INTERVIEW - Miha Lapornik: "We'll do our best to upset Zvezda again"

Tuesday, 05. January 2016 at 15:00

Union Olimpija have achieved a big road win in the derby against arch rivals from Novo mesto, which certainly raised the level of atmosphere in the green and white squad. We have talked to Miha Lapornik after the big win.

Union Olimpija have achieved a big road win in the derby against arch rivals from Novo mesto, which certainly raised the level of atmosphere in the green and white squad. We have talked to Miha Lapornik after the big win.

The sharp-shooting Ljubljana guard spoke about the big triumph, perhaps the most valuable this season for his team, about the forthcoming game against Crvena zvezda Telekom, which the Dragons have already upset this season and about the season in general. Read more below.

In the past several seasons Union Olimpija did not succeed to do it often - but this season you have beaten Krka twice. What are your feelings like after celebrating a win on the road in Novo mesto?

"The feelings after winning in Novo mesto are good. Like you said, we have beaten Krka twice this season. We knew that only with solid defense and smart offense we can triumph in Novo mesto. We sticked to instructions of our coaching staff. Perhaps our offense did not work as planned, but everything else did. We are happy that the pair of points went to Ljubljana with us."

Do you think that this prestigious win can represent a turing point this season for you and begin your comeback from the crisis that you found yourselves in?

"I think that it indeed can be a turning point and turn out to be a beginning of new journey. In Eurocup extremely tough games are ahead of us, but I believe that we can continue winning in the ABA League if we play the way we did in Novo mesto."

You will play your next ABA League game against Crvena zvezda Telekom, which you have surprisingly beaten away from home in the first half of the season. Do you believe that you can repeat the success?

"Crvena zvezda Telekom, that is the main trophy contender in the ABA League is coming to Ljubljana. I believe that we will do everything to upset them again. We must play the way we did in Belgrade - we must play defense on that level and control the rebounding part of the game. On the offense we must play relaxed and like as the team, the way we are capable of playing."

Just like against Krka you shined in Belgrade with fantastic individual performance. Do these kinds of »big« games represent a bigger motive to you since you are constantly playing them well?

"Strong games are for sure an additional motivation for every player. It is similar with me, but I still try my best to play every game the best possible way, regardless of the opposition. I believe that this is the only way to make progress."

How do you see your season so far and what do you expect from the forthcoming part of the season?

"Our ABA League season so far hasn't gone the way we desired before it began. Still, I think that everything was not that bad at all. With the beginning of new year we are determined to keep winning and to make progress with every game. I hope us to achieve as many wins as possible."

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Miha Lapornik: "Naredili bomo vse da ponovimo uspeh proti Zvezdi"

Union Olimpija je dosegla pomembno gostujočo zmago v derbiju proti velikemu rivalu iz Novega mesta, ki je prav gotovo dvignil raven razpoloženja v garderobi zeleno-belih. Po tekmi smo se pogovorili z Miho Lapornikom.

Ostrostrelec moštva iz Ljubljane je spregovoril o velikem zmagoslavju, morda celo najpomembnejšem to sezono za njegovo moštvo, o prihajajočem obračunu proti Crveni zvezdi Telekom, ki so jo zmaji v tej sezoni že presenetili, pa tudi o sezoni na splošno. Več si preberite v spodnjih vrsticah.

V preteklih nekaj sezonah Union Olimpiji to ni uspevalo pogosto - letos pa ste Krko ugnali že drugič v dveh poizkusih. Kakšni so občutki nekaj dni po zmagoslavju na derbiju v Novem mestu?

"Občutki po zmagi v Novem mestu so dobri. Drži, Krko smo letos dvakrat premagali. Vedeli smo, da lahko zgolj s trdo obrambo in pametnim napadom pridemo do zmage v Novem mestu. Držali smo se navodil, mogoče napad ni stekel, ampak vse ostalo je bilo po načrtih. Veseli smo, da je zmaga odšla v Ljubljano."

Menite, da lahko ta prestižna zmaga za vas predstavlja preobrat v sezoni in začetek poti iz rezultatske krize, v kateri se nekaj časa nahajate?

"Mislim, da zmaga na derbiju lahko predstavlja nekakšen preobrat v sezoni in nov začetek poti. V evropskem pokalu so pred nami izjemno težke tekme, ampak sem mnenja, da v ligi ABA lahko nadaljujemo z zmagami, če igramo na podobni ravni kot v Novem mestu."

Prihodnjo tekmo igrate proti Crveni zvezdi Telekom, katero ste v prvem delu sezone nepričakovano premagali na gostovanju. Verjamete v ponovitev velikega uspeha?

"V Ljubljano prihaja Crvena zvezda Telekom, ki je zagotovo glavni favorit za osvojitev lige ABA. Verjamem, da bomo naredili vse, da jih zopet presenetimo. Igrati moramo podobno kot v Beogradu, obramba in kontrola skoka morata biti na visokem nivoju. V napadu moramo odigrati sproščeno in predvsem ekipno, tako kot znamo."

Tako kot proti Krki, ste tudi v Beogradu blesteli z odlično individualno predstavo. Vas takšne „velike" tekme še posebej motivirajo glede na to da se kot po pravilu na njih izkažete?

"Močne tekme so zagotovo za vsakega igralca še dodatna motivacija. Podobno je pri meni, a vseeno, trudim se, da grem vsako tekmo na vso moč, ne glede na nasprotnika. Sem mnenja, da zgolj s takim pristopom lahko napreduješ kot igralec."

Kako ocenjujete dosedanji del sezone in kaj pričakujete od njenega nadaljevanja?

"Dosedanji del sezone v ligi ABA se res ni izšel kot smo si želeli pred začetkom sezone. Vseeno, mislim, da vse le ni bilo tako slabo. Z novim letom smo odločeni, da nadaljujemo z zmagami in, da napredujemo z vsako tekmo. Upam, da dosežemo čim večje število zmag."
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