Daniel Dimevski: The only way to develop is to play against stronger and better opponents

Mr. Daniel Dimevski, the president of the Macedonian Basketball Federation spoke to our website about the performance of Macedonian clubs in the EUROHOLD Balkan League, about the Israeli teams in the BIBL, about the Macedonia NT and the currently ongoing Final Four. Here is what he had to say.   - For the fourth straight season there is a Macedonian team in the Final 4, as in the first season there were two of them, and last year Feni won the title, can you say that Macedonia has established itself as a power in the EUROHOLD Balkan League?   Daniel Dimevski: Yes, I think that we have, I′m glad that we have teams that are representing us in a good way in the Balkan League. I′m happy that Feni is going to the Final Four four years in a row now, let′s not forget that in Feni there are a few Macedonian NT players, and they are playing a big role on this team. In general, I′m satisfied.
- There are two Israeli teams competing in the BIBL this season, what do you think of their performance and did they helpt to get the League to a higher level?   D.D.: I think that the Israeli teams have been dominant in the season so far, and I think that this domination is coming mainly from their quality American players, who are probably more expensive as well. However the only way to develop and move forward is to play against stronger and better opponents. I think that this has been done now, and also I think that all the teams from the Balkan region have an opportunity to travel a bit more now, and to see new and different stuff, and in general I think that the participation of Galil Gilboa and Hapoel Tel Aviv is positive for the EUROHOLD Balkan League.   - After the fourth place at EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania, what are the goals in front of the Macedonian NT for the future, there are Olympic Games coming in the summer?   D.D.: We as a federation, and as a national team are well-known in Macedonia as pioneers, we started doing good first and I expect that we will be the first ones that will send a Macedonian team sport to the Olympics. I′m optimistic and this will be a really great success for the entire Macedonian nation.   - What are your expectations for the final between Galil Gilboa and Levski?   D.D.: I think that Galil is personally for me one class better than Levski, and that′s not because of their homecourt advantage, but because of the American players that they have on their roster, as they give them some advantage. But sport won′t be sport if there aren′t surprises.