Shay Shtriks: "The league is much stronger and atrractive this season"

The Sports Director of the EUROHOLD Balkan League, Mr. Shay Shtriks was kind to find time to answer some of our questions, just a couple of days before the 2010 Final Four of the BIBL tips off in Universiada Hall in Sofia   - Mr. Shtriks, what are your expectations for the 2010 FINAL FOUR?   First of all I would like to congratulate the 4 participants for qualifying for the 2010 FINAL FOUR and to wish them good luck, and all the 12 teams which took part in the second edition of EUROHOLD BIBL for the professional and high-leveled performance. Moreover, I would like to say “thank you” to BC Levski for hosting the event, and especially to Mr. Dzhidzhev, the Municipality of Sofia and Bulgarian Basketball Federation for the positive attitude and support. Regarding the organization I am sure it will be on a very high level. Here it is the place to say thank you also to the people from EUROHOLD together with whom we are working hard to put this 2010 FINAL FOUR  on top.As for the sports aspect of the tournament, I believe we will see very good basketball and performance by the 4 clubs. The games will be officiated by some of the best referees in Europe that showed the best officiating during the season in Europe and in the BIBL games. The most important is that we will keep the motto of EUROHOLD BIBL – “The best team will win the competition!”   -How will you summarize the passed season 2009-2010?   We cannot speak about season 2009-2010 without saying one big “thank you” to our main sponsor EUROHOLD, which has been standing behind us and the clubs and in these difficult times of world financial crisis kept its words and has supported us all the way here. We had some problematic situations during the season such as the disqualification of the Romanian team Gaz Metan Medias, but this decision was a very important one for the League as well as for all the Federations. We also succeeded in solving the unpleasant issue with KK Rabotnicki, but generally I can state the cooperation between EUROHOLD BIBL, local Federations and FIBA Europe was excellent.   The level of the games happened to be very high from its same beginning with a lot of them being tied until the last second. Officiating was also high-standard and only in 2 cases we received complaints. What is obvious, for example in Bulgaria – the 4 teams which participated in this season edition improved a lot and showed better results in the domestic league, taking the first places in the standings. This only made the league much stronger and attractive. The TV broadcast was improved and for the first time in Bulgaria during basketball games, one of the most modern TV-graphics-systems was applied and I shall mention – the result is terrific. It was provided by SEGEV SYSTEM from Israel and I have to say also “thank you” to their stuff for the good cooperation. The last few games were transmitted LIVE in the internet free of charge and the 3 games of the FINAL FOUR will be transmitted as well inside and outside of Bulgaria.   - How do you see the 3^rd edition of EUROHOLD BIBL? Are you going to surprise the fans with anything new?   I am very happy you asked me about the 3^rd edition because when 2 years ago Mr. Assen Christov and Shay Shtriks provided this project to the basketball society on the Balkans, nobody believed it would work even a season. Both of us have lots of new ideas for implementing innovations which will make the League much interesting and attractive for the audience but as you are aware on 14^th April a Board Meeting takes place in Sofia and I will keep the right to discuss with the members of the Board all these ideas. Then, on the press-conference on 15^th April, 12:00h in Universiada Press Center, I will be able to share them with you and your colleagues. What I will allow myself to say now is that we already have 1 more member Federation – the Croation Basketball Federation and they have sent officially the name of their representative for season 2010-2011. Its name will be announced on that same press-conference.   Here I would say again thank you to all the local Federations for the great support to this project and I am sure they will continue to support it in the future.    - You have just said that the motto of the League is “The best team will win the competition!” Which do you think is the best team?   The 5^th team – the referees and the commissioners (laughing), all the people from the Management of the League, EUROHOLD, all the good people that support us and the Universiada Hall people that involved in the organization and working day and night the last week in order to offer the basketball lovers the best basketball event on the Balkans. This is my team – it will be the winner.    - Thank you for your time Mr. Shtriks, what would you say last to the basketball audience on the Balkans?   I wish everyone lots of sports luck and pleasant time being involved in this beautiful sport – the basketball. Enjoy FINAL FOUR 2010, support your favourite club and support the fair-play.   I would say “thank you” to all the fans and supporters of EUROHOLD BIBL all over the Balkan peninsula and hope to see you again with us in October with Season 2010-2011. And to the local Federations, I would like to wish a very successful and productive summer in the Juniors’ competitions and good luck in the Qualification Round for Eurobasket 2011.