LJUBLJANA (UPC Telemach league) - Thirteen representatives from as many teams competing in the Slovenian top-level league unfolded their expectations regarding the upcoming second part of the championship on Monday. Teams will now start from scratch as no points collected so far in the championship will count in this second part. However, their odds and chances differ significantly one from another.

Many consider reigning champion Union Olimpija Ljubljana as the main candidate for this year's trophy. This would be Olimpija's fourth title in a row. Their coach Gasper Okorn made it clear his team will not settle for anything less than the top spot: "Step by step, we want to reach the goal we set.

"This does not mean it will be an easy task. We respect all seven opposing teams but despite the pressure we will not change our goal. We have to take it upon our shoulders and win the championship."

Their main competitor will be Helios Domzale, top-seeded after the first part of the championship. Although Union Olimpija did not compete in the national league so far, teams met in the Adriatic League and in the Slovenian Cup finals.

"We are confident after winning the Cup and playing very well in the championship," said Helios' director Ladivoj Gorjan.

"We hope the upcoming second part of the championship will be good for us as well. We do not take it as pressure but it is our duty to finish this season at least in second place."

Despite Gorjan's modesty Helios recorded three wins in as many matches against Union Olimpija so far this season. Olimpija is going through some quite turbulent times lately with many players signing late contracts or leaving the team in mid-season.

Olimpija's latest staff addition is team director Janez Rajgelj who will join pick up the job next week. At the press conference he presented his current team's objectives. Geoplin Slovan Ljubljana's ambitions in the upcoming campaign are rather indistinct: "The team stays on the designed path, which is to build its future on young talented players that will improve their skills."

This has actually been Slovan's guideline lately. Former Slovan guard Goran Dragic earned a spot in the national team that played at the FIBA World Championship while current team members Jaka Klobucar and Emir Preldzic were key players of the U-20 National team that won the bronze at last year's European Championship.

Zlatorog Lasko had a 18-4 record in the first part of the championship, third best in the league. Their goal is to qualify for the Adriatic League within two years. A placement in the season to come would be even better, said Zlatorog secretary Ales Antauer.

"We have a young team so we will have to avoid swings in our performance. In such a leveled competition every loss can be fatal.

"Our wishes go as high as the semi-finals but we are aware it will be most difficult to make them become reality," said Antauer.

The other four teams competing in the championship league do not have realistic chances to claim the pennant.

Loka kava TCG, Elektra Esotech Sostanj, Krka Novo mesto and Alpos Sentjur will first and foremost try to enjoy the upcoming competition. They will not have anything to loose and a chance to prove themselves against the top-ranked Slovenian teams.

Far more heated will be the matches between the five teams that will try to avoid retrocession. Ten more rounds are due with points gathered in the first part of the championship counting and worthy as gold.

Zagorje and Koper should not have a hard time qualifying for next season's big league campaign.

Ranked in the middle of the play-out group is Kraski zidar Sezana who waived former coach Sekule Popovic after their regular season loss against direct competitor Postojnska Jama. New coach Tomo Krasevec will thus try to lead the team to salvation.

Second-last Postojnska Jama had a turbulent season as well, partly because of their collaboration with Union Olimpija Ljubljana. They won their last two matches, their longest winning streak of the season.

They have a one-point advantage before last-seeded Triglav Kranj.

The team that will finish last in the play-out will retrocede directly while the second-last will play an additional mini-league with second and third-seeded teams in the 1. B division.

Both competitions tip off just today.

Play-out will close by mid-May while the play-off will last until June.

Simon Licen
FIBA