to what we play in our clubs, at least to me it is more watchable, especially Euroleague. This is a different style than the NBA, it's not just running up and down, there is more thinking. « 

What does he see in his basketball future, emotional satisfaction, sporting success, money? « Above all, the success to come as long as possible, to concentrate myself, to become as good as possible, but what will bring it … » He is considered a hardworking, hardworking player, « I try to work after training, to ruin, so I can make the most progress. »

Is it any chance of a young Jacques playing at this year's European Championship? « Uh, very difficult, we still have the U-18 World Cup … »