Mihai Rosoiu(translated by Daniel Gheorghe )
In sports as well as in life we are condemned to pass annoyingly fast from one state of mind to another. Basketball is no different and the best proof for this is current situation surrounding Municipal MCM Targoviste. In no more than a week "The Clockwork Orange" has come to know the rise as well as the fall.
Being eliminated from FIBA Cup and defeated in Sfantu Gheorghe has made us understand that we are merely mortals and we can not win forever. The two moments have been perceived like a hook followed by an uppercut, both hitting a chin that had not been touched until then. Without representing a tragedy, the two failures hurt like hell. Broken dreams that represent a generous opportunity for the defamers. If until yesterday some of us, the people close to the team, were spreading the image of demigods, from now we must learn a few essential things:
... let`s learn that vanity eventually gets paid
... let`s learn that we are not omniscient
... let`s learn not to disregard our opponent
... let`s learn that beyond all the rights in the world we also have obligations
... let`s learn to please those who put their trust in us unconditionally
... let`s learn to respect ourselves
... let`s learn to self-assess ourselves
... let`s learn to earn our money and our "rank"
... let`s learn to take responsibility for our mistakes
... let`s learn that there`s a limit to everything
... let`s respect our fans
... let`s not get in over our heads
... let`s learn that the judgment day will come
... let`s learn to pass the ball and not the fault
... let`s learn to be a ... team.
[Comment...]
Municipal Targoviste collapsed in the fourth-quarter at Dynamo Kursk on Wednesday and crashed out of the EuroCup Women. Trailing by 18 after the first leg in Romania, Dynamo won 76-55 to claim a 133-130 victory on aggregate. It`s going to take a long time for Targoviste to get over the shock of this setback.They were in good shape at the end of the third quarter and only trailed 53-49, giving them a 14-point lead over the two legs. Kursk`s Sandra Linkeviciene poured in eight points in 14-2 spurt to begin the final frame for the home side as they went on top 67-51 and pulled to within two points on aggregate. Olena Ogorodnikova interrupted the run with a basket for Targoviste, but that didn`t stop the bleeding. Donnette Snow ignited a 7-2 run for the Romanians that was capped by Ausra Bimbaite`s three-pointer with 40 seconds to go to make it 74-55 and put Kursk ahead in the tie.
Targoviste`s coach Catalin Tanase called a timeout but when play got underway again, Linkeviciene stole the ball from the visitors` Annemarie Parau. Algirdas Paulauskas decided to call a timeout. Targoviste`s Shay Doron, Linda Frohlich, Parau and Doron again each committed fouls, with the last putting Linkeviciene on the charity stripe. She made both for a 21-point advantage. Needing a three-pointer to knot the contest on aggregate, Targoviste`s Monika Isabela Boriga was off target with a shot from long range and time expired.
Algirdas Paulauskas, Head Coach Dynamo Kursk:
"It was a difficult and exhausting but exciting game. We knew that we had to win by 19 points but the Romanian team also knew it and didnt allow us more than an 8 points lead during the first three quarters. Finally at the end of the 4th quarter we found a way to win. It was not only our win, it was the win of all our fans. They were supporting us during the whole match, we didn`t have a choice but to win with such a support."
www.fibaeurope.com
[Comment...]
Municipal Targoviste put one foot in the EuroCup Women Semi-Finals by routing Dynamo Kursk on Wednesday. The Romanian club destroyed the visitors in the first leg, 75-57, giving them an 18-point aggregate lead heading into next week`s second leg in Russia.PHOTOS HERE!!!
Shay Doron, Tina Thompson and Linda Fröhlich all had big games for Targoviste. Doron and Thompson scored 15 points apiece with the latter also pulling down 10 rebounds. Fröhlich and Olena Ogorodnikova each finished with 14 points, with the former a rebound shy of a double-double.
Targoviste only led 19-16 by the end of the first quarter but they began the second frame with an 11-0 run that was sparked by a Fröhlich jump shot. Doron capped the spurt with a lay-up as the Targoviste team took control for good. The lead ballooned to 45-29 by half-time and they stayed in front by double digits the rest of the way. Kursk got 16 points and seven rebounds from Jillian Robbins while Varvara Psareva scored nine and grabbed 10 boards.
