Season preview: BC Rilski Sportist

BC Rilski Sportist is returning to EUROHOLD Balkan League after one year absence. The team from Samokov is entering the competiton with high ambitions and will aim to finish in the top places.   Rilski is one of the most successful teams that has ever played in the competition. The team won the first ever edition of EUROHOLD BIBL and then reached one time the final and was third back in 2013.    Rilski of course is with a renewed roster compared to 2012/2013 season but still has very good and experienced players. Of course the captain Yordan Bozov is the leader on and off the court of this team and he will try his best to guide the squad through the tough matches. Vernon Taylor will play his second season in Samokov and in the friendly games he showed he has improved a lot his performance.    Perhaps the most interesting player to watch will be Ian Chiles. The 218cm tall American will have size advantage over his opponents and Rilski will have to try and explore it. Tony Gugino is back in the team and will help with his experience under the basket. Simeon Iliev and Todor Todorov are also new names for the frontcourt and especially Iliev is likely to play a big part in Rilski′s eventual success. 
Zlatin Georgiev will probably have a starting role in the team on the win alongside Bozov and Taylor. Darin Ivanov and Lyubomir Kirov had some nice performances during the preparation and we are still waiting to see the American point guard Julian Norfleet. He played only one game due to injury and will need some time to get back.   Generally Rilski has some experienced and some not so much players and the key to the success will be to find the right balance. The coaching staff is the same in the last few years and they also have the experience and quality to lead Rilski Sportist to victories.