 |
 |
 |
|
Saturday August 21st , 2010 THREE! Two is different than three. Even though they are neighbors, sometimes the distance between the two digits is dramatic. For FIBA Division B, Group C, the difference between two and three was gigantic.
It was not rocket science. A road win in Fribourg Switzerland would maintain a perfect record for the Czech Republic team creating a power position heading into next summer's second half of competition. Meanwhile, Switzerland aimed to knock off Czech creating a three-way tie at two. If Switzerland was able to protect home court against Czech Republic, Czechs, Swiss and Slovakia could all be 2-1 going into the summer of 2011. For Group C, two was nowhere near three.
Salle St Leonard in Fribourg Switzerland Taking the elevator down from the third floor to the lobby at the Parc Hotel, I joined the rest of the team. Most players were seated in chairs already prepared for departure. The 11am shooting would be our final practice for the summer. Pavel was focused to set the tone for the team. But the tone was set last night when Pavel had asked captain Petr Benda if he preferred a practice or a short walk outside. The 5:30pm tip time and our 11am shooting time left little time in the afternoon for rest. Pavel gave the decision to the players and the team returned a vote for practice through captain Benda. It was clear the players were intrinsically motivated. We climbed onto the team bus and drove to Salle St Leonard.
Players wait in the lobby before departing for morning shootaround. The forty five minute workout included a good stretch led by Ladja and partner shooting. Where the Friday night practice was loose, this Saturday morning workout was focused. Everyone understood the challenge at hand. A road win in Switzerland would give our team total control over the Group. Looking ahead to next summer, the Czech Republic schedule featured two home games against Slovakia and Switzerland with one away game in Cyprus. But collecting a third win this summer would be anything but easy. After losing their last home game 62-50 against Slovakia, Switzerland would do everything for a win.
Talking with Pavel while players stretch. Once our day started, time went quickly. From our breakfast, to our shootaround, to our pregame lunch, one event led to the next. After lunch, Pavel, Michal Sob and I went to a nearby cafe for a coffee. We talked about basketball related issues and coaching philosophy. The beautiful sunny day in Fribourg was perfect for being outside. It was nice to enjoy moments like that together. Before we knew it, time pushed us forward. We walked back to the Parc Hotel to get ready for the game. Pavel and I asked the woman at reception if we could get our pants ironed. Thankfully, they arranged for us to have them ironed immediately. We returned to our rooms to freshen up.
Pregame meal. Keeping to our routine, we met for a pregame snack consisting of fruits, juices, cakes and coffee. On the other side of the restaurant, the Swiss team sat together. Little eye-contact took place and opponents were completely off-limits. Battle-lines were drawn. Switzerland was prepared to protect their homecourt and would defend it with desperation. Czech Republic charged ahead for a third victory and complete control of the Group. Our final challenge of the summer was upon us.
The lockerroom. Arriving at Salle St Leonard well before any spectators, our team entered the two new lockerrooms at the far end of the hallway. After preparing in older lockerrooms in Sofia, Bulgaria and Prievidza, Slovakia, the new facility in Fribourg seemed fantastic. Players went into the new lockerroom and got right down to business. I put my coaching bag on a hook on the wall and went through my usual pre-game routine. Next to me, power forward Pavel Houska was taping his own ankles. I was impressed. Team physio Petr Toncar began treating players needing attention. One by one, players would move from lockerroom to lockerroom for Petr's magic touch. Pavel Pumprla received the most treatment on a leg problem. Petr Benda came back for a visit, flexing all the way. Both were ready for the game.
Pavel Houska taping his own ankles.