"It was a good game for us, but we can not consider ourselves qualified - not yet. It will be very difficult in Kursk, next week. I would like to thank our fans, they were our sixth player tonight."
www.fibaeurope.com
Here are a few photos from the game!The tropical storm that hit the Canary Islands in the last few days transferred some of it`s strength to the home team on Thursday night, as Gran Canaria won the second leg against Targoviste, final score 78-67 (19-18, 23-18, 13-14, 23-17).
MCM Targoviste didn`t defend at it`s best and this was supposed to be the best part of our game. Frohlich, Toma and Thompson had some tough times against A.Henry under the basket, while P.Arguello, R.Sanchez and J. Zlatanova scored a total of 27 points from outside the the three points line.
Nevertheless MCM accomplished what it came to Spain for. The final goal was to qualify to the quarter finals and that is what they did, even if they had to suffer for it. Talking about suffering, there was a lot of that in our player`s performances. Here are the stats!
„It`s a historical victory for Romania and for Targoviste. Besides that there are reasons for concern looking forward towards the game against Dynamo Kursk in the quarter finals. It will be the most important game in this phase of the competition, and we must play at our best to overcome this great obstacle. There is no favorite in this clash, maybe a slight advantage for Kursk who play the second game at home. It`s a unique moment in the history of Romanian club basketball and I`m glad that it has been made by Targoviste”.
[Comment...]
Daniel GheorgheShay Doron has been nominated by FIBA Europe for the Best Woman Player of the Year Award. Good luck Shay!
You can vote for her at www.fibaeurope.com
"Shay Doron-Israel and Municipal Targoviste
Another member of the EuroLeague Women All Star Team in 2009, Shay Doron had a successful season both for club and country. The 1.75m guard was unable to lead Israel past the first round of EuroBasket Women but put up impressive numbers over her three games, averaging 18.3 points per game. For club side Besiktas Doron was equally effective, averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game." - www.fibaeuope.com
[Comment...]
Municipal Targoviste`s Linda Fröhlich was on Friday named the EuroCup Women Player of the Week, an award based on players efficiency ratings.Fröhlich scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds on Thursday night in her team`s 80-55 win over Gran Canaria in the first of their two Eighth-Final Round match-ups.
Her team will head to Spain with a 25 point cushion thanks to her seven of seven shooting from three-point distance. She also blocked three shots and had three steals in the victory.
Fröhlich`s performance earned her an efficiency rating of 37, six points better then Courtney Paris of Botas Spor who scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in her team`s 76-67 win over USO Mondeville.
www.fibaeurope.com
[Comment...]
Daniel Gheorghe
Match highlights on www.fibatv.com
Photos from the game can be found here!
Full statistics from the game can be found here
MCM Targoviste won the game against Gran Canaria in the first leg of the eght finals 80-55 (20-17, 28-6, 22-13, 10-19).It was a great night for Targoviste who trashed their opponents in the game on Thursday night. Linda Frohlich was in great shape as she scored 7 three pointers out of 7 attempts. Gran Canaria couldnțt do anything to stop the hurricane coming from great shots signed by Frohlich and Doron.
The atmosphere in the stands was also at the highest level, as more than 2000 fans filled the Sports Hall and cheared for their favorites for the full length of the game. Another great moment was when Chrissy Givens, last years Romanian Championship MVP went out with the cheerleaders and danced to make the crowd go ”boom” once again.
Catalin Tanase, Municipal Targoviste:
I`m glad that we won but we shouldn`t consider ourselves winners. Gran Canaria is a tough opponent, they proved already that they can play well and we need to stay focused for the next game.
Domingo Diaz Martin, Head Coach Gran Canaria:
I must admit that Targoviste was the better team today. We`ll fight as hard as we can at home but it will be very difficult.
Gabriel Boriga, president Targoviste:
A piece of cake. We riddled them!
Courtesy of: www.fibaeurope.com
Catalin Tanase is a member of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate Program and the head coach of EuroCup Women side Municpal Targoviste. He will visit with FIBAEurope.com regularly for the remainder of the season.
Take a look at the roster of EuroCup Women side Municipal Targoviste, and you might think a clerical error has placed them in the wrong competition.
