Welcome back to the Taking The Charge Podcast and this week’s interview is with Himar Ojeda, the sports director at ALBA Berlin. He talks about dealing with a burdensome schedule, Covid restrictions and protocols, having five Berlin natives on the court at the same time, his efforts to push the club’s women’s team, the ALBA Berlin College, four Spanish coaches in the German league, Franz Wagner and the team’s chances of three-peating.
Before that … let’s take a quick look around the world of basketball with the Big Three
3:00 - Story we are watching - Ukrainian team Prometey’s club president said they will be moving their teams outside of the country - the men’s team to Czech Republic and women’s side to Bulgaria - for two weeks due to increasing concern about a possible invasion by Russia.
5:25 - Young player of the week - Mert Akay was a feel good story with his return to the court after an ACL tear. But the Dynamic Belgrade point guard has torn his ACL again and will now face another long recovery. Speedy recovery Mert!
6:35 - Up-coming event we are watching - This is cup weekend in Europe and there will be great action throughout the continent.
Before we get into the talk with Himar Ojeda, we would like to give you a sneak peak of the Taking The Charge Prospects Podcast interview with Turkish point guard Mert Akay from Dynamic Belgrade in Serbia - which is part of the paid subscription section of the TTC substack.
8:05 - Sneak preview of interview
Himar Ojeda - ALBA Berlin sports director (13:45)
Here is a breakdown of the interview
14:00 - State of the team at the moment
16:35 - The meaning of beating s.Oliver Würzburg after losing five straight
18:15 - What it’s like dealing with all these Covid cases, Covid restrictions and protocols
22:45 - Dealing with such a tight schedule with so many games
31:55 - Thoughts about December 10, 2020 - the EuroLeague game against Fenerbach Istanbul when the game ended with five Berlin natives on the court
41:10 - About his efforts to push the women’s team at ALBA Berlin as well
54:10 - Update/status report on the latest with ALBA Berlin College
1:02:00 - Thoughts about having four Spanish coaches in the German league and how that actually might help basketball in the country
1:18:45 - How he sees Franz Wagner and his play in the NBA
1:33:00 - How he feels about Berlin’s chances of a three-peat in the German league
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Taking The Charge Podcast: Himar Ojeda, sports director ALBA Berlin