Svetislav Pesic thinks it's right time to form new league / News - Basketnews.com

Setislav Pesic says it's time to form the new Serbian professional league.

Credit: Alexander Shcherbak/TASS - Scanpix Credit Alexander Shcherbak/TASS - Scanpix

Before the grand final of the Radivoj Korac Cup, Serbian NT head coach Svetislav Pesic appeared in the local discussion in Nis and dedicated part of his speech to Serbian basketball, including its clubs and their status in European basketball.

2-pointers this season

55%19,2Points made:19,2Accuracy:54,6%Place in standings:10Record max:33Record min:11Most made 2FGs:Filip PetrusevTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Pesic thinks that the Serbian club basketball structure needs changes. According to him, the Adriatic League is over, so it's the right time to form their own professional league.

"We accepted the ABA League as such in 2001. Then it was a good idea, but everything has changed. Today we all want to go to Europe and play there," Pesic pointed out, via Mozzart Sport.

"Zvezda and Partizan have no interest in playing in the ABA League. They are forced to compete there because it is the only way to play in the EuroLeague. Since changes are happening at the European level, we have to prepare for them.

It's an ideal time to make a transition and form our own professional league. When the EuroLeague inevitably expands to two conferences due to the great interest of the clubs, we have to prepare for our league," the 73-year-old underlined.

The Basketball League of Serbia is currently a top-tier league in Serbia. The competition is operated by the Basketball Federation of Serbia. It has 16 teams, but neither of them is well-known in the European context.

"If we have Crvena Zvezda, Partizan, Mega, FMP, Vojvodina, and other teams playing in the new league and advancing to European competitions from that league, it will be different," Pesic continued. "Today, no club in Serbia, not counting Zvezda and Partizan, plays against a team, not from our region. We are in a position where our young prospects do not have the opportunity to play against other clubs from abroad. We want to compete with the Spaniards, Turks, and Germans."

Serbian NT head coach also believes that Serbia must change its basketball mentality.

"We have to understand that someone is doing something better than us. Successful people and coaches are those who are ready to learn. That is the right way to be better," he said.

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