The Russian team is not represented at the World Basketball Championship, which takes place these days in Japan. But our fan still has someone to worry about: in the Land of the Rising Sun, the “damn dozen” legionnaires playing in the domestic championship immediately play. Izvestia selected the best of them and formed their own alternative Russian team.
Theodoros Papaloukas (Greece, CSKA). Point guard.
Papaloukas is experiencing the best period of his career. At last year’s European Championship, it was largely thanks to him that the Greeks sensationally took first place, and in May it was he who led the army team to triumph in the “Final Four” of the ULEB Euroleague. “Papaloukas is a unique basketball player,” says one of CSKA's coaches Evgeny Pashutin. “With excellent purely playing qualities, the main feature of this player is primarily his indomitable energy, which allows a guy in a very emotional style to snatch victories in the end of difficult matches.”
Dariush Lavrynovych (Lithuania, UNICS). Center.
A twin brother who has been playing in the Russian championship for several years, Krzysztof just moved to Russia from Vilnius Zalgiris this summer, although our clubs have been trying to get such talent in their ranks for more than a year. In the 2005/06 season, Dariusz became the best in the Euroleague in block shots - an average of 2.71 per match. He also scored an average of 15 points per match and was selected in the second symbolic five of the Euroleague at the end of the season. In the star composition of the Lithuanians, this basketball player does not play a leading role, but his contribution to the success of the team is already invaluable. “Dariusz is one of the strongest centers in Europe,” says the head coach of the Lithuanian team and Kazan UNICS Antanas Sireika. “He has not only an effective manner of playing under the shield, but also an excellent vision of the court, which always allows you to be at the right time in the right place” .
Ruben Volkoviski (Argentina, Khimki). Center.
The 2004 Olympic champion is rightly considered one of the most respected players in world basketball. During his career, Ruben managed to play not only for such giants of the Old World as CSKA and Olympiacos, but not without success tried his hand at the NBA, playing for the Boston Celtics and Seattle Supersonics clubs. A distinctive feature of the Argentinean with Polish roots is the ability not only to block all approaches to his shield, but also to consistently gain points on someone else's. “For some reason, many believe that the finest hour of our team ended in Athens,” says Volkoviski. “But I know that we are still in no way inferior to that team.”
Ognen Ashkrabić (Serbia and Montenegro, Dynamo St. Petersburg). Forward
Ashkrabich, playing in his team at the center position, does not hide that he is much more interested in acting as a powerful forward, as in Dynamo. This basketball player acts effectively both under the shield and at longer distances, often leading opponents into a stupor with his unexpected and accurate three-point shots. Serbia and Montenegro, which is experiencing difficult times, is one of the undisputed leaders. “Ashkrabich is a very talented player for whom there are simply no unsolvable tasks,” says Fotis Katsikaris, head coach of Dynamo St. Petersburg. “The phrase“ burning eyes ”is banal, but accurate: they are just like that for Ognen.”
Miroslav Rachevic (Serbia and Montenegro, Dynamo M). Forward
Newcomer to Moscow “Dynamo” Rachevich has not yet become a star of the first magnitude, but the potential that he possesses promises rich harvests in the future. Just the attention to this basketball player, the coach of the blue and white Dusan Ivkovic, says a lot. A distinctive quality of Rachevich is versatility. He can adequately play in several positions at once, which is a treasure for any coach. “Rachevic is one of those players that all fans of our country are praying for today,” says Serbian mentor Dragan Sakota. “He doesn’t always get along with emotions, so I need to figure out now how to put them into action.”
Andrey Ivantsov