Nebojsa Vidic: It's a big success to win against this team

BC Balkan recorded a very very good win at home over Ironi Rain Nahariya in Group D. Below you can find what coach Nebojsa Vidic said following the win:

“This win is important for some reasons. First, we played against a very serious team, who had 2 losses in Israel's second league (liga leumit). I don’t know if this team would play in the playoffs in the first league, but for sure they wouldn’t be at the bottom. They showed their claims this season. They are a serious team with good coach.

The win is more valued too because of some other things - Nikolay Grozev did not practice yesterday, because of stomach flu, Kris Minkov felt bad before the game, Mitko Dimitrov also felt bad in the morning. Probably this is the reason that he did not have a good game, with the exception of the 2 very important triples that he made. You all saw what happened with Stanimir Marinov (the player dislocated his shoulder). It was tough for Ahmaad Rorie and Derick Marks to control the last 5 minutes.

To win this game against this team, with this roster it is a big success and I am very happy for my guys. At the beginning of the 3rd quarter we succeeded in making some adjustments to our play. We put Christian Jones in the starting five, Ahmaad Rorie and Derick took a rest at halftime and they did everything that we spoke about on the break.This is the reason for the turnaround, and also our гood defence. I don't think Yogev Ohaion looks different from the time he played at the Euroleague level. Last quarter they also made some changes, matchup defence, man to man. When you are tired it is difficult to read all of this and to react properly every time. With some important triples in the tight moments,we succeeded to overcome this defence."

17-year old Iliyan Pishtikov did very well as he scored 13 points for the victory. Here are his words following the game:

"I think we overcame their best play, transition. We succeeded in stopping them at some point, because they are scoring most of their points on transition. We played good defence, had open shots and made them. I think that our defence helped us at the beginning of the second half. We had some important plays on offence and that was the key. We had good communication in defence which helped us to score easy points and make good offence. Some of our players didn’t feel well before the game and I had to play more. The coach called me before the game and told me I will start. I tried to focus. We started well, I had some possibilities and scored. I feel good in the team. The atmosphere is also good. Coach gives me a chance and I am trying to use it in my best way."