Shay Shtriks: We proved that the region needed this competition
Shay Shtriks with Assen Hristov
We found the Sports Director of EUROHOLD Balkan League Shay Shtriks running around the organization and preparation for the upcoming Final Four in Samokov next week but he was kind to answer to few questions regarding this year competition and the fuure of the league.
Mr Shtriks, congratulations for such a great opening season of the Eurohold Balkan League. What is your personal opinion regarding organizing this good tournament?
„?hank you very much, first of all I like to say that all of us in the league must respect the great support which we got from Mr.Assen Hristov and EUROHOLD as our main sponsors. The times are not easy but he and EUROHOLD stood behind us all the time and gave a full support during the whole season. We are going to finish the first season next week and we can see that the league provide a very good and professionals condition to all clubs, the result is a very balanced and quality competition.Yes, we have few small things to fix and to modify for the next seaso. However all of us are very happy from what we did in the first season and despite the success we must see and learn more to become better and better.”
Did you have any difficulties to open this Eurohold Balkan league as there is lot of club competitions in Europe with teams from the region participating in them?
“It wasn’t easy but we proved that the region need this competition. Yes, we are not Euroleague or Adriatic league but we showed that we have very interesting league.”
What do you think is the level of basketball in the Balkan League compared to all other European club competitions?
“The basketball in the Balkans is always emotional game. Some of the games the players play with great feeling, then they find time to show that they have also good skills. As I said one year ago, we have good basketball in this region - young players that someone must give them the stage. When they start to play international games they become better as a players, then they improved their respective teams as well - Rilski Sportist is the best example of that.”
Why did the board of the Eurohold Balkan League decide to choose Samokov as the host city of the Final Four?
“The most modern basketball facility in the region, TV rights and good accommodation for the clubs.”
Did you expect those particular four teams to qualify for the Final Four and were there many surprises for you in the competition overall?
“This is why basketball is a great game, any squad that play as a team can be on the top. If we take Mega Hypo Leasing as example, they play great the last 4 weeks. Rilski Sportist.laso - young team, for the first time in international competitions and they are in the Final Four. So when you play as a team the name is not important, the team is more important.”
Looking ahead, what is the future of the Eurohold Balkan League? We heard there is interest from other countries to participate.
“The last few weeks we had several meeting with the Israeli basketball federation and the Israeli league, probably we will have one team from Israel. Last week we visited Istanbul and had a meeting with the Turkish Basketball Federation. Next weekend we will have meeting in Montenegro, they would like to have two teams in the league. Also we may have a meeting with the Greek team from Kavala. In any case we will stay in the next season with the same competition format .10 teams, 2 groups, 40 games in the first round, 8 games in Quarterfinals and Final Four. We don’t like to jump and to run too fast, we need to prove that we are doing good job, and then we can extend the format of the league to 12 teams. But for sure next 2009/10 season we will stay with 10 teams competiton format.
Any expectations as far as the upcoming Final Four in Samokov?
“I wish to the all four teams the best Final Four, I really hope everybody will enjoy in this final stage of our competition and also the best team to win the first EUROHOLD Balkan League Final Four.”
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| No Games Scheduled |
| Delasport Balkan League 2023/2024 Regular Season | |||
| 1 | .jpg){kind=logo} KB Sigal Prishtina |
8 - 2 | 18 |
| 2 |  PAYABL EKA AEL |
6 - 4 | 16 |
| 3 |  KB Peja |
6 - 4 | 16 |
| 4 |  KK Lovcen 1947 |
4 - 6 | 14 |
| 5 |  KK Plevlja |
0 - 8 | 8 |