Tina Thompson, Shay Doron, Linda Frohlich and Natallia Marchanka are names that most fans of women`s basketball are used to seeing in EuroLeague Women, but head coach Catalin Tanase is lucky enough to have them with him in Targoviste where they are making waves in Europe.
Tanase is a member of the second ever class of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate, which got under way in Kaunas last summer at the U16 European Championship Men.
While putting his knowledge to work for the Romanian side he has agreed to share his experiences with FIBA Europe on a regular basis.
Catalin, tell us how you came to be coaching in Targoviste?
I was born in Targoviste and started my basketball career here as a junior. I played for the Romanian Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 national teams as well. In 1994 I was playing for a team in Bucharest for six years and at the same time I finished my studies at the sports academy, specializing in basketball. In 2000 I came back to Targoviste and played for the team here, and at the same time I started my coaching career at the junior level.
How did you get involved with coaching women`s basketball instead of the men?
I worked with the men`s team here as well, but in this moment I work with the women because this is where we have a chance to really succeed and make a good result. With the men`s team we cannot expect to be playing in Europe or winning the cup but with the women we can do it.
Is it different coaching women as opposed to men?
Totally different. Women are usually more sensible and do a better job of listening to what you want them to do and then doing it.
Is there a good fan base in Targoviste for women`s basketball?
Yes, very good. We have 2,000 people coming to our EuroCup games. They are like a sixth player.
You`re roster is full of players with really big names like Tina Thompson, and Linda Frohlich. We aren`t used to seeing names like that in EuroCup Women.
It is more expensive for us to have players like that but our administration helps us a lot and they understand that we can compete in Europe and make a good name for our city with players like this. Tina Thompson and Linda Frohlich both came to us over the winter break and their experience at a high level is really paying off and making us a better.
Are you happy with your team`s performance now that Linda and Tina have joined?
Yes, in this moment in my opinion we are playing more like a team and Tina and Linda are helping a lot.
Next week you begin the Eighth-Finals against Gran Canaria, what are your thoughts on that match-up?
Gran Canaria is a very good team, they had good results in their group and I think at this moment there is no favorite. It is very important that we play well and play hard for 40 minutes. We have had moments where we lose our focus and we can`t afford to do that against this team. In the last round they lost their first game against Sibenik by 22, but then at home they won by 26 to advance. We must keep our focus in both games.
Last and most important you are a member of the second class of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate for which you traveled to Lithuania last summer and the U16 European Championship Men. What have you learned in the FECC that has helped you to become a better coach?
It is a good opportunity for me to be in the FECC, and it is a very good program for young coaches like me, I am only 34! The best part is to be able to work with and be around great coaches like (FECC mentor) Svetislav Pesic. It also good to attend these tournaments and see the players, but for me the chance to meet with other coaches and share ideas is the best part.
I know that the program doesn`t end when you leave the tournament, and that you have some homework to do. Have you finished yours?
Yea, I just finished my homework. It is important to get that done on time.
UPDATE: In the next round we will play against Gran Canaria, as the spanish team eliminated the croatians from Jolly Sibenik.Tina Thompson and Shay Doron signed MCM`s qulaification in the last 16 of the Fiba EuroCup competition.
It was a great night for targoviste fans, who filled the arena for the return game against Ruzomberok. MCM won confortabelly 84-51 (22-11, 18-13, 21-15, 23-12). It was a slaughter in the end!
Tina Thompson and Shay Doron scored 23 points each and made us all happy.
“It was a great game for us”, said Shay after the game, as she pointed out that she wants to win the competition “otherwise I woldn`t have come here in the first place”.
“I`m glad that my team managed to stay focused despite the victory in the first leg. It was one of our best games so far”, said coach Tanase.
Also, one of the best player in the opposing team, Lizanne Murphy said something that has given Targoviste`s fans even more hope that it is possible to win it all. “We played against Montpellier who was the first seed after the groups, and I`m certain that you are a better team”, Murphy said.
You can find the photo gallery here!
[Comment...]
