"Human and sensitive, but also pedantic and uncompromising": the trophy named after Alexander Dzikic - voila! sport

Hapoel Jerusalem players celebrate winning the cup (Twitter, JerusalemBasket)

If there's one thing Aleksandar Džikić loves on the way to lift trophies, it's watching millions of bills fly through the air.

Not his, nor his employers', but the rival's.

* In 2011, he won the first significant title of his career, when he defeated the Lokomotiv Kuban star team with Novo Mesto in the Eurochallenge final.

His team trailed by eight with four minutes remaining, and flew to 2:16 on the way to the turnaround.

* Seven years later, he and Boduchenost stunned Red Star Belgrade in the final series of the Adriatic League, and won the championship with a resounding 1:3 without the home advantage, with all the victories they record by a margin ranging from one point to four.

It was the only time since 2015 that Cervena Zavezda did not hold the title, and the Montenegrins qualified for the Euroleague at her expense.

* And here, last night (Thursday), another rival decorated with titles and budgets fell Shaduda against Dzikic's team.

Three years and three days after their last title, Hapoel Jerusalem tasted champagne again when they beat Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final of the Israeli Cup.

This time, for a change, it wasn't even that dramatic;

Despite the close game, the Reds trailed for the last time in the sixth minute.

Closing time: Hapoel Jerusalem won the state cup after a defensive performance.

Jerusalem praises Džikić: "Professional".

Hankins: "We are the best in Israel"

Itai Segev and Jerusalem celebrate: "All week I planned in my head the lifting of the trophy"

Disappointment in Maccabi Tel Aviv, criticism of Ketch: "They saw an inability to influence"

The best show in the league.

Dzikic (photo: Barney Ardov)

In recent weeks, the owner of the club, Eyal Chomsky, decided to contact the Serb and offer him a contract extension.

Apparently, there was no need for this;

Džikić is signed for another season with a two-way exit option in the summer, but the capital wants to avoid surprises.

They realized that they should keep this coach, even if it means opening the original agreement, if only to ensure that he stays for at least another season, if not two.

The contacts are at an advanced stage, and former CEO Guy Harel also participated in some of the talks, who, beyond these mediation efforts, is not really involved in what is happening in Jerusalem. The announcement of the renewed signing is expected soon, and it is not impossible that both parties would have reached it even if the final had ended differently.

"He has an amazing combination of humanity and sensitivity towards the players and an uncompromising pedantry that I have never encountered," Chomsky compliments the coach.

The professional manager Yonatan Alon adds that "He came and made his mark so quickly on the players, with his method of play and his special character. The contacts with him? I'm only willing to say that we strongly believe in continuity."

And Džikić himself?

"Why wouldn't I want to stay here," he said with his usual nonchalance when asked about it.

"Dzilla" defeated Oded Ketch in the knockout final.

He set the pace of the game, prevented Lorenzo Brown from managing Maccabi's attack (with the help of close and aggressive guarding, mainly by Or Cornelius), led his interior players to complete control of the rebound and left the opponent frustrated and helpless.

More in Walla!

Jerusalem praises Dzikic: "Professional".

Hankins: "We are the best in Israel"

To the full article

A match made in heaven.

Dzikich with Chomsky (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

If there is one player who exemplifies the way that Džikić managed to do in his short months in Israel, it is Speedy Smith.

The fans had a hard time connecting with him at first, the criticisms were heard from all sides, even within the club there were those who pushed to make a change in the back line - and only the coach completely believed in the center back and was not ready to hear about a replacement.

"He told me, 'I don't understand you people in Israel. When someone is not good, you replace him. I build him up,'" Chomsky recalled, without revealing whether he was specifically referring to Smith.

But Smith, not the easiest player to digest, was named MVP of the Cup;

He was there at all critical points and in all important attacks to score the most fateful baskets and assists.

In the summer, a day after he signed in Jerusalem, Smith said here that "it's special to win the championship when you're the underdog, and I want to do it again in Israel as well", referring to the sensational way in which he marched Letovus Ritas Vilnius to the title in Lithuania.

"This is just the beginning of something special, but we want to win two more titles, the Champions League and the Israeli Championship."

"I respect them a lot, but I haven't proved my point yet," smiled the American center.

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• Hapoel Jerusalem

• Aleksandar Dzikic