A Chat with Smart Gilas’ new import

This appears in the Monday May 10 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

A Chat with Smart Gilas’ new import

by rick olivares

A Chat with Milan Vucicevic

Business Mirror columnist Rick Olivares had an opportunity to talk to Smart Gilas Pilipinas’ new candidate for naturalization, Serbian Milan Vucicevic. What follows is a portion of the interview.

Rick: How tall are you and from where in Serbia are you?

Vucicevic: I’m 24 years old and I stand 6’10’ and am from Belgrade, Serbia.

Rick: How did you get into basketball? What were your favorite teams and players growing up?

Vucicevic: Basketball was my big love from young age. I started playing it in school with my friends and I never stopped playing the game since. It’s part of national identity in Serbia, everybody plays basketball and I have always supported national team of Yugoslavia and Serbia later. They won every competition possible so those guys were great to look up to. Aside from my countrymen, I also admire players like Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Luis Scola. So you can tell my game from who I admire.

Rick: How hard is it being a professional basketball player?

Vucicevic: I can tell you it’s hard but if you do it from right reasons and in right way, you find joy and fun of course. Being outside of your country, separated from your family, it is a huge sacrifice. Hard work and devotion is life of professional basketball player. When wins and success comes everything makes sense. It becomes worth it. One of the benefits is that you meet lot of different people all around the world and your life becomes richer and more colorful.

Rick: What teams have you played for? How many countries have you played in?

Vucicevic: I played in lot of different teams in Europe and Asia. I played in Serbia, Ukraine, Greece, Poland, Cyprus, Iran, Qatar, in Arabic Club Championship in Beirut, Lebanon. I pIayed against most of the players that Smart Gilas is going to face in Asia Cup in Doha. I chose to go abroad to play when I was very young, and it is hard but I never regret it.

Rick: What is the most popular sport in Serbia -- football or basketball?

Vucicevic: BASKETBALL!!!

Rick: How do you feel about playing for Smart Gilas and the Philippines?

Vucicevic: I feel good about it. Everywhere I go is an opportunity. This is different. Rajko Toroman is the coach so that is good also. I am excited. I saw them play abroad so it would be nice to be a part of that team.