International Role for Wolves Coach

While basketball fans in Worcester will have to wait until September before Wolves begin their quest to follow up their double-winning success of last season, Wolves’ Assistant Coach Alex Radu has had little time for any break from basketball action.

Shortly after playing his part in helping Wolves to secure the BBL Play-off title with a superb Wembley victory over Newcastle Eagles, Radu was making his way back to his Romanian homeland to take up a new appointment as the Assistant Coach of the Women’s National team.

Radu came to the city in 2010 to take up a sports lecturer’s position at the University of Worcester, and to join the Wolves’ coaching staff. He has been witness to the gradual rise in the club’s on and off-court fortunes, culminating in the successful move to the 2,000-seat University Arena, and the accompanying capture of a double of trophies. He is thrilled to be involved in the upsurge of interest in basketball in both Worcester and in his native Romania, saying:

“I’m really happy in my new role. It involves lots of work, lots of training sessions, discussions and meetings to prepare and set up team tactics and strategies. There are still plenty of things for me to learn, and I use every minute to absorb as much as possible. We have a great group of young players who are eager to improve and get better. It is a pleasure to work with them.

“On the Worcester Wolves front – we had a fantastic season. It was good to see how the players came together and stayed together to win the BBL Play-off Final after winning the Trophy Final in Glasgow. Players did not get complacent after winning the Trophy, and you could see their ambition to win another piece of silverware after narrowly missing out on the regular season title.”

Romania are currently playing a series of friendly internationals, ahead of their co-hosting, (alongside Hungary), of EuroBasket 2015. One of their recent victories was against Macedonia, a country battling with Great Britain to qualify for next year’s tournament. Great Britain were able to see off Macedonia 71-60 on Sunday at the University of Worcester Arena, to put them on the brink of stamping their qualification ticket. Radu gave his thoughts on his own team’s victory over Macedonia, and his views on the Great Britain programme, saying:

“We have played Macedonia in two friendly games and, despite losing the first game by three points in the last couple of minutes of that encounter, we eventually won the second game comfortably, after we gave plenty of minutes to all our players. Our team is improving day by day and we are looking ahead with plenty of confidence for a successful EuroBasket 2015.

“I hope the Great Britain team qualify for next year’s competition. I’d also like to see Great Britain meet Romania – hopefully in the knock out stages after the first stage of group games has taken place!”

When he returns to Worcester, Radu will be expected to pitch straight back into domestic coaching duties. This is something that he is more than excited about, saying:

“I’m really looking forward to next season. I am sure we can build on the success which we have had so far, and I am sure that the gym will be packed again on our first game at home on Friday 3rd October against Cheshire! My personal ambition is to treat our fans to at least the same level of achievement as last season and – why not – to even exceed it!!”

Either side of Wolves’ first home game of the upcoming season, they will launch the defence of their double of trophies with a trip to their Wembley opponents, the Newcastle Eagles, on Friday 26 September, and a trip to Manchester Giants on Sunday 05 October.

Meanwhile, Great Britain Women play their final qualification game for EuroBasket 2015 this Wednesday, (tip off 7pm), versus Lithuania. The winners of the match will top the group and ensure a spot in Romania next year.