Peñarroyas’s Partizan Debut: Sacrifice, Teamwork & Obradović Respect

A psychologist coach aware of the situation, determined to make his own contribution according to what he deems most appropriate. This is the picture that emerged from the press conference presenting Joan Peñarroya as head coach of a Partizan which, before Mirko Ocokoljić’s interregnum, was led by Željko Obradović, the most successful coach in Europe.

Obradović himself, who in the last four and a half years has led the Bianconeri from Belgrade to win two Adriatic League titles and a Serbian national title, as well as bringing the club back to the Euroleague and coming close to reaching a Final Four, was the star guest of the presentation not only because of the legendary status that the professional native of Čačak has among the Partizan fans, but also because of an idea of disciplined and defensive basketball, antithetical to the ‘run and tira allegro’ by Peñarroya.

In addition to a strong note-taking vocation, the Catalan coach’s philosophy relies on the use of guards capable of both realizing and setting up the game, together with versatile wingers who cover the roles of ‘two’, ‘three’ and ‘four’ on the pitch. Under the basket, Peñarroya usually makes use of undersized pivots which help to open up the game and, in doing so, enhance the scoring qualities of the wingers.

High pace and aggression

“I arrive in a team that has been coached by one of the best coaches in Europe in the last twenty-five years. I don’t intend to change, but I will try to adapt my idea of basketball to the players currently in black and white. The Serbian coaching school is one of the best in the world. I am happy, now, to be able to get to know ‘Slavic’ basketball, the Adriatic League and the Belgrade environment up close” declared Peñarroya in Spanish, assisted by the assistant coach Uroš Dragićević for the translation into Serbian.

“I want to increase the pace and play with a high number of possessions, following the trend of contemporary basketball, in which it is physiological to receive more points per game than in the past. It’s true that I prefer to lose by 100:99 rather than 60:59, but I believe that at Partizan we will also have to showcase an aggressive defense to be competitive in the competitions in which we are involved [Eurolega e Lega adriatica, M.C.]“Peñarroya continued.

As reported by the Catalan coach, presented together with the new Partizan playmaker, Cameron Payne, the identity of Partizan under his guidance can be summarized in sacrifice, team play and character, mentioning some of the pillars of the playing philosophy of the ‘Slavic’ basketball school, in which the former coach of Barcelona, Baskonia and San Pablo Burgos is today taking his first steps.

A short recruitment

During the press conference, Peñarroya also stated that he has been on Partizan’s radar for a few years already, having been considered by the Juventus owner, Ostoja Mijailović, to lead the Juventus team before the return of Željko Obradović. It would therefore have been natural, as always admitted by the Terrasa native coach, that contacts with the Juventus management were reactivated at the time of the legendary coach’s departure, which occurred a few weeks after Peñarroya’s dismissal from Barcelona.

“The negotiations for my return to Partizan lasted three weeks. It wasn’t a difficult recruitment, but it was necessary for me to resolve the contractual situation with Barcelona. The club, given the delicate situation of the team, wanted to identify the right moment to make the change on the bench effective” explained Peñarroya, who will make his Euroleague debut on Boxing Day against Maccabi.

Focus on the field

As admitted by the professional born in 1969, the priority is to free the players’ minds from a negativity that is compromising the team’s performance, thanks to the disaffection of the fans, who in addition to having rallied around Željko Obradović have bitterly contested a roster devoid of heart, commitment and respect for the club’s history. To do this, the Catalan coach intends to strengthen a team spirit without which the talent of individual players cannot express itself.

“I am aware of the fans’ protest, but my job is to think about the playing field. I would like my Partizan to make the public proud of the team even when it loses. For this reason, the players must stop thinking about what happens off the pitch, and start working differently” concluded Peñarroya.

Matteo Cazzulani

In the photo: Joan Peñarroya during the presentation press conference