JOSKO VIN’ IT TO WIN IT AND HE’S EVERY CHANCE
some basketball,”he says.
“Before the war began I played basketball in my homeland and represented my country in 3on3.
“I am now looking forward to my new life with my family in Ireland and playing lots of basketball with Demons.
Lives
“As I prepare for my game I’m thinking of those at home and the many who have lost their lives for theYellow and Blue of Ukraine.”
The Neptune Stadium will be packed to near capacity for tonight’s meeting of Bykov’s Demons and hot favourites Neptune.
Demons are back in the top flight with Danny O’Mahony still in charge.
“Yes, it is great to be back where we belong,” says the Demons coach. “When Stuart and I took over the U18 and U20s in 2019 our aim was to be back in the SuperLeague in three to four years and bring National success along the way.
“We have a young group and we have added the leadership of Kyle, Carlton and Ryan Murphy so that we have a good mix.”
Colin O’Reilly’s Neptune side are definitely amongst the favourites for silverware.
“Teams this year have done a nice job putting good squads together,”says O’Reilly.
Tight
“Both the conferences were tight last year and with the addition of a new team in each I expect the same and the playoff places could go down to who builds chemistry the fastest and can get a few upset wins early on while players settle in.
“Saturday’s game is huge for both clubs.” (below)
Tipping
They are well equipped to do so, that’s for sure, especially with former UCD Marian man Srzic at the helm.
Many are tipping them as potential Conference winners — and little wonder.
One of St Vincent’s bigname additions is Stefan Zecevic.
Srzic said: “We needed a leader and I saw Stefan as that person.”
The ex-BDS Éanna’s man is no stranger to the Irish Super League and made the Basketball Ireland National League All-Stars team the past two season.
He also averaged 20 points per game.
So he brings a lot to the table.
But Srzic, who also has Donovan Fields and Giorgi Tvalabeishvili to call upon, is under no illusion about the size of the task his side faces all the same this season.
Ahead of St Vincent’s opening game against Belfast Star today (6.30pm) at De La Salle College in the North Conference Super League, Srzic said: “The quality of the league is much improved,very team looks dangerous.
“When I took the job I realised we had to bring in players to be competitive.”
Which is why Fields and Tvalabeishvili were recruited.
Point guard Donovan, a native of New York, spent four years at NCAA D1 College Cal Poly, where he captained and averaged 17 points per game in his senior year.
He spent last year in the Bosnia A1
Liga, averaging 25 points per game and five assists.
Tvalabeishvili lined out for Georgia at underage level and also played in the Georgian Super League.
The club say “his athleticism and highflying plays are sure to excite this season”.
“Hopefully, these additions will help,” said the super-excited Serbian.
St Vincent’s gain is, of course, at the expense of Éanna, who will sorely miss Zecevic.
Éanna’s head coach Darren McGovern, whose side host EJ Sligo AllStars today (7pm), said: “He is a huge loss, but we couldn’t afford to keep him.
“But we have brought in Sean Jenkins after a few years in the States.
“And we have also added the experienced Scott Kinnevane and Marco Tomic.”
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors will be in contention for honours once again this season.
John Dowling’s side take on Flexachem KCYMS in a local derby tonight (7.30pm).
Watch
Dowling believes that “Neptune and Maree are definitely the ones to watch” in the South Conference.”
Last season’s surprise packets Tradehouse Central Ballincollig are all change as they head to Moycullen (4pm).
Ciaran O’Sullivan takes charge of the side as player-coach.
He said: “Moycullen have had great success at underage and many of those players are coming through.”
But he added: “We have a new American, John Dawson, and a Spanish player, Jose Jimenez.”
Ballincollig are also boosted by the inclusion of Ronan O’Sullivan after a spell in Vietnam to add depth in the front court. TODAY: InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League North Conference: Belfast Star v Bright St Vincents (6.30pm); UCD Marian v Killester (7pm); DBS Éanna v EJ Sligo AllStars (7pm). South Conference: Tradehouse Central Ballincollig v Moycullen (4pm); C&S Neptune v UCC Demons (6.30pm); Garvey’s Tralee Warriors v Flexachem KCYMS (7.30pm). Cross-Conference: Griffith College Templeogue v NUIG Maree (7.30pm).