On Wednesday, the NKA Universitas Pécs women’s team will take the floor for the second leg against Gernika. To advance, the team needs a win by at least 20 points, but according to head coach Zeljko Djokic, the real key will be controlling the game for forty minutes and playing their own basketball in front of a full home crowd, in the club’s final home game of 2025.
– The two teams already met twice in the group stage. How different was the atmosphere in the first playoff game?
– Completely different. During the group games everything was correct, the atmosphere was normal and respectful. This time the environment was totally different. Nobody was waiting for us at the airport, the hotel check-in was not smooth either, we were standing there with our bags waiting to get our rooms. Even at the gym, most of the players didn’t really acknowledge us when we arrived.
What stood out was that Sara Krnjic and Masa Jankovic were the only two players who came over to greet us — apart from them, almost everyone else turned their heads away. These things may seem small, but a team definitely feels when the environment changes.
– The game itself was very physical. It looked like Julia Reisingerová was deliberately targeted.
– That was clearly the plan. The referees effectively took our most important player out of the system by fouls. Julia was under constant pressure, she took a lot of contact and eventually fouled out. On top of that, Ágnes Studer, Lexi Held and Nadija Smailbegovic were already unavailable due to injuries, which significantly shortened our rotation.
– One particular situation said a lot about the physicality of the game.
– Yes. Eszti Rátkai took a heavy, unsportsmanlike hit, a contact that clearly looked like an ejection-worthy play. On top of that, the free throw was taken by Adams, and after the stoppage she didn’t even check on Eszti, but immediately celebrated with her teammates. That moment summed up just how physical and on-the-edge the game was on the road.
– What mindset is the team taking into the second leg?
– It’s important to say that we’re not preparing for revenge. We want to play with a clear head and full control. The goal is to set the tempo at home, defend solidly, run the floor, and play in our own rhythm for the full forty minutes. We know we need to win by twenty points, but the primary focus is functioning well as a team on the court.
– What does it mean for you and the team that this will be the last home game of 2025 in the Lauber?
– It means a lot. It’s been a long and successful year for women’s basketball in Pécs, and we want to close it the right way. We want to win. If the 20-point margin is there, that’s the perfect scenario. But even if it’s a tighter win and we play high-level, energetic basketball for forty minutes, that would also mean a lot to us.
– What message do you have for the fans ahead of the game?
– The most important thing is that we all fight together, for each other, on Wednesday — on the court and in the stands as well. If we have that unity, this team is capable of special things.