Pavel Pumprla's game face
Petr Benda pumped up before the game I love to sit courtside before the game. In a near-empty arena, excitement and anticipation combine with a pre-game synergy. Minutes later, players appear on-court to get shots up. Small talk on the bench is really about nothing at that time. Honza let me listen to his Czech hard rock. Pavel sat next to us. No words were needed. Pregame synergy is best to soak in. According to our plan, we went back for our team meeting 45 minutes before tip. Players were seated before coaches and staff walked in. Pavel stood before the team. I leaned back against the wall off to his left. Suddenly, the hair-dryer went on. Accidentally, I had bumped the hairdryer with my shoulder and the motion sensitive machine revved up with loud noise and hot air. Pavel looked at me laughing and said 'Are you kidding me?'. We laughed it off, but I could not wait for that hair dryer to go off. Pavel provided the coaching points, pumped up the team and we brought it in. Seconds later, echoing with intensity through the cabine, 'Rvi se jako Lev'! We were ready.
Physio Petr Toncar preparing players to perform. Layup lines, Ladja's agilities and the rest of warmup went fast. Player introductions and anthems followed. As teams exchanged pins and flags, I found former Pittsburg State Gorilla center Oliver Vogt to wish him a good game. We returned to our bench and huddled up for one last time in pregame. Intensity was at a peak. Focus was on-point. Our starters took the floor. It was game time.
Czech Republic vs. Switzerland Winning the tip, we started strong. Pavel Pumprla inspired his Czech teammates with a brilliant start to the game. Scoring in the lane, hitting a baseline J and finishing another score in transition, Pavel ignited the Czech offense. The strong start led to an 8-2 lead. Five minutes into action, the beginning was perfect for the Czech Republic holding a 13-6 advantage. But Swiss point guard Stefan Petkovic finished an and-1 in the lane throwing up an behind the head hook shot to finish a drive and draw a foul from Pavel Houska. The shot sparked the Swiss offense to life and showed the hosts were ready to do everything possible for a win. Big man Greg Brunner powered his way to six free throws in the first quarter. The Swiss worked their way back into the game. As the Swiss team gained momentum, Czech forward Lubos Barton buried a three from the right wing off an endline inbound play. Fittingly, the hungry Switzerland team neutralized the Czech strong start with their scrappy play and the teams completed the first quarter 20-20.
Layup lines. Where action came easy to the Czech team early in the first quarter, momentum changed benches into the second frame. Point guard Stefan Petkovic played outstanding basketball leading his team by hitting tough pull up shots and breaking down the Czech defense. Teams exchanged 6-0 scoring runs in the mid part of the second. First, the Swiss team surged to a 30-24 advantage before the Czechs responded to trim the deficit to two, 32-30 with five minutes in the half. Later, the Czech team pushed ahead to a 41-37 lead with a 6-0 surge of their own. Again, Pavel Pumprla was the key player for the Czech team as he finished the first half with fifteen points on a perfect 5 for 5 floor shooting including 3 of 3 from three. But every time the Czech team seemed to position themselves to break the game open, the hardworking Swiss team would find a way to fight back into the game. At the half, the Czech team led 47-45. At the half, concern in the Czech Republic lockerroom centered around several areas. First, our team defense needed to tighten up and record consistent defensive stops. Containing point guard Petkovic was a priority along with ballscreen defense. Next, emphasis was placed on making simple, strong plays and capitalizing on offensive opportunities to extend leads. We all knew the danger of failing to build a lead and letting a hungry team hang around. As a team, Czech had hit 62% from the floor making 5 of 11 threes (45%) and a perfect 6 of 6 free throws while the Swiss made 56% of their shots with 6 of 10 threes and 11 of 16 from the foul line.
Swiss wing Cedric Mutafa slices to the basket through Czech Republic defense in the first half Five straight points powered the Swiss team ahead to open the second half. Trailing 50-47, the Czech team responded. Intensity level continued to rise. Action continued to heat up. The lead changed hands on almost every possession. Five minutes into the third, the Czechs held a 58-57 lead. Back and forth the game went. Both teams fought for every point; both teams battled for every play. Finally, on the last possession of the third, Czech Republic shooting guard Pavel Slezak drilled a key three reclaiming a 68-67 lead for his team at the end of the third. Slezak's two threes in the third energized the Czech offense and Ales Chan gave his team important minutes from the bench including a thunderdunk over smaller Swiss post defenders. Ten minutes remained to claim victory number three.