MBK Ruzomberok – Municipal MCM Târgovişte 68-90 (17-26, 18-25, 16-20, 17-19)It was a great night for MCM in Ruzomberok. Catalin Tanase`s girls came out in front and the game wasn`t, by any meens closely contested. This success ensures a relaxed period of preparation for the girls before the return leg, scheduled for next week in Targoviste.
MCM finally played as a team and scored with more than one or two players like in the previous EuroCup games. Shay Doron played great scoring an outstanding 29 points, Tina Thompson, our new signing, was extraordinary, rebounding 14 times and Linda Frolich also played very well: 15 points and 5 rebounds.
Moreover, the captain, Monika Brosovszky Boriga put up a great performance, scoring 13 points, managing 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Another good game, in our team, was Parau`s who had 5 assists at the final whistle.
MBK: S. Podesova 13, V. Cernakova 10, K. Simulakova 20, L. Murphy 16, A. Gresnerova 16, B. Novocka 2, M. Felixova
MCM: A. Pârău 7, M. Boriga 13, T. Thompson 13, L. Frohlich 15, S. Doron 29, O. Ogorodnikova 9, L. Toma 4, A. Uiuiu, O. Masilionene
[Comment...]
On Monday, the 4th of January, in the Sport Hall in Targoviste, MCMs officials presented their new signings: Tina Thompson, from the USA and Linda Frolich from Germany. Here are a few statements from the press conference:
Gabriel Boriga, president:
"It can not get better than this. There are no other players that can play at a higher level. We needed them because their value will make the team stronger and beacause they have great international experience".
Tina Thompson:
„When I decided to come to Targoviste I also had other offers, some better financially, especially from Russia. Nevertheless I chose this team thinking that it has the best chances to win the Fiba EuroCup”.
Linda Frohlich:
„I knew the players in Targoviste were very strong and even if I had other offers to, including from the Euroleague, I considered that here I`ll find the best conditions for succes".
Cătălin Tănase, coach:
„I`m very pleased with our new signings. I hopw that they will help us reach our goals in this season. The games against Ruzomberok are very important and we must prepare as good as we can to go through to the last 16" [Comment...]
Targoviste won on Thursday against Samsun, the team that didn`t defeat anyone in this group, final score: 66–47 (13–9, 21-12, 22-12, 10-14). Our best performers were Olena Ogorodnikova (23p and 12 r) and Niky Anosike (12p and 13 r). Shay Doron, on the other hand wasn`t at her best. She only scored once from 12 field attempts.Mustafa Arman Ozkale, Head coach Samsun:
"Today we didn`t play as a team. This is why we lost. Overall it was a good experience for us, and we hope to do better next time for the people in Samsun."
Catalin Tanase, Head coach Targoviste:
"Unfortunattely I am not yet satisfied with the team`s performance. Some of my players are not playing at their best. Even if we qualified for the next round, our team is like an ill person. We need to remove the `tumors`." [Comment...]
After a exhausting journey into the heart o Russia, Catalin Tanase`s girls lost in front of Dynamo Kursk 82-70 (25-16, 23-21, 16-15, 18-18).Before the game, our coach had stated that the recovery after the 14 hour journey to Kursk will be very important. The Bucharest - Wien - Kharkov - Kursk route, the changing of two planes and the three hundred killometers bus ride proved to be overwhelming for our team as they lost their second away game in the group.
Lack of accuracy from outside the three point line
The balance in this clash was almost perfect, the difference between the two teams was only in the three point shots: The home team scored 12 out of 24 while MCM only managed 3 out of 12 shots. Our "marksmen", Boriga and Doron weren`t at their best in this game and they didn`t score any three pointers. Moreover Shay Doron, who was portrayed by Tanase as a player who can win a game by herself but can just as easily loose one, only scored 3 field goals in 9 attempts. The decisive moment in this game took place in the final third of the first quarter, when MCM was leading, but Linkeviciene, the Lithuanian stepped in and scored 7 points in row. From that moment on , despite the fact that the teams went on shoulder to shoulder, Targoviste couldn`t fill the gap.
Anosike unstoppable
The only player in our team that lived up to the expectations was Nicky Anosike. She was on top of everyone under the basket managing an outstanding 24 points and 10 rebounds. Her almost perfect defense play in the five games she played so far, have put Anosike in the all-round lead of Fiba Cup`s steals standings. [Comment...]
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