INTERVIEW: Jure Lalić - To stay healthy and to use our experience

The squad of MZT Skopje Aerodrom are working hard these days, highly motivated after a convincing win over Zadar in the previous round. However, they are well aware that the win vs. Zadar will not mean a lot if the team do not triumph in the upcoming local derby against Karpoš Sokoli.

Head coach Ante Nazor has already started making tactics for the next match, while one of the key figures in that game plan will be experienced center Jure Lalić. He played 15 games for MZT Skopje Aerodrom in the 2016/17 season, averaging 11,1 points and 4,5 rebounds along the way.

Read the full interview with Jure Lalić:

What is the atmopshere inside the team after you have finally managed to break the losing streak in ABA League by scoring a convincing win against Zadar?

"This win has helped us a lot to regain confidence, however we are aware that every game until the end of the season will be crucial for us. We are fighting for the ABA League survival, so we need to approach every next game as it will be our last. The atmosphere inside the team is now much better, still we know that we are going to have a very difficult game on Friday."

Was the game against Zadar kind of special for you and head coach Nazor, regarding the fact that both of you used to be part of that club in the past?

"I think that the game was a bit more special for the coach as he spent the last 5 years in Zadar. I was there 10 years ago and I have played many games against Zadar since then. So, I did not have any special feelings about this match."

The battle for the ABA League survival will be very exciting, what will be the key thing in the rest of the season?

"It has become quite intense and I expect a tough battle in every next game, especially in the clashes against the teams who are in the danger zone. Although there are 8 rounds left until the end of the season, we will go step by step, because we honesty did not expect to find ourselves in this kind of situation. We now have to use every single opportunity to improve our situation. I think that the key factor will be experience as well as the team health condition. If we all stay healthy until the end of the season then the chances to keep the ABA League status are not just big, but also quite realistic."

Your next match is the local derby against Karpoš Sokoli, which may decide many things in the battle for the ABA League survival. Will that be perhaps the most important game for you so far in the season?

"It is a fact that this match is very important to us, but I think that it is equally important as all the other games in the rest of the season. Karpoš Sokoli weren't playing so good at the start, but they have improved over the time, especially at the home court where they scored 6 consecutive wins. We are in front of a very difficult match, our opponents have some very good players, but I believe in the positive outcome."

What are the advantages of MZT Skopje Aerodrom in the clash against Karpoš Sokoli?

"To get a win from this match we need to increase the level in defense, because we usually do not have problems in offense as we are scoring 80-90 points in each game. The only way to beat them is to close all ways toward our basket, which won't be easy at all as Karpoš Sokoli have a lot of players who can score from distance. Even their tall players can shoot. I will repeat, it won't be easy, but we are going to give our best to score a win."

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Lalić: Iskustvoto i dobriot zdravstven bilten će bidat klučni vo bitkata za opstanok!

Košarkarite na MZT Skopje Aerodrom denovive naporno rabotat, osokoleni od ubedlivata pobeda protiv Zadar, no i svesni deka taa nema mnogu da znači ako ne bide potvrdena vo petočniot duel protiv lokalniot protivnik Karpoš Sokoli, zakažana na terenot na protivnikot.

Trenerot Ante Nazor poleka ja postavuva igrata so koja bi trebalo da se skrotat „sokolite“, a eden od klučnite aduti vo nea e hrvatskiot centar Jure Lalić, kogo go očekuva teška bitka so kvalitetnite visoki igrači na karpošovci. Hrvatot sezonava nastapi na 15 sredbi so prosek od 11,1 poen i 4,5 skokovi.

Vo prodolženie pročitajte gi razmisluvanjata na Lalić po pobedata nad Zadar, a pred derbito so Karpoš Sokoli.

Kakva e atmosferata vo ekipite ovaa nedela, otkako konečno uspeavte da ja prekinete serijata porazi i toa so ubedliva igra i visoka pobeda vo duelot so Zadar?

„Ovaa pobeda i toa kako dobro ni dojde za da ja podigneme samodoverbata, iako sme svesni deka sekoja sledna sredba za nas će bide rešavačka. Vo bitka za opstanok sme i na sekoj od pretstojnite mečevi treba da mu pristapime kako da e posleden. Atmosferata e podobra, no svesni sme deka veće vo petok ne očekuva težok natprevar protiv Karpoš Sokoli so koj ja prodolžuvame ovaa borba za opstanok vo ABA-ligata.“

Dali za vas lično, no i za trenerot Nazor, ovoj duel beše vo nekoja smisla poseben so ogled na toa što igravme protiv vašiot Zadar?

„Mislam deka sredbata beše nešto posebna za našiot trener, so ogled na toa što toj izminatite pet godini beše vo Zadar. Jas vo ovoj grad bev pred mnogu vreme, činam ima veće deset godini i veće imam odigrano mnogu sredbi protiv ovoj tim taka da jas lično nemav nekoi posebno golemi tenzii pred ovaa presmetka.“

Borbata za opstanok će bide vozbudliva, što će bide klučno za preostanatiot del od sezonata?

„Situacijata okolu opstanokot vo ligata maksimalno se zakomplicira i očekuvam golema borba za sekoja pobeda do krajot na sezonata, osobeno vo presmetkite pomeđu ekipite koi se vo opasnata zona. Imame osum natprevari do krajot i će odime čekor po čekor bidejći neočekuvano se najdovme vo edna vakva situacija, koja nikako ne ja očekuvavme pred startot na sezonata. Sega će mora da ja iskoristime sekoja šansa za da go popravime vpečatokot. Mislam deka će bide klučno iskustvoto, kako i zdravstveniot bilten na ekipite. Ako do kraj odigrame vo poln sostav togaš šansite da go izbegneme toa posledno mesto ne samo što se golemi tuku se i sosema realni.“

Pred vas e gradskoto derbi so Karpoš Sokoli, koe može mnogu raboti da reši vo bitkata za opstanok, a verojatno nosi i mnogu poveće od samo rezultatska presmetka. Dali e ova možebi najvažnata sredba sezonava za MZT Skopje Aerodrom?

„Fakt e deka e ova isklučitelno važna sredba za nas, no mislam deka e i podednakvo važna kako i site sledni koi ne očekuvaat. Karpoš Sokoli na početokot od sezonata ne igraše nešto posebno, no kako odminuvaše vremeto i so promenata na trenerot počna dobro da igra, osobeno na domašen teren kade što se vo niza od šest pobedi. Ne čeka težok duel, protivnikot ima navistina dobri igrači, no pred nas se ušte nekolku dena vo koi će se podgotvime dobri i navistina veruvam vo pozitiven ishod.“

Koi se prednostite na vašiot tim na ovoj meč?

„Našata šansa za pobeda e vo krevanjeto na intenzitetot vo odbranata, bidejći vo napadot i nemame pogolemi problemi so ogled na toa što postignuvame 80-90 poeni rečisi vo sekoj natprevar. Edinstven način da go dobime ovoj protivnik e dobro odbrambeno da gi zatvorime, što nema da bide lesno bidejći tie imaat mnogu igrači koi možat da pogodat od dalečina, osobeno među visokite centri. Znam deka nema da bide lesno, no će dademe se od sebe.“