Zvezdan Mitrovic:
Victory over Khimki – is a reward for our work

On Sunday the Ukrainian Budivelnik became the author of one of the biggest sensations of the current season. Zvezdan Mitrovic team (3 wins in 10 matches) won away game against the reigning League champions, the Russian Khimki!
This unexpected success in Khimki enabled Kiev club not only to remind of themselves as a current champion of Ukraine, but also to get chances of getting into the tournament playoffs. There are five games Ahead of the team (more than most of their competitors have) so this goal can be achieved.

About sensational victory over Khimki, return of Jack McClinton, upcoming matches in Samara and Astana, chances of getting to the playoffs of the League and step forward in coaching career - told the Montenegrin coach of Budivelnik Zvezdan Mitrovic in an interview with our site.

- Zvezdan, congratulations on the victory over the reigning league champions Khimki!
- Thank you. I must say that in Khimki played teams of different levels. Nevertheless, losing throughout the match, my players managed to change the course of the game. How did they do that? Maximum concentration and a great desire to win. In the middle of the match there was a very crucial moment, when the opponent had 13 points advantage and could finally decide the outcome of the match. But we're not broken - played well in defense, successfully played in the three-second zone against Khimki «bigs» ... I thinks that the victory over Khimki - is a reward for our work and great will to win!

- In the first half Budivelnik was not very good at zone defense...
- Yes, in «zone» we were not very active moving around the perimeter, allowing Khimki players to perform free throws. Therefore, we missed a number of attacks from the perimeter. The situation for us changed in the second half, when we changed our defense system. Plus, Jack McClinton began to play more aggressive.

- Usually McClinton plays as the second number, but in the match with Khimki he played as the main point guard.
- What can we do when Budivelnik needs the point guard position of to be strengthened? So, Jack closed this problem zone and he coped with this role great. I think - this is the first really good game of Makklinton after his injury. We really missed aggressiveness of our legionnaire. I am very glad that he is back on the court.

- Budivelnik also played well in front line and confidently won the rebound from opponents - 36:28. Was it an original aim to play against «bigs»?
- Yes, and we coped with our task. In the match of the first round in Kiev our team didn’t play well against Khimki centers. Leaving of Timofey Mozgov to the NBA, of course, affected the strength of the Russian team under the ring. Therefore, we counted on a three-second zone game. I should also make a special mention of the game of our center Artsiom Parakhouskis (15 points). Unfortunately, his ankle was injured and he wasn’t able to continue to play. But I hope he will recover soon - the team really needs his help.

- The upcoming games will be of great importance for Budivelnik as the team wants to keep the chances of getting into the playoffs of the League.
- That is true. Tomorrow we are waiting for the hardest fight in Samara against Krasnye Krylia. We know the opponent well, learned the style of play of this team. Also, I know well the head coach of Samara team Sergei Bazarevich. We often see each other at various international coaching seminars, talk about basketball. He visited our match with Khimki. Therefore we need to be prepared for real fight (laughs). Bazarevich -is a true professional who knows well how to motivate players before important matches.
No less easy for us will be the next game - in Astana. Matteo Boniciolli team also has chances to qualify for the playoffs. So - with the support of native stands Kazakh team will fight only to win and we should be ready for anything.

- In light of victory in Khimki how do you consider the chances of Budivelnik to qualify for the playoffs of the League?
- It is too early to talk about it - everything will depend on the outcome of the upcoming games, where Budivelnik has no room for mistake. We are set to get to the playoffs. As the saying goes, appetite comes with eating. At the beginning of the season I said that the level of VTB United League Championship is growing every year. Half of the season is behind and we are very pleased that we play in such a strong European competition. Hopefully Budivelnik we will be able to join in the struggle for prize-winning places.

- For a fairly short period of time Budivelnik visited Donetsk and Khimki. The next route is Samara - Astana. How do you manage to motivate players in such a tight game schedule?
- And who says that it would be easy? The players are professionals and they understand that this is their job. But we're all human; everyone understands that winning streak give place to recessions and vice versa. This is - basketball. But it is quite possible to lower these recessions. In such tempo not only players are loaded but also the entire staff. After all we share one goal - to win.

- In the national championship Budivelnik shows better results than in VTB United League: after 26 games the team is at the top of the standings of Ukrainian Super League.
  - Now we're really the first, but there is a big competition in the championship and it’s not easy to withstand. I hope that we will keep our strength and good condition till the end of the season, where the team will face the most difficult battles.

- After working for a long time in the Ukrainian clubs Khimik and Krivbasbasket, you have been invited to become the head of the national champion Budivelnik. Your coaching career is becoming more successful, right?
- After becoming the head coach of Budivelnik I certainly took a step forward in my career. Over the past ten years I was able to know the Ukrainian club basketball better and it is very honorable for me to lead the team of champions. I like Budivelnik, its internal atmosphere, the staff, the players. Yes, we do not have superstars in our team, but the players have strong character, desire to grow and progress. Is pleasant to work In such an atmosphere!