Službena Web Stranica CroHoops Lige

Jasmin Repesa (photo by CroHoops.com)

Croatian basketball expert and ex-Croatian NT coach Jasmin Repesa took over as the new head coach of the struggling powerhouse Cibona Zagreb less then 24 hours after it’s team suffered a last second 90:89 defeat to Zadar in the 1/8 finals leg of Kresimir Cosic Cup.

Both Croatian representatives in 2011-12 Eurocup lost their respective games yesterday. Cibona lost to BC Donetsk by 76:78 and Cedevita lost to Benetton Treviso by 68:82.

Cibona managed to stay close during the complete course of the game. With the score 76:78 in the closing seconds Antwain Barbour passed the ball to the cutting PG Hrvoje Kovacevic but his left-handed shot from the paint at the buzzer came up short.

Although Cibona was again paced by the frontocurt duet of PF Goran Suton (13 points, 6 boards) and Andrija Zizic (16 points, 12 boards) it was outrebounded by 36:31 and shot only 39% for two points.

After trailing as much as 26:7 after 1st quarter Cedevita was again beaten by Benetton Treviso, this time even more convincingly. SG Chris Warren paced Cedevita’s offense  with 14 points and 5 boards while receiving 7 personal fouls.

Cedevita’s PG Dontaye Draper had trouble dealing with future NBA-er E’Twaun Moore who had 17 points on 7-9 shooting from the floor. Draper also finished with 17 points but had only 2 assists and 4 turnovers for the visiting team.

Drazen Anzulovic coached his team to a convincing win over the local rival (photo by kkcedevita.hr)

Game between local rivals Cedevita and Cibona really was no contest from the beginning.

Cedevita won the game by 95:69 in a convincing fashion. All twelve of it’s players scored, five in double digits and all but one of it’s players got at least one rebound!

With obvious intention to save strenght for the upcoming Eurocup match-up vs Benetton Treviso Cedevita’s head coach Drazen Anzulovic rotated all of his players to the maximum while keeping his team’s pace at the very high level throughout the complete game.

Cedevita’s intensive defense neutralized Cibona’s primary offensive options who were able to score mainly on 1-on-1 isolation plays. PF/C Andrija Zizic had 15 points and 5 boards, PF Goran Suton had 10 rebounds, 7 boards and 2 blocked shots, while PG Davor Kus added 11 points and 4 assists.

Cedevita shot 12-27 (44.4%) from beyond the arc while Cibona was 3-15 (20%) in the same segment.

Jasmin Repesa (photo by CroHoops.com)

According to several sources one of the most consistent Croatian international coaches Jasmin Repesa will not sign a previously reported deal with Cibona Zagreb.

Source close to CroHoops.com stated that “Repesa was not satisfied with the relatively unattractive financial conditions Cibona has put up on the table.”

Interim coach Danijel Lutz will lead the team in the upcoming games starting with Adriatic League showdown @ Cedevita Zagreb on Saturday (17.00 CET).

According to several sources Cibona Zagreb is reportedly very close to sign ex-Croatian NT head coach and recognized international expert Jasmin Repesa to 4Y/1M€ deal.

If that really happens Repesa would take over Cibona’s head coaching helm from the interim coach Danijel Lutz not later then Friday. Cibona is about to face tough Cedevita squad on Saturday in the derby of Adriatic League’s 10th round.

After posting solid 5-3 Adriatic League record Cibona Zagreb head coach and ex-Croatian NT head coach Josip “Joke” Vrankovic again managed to shock Croatian sports public with his today’s immediate resignation from Cibona’s coaching helm.

Vrankovic explained his most recent act with a difference of opinions with team’s management regarding team’s options to solve the most burning issue right now, point guard non-effectiveness to set up and execute plays at the both ends of the floor.

Cibona has just brought back veteran Davor Kus but that obviously wasn’t enough for Vrankovic appetites, especially bearing in mind that Cibona’s point guards might get “eaten for breakfast” from top notch PGs such as Cedevita’s Dontaye Draper and Zagreb CO’s incoming NBA-er T.J. Ford.

Looking from that perspective today’s Vrankovic resignation shouldn’t present any kind of surprise after he saw what T.J. Ford is capable of doing in just 13 minutes of action. Total havoc of opponents zone or any other kind of defense.

Coaching source close to CroHoops.com has YESTERDAY listed several other potential reasons for his resignation:  “Joke is under significant pressure because his team has a tougher schedule ahead right now. They didn’t yet establish offensive flow and defined their offensive options. What really bothers Vrankovic right now is that reportedly disappointed individual from the stands threw a jacket on him during one of the of the most recent games.”

Brief look at Adriatic League team statistics reveals that Cibona is shooting only 50% on two-pointers (13th in Adriatic League), rebounding only 27.9 times per game (12th) and averaging only 13.1 assists per game (10th) while turning the ball over 13.8 times per game (6th).

Whoever takes over from Vrankovic will have a very tough winter.

Davor Kus (photo by CroHoops.com)

Cibona Zagreb, which currently has 4-2 Adriatic League record, has brought back 33-year old Croatian international PG Davor Kus who has signed one-year deal with the club.

Kus should add much needed experience to Cibona’s backcourt which currently features talented but relatively inexperienced American duet of Brian Chase & Demonte Harper.