Swiss point guard Stefan Petkovic was excellent for his team. Here Stefan finishes an and-1 behind the head hook shot as he draws a foul from Pavel Houska The fourth quarter continued with tremendous intensity. Every time one team edged ahead, the other battled back. Early in the fourth, Pavel Slezak buried a big three from the right wing and was fouled. The four point play gave the Czech team a 72-69 lead. But an unsportsmanlike foul for grabbing a shirt in transition, allowed the Swiss to retake a 73-72 lead. But Petr Benda's clutch shooting and skillful post play pushed the Czech team to an 81-77 advantage. Big man Greg Brunner answered for the Swiss providing an 83-81 lead. Big baskets from Benda and Michal Carnecky lifted the Czech team to an 87-83 advantage into the closing minutes. But Brunner answered with a strong score inside pulling the Swiss within a basket 87-85. After an empty possession from the Czech team, Swiss head coach Sebastian Roduit called for timeout. Out of the timeout, a ballscreen action freed up good shooting big man Oliver Vogt on the right wing. The former Pitt State Gorilla big man nailed a game tying basket just inside the three point line with 4.5 seconds to play. Pavel signaled for timeout. With the scoreboard even at 87, we would have our chance to win. Pavel drew up a play for Pavel Pumprla, similar to the one which had helped us score clutch baskets in Sofia Bulgaria. Prepared to get a good shot with our potential game winning possession, the players returned to the floor focused to get the win. Unfortunately, as Pumprla took the inbound pass, he dribbled wide to evade a defender and was forced into a desperation attempt just before the buzzer. Missing the last second look, time had run out and our team faced another overtime. 87-87, huddling at our bench for overtime, we had been there before.
Swiss big man Greg Brunner was a force inside scoring 27 points with 8 rebounds in the game. Without question, our experience together in Sofia Bulgaria and Panevygas Lithuania playing overtime helped us. Putting the ball inside on our first two possessions, Pavel Houska and Petr Benda got buckets on the block giving the Czech team a 93-87 lead. We stormed ahead filled with confidence from our previous overtime experiences. Once again, Houska and Benda came through scoring back to back buckets to extend the advantage. Finally, the hungry Swiss team came up empty and after 40 plus minutes of struggling back and forth, we had control. With intelligent play to seal the game, Czech players dribbled out the game clock and celebrated a hardfought 99-92 road win. Caught up in the intensity of the moment, we enjoyed our accomplishment together. Nothing else mattered. We picked up our third official FIBA win of the summer and took control of the Group. But it was not easy. Then again, achieving a challenge like this shouldn't be. Both teams shot 56% from the floor with the Czechs converting 9 of 22 threes (40%) and the Swiss sinking 7 of 14 from beyind the arc. Czechs made 14 of 15 free throws (93%) to Swiss 19 of 31 (61%) and Czechs outrebounded Swiss 28-27. Czech bench players outscored the Swiss bench 31-13 and outrebounded them 16-4. Captain Petr Benda paced Czech offensive production with an outstanding 25 point 7 rebound performance followed by 20 points from Pavel Slezak on 5 of 8 three point shooting and 17 points from Pavel Pumprla. Pavel Houska also got many key buckets on his way to 13 points 8 boards. For the Swiss, Greg Brunner posted 27 points 8 rebounds, Stefan Petkovic added 19 points 7 assists, Oliver Vogt had 15 points and Cedric Mutafa chipped in 13 points 6 boards to the loss. Proud to be a part of our accomplishment, I made sure everyone knew about our hardearned win. While players did their cool-down stretch along the baseline I flashed the number three american and european style with the thumb. We were the only undefeated team in our group. We were the only team with three wins. We had come together in mid-July and we had worked together for one month. We made our time together special. We made our time together successful. And as we revelled in the moment of our overtime road victory in Fribourg, we were the only team with three. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm and international baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
|
. |
 |
 |
Email: info@taylorhoops.com