Six foot nine – where is the basket?
A big part of Filip Vukosavljevic’s job has to do with establishing his presence on the basketball court. Whether it’s putting up huge scoring numbers, swatting away shot attempts near the basket or forcefully corralling rebounds, Vukosavljevic is an impact player. In Sri Lanka though, this title takes on a whole new meaning for the 6 foot 9 Serbian, who is part of a small foreign contingent which has entered local club basketball.
The Avant Garde team with two of their bigfoots on either sides
The group will be in the country for an extended period of time, and their first assignment is the on going club tournament organised by Avant Garde, which will feature 14 of the country’s top teams and run until June 21 at the Henry Pedris courts. All of the international players have been drafted into the Avant Garde A and B teams and the Police side. And needless to say, they are making a mark with their superior height and skill.
The sight of them effortlessly leaping into the air and slamming the ball through the ring, with their faces mere inches from the backboard as they float downward after scoring, is now a frequent but no less exciting sight at many of their matches. Their varied offence and waterproof defence have also forced many local players to make necessary adjustments to their own games, especially those operating inside and this will doubtlessly elevate their ability. Chamath Dhanawansa, one of Sri Lanka’s most recognisable basketball stars, opines that this will gradually help raise the standard of the local game.
“Having them here is good for the game and it will definitely help basketball rise to the next level. It’s also very good to get their experience,” he says, adding that time would be needed for Sri Lankan players to amend their game-play to match the patterns of their foreign counterparts.
Sri Lanka’s recognisable basketball stars opine that tournaments of this sort will gradually help raise the standard of the local game
Adjusting to change will also be central to the experience of many of the international players who have opted to pursue the sport in a new country with an unfamiliar culture and people.
Vukosavljevic declares that he loves being able to visit different parts of the world and drink in their sights and sounds and values his role as a professional athlete all the more for providing him with an opportunity to do so.
“I like the Sri Lankan lifestyle and the weather. As a professional I’ve played throughout Europe and I love adapting to different countries. For me it isn’t tough at all because it has allowed me to travel and see the world and find myself. and I love doing that,” he explains.
Evaldas Tviraga is also looking forward to carefully exploring each of the island’s diverse elements, from the spicy food to the pristine beaches. However, the tall and lanky Lithuanian is just as interested in uncovering ways to help develop the sport here.
“For standards here to improve the players must look at doing the simple things properly, like playing good defense, working out proper combinations and tactics for the opposition and being perfect with their basics,” he said.
Vukosavljevic too asserts that he is keen to assist the local players he encounters in working on the different dimensions of their game. He is confident that the Sri Lankan game holds a fair degree of skill and believes that with the right guidance there are no limits to the progress it can see.
“There are good players here. With the right workout, practice and exposure they can really grow. Right now everyone talks about cricket and rugby but when people see tall guys like us in the streets and hear about this tournament, interest in basketball will grow,” Vukosavljevic says.
For now though, their most immediate worry will be doing what they a renowned for and what has carried them halfway across the world: helping their respective club teams walk off the court victorious.