Hapoel Holon opens tonight its performances in the top 16 of the Champions League in an away match against the French Strasbourg.
From the other side will stand a very experienced coach, who not long ago achieved a huge achievement in his second position as coach of the Latvian national team.
The 57-year-old Italian Luca Banki did not start the season in Strasbourg, he joined it about two months ago in place of the Finnish coach Lassie Tobi, when the team was in a major crisis.
He stabilized the team in the league and completed its direct promotion to the top 16. In a conversation from France, after a league win over Le Mans, he says: "I came to a team where the players felt bad because of the lack of success. My job was to restore their confidence and belief, get them ready for the game and put in them a sense of urgency.
There were problems of chemistry and the structure of the group.
We came back to win, we are in the center of the table in France, but the ability is still not good enough and we are suffering from injuries to significant players like Matt Mitchell."
Banky.
Stabilize the boat, photo: FIBA
How do you see the game against Holon?
"This is a very good team. A team that in recent years is constantly growing and developing, it reached the Final Four last season. They have good players, a good combination of the American and local players. This is a stable and tough team that is well trained. It will be a great challenge."
When you coached in Milan, Joe Ragland played for you.
"It was a season that came after we almost made it to the Final Four in the Euroleague, and the expectations were high. It was a good season for the team and for me. Joe had his ups and downs then, but he is a very talented player and I am very happy to see his success in recent years. He is undoubtedly one The best center backs in the Champions League."
Hapoel Holon.
"There will be a big challenge", photo: Liron Moldovan
There is another Israeli team in the house, Hapoel Jerusalem.
"I saw them when they played in Ludwigsburg when I came to see Marks Meiris, who is one of the most important players in the Latvian national team that I coach. I like the way the team plays, and I'm a big fan of Aleksandar Džikić and the basketball he plays."
How do you see the Israeli-French house where Dijon also plays?
"We will have a difficult life in this house. The level is very high. It is a house with four teams that can reach the Final Four, in my opinion. I am only disappointed that we do not arrive with our full squad due to injuries and not at our full potential."
Dzikic.
Banky appreciates him, photo: Alan Shiver
A great achievement with the Latvian national team
Banki can be proud of the great achievement in his coaching career, when a few months ago he brought the Latvian national team to the World Championship that will be held this summer.
The prominent name that plays under him in the national uniform is, of course, the player of the Washington Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis.
He says: "This is a great achievement. This is the first time in history that the team has advanced to the World Championship. The achievement becomes even greater when you remember that this is a team that advanced from a qualifying tournament that preceded the qualifiers. The secret was hard work, committed players who are proud to represent the country, a team that is full of caring and a desire to make up for previous failures that were for the national team."
Two years ago, when Hapoel Yerushalayim fired Oren Amiel, the possibility arose that Banky would be the one to replace him: "I had a Zoom conversation with Yotam Halperin, which in retrospect didn't come out of it and they appointed another coach (Daunis Adumiitis, AS) and I have no regrets."
Immediately after, the coach left for the USA, where he spent a season as an assistant coach in the development league, an experience that he defines as "interesting, different, an opportunity to see basketball from a different angle."
Banky.
Mentioned as a candidate for Jerusalem, photo: FIBA
Banki is also remembered by Israelis as a coach who stood on the wrong side in the famous series known as the "Milan Miracle".
The playoff series in which Maccabi Tel Aviv made a big change in the first game in Milan, which he coached, advanced to the Final Four of the Euroleague and took the cup there.
When I tell him that in Israel everyone remembers that historic series, he replies: "I prefer to forget," and only adds: "You have to praise my good friend David Blatt, who then had a unique season and with a great comeback that ended with winning the Euroleague. Unfortunately for us, we met them in the playoffs ".
Langford.
Prefers to forget his foul, photo: Udi Tsitiat
